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Les Filles du roi | The King’s Daughters

Anyone looking into their French-Canadian roots will soon come across this term: fille du roi, or “daughter of the king.” Not to be taken in a literal sense, the Filles du roi were a group of some 700 unmarried women who were sent to New France between 1663 and 1673 by King Louis XIV to solve a gender imbalance problem, and ultimately help populate the new colony. They were called “daughters of the king” because Louis XIV paid for their recruitment, clothing and passage to the new world and offered dowries to the women when they married. They are also referred to as the “King’s Wards.”

Filles de joie or Prostitutes?

The misconception that the Filles du roi were prostitutes expelled from France is widespread in Québec, despite many French Canadians tracing their ancestry back to these women.

This false belief stems from the Salpêtrière in Paris. Originally a gunpowder facility, the building was converted into a hospice for destitute women in 1656 by Louis XIV. It was truly a wretched place. Dirty, cold and overcrowded, the hospital was a dumping ground for women who were mentally ill, disabled, epileptic, poor or orphaned. It was also where authorities sent prostitutes to keep them off the streets of Paris. The Salpêtrière soon became associated with prostitution, or Filles de joie.

When Louis XIV directed his advisor Jean-Baptiste Colbert to recruit women for the passage to Canada, the Salpêtrière in Paris was a natural option—the facility was overcrowded, and authorities were keen to offload some of its residents. We know that about 250 Filles du roi came from the Salpêtrière. They were personally chosen by two women who came from New France for the recruitment: Madame Bourdon et Mademoiselle Estienne. They were specifically looking for women who were young, average- or good-looking, single, smart, strong, in good health, and having good morals. Each Fille du roi had to produce a “certificate of good conduct” signed by their priest or a judge from their hometown.

This stringent selection process makes it unlikely for known prostitutes to have been chosen, although some were sent to other colonies like Louisiana and the Caribbean. Most Filles du roi from la Salpêtrière were there because they were orphaned or very poor, with over half being paternal orphans and about 20% maternal orphans.

Boudon and Estienne gave these women the choice to travel to New France. Despite the risks—arduous travel, a harsh climate, and potential native attacks—this opportunity offered an escape from their dire circumstances in France. How informed they were about the challenges they would face remains unclear. Whether they truly had a choice in the matter is also unknown.    

Origins of the Filles du roi

While a significant number of the Filles du roi originated from Paris and specifically the Salpêtrière, a considerable portion also came from Normandy and the western regions of France, near the port of La Rochelle. Departures to New France primarily occurred from the port cities of La Rochelle or Dieppe. Over 60% of these women were from urban areas, contrasting with about 28% from rural backgrounds, with the origins of the remaining group unknown. Interestingly, most of the men they married in New France were from a rural setting. On average, a Fille du roi was 23 years old when she left France.  

Before their departure, each Fille du roi was given a "trousseau" that included essential items such as a comb, a belt, a pair of shoes and shoelaces, pantyhose, gloves, a bonnet, two coiffes (a type of hood), and sewing supplies. The sewing kit contained 100 needles, a case and thimble, thread, scissors, pins, two knives, and cloth, equipping them for basic needs and tasks in their new lives in New France.

A Dangerous Passage and an Uncertain New World

The journey to New France was rough and perilous, lasting at least six weeks aboard ships crowded with passengers, crew, animals, water reserves, cannons, and various merchandise. Passengers slept in extremely cramped quarters in the ship’s hold and conditions were far from hygienic, especially with prevalent seasickness. Almost 10% of passengers died on their way to the new world.

If they were lucky enough to survive the passage to Québec City, the welcome that awaited the passengers was raucous and festive. Civil and religious authorities were on hand, as were the local inhabitants and hopeful young bachelors. The Filles du roi, aged between 16 and 40, were placed with respectable families or in nun-operated homes. The term "fille du roi" is believed to have originated from Marguerite Bourgeoys, a French nun and founder of the Congregation of Notre Dame of Montréal, who used it in 1697 or 1698 to describe the 17 "marriageable" women she was housing.  

The women were trained in domestic skills such as cooking, cleaning, and sewing to prepare them for their roles as wives and mothers. While many settled in Québec, others made their way further down the St. Lawrence River to Trois-Rivières or Montréal.

One rare privilege the Filles du roi had was a choice in who they married. In 17th century France, this certainly would not be the norm—arranged marriages were. Due to the gender imbalance in New France, these women had significant leverage in selecting their husbands, leading to quick marriages—on average, within five months of arrival. One Fille du roi, Marguerite Laverdure, married within 10 days of arrival!

The typical age for a Fille du roi at marriage was 23, while their husbands were around 27.5 years old. Financial incentives from the king, along with pressure from civil and religious authorities to marry and start families promptly, undoubtedly influenced these decisions.

Leaving a Legacy

To say that life was challenging for our founding mothers would be an understatement. The land they were given was most often wooded and needed clearing, and their “home” would have likely consisted of a ramshackle cabin that offered little protection against the harsh Canadian winters. Despite these challenges, they adapted and succeeded in their mission to increase the population of New France, aligning with the goals of Louis XIV and Colbert. The average Fille du roi gave birth to 6.4 children and continued to have children until around the age of 40. Beyond population growth, these women played a pivotal role in linguistic unification; many originated from Paris and contributed to the spread and standardization of the French language in New France, contrasting with the regional dialects or patois spoken by many earlier male settlers.

The Filles du roi account for half of the female immigrants to New France during the early years of the colony, underscoring their significant historical impact. Although they were not the sole group of French women to settle in the region, their contributions are unparalleled. The fact that a large portion of French Canadians can trace their lineage back to at least one Fille du roi justifies their designation as "founding mothers." This term aptly reflects their role in shaping the demographic and cultural fabric of early Canadian society.

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List of the Filles du roi

Experts and historians define a Fille du roi as an immigrant, single or widowed, having come to Canada between 1663 and 1673 and having received royal financial support for her transport or establishment in New France.   

Based on that definition, the PRDH lists the following 711 migrants as Filles du roi:

• Abraham, Marguerite

• Adam, Anne

• Agathe, Marie Anne

• Albert, Marie

• Allan, Marie

• Allies, Pierrette

• Amiot, Jeanne

• André, Louise

• Andrieu, Marguerite

• Arcular, Marie Ursule

• Ardion, Marie Marguerite

• Ariot, Marie Renée

• Asselin, Marie Françoise

• Aube, Françoise

• Aubert, Jeanne

• Aubert, Marie Elisabeth

• Aubineau, Suzanne

• Aubry, Jacqueline

• Aubry, Marie Anne

• Aubry, Marie Françoise

• Auger, Jeanne

• Auvray, Marie Madeleine

• Bagot, Antoinette

• Baillon, Marie Catherine

• Bailly, Catherine

• Bailly, Marie Madeleine

• Banse, Françoise

• Barbant Balan Barby, Marie

• Barbereau Barbelet, Jeanne

• Barbery, Marie Françoise

• Barbier, Jeanne

• Bardeau, Marie Louise

• Baril, Anne

• Baril, Marie

• Baron, Barbe

• Barre, Catherine

• Barre, Catherine

• Barton, Marie Marthe Françoise

• Basmont, Marie Anne

• Basset, Catherine

• Baudon, Marie Etiennette

• Bauge, Anne

• Beaudin, Marie Catherine

• Beaugrand, Marie Marguerite

• Beauregard, Marie

• Beauregard, Marthe

• Bellehache, Marie

• Bellesoeur Lucas, Anne

• Benoit, Marie Madeleine

• Bercier, Louise

• Berger, Marguerite

• Bernard, Jeanne

• Berrin, Marguerite

• Bertault, Anne

• Besche, Marie

• Beuzelin, Catherine

• Billot, Catherine

• Billot, Genevieve

• Billot, Lucrece

• Bilodeau Biloutelle, Jeanne

• Binaudiere, Marguerite

• Birette, Marie Renée

• Bizelan, Marie Françoise

• Blain, Marie Anne

• Blais Debled, Elisabeth

• Blaise, Marguerite

• Blanchard, Marie

• Blondeau, Jeanne

• Bluteau, Antoinette

• Board, Marie

• Boivin, Françoise

• Bolper, Marie Louise

• Bon, Marie

• Bonheur Bonneville, Marie

• Bonin, Nicole

• Bonneau, Hélène

• Boucault, Jeanne

• Bouchard, Louise

• Bouchard, Marie Jeanne

• Boucher, Marguerite Madeleine

• Bouet, Marie

• Bouillou, Marie

• Bourgeois, Catherine

• Bourgeois, Françoise

• Bourgeois, Jeanne

• Bourgeois, Marie

• Boutard, Marie Marguerite

• Boutet, Marie Madeleine

• Bouveau, Jeanne

• Boyer, Marie Barbe

• Branconnier, Jeanne

• Brandon, Anne

• Brault, Anne

• Bremaille, Marie

• Breval Bertin, Marie

• Briault, Marie

• Briere, Marie

• Bruneau, Catherine

• Brunet, Anne

• Buot, Marie

• Bureau, Catherine

• Burelle, Marie Jeanne

• Caille, Marie

• Caille, Marie Jeanne

• Caille Trottier, Jeanne

• Caillou, Marie Andree

• Calais, Hélène

• Campion, Marie

• Canard, Marie Madeleine

• Cantin, Jeanne

• Carbonnet, Marie Madeleine

• Carcireux, Sylvine

• Cardillon, Marguerite

• Carlier, Marie Catherine

• Cartigny, Marie

• Cartois, Henriette

• Chamfrain, Renée

• Chamois, Marie Claude

• Chancy, Marie

• Chantoiseau, Nicole

• Charbonnier Seigneur, Marie Madeleine

• Charier, Louise

• Charier Charly, Marie

• Charier Charly, Michelle

• Charmesnil, Françoise

• Charpentier, Marguerite

• Charpentier, Marguerite

• Charpentier, Marie

• Charpentier, Marie Reine

• Chartier, Jeanne

• Chartier, Jeanne

• Charton, Jeanne

• Chaton, Marie

• Chaubert Delachariere, Marguerite

• Chaumereau, Marguerite

• Cherfault, Denise Louise

• Chevalier, Françoise

• Chevalier, Jeanne Marguerite

• Chevalier, Suzanne

• Chevreau, Marie

• Chretien, Marie

• Chretien, Marie Madeleine

• Clerice, Catherine

• Coignard, Marie

• Coipel, Marie

• Colin, Anne

• Colin, Denise

• Colin, Marie Rose

• Collet, Jeanne

• Collet, Marguerite

• Compagnon, Antoinette

• Confland, Marie Françoise

• Cottin Darras, Marie Catherine

• Coudret, Marie

• Couet, Marie

• Couet, Marie Charlotte

• Coursolle Rentier, Marie Madeleine

• Cousin, Françoise

• Couture, Anne

• Couturier, Isabelle

• Cretel, Marie Elisabeth

• Croiset, Marie

• Cronier, Jeanne

• Cronier, Marie Martine

• Cure, Françoise

• Daine, Marie

• Dalone, Marie

• Daly Duplessis, Anne

• Damanee, Denise

• Damise, Claude

• Damise, Marie Anne Esther

• Damois, Marie

• Damour, Hélène

• Daubigny Orvilliers, Marguerite

• Debidquin Lachambre, Madeleine

• Deblainville, Anne

• Deboisandre, Jeanne Claude

• Deboisandre Delormelee, Catherine

• Debretigny, Marie

• Decantigny Belleau Debelleau, Catherine

• Decelles, Marie

• Decelles, Marie Madeleine

• Decelles, Marie Marguerite

• Dechard, Jeanne

• Decoquenne Debesonville, Marie Charlotte

• Defosse, Françoise

• Defosse Fausse, Jeanne

• Defoy, Marguerite

• Delacour, Marie

• Delagueripiere, Elisabeth

• Delahogue, Marie Claire

• Delaplace, Marguerite

• Delastre, Marie Adrienne

• Delaunay Delavanoie, Marie Madeleine

• Delavieville Pineault, Anne

• Delestre, Marie Anne

• Deleure Dumontier, Marie Madeleine

• Delorme, Marguerite

• Delostelneau, Marie Catherine

• Demangeon, Claude

• Dematras, Jeanne Judith

• Demontmegnier, Marie

• Denevelet, Marguerite

• Denoyon, Marie

• Deprovinlieu, Marie Marguerite

• Dequincour, Marie Anne

• Descene, Marguerite

• Deschalets, Claude

• Deschalets, Elisabeth

• Deschalets, Madeleine

• Deschamps, Anne

• Deschamps, Marie

• Deschamps, Marie

• Deschamps, Marie

• Desgranges, Marie Louise

• Deshaies, Marguerite

• Deshaies, Marie

• Desjardins, Françoise

• Desmarais, Catherine

• Desmarais, Etiennette

• Desperne, Marie Anne

• Desportes, Marie Françoise

• Despres, Marie Madeleine

• Dessaint, Marie

• Detarragon Darragon, Anne Elisabeth

• Devalois, Catherine

• Deveau, Marie Jeanne

• Dodin, Anne

• Doigt, Ambroise

• Dorange, Barbe

• Doribeau, Marie Catherine

• Doucinet, Elisabeth

• Drouet, Catherine

• Dubois, Marie

• Dubois Marechal, Marguerite

• Dubreuil Breuillet, Isabelle

• Ducharme, Catherine

• Duchemin, Marie Anne

• Duchesne, Barbe

• Ducorps Leduc, Jeanne

• Dufay, Françoise

• Dufiguier, Hélène

• Dufresne, Jeanne

• Dumont, Anne Julienne

• Dumont, Barbe

• Dumontier, Antoinette

• Dupré, Françoise

• Dupuy, Catherine

• Durand, Catherine

• Durand, Françoise

• Durand, Suzanne

• Durosaire, Espérance

• Dusaucay Debelmont, Marie Anne

• Dusson, Marguerite

• Duval, Françoise

• Duval, Marie Madeleine

• Duval, Marie Michelle

• Eloy, Catherine Antoinette

• Eloy, Marie Marguerite

• Evin Even, Marie Marguerite

• Faille Delafaye Lafaye, Marie

• Faucher, Jeanne

• Faucon, Marie

• Fauconnier, Marie Jeanne

• Faure, Louise

• Fauveau, Jeanne

• Fayet, Anne

• Ferre, Catherine

• Ferron, Marguerite

• Fievre, Marie Catherine

• Flamand, Nicole

• Flechet, Anne

• Fleurot, Marie

• Fontaine, Marie Anne

• Fontaine Dechevrainville, Marie Claude

• Fontaine Dechevrainville, Marie Madeleine

• Foubert, Anne

• Fouquet, Marie

• Fourier, Catherine

• Fourier, Jeanne

• Fresel, Elisabeth Isabelle

• Fresel, Jeanne

• Froc Frost, Marie Louise

• Gaillard, Marie

• Gaillard Duplessis, Marie Marguerite

• Galais, Anne

• Galais, Marie Anne

• Gallien Paulinier, Marie Thérèse

• Gambier, Marie Marguerite

• Gargotine, Louise

• Gateau, Catherine

• Gaumond, Marie Madeleine

• Gauthier, Marie

• Gauthier, Marie Jeanne

• Gendreau, Anne

• Genest, Marie Leonarde Jeanne

• Geoffroy, Anne

• Gilles, Marie Jeanne

• Girard, Anne

• Girard, Marguerite

• Goard, Mathurine

• Gobert Groleau, Marie Madeleine

• Godeby, Anne

• Godequin, Jeanne

• Godillon, Elisabeth

• Godon, Marie

• Goiset, Anne

• Gossard, Noella

• Goubille, Françoise

• Grandin, Jeanne

• Grandin, Marie

• Grandin Grondin, Marie

• Grandjean, Adrienne

• Grandjean, Marie Madeleine

• Granger, Catherine

• Gravois, Marie

• Griault, Jeanne

• Grimbaut, Anne

• Groisat, Jeanne

• Groleau, Marie Madeleine

• Grossejambe Grosjean, Marie Françoise

• Grusseau, Marie

• Guay, Madeleine

• Guay, Marie Madeleine

• Guedon, Marie Anne

• Guerard, Catherine

• Guerin, Madeleine

• Guerin Brunet, Marie Jeanne

• Guillaudeau, Madeleine

• Guillaume, Anne

• Guillaume, Marie

• Guillebeuf, Marie Madeleine

• Guillet, Marie

• Guillin, Marie Françoise

• Guisselin, Marie Catherine

• Guyard, Catherine

• Halle, Marie

• Halle, Marie

• Haneton, Marie Madeleine

• Hannart, Anne

• Hardy, Jeanne

• Hatanville, Marie

• Hébert, Françoise

• Hébert, Marie Louise Madeleine

• Hébert Schreiber, Marie Charles

• Hedouin, Marie Marguerite

• Holleri, Anne

• Hubert, Elisabeth

• Hubert Hébert, Marie

• Hubinet, Louise

• Huchet, Françoise

• Humelot Hardy, Catherine

• Hus, Marie

• Hutru, Perrine

• Hyardin, Marguerite

• Hyardin, Marie

Bibliography and Further Reading:

• Charbonneau, Hubert and Bertrand Desjardins, “Liste des Filles du roi du Programme de recherche en démographie historique”, Institut généalogique Drouin (https://www.prdh-igd.com/fr/les-filles-du-roi : accessed 24 Jan 2019).

• Marcel Fournier, “Des Filles du roi qui n’en sont probablement pas?”, Mémoires de la Société généalogique canadienne-française, vol. 65, booklet 281 (fall 2014) : 227-232.

• Ghislaine Gagné, “Les filles du roi”, Bulletin de la Société historique du Cap-Rouge (http://www.shcr.qc.ca/ : accessed 24 Jan 2019), number 13 (spring 2002; originally published 1993) : 6-19.

• Yves Landry, Orphelines en France, pionnières au Canada. Les Filles du roi au XVIIe siècle ; suivi d’un répertoire biographique des Filles du roi (Montréal, Québec : Leméac, 1992).

• Danielle Pinsonneault, “LES FILLES DU ROY : Humbles « filles à marier » à leur arrivée en Nouvelle-France, maintenant reconnues comme Mères de la Nation!”, Société d’histoire des Filles du Roy (http://lesfillesduroy-quebec.org/images/Article12082017_-_Les_Filles_du_Roy_Humbles_Filles_a_marier_rev.pdf ; Sep 2016 : accessed 2 Jul 2020)

• Maud Sirois-Belle, “La Salpêtrière et « les Filles du Roy » au XVIIe siècle”, Société d’histoire des Filles du Roy (http://lesfillesduroy-quebec.org; published 21 Jun 2010 : accessed 24 Jan 2019).

• Wien, Tom, and Suzanne Gousse, "Filles du Roi". In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published December 06, 2011; last modified September 08, 2016.