The_name_deRainville

     According to investigations made, the "de Rainville" family seems to be descended from Norman nobility; however, it has been impossible to locate documents of ennoblement.

     In the "Armorial General" or "Great Heraldry Book" of France, 1696-1787, for the Precinct (district) of Caen, we find the title for M________, wife of Stephen de Rainville otherwise Ranville.

     Then a Count de Rainville, an officer of the famous French army Carignen Regiment came to serve under Montcalm and Levis in New France (Quebec) from 1755-1760 during the French and Indian War, fought between France and Great Britain. He fought with General Montcalm at Fort Ontario, Fort William Henry and Fort Ticonderoga. In 1759 lack of troops and provisions forced Montcalm to withdraw to Quebec City. He defended the city against the forces of the British general James Wolfe. Montcalm was defeated on the Plains of Abraham (just outside the walls of Quebec City), where he died the day after the battle. Subsequently, Quebec was surrendered to Great Britain, ending French power in North America. Count de Rainville returned to France after the surrender in 1760.

     At the time of the seige of Paris by the Germans in 1870, there was a Count de Rainville, Divisional Commander in the French Army under General McMahon.

     In the century in which our ancestor, Paul de Rainville lived, in the records of the Excise Court of Rouen, for the date of January 10, 1669, there is a mention of a Nicholas de Rainville.

     In the documents of the secular clergy of the Lower Seine, there is mention of a Sieur de Rainville of the Parish of Londinieres.

     It was also revealed that a Rene A. C. de Rainville, a writer, was born in Caen in 1650.

    Among other documents, mention is made of a Lieutenant de Rainville of Touques, the birthplace and home of our ancestors before coming to New France (Quebec).

     The research done by Reverend Father Joseph Rainville of San Antonio, Texas resulted in the discovery, in the great book of heraldry of France, of the coat-of-arms of Father Vincent de Rainville, registered in 1701. According to a Paris geneologist, this Father Vincent de Rainville, Parish Priest of Sommersnil, Lower Seine, was a close relative ands also a contemporary of our ancestor.

     In the Department of Vosges, there is also a hamlet called "Rainville". This municipality is exceedingly old, its foundations dating back to Roman times.

    Our ancestor and the members of his family always signed "de Rainville", both in France and in New France, a fact, which implies that the "de Rainville" family was of noble origin. The disastrous wars, which the Normans had to wage for the King's benefit, ruined numerous noble families and relegated them to the middle-class.

    It was not until after the English Conquest in 1760, that several began to write "Rainville", others "Drainville", and "Rinville", and even "Renville". Nevertheless, no matter which way we spell our name, we ought to be proud of it, because it is synonymous with dignity and courage.

We have at hand, a copy of the official act of registration of the escutcheon of the "de Rainville" family.

City of Rouen
Account Book (Register) #4
No. 342

By Order (ordinance) rendered the 18th day of the month of March of the year 1701, by my Lords of the Commissioner General of the council, you are delegated on the deed the Coat of Arms: those of Vincent of Rainville, Vicar of Sommersnil, such as here pictured and represented, afterwards to have been received, have been recorded at the Amorial General in the account book of the City of Rouen as a result of the payment of the correct amount set by the tarif and judgment of the Council, on the 20th day of November in the year 1696.

In consequence (in faith) of which the offering certificate has been delivered to Paris by US (Royal plural), Charles d'Hozier, Counsellor of The King and Guardsman (keeper) of the Amorial General of France.

The above is a translation of the official act of registration of the escutcheon of the "de Rainville" family. It is dated March 18, 1701, and signed by Charles d'Hosier who was at that time Royal Custodian of the Amorial General of France (Book of Heraldry).

The description of the family shield, shown on the previous pages is as follows:
"An azure-blue ground, with three golden acorns,
two above and one below."