Huguenot

COLBERT is said to be of French Huguenot origin, many Colbert families fled into exile many years ago and scattered themselves far and wide, indeed many settled in Ireland , where many Colbert's find they have historic links. To read more on Huguenot exiles visit the Huguenot Webring.

However, COLBERT is also found in Southern Ireland in the 1400s, long before the Huguenot era. It is possible, that these families came from either England, France or Scotland. The COLBERT surname is well known in South Munster. This name is said to have come to Ireland from England.

THE MEANING OF 'HUGUENOT' ?

The origin of the term ‘Huguenot’ remains steeped in mystery. The Duke of Guise, a bitter opponent of Protestantism in the 16th century, claimed that it derived from the German Eldgenosen (confederates bound together by oath). The spelling Huguenot may however have been influenced by the personal name Hugues, perhaps inspired by Besancon Hugues, an early Protestant leader. Certainly ‘Huguenot’ itself was a French surname in the 14th and 15th century although there is no association with any one individual. Another explanation connects the term with King Huguet’s gate at Tours, which was supposed to be a meeting place for local Protestants.
Whatever the true explanation, the name was in common use to describe French Protestants by the 1560s.

The above is taken from Family History Monthly February 2004 Number: 89 page 38 written by Ian Maxwell edited by Jen L Colbert-Davies for the Colbert One Name Study.

Arrival of the Huguenots:

The Huguenots were French Protestants who fled to Holland and Britain in their thousands in the 16th and 17th centuries. There were two main influxes:

In 1572, after the St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, when as many as 70, 000 Huguenots were killed by order of Charles IX:

Then in 1685, after the revocation of the 1598 Edict of Nantes, which had granted religious toleration to Protestants.

When the Huguenots came to Britain in the 16th and 17th centuries, they brought their trades and capital with them. Skilled craftsmanship coupled with sound business sense soon led to the development of thriving industries, which greatly benefited Britain’s economy.

“The above is taken from the Reader’s Digest, 'Explore your family's past', page 265 ISBN: 0-276-42446-8 for use in researching Colbert Huguenot history”

“The following is also taken from the Reader’s Digest, Explore your family’s past ISBN: 0-276-42446-8”

[Page 262-263]

Huguenot Families:

In 16th-century Europe a desire to rid the Church of corruption led to the Reformation and, ultimately, the separation of the Protestant and Roman Catholic churches. This prompted the persecution of Protestants by the Roman Catholic authorities on the Continent, and the resulting tide of refugees, at first unwelcome in Britain, settled in the Low Countries. During the reign of Edward VI (1547 – 53), however, English Protestantism became more firmly established and many exiles found a new home in Britain.

Records of Protestants in exile:

In 1571 two surveys of aliens living in London were taken. These listed the names of immigrants and sometimes their place of origin and occupation. This information has been published in calendar form and is held at the PRO in classes SP10, SP12, SP31, SP32: they are also available at reference libraries.

Huguenot Records:

More information on Huguenots are held at the PRO in the Privy Council Miscellaneous Unbound Papers (class PC1) mainly dating from 1700, and Privy Council Registers (class PC2) dating from 1540. These papers include notes on applications for denization (the granting of limited privileges of citizenship) and policy papers on matters such as the raising of money to assist refugees. The registers are indexed and Huguenots are listed under ‘French Protestants’.

Refuges in Ireland

Huguenot churches in Ireland were either part of the Church of Ireland or were Non Conformist. The Non Conformist Churches kept their own records. Some Irish registers have been published by the Huguenot Society. Please view the 'Colbert & Ireland' page for more information on Ireland

Significant dates of French immigration into Britain

1066 – William the Conqueror arrived from Normandy to take hold of the English throne.

1550 – Edward VI granted a charter permitting immigrants & strangers of the reformed religion (Church of England) the right to their own religious services in England. Many French Churches were established in Britain as a result of this charter.

1550 – Threadneedle Street London French Church was founded.

1572 – St Bartholomew’s Massacre

1598 – Edict of Nantes granted French Protestants toleration, some refugees decided to stay in France & as a result immigration to Britain slowed.

1661 – Edict of Nantes erosion of the rights granted to French Protestants. In turn Refugees began leaving France again.

1685 – Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. This was the main wave of French Huguenot immigration

1750 – persecutions in the South of France (Daupine especially) brought many more French Huguenot refugees.

1789 – French Revolution began.

1793 / 4 – Anyone opposing the regime’s Government was executed. Many refugees left France.

1793 – French Revolutionary War began against Britain, Netherlands & Spain. This then merged into the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815)

1945+ - World War II many French people settled in Britain (mainly London area)