“Vouloir, c’est pouvoir”: Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way

Celebrating French Heritage Month

July is French-American Heritage Month for the United States, a time dedicated to recognizing the many ways French settlers, immigrants, and their descendants have shaped our nation's story.

Today, nearly 12 million Americans claim French or French-Canadian ancestry, making this one of our most significant ethnic populations. Of these, approximately two million people continue to speak French at home, preserving linguistic traditions passed down through generations. When we include Creole communities—whose language stems from French roots—these numbers climb by another three-quarters of a million citizens.

French History in America

Family historians will find fascinating research opportunities in several key periods of history. The 1778 Treaty of Amity and Commerce, signed by Benjamin Franklin in Paris, marked formal recognition of American independence by France. This alliance brought many French military advisors and volunteers to American shores, some of whom remained to establish family lines.

The great wave of French-Canadians migrating south into New England mill towns during the 19th and early 20th centuries created communities that maintained distinct cultural practices for generations. Meanwhile, French explorers such as Samuel de Champlain and Jacques Marquette opened up vast territories, establishing settlements that became the foundations for countless family stories.

A reproduction of a painting depicting the signing of the two treaties; Charles Elliott Mills, U. S. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs,

French Populations in the U.S.

Do you have French ancestry?  Focus your research efforts on specific regions where French influence runs deepest. Densely populated California currently hosts the largest number of people with French ancestry, while Louisiana maintains its unique Creole and Cajun cultures.  Maine claims the largest proportion of people identifying as having French ancestry, at 25 percent, reflecting its proximity to Quebec and historical ties to French Canada.

Cities across the continent bear French names – from Montpelier, Vermont, to Boise, Idaho, to Quebec and Montreal, to tiny villages like Versailles, Illinois (which, I shall tell you, is pronounced “Vur-sales”) – often signal areas where French settlers established early communities. 

French Traditions and Culture

French immigrants brought distinctive traditions that genealogists often encounter in family documents and stories. Culinary practices, religious observances, and artisanal skills passed from parent to child created lasting family customs. The wagon wheel rug-making tradition of French-Canadian families in upstate New York exemplifies how craft knowledge was passed down across generations and borders.  You can read more about the wagon wheel rug tradition (and find patterns) here: https://applewoodhandwovens.com/wagon-wheel-rug

Researching French Ancestors

Several institutions support French genealogical research. The Alliance Française has many local offices and provides a cultural context for family histories. Regional museums, such as the Kent-Delord House in Plattsburgh, New York, preserve artifacts and records from French immigrant families who achieved success in the United States.

The Kent-Delord House Museum in Clinton County, New York. It was built in 1797. Photo courtesy of Akuchling, CC BY-SA 3.0

For Quebec connections, Château Ramezay in Montreal offers extensive historical resources, while Fort Ticonderoga preserves military records from French colonial and Revolutionary War periods that often mention civilian families.

How to Honor Your French Ancestors

This July, consider ways to discover, honor, and explore your family's French connections. Visit local historical societies in areas with French settlement patterns. Examine family recipes, photographs, and heirlooms for clues about regional origins in France or French Canada. Connect with other researchers through French-American cultural organizations that often maintain genealogical resources and expertise.

By exploring these connections, genealogists help preserve not only individual family stories but also the broader narrative of how diverse immigrant communities became what we know as our community today.

About Kate Penney Howard

Kate Penney Howard is a genetic genealogist and speaker specializing in endogamy and breaking down challenging research barriers with DNA. She brings decades of experience in family research and has successfully solved hundreds of genetic genealogy cases. She is also a writer, speaker, and pastor and is the head of Genealogical Helper.