The other set of Quebec DNA matches that I have investigated relate to the surname Jourdain. I have 15 distant DNA matches to the Jourdain surname of which 13 are linked to Quebec with many of these links extending back to the 17th century.

Interestingly, the two Jourdain links that do not trace back to Quebec are linked to Lyme Regis, Dorset. Lyme Regis was the home of Ignatius Jordain (1561 – 1640) who was an English merchant and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1621 and 1629.  In 1576, his employer sent him to Guernsey, where he was converted to puritanism. Two of his Lyme Regis cousins, John and Silvester Jourdain, played significant roles in the East Indies trade and the colonization of the Somers Islands (Bermuda) respectively (see www.historyofparliamentonline.org ).  While in India John Jourdain had dealings with a Richard Newell (see following letter from Nathaniel Courthope to Captain John Jourdain [in Bantam]) dated June 14th. 1614):

Captain Larkin sent Mr. Sophony, Richard Newell and [one] man more up the river of Landucke in a small prow with 4 [of the] blacks, thinking to settle a factory in the said place. [But they] were repulsed by the Dieackes and so returned without [ ] of the Landucke men (East India Co. Records).

In addition, I have researched the Newells of Lyme Regis, Dorset and Uplyme, Devon (seperated by 2 km) including William Newell of Uplyme, Devon who died at sea after writing his Will in 1610. Administration documents for his Will identify William’s wife’s family name as Jermyn which might be Jourdain.

DNA Matches Jourdain of France:

mrsjakes1965 Shared DNA: 16 cM across 2 segments  Marguerite Jourdain B:12 Nov 1648 Notre-Dame du Bois-Robert, Dieppe, Normandie, France D:19 May 1720 St Sulpice, Quebec,

George R. Sinfield Shared DNA: 8 cM across 1 segments

Guillaume Jourdain B:7 December 1651 Prin Deyrancon, Niort, Saintes, Saintonge, FRANCE D:19 Fev 1724 St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Levy, Lauzon, Levis, Quebec. Also Catherine Beauchamp B:24 Jul 1666 Montréal, Quebec, Canada D:3 April 1719 Pointe-aux-Trembles, Québec;

PierreLefebvre838 Shared DNA: 6 cM across 1 segments  ; Guillaume Jourdain B:1653 Niort, Saintes, Saintonge, France D:19 Février 1724 Lévis, Qc, Canada. Also Le Jeune, Acadia; Roberge QC linked to Quebec Noels