Are French-Canadians descended from only 8500 people?

**Nemo** · 07-19-2017, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by Heathers

Are French-Canadians mixed with English? Will some score?

Some might. Depends on where they are. Some areas are going to be more mixed due to the surrounding settlements.

My ancestry, for example, is mostly Acadian French (my paternal side hasn't moved since the original settlement era) & Gaspé Bay French and includes a little actual Continental French within the last 300 years [tree goes back further]. I have one 3rd great-grandfather from Omagh Ireland & some Italian ancestry. But I always favor French with a teeny hint of other genetically.

On the reverse I know others whose ancestry is littered with Scottish, German & other migrants but they still call themselves "French Canadian" because a) they speak French & b) they were born in Quebec or a French area and most of their traceable and/or knowledged ancestry is French.

**~~Heather Duval~~** · 07-19-2017, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by Nemo

Some might. Depends on where they are. Some areas are going to be more mixed due to the surrounding settlements.

My ancestry, for example, is mostly Acadian French (my paternal side hasn't moved since the original settlement era) & Gaspé Bay French and includes a little actual Continental French within the last 300 years [tree goes back further]. I have one 3rd great-grandfather from Omagh Ireland & some Italian ancestry. But I always favor French with a teeny hint of other genetically.

On the reverse I know others whose ancestry is littered with Scottish, German & other migrants but they still call themselves "French Canadian" because a) they speak French & b) they were born in Quebec or a French area and most of their traceable and/or knowledged ancestry is French.

I think many French Canadians will score a bit English on 23andme.

**Nemo** · 07-19-2017, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by Heathers

I think many French Canadians will score a bit English on 23andme.

ROFL. Only through the genetic similarity of English & French populations. But if someone actually thinks that hints at actual English ancestry such individuals really should not be using these genetic tests.

**Peterski** · 03-20-2019, 05:07 AM

New France always struggled with a low number of inhabitants. Modern French-Canadians, numbering several million people (and add to this also Diaspora in the USA, including Cajuns descended from expelled Acadians), are all descended from just around 8500 immigrants, who came from Europe during 150 years (1600-1750). They also have some Native ancestors (according to Moreau 2013 study, an average White French-Canadian from Quebec has at least 2% of Native American DNA, but the Metis of course have much more, and Acadians as well - the latter have ca. 10% on average, individually it can range from 2% to 30% in some local groups).

Moreau 2013 - https://journals.plos.org/plosone/ar...l.pone.0065507

Former Prime Minister of Canada, Paul Martin, who is of Acadian descent, has Amerindian Y-DNA haplogroup.

As I said, New France always had problems with low population, especially with shortages of white women.

In year 1661 the total white population of New France numbered ca. 2500 people - including much more men than women - and mortality rates were high due to constant attacks by the Iroquois. In that year King Louis XIV made efforts to increase the population and save the colony - he sent two ships with 100 soldiers and 200 settlers. Next year, 149 more settlers came - including 38 women, so called "King's Daughters" (les Filles du Roi). During the decade of 1663-1673 in total 774 King's Daughters came to New France, it was an initiative undertaken for the specific purpose of providing wives for the colonists. The number of immigrants arriving to the colony, was smaller than the number of those who departed, because mortality rate during trans-Atlantic voyage was ca. 10%.

In late 1665 and early 1666 the first population census was carried out in New France. It counted in total - without the military and the clergy - 3215 white civilian settlers (including - together with nonadults - 1181 women and 2034 men, including 491 white-white married couples and 37 white men married to Native women; the rest were children, unmarried people, 13 widowers and 29 widows). The largest towns of New France according to that census were Montreal (625 inhabitants), Quebec (547), Beaupre (533), Ile d'Orleans (452) and Trois-Rivieres (455). The number of craftsmen and other specialists/professionals (such as doctors etc.) was 763. During the course of the census, 50 more "King's Daughters" arrived from the orphanage in Paris, as well as some new male settlers.

Most of King's Daughters were from orphanages and poor families, but were equipped by the King with dowry.

The clergy (one bishop, priests, Jesuit missionaries, monks, nuns, etc.) numbered in total ca. 150-200 people.

The military in forts and towns of New france numbered in total 24 companies, with ca. 1000-1200 soldiers.

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So in total - civilian settlers, soldiers and clergy - there were up to 5000 white French-Canadians in year 1666.

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When French-English wars in North American colonies were taking place in the 1700s, English colonies had at least 10 times more white people than French colonies. English colonies were populated by Protestants - entire families, with no shortage of white women - who escaped religious persecution in Europe, they often escaped death, so they were forced to emigrate. French Huguenots also went to English colonies rather than to French colonies. French colonies were a much less popular destination because Catholics were not persecuted in France. And hardly any woman was willing to risk a trans-Atlantic journey (that's why they had to offer some incentives to women and recruit "King's Daughters" from orphanages).