80,000 images from the registers of 60 Quebec parishes have been rescanned on Genealogy Quebec to improve their clarity.
To this day, over a million images from the Drouin collection have been rescanned on the website.
The resolution of these new images is two to three times higher than that of the previous version, which ensures great legibility.
Browse all of Quebec’s parish registers as well as millions of historical documents by subscribing to Genealogy Quebec today!
The Drouin Collection Records
The Drouin Collection Records are a collection of parish registers (baptisms, marriages and burials) covering all of Quebec and French Acadia as well as parts of Ontario, New Brunswick and the Northeastern United States, from the parish’s foundation up to the 1940s and sometimes 1960s.
You can browse the Drouin collection with a subscription to Genealogy Quebec at this address.
The LAFRANCE, also available to Genealogy Quebec subscribers, is a search engine allowing you to explore these parish registers by searching for the individual(s) mentioned in them.
Société de généalogie de Saint-Hubert fonds, containing obituaries and photos of individuals
Fonds Ronald-Léger, containing images from the newspapers L’Avenir, le Guide and L’Express from 2008 to 2011
Fonds André-Hurtubise, addition of digitized negatives
Lavallée fonds from the Centre d’histoire de Saint-Hyacinthe, 17,219 pages of genealogical research by Mr. Lavallée
Fonds René-Jetté, addition of Fiches René Jetté, nearly 13,000 handwritten records in alphabetical order. Addition of nearly 7,000 additional complementary cards from his research
Over 110,000 birth, marriage and death cards have been added to the BMD Cards collection, one of 15 tools available to Genealogy Quebec subscribers.
These are non-Catholic births, marriages and deaths from the St-François judicial district, which encompasses most of the Eastern Townships.
They can be consulted in the BMS non-catholique, district St-François and Sépultures non-catholiques, district de Huntingdon folders, which can be found in the Fiches BMS (villes) folder at this address.
You can browse the BMD cards and trace your ancestors with tens of millions of historical documents by subscribing to Genealogy Quebec today!
What is the BMD cards tool?
The BMD cards tool is a repository of birth, marriage and death cards from Quebec, Ontario and the United States.
The documents in this collection are organized in a tree structure. In most cases, records are arranged alphabetically by the surname of the subject of the record, or the name of the place where the record is located.
As of today, the collection contains over 2.7 million cards. You will find more information as well as research tips on the Drouin Institute’s blog.
When one is interested in one’s ancestry and reconstructs a lineage through genealogical research, one also sees the history of the transmission of family name(s). This may seem insignificant to us, because for a long time this history was obvious: the question of the transmission of the family name did not really arise, since the family name of the father was systematically given to the children. There was no need to think about it.
But in 1981, the reform of the civil code, and more precisely of family law, allowed Quebec women to give their family name to their children. Suddenly, the choice of which family name to pass on became an issue: one could give a family name, that of the father or the mother, or choose to pass on both. In this context, it becomes particularly interesting to observe the ways in which surnames are passed from one generation to the next. Forty years later, what has been the impact of the 1981 reform? What relationship do Quebec women have with their family name, and why do they choose (or not) to pass it on?
The first baptismal record available on Genalogy Quebec, following the family law reform, where a double surname is found. Source: LaFrance, Genealogy Quebec.
Marie-Hélène Frenette-Assad is a podcast producer, musician, consultant and trainer in digital audio. She also has, as you may have noticed, two last names, her father’s and her mother’s. However, she finds that her friends, the women of her generation, don’t often pass on their names to their children, nor is it a topic of discussion they often bring up. And this is not just an anecdotal observation – statistics also indicate a decrease in the transmission of the double family name in Quebec (Frenette-Assad, 2020: episode 5).
In Le nom de ma mère (The name of my mother), Marie-Hélène discusses with her own mother why she gave her a double surname and explores, throughout the podcast, her relationship to her surname. But she also brings in women who participated in the 1981 reform, experts who study the issue, and a variety of women from her generation who have a different relationship to their surnames and who decide to give it to their children, or not, for different reasons. Often, these are women who themselves have a double surname, and who should potentially split it to give only one to their children.
Cover image of the podcast “Le nom de ma mère”, directed by Marie-Hélène Frenette-Assad. Source: Radio-Canada (Frenette-Assad, 2020).
Because yes, a generation after the 1981 reform, situations arise where both members of a couple have two surnames.. It would obviously become quickly unmanageable if both parents transmitted their two surnames and we ended up with quadruple surnames, then octuple, and so on! If a couple both have a double surname and want to pass it on to their child, they will have to make a choice. In the podcast, we learn that the instigators of the reform had originally thought that mothers could pass on their mother’s surname, and fathers, their father’s surname. The idea is similar to the proposal of Pierre-Yves Dionne (2004), which I have discussed in previous articles2 – he suggested that future generations of women should be given the name of a common ancestor (the uterine pioneer), so that women’s surnames would no longer always come from a man.
However, in practice, this is not always the case. There are many factors other than gender that come into play when making a decision about passing on a name. Some women, for example, choose to pass on the name associated with the extended family to which they feel closest, regardless of the gender of the parent. Some also consider the presence or absence, in their family, of other people with the same name who have passed it on or could pass it on to their children. For example, they mention wanting to pass on one of their names that would otherwise go extinct.
Other women do not see themselves choosing between their two names, either because they see their name as indivisible, or because they do not want to hurt the parent whose name would be “rejected”. Since this is not an option for them, they prefer not to give their name at all!
Others are thinking about the effect that the name will have on their children’s lives: sometimes the double name is experienced as an obstacle, whether in certain professional environments where self-branding is important, or in everyday life because we become annoyed that people forget our full name or because one of the names is difficult to pronounce. But the double name is also sometimes perceived as a strength, something that allows one to stand out and whose uniqueness makes it beautiful, even poetic (as is the case for columnist Rose-Aimée Automne T. Morin).
Baptismal record in which the mother chose one of her two family names to pass on to her child. Source : LaFrance, Genealogy Quebec.
However, despite all this reasoning that moves away from gender concerns, the issue remains clearly political and feminist. Some women claim that they “have given themselves the chance to exist in their children’s names”3 (Frenette-Assad, 2020: episodes 2 and 3). They see it as a way of recognizing the role of women in filiation and the passing on of the heritage. Others mention the importance of honoring past feminist struggles by exercising their right to pass on their names to their children. For my part, as I listened to the podcast and repeatedly heard women question whether their names are “too long,” I couldn’t help but think of the many ways in which women are constantly asked to make themselves smaller. In particular, many feminist researchers and theorists have documented how various social norms (and the attitudes of some men) push women to wear restrictive clothing (from corsets to high heels), not to speak too loudly or too long, not to take up too much space with their bodies, etc. (Young, 2005; Yaguello, 2002). In particular, manspreading has made a lot of noise in recent years (Morin, 2017). Could we add having a “not too long” last name to the list?
It is very interesting to note that the issue also has an intersectional component: it is indeed posed differently, for example, for adopted people, who often have a different relationship with their surname because it does not reflect their genetic heritage; or for people with an immigrant background, whose surname is sometimes a bearer of prejudice, but also represents an important link with the country of origin. On a more personal note, I grew up with a single mother who gave me her family name – and only her family name. I wear it proudly: it represents for me the strength of women who find themselves, by spite or by choice, to be the only parental figure.
The reality of homosexual couples, and in particular lesbian couples, is also particular and occupies an entire episode of the podcast (Frenette-Assad, 2020: episode 4). Indeed, in their case, the passing on of the family name cannot be “taken for granted”: when both parents are women, one cannot avoid a real reflection by invoking tradition since there is no male parent who could pass on his name “by default”. Of course, most of the issues we have already discussed apply in the case of lesbian couples as well, but since very often the child carries the genetic baggage of only one of their two mothers, a concern is added: that of a symbolic transmission of a legacy that is not biological, through the transmission of the name.
Dionne, Pierre-Yves (2004). De mère en fille : comment faire ressortir la lignée maternelle de votre arbre généalogique. Sainte-Foy: Éditions MultiMondes; Montréal: Éditions du Remue-Ménage, 79 p.
Morin, Violaine (2017). “Comment le ‘’manspreading’’ est devenu un objet de lutte féministe” Le Monde [Online]:
Let’s face it: DNA testing has redefined genealogy!
For more than two decades, DNA tests have demonstrated their importance in the realm of family history and genealogy. From FamilyTreeDNA (2000), a pioneer in the field, to subsequent companies such as 23andMe (2006), AncestryDNA (2012) and MyHeritage (2016), over 40 million DNA test kits have been sold to date. But are all these tests equivalent and interchangeable?
In this article, we’ll answer that question and explore in more detail the different types of DNA tests available on the market.
Types of DNA tests available on the market
There are two types of commercial DNA tests on the market: those for Autosomal DNA, and those for “deep” DNA (Y-DNA and mtDNA).
Autosomal DNA
Autosomal DNA reaches up to 7 generations, accounting for 128 potential ancestors. However, with each successive generation, some of this ancestral DNA is inevitably lost. Therefore, starting from the 8th generation onward, the last traces of certain ancestors are completely lost, making it impossible to establish a genetic connection with them.
Tests in this category (autosomal) account for the largest share of the genetic genealogy market. This category includes FamilyTreeDNA‘s “FamilyFinder” test, as well as all DNA tests from 23andMe, Ancestry and MyHeritage. These DNA tests focus on close relatives, recognizing degrees of relationship with great precision.
Y-DNA and mtDNA (Deep DNA)
Y-DNA and mtDNA is DNA which is transmitted only through the father’s and mother’s lineages; Y-chromosome DNA transmitted from father to son, and mitochondrial DNA transmitted by the mother. It is with this DNA that we are able to identify the pioneers of New France. For example, all male descendants of the patriarch Jean Côté should, in principle, carry the same DNA – that of the Y chromosome passed down from father to son. This deep DNA identifies lineages, not individuals, unlike autosome tests. A man bearing the name Côté can therefore verify, with the help of FamilyTreeDNA‘s Y-37 test, that he does indeed possess the ancestral DNA signature of the Côté family patriarch, Jean Côté. Among the major DNA testing companies, only FamilyTreeDNA offers specific Y chromosome analyses.
Female pioneers are not to be outdone, as matrilineages also carry DNA signatures that go back centuries. FamilyTreeDNA‘s mtFullSequence test (also known as FMS) analyzes the DNA signature transmitted from mother to children via mitochondria. If your matrilineal matriarch is, for example, Marie Rollet, the courageous wife of Louis Hébert, you should carry her genetic signature, and the mtFullSequence test can confirm this. Your test results will take you back to the origins of New France.
Deep DNA, Autosomal DNA, or both?
Autosome tests such as those offered by 23andMe, MyHeritage and Ancestry serve many purposes, whether it’s to verify close relatives, reveal unsuspected filiations, or enable adoptees to trace their parentage.
However, these objectives are not the same as those of genealogy enthusiasts interested in older times. Deep DNA reaches the patriarchs and matriarchs of the first generations who founded the country and from whom our surnames originate. The DNA signatures of New France’s ancestors live on through the lineages that link us to them: deep DNA testing aims to discover the heritage they passed on to us.
An overview of the Y-DNA signatures of pioneers established by the Genealogy Quebec DNA project. These are compared with your Y-DNA test results to confirm that you are indeed descended from the pioneer in question.
Among the major companies, only the tests offered by FamilyTreeDNA lead to the discovery of historical DNA signatures invaluable to the study of early Canada. If you’re interested in the origins of New France, and in confirming your genealogical research over several generations, Y-DNA and mtDNA tests are the ones to go for.
The right DNA test for YOU!
Autosome tests are very accurate for determining relationships spanning several generations. They are not, however, accurate for ethnic percentages, which are not genealogical in nature. As accurate as the kinship calculations of autosome tests are, their ethnic estimates are uncertain. These two aspects of the results must be contrasted. These tests are therefore very different from deep DNA patrilineage and matrilineage tests, which aim to identify distant ancestors.
Patrilineage and matrilineage deep DNA tests enable individuals to discover or verify that they are descended from one genetic lineage and not another. In genealogy, these tests are often used to establish, beyond any doubt, the validity of documentary research, and thus confirm that the individual tested is indeed descended from the lineages identified by the archives.
What’s more, the genetic identity of the test subject cannot be deduced from the results, only the origin of his or her lineage. As a result, privacy can be protected, and the use of a pseudonym is commonplace. Those who wish to remain anonymous can limit themselves to deep DNA testing.
Getting your DNA test
Deep DNA (Y-DNA and mtDNA) If you’d like to learn more about your origins and confirm your parentage to a pioneer.
With the help of our team, you can verify that your DNA signature matches that of the ancestors at the origins of your lineage. This match provides scientific proof of your documentary research and genetic assurance that you are indeed descended from the ancestor in question. To find out more, visit our DNA section!
Autosomal DNA If you’re more interested in discovering close relatives, from more recent times, FamilyTreeDNA‘s FamilyFinder test and tests from Ancestry, Myheritage and 23andMe will put you in touch with hundreds of people who share DNA segments inherited from common ancestors.
If you have any questions about DNA and its use in genealogy, don’t hesitate to contact the Genealogy Quebec DNA project team at adn@institutdrouin.com.
What’s more, if you already have DNA results from Ancestry, 23andMe or MyHeritage, you can transfer them free of charge to FamilyTreeDNA and combine them with deep DNA tests, which will be consolidated in a single account. You’ll then be able to attach all your results to the Genealogy Quebec DNA project, where our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have about your DNA.
Over 54,000 obituaries have been added to the Obituary Section, one of the 15 tools available to Genealogy Quebec subscribers.
These obituaries were published in various newspapers across Quebec and date from the 20th and 21st centuries.
You can browse these new obituaries with a subscription to Genealogy Quebec at this address.
Subscribe to Genealogy Quebec and start tracing your ancestors today with tens of millions of historical images and documents!
The Obituary section
This section contains most of the obituaries, memorial cards and headstones available on Genealogy Quebec. It is divided in 4 sub-sections:
Internet obituaries, which contains over 2.85 million obituaries published online from 1999 to today.
Newspaper obituaries, which now contains over 1,400,000 newspaper obituaries published between 1860 and today
Headstones, which contains more than 740,000 pictures of headstones from hundreds of cemeteries in Quebec and Ontario.
Memorial cards, which contains near 100,000 memorial cards published between 1860 and today.
These collections are indexed and can be explored using a search engine. You will find more information about this section on the Drouin Institute’s blog.
An update has been applied to the Acadia – Families tool, one of the 15 collections available to Genealogy Quebec subscribers.
12,414 family files and 27,689 baptism, marriage and burial records have been added to the collection. The Acadia – Families tool can be browsed with a subscription to Genealogy Quebec at this address.
Subscribe to Genealogy Quebec and trace your ancestors with over 100 million images and documents starting today!
What is the Acadia – Families tool?
The Acadia – Families tool contains family files based on original Acadian church records.
In total, this tool contains 171,246 family files. Currently, these cover a period that spans from the beginning of the Acadian colony to the end of 1849. In addition, 38 locations covering from 1850 to the end of the available registers are included. A list of these locations as well as a more detailed overview of the collection can be found on the Drouin Institute’s blog.
The files usually contain the names and first names of the parents, the first name of the child, the dates of birth and/or baptism, of death and/or burial, and of marriage (a total of 328,623 records). Links to the original church documents pertaining to the baptisms, marriages and burials mentioned in the file are also usually available.
Over 135,000 Canadian obituaries have been added to the Obituary Section, one of the 15 tools available to Genealogy Quebec subscribers.
These obituaries were published online or in newspapers and date from the 20th and 21st centuries.
You can browse these new obituaries with a subscription to Genealogy Quebec at this address.
Subscribe to Genealogy Quebec and start tracing your ancestors today with tens of millions of historical images and documents!
The Obituary section
This section contains most of the obituaries, memorial cards and headstones available on Genealogy Quebec. It is divided in 4 sub-sections:
Internet obituaries, which contains over 2.85 million obituaries published online from 1999 to today.
Newspaper obituaries, which now contains close to 1,400,000 newspaper obituaries published between 1860 and today
Headstones, which contains more than 740,000 pictures of headstones from hundreds of cemeteries in Quebec and Ontario.
Memorial cards, which contains near 100,000 memorial cards published between 1860 and today.
These collections are indexed and can be explored using a search engine. You will find more information about this section on the Drouin Institute’s blog.
Over 100,000 historical images have been added to the Drouin Miscellaneous Collections, one of 15 tools available to Genealogy Quebec subscribers.
The Drouin Miscellaneous Collections contain an assortment of images, documents, books, photos and directories of historical and genealogical interest. You can consult this tool at this address.
Here are the documents added via this update:
Journal Écho Abitibien
50,000 new images from 1950 to 1980
Can be consulted in the Miscellaneous Collections under the 23 – Journaux anciens/L’Écho Abitibien/ folder
Fonds André Hurtubise
32,000 new images have been added to this collection, which contains BMD cards, newspaper clippings, historical photos, and many other documents.
Can be consulted in the Miscellaneous Collections under the 14 – Fonds d’archives/Fonds André-Hurtubise/ folder
Fonds Philippe Beaudry
22,000 images have been added to the Fonds Philippe Beaudry. This collection contains postcards and historical documents related to maritime transportation.
Can be consulted in the Miscellaneous Collections under the 14 – Fonds d’archives/Fonds Philippe BEAUDRY/ folder
Trace your ancestors and discover your family history with tens of millions of historical on Genealogy Quebec today!