According to Geneanet, even at its most popular in 1619, 1647, and 1875 it only accounted for 0.01% of the names used in the family trees published on Geneanet.
It was used primarily in France (23,000), with 18,000 of those being in the Marseille region. The next most popular place for it was Quebec, Canada (17,000), with the majority being around Quebec city.
Were they named after Elzéar Bédard, a lawyer, judge, politician, mayor, Patriote (born 24 July 1799 in Québec, Lower Canada; died 11 August 1849 in Montréal, Canada East)? Depending on where you look Elzear is the patron saint of farming, of Christian gentlemen, of tertiaries (a lay associate of certain Christian monastic organizations).
I don't know why they were given this name, but I think it's unlikely that any of those were the reason.
My 3rd great-grandfather, Elzear M. was born in 1850 in Montréal, Quebec. He was a day labourer, a worker who did whatever physical jobs he could find, usually hired for just days or weeks at a time.
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| Joseph, baby Marie-Delia, and Corinne c. 1888 |
Elzear married Corinne Aube on May 29, 1882, when he was 32 years old and she was 16. Her parents were living in Albany, New York so her uncle, Belone Aube, gave her away. When their son Joseph Amedee M. (my 2nd great-grandfather) was born on May 20, 1885, in Montréal, Quebec the Canadian Pacific Railroad was under construction. His daughter Marie-Delia was born on January 14, 1887 and passed away on March 16, 1889, at the age of 2. She shared a name with a maternal aunt.
Elzear's wife Corinne passed away on July 9, 1889, in Montréal, Quebec, at the age of 23. [2] They had been married 7 years. He married Louise Sophie Verrault that same year.
Little Joseph was only 3 when his little sister died, and 4 when he suffered the loss of his mother.
The story is told that after his mother died he lived in an orphanage - Montford in the Laurentians (Roman Catholic Institution). He ran away from there with a cousin and lived with an aunt in Schenectady, New York. He worked in a General Electric plant there. It is said he played the violin.
Joseph married Jennie McKeiver (marriage date unknown), also an orphan. Born on February 22, 1884 in New York, Jennie had lived in an institution for the blind (though I don't know if she herself was blind) on 9th Ave in New York City from birth until 11 or 12 years old. When she developed pneumonia she was sent to live on a farm in Glenville or Charlton, New York with Margaret Hayes, who later adopted her.
Joseph and Jennie's son (my great-grandfather) Marlen Elzear was born on September 20, 1907, in Schenectady, New York, USA. Sometime after May 1908 they returned to Canada and their son Herbert Emerson was born in March 1909 in Quebec City, Quebec. At the 1911 Census Joseph was living in the Jacques-Cartier District of Quebec. His daughter Margaret McKeiver was born on January 5, 1912, in Montréal, Quebec.
Canada’s entry into World War I in August 1914 would likely have transformed daily life for Joseph and his family.
Joseph Amedee M. died on September 25, 1957, in Montréal, Quebec, when he was 72 years old. Jennie died less than 3 years later, on January 5, 1960.
Elzear's wife Corinne passed away on July 9, 1889, in Montréal, Quebec, at the age of 23. [2] They had been married 7 years. He married Louise Sophie Verrault that same year.
Little Joseph was only 3 when his little sister died, and 4 when he suffered the loss of his mother.
The story is told that after his mother died he lived in an orphanage - Montford in the Laurentians (Roman Catholic Institution). He ran away from there with a cousin and lived with an aunt in Schenectady, New York. He worked in a General Electric plant there. It is said he played the violin.
Joseph married Jennie McKeiver (marriage date unknown), also an orphan. Born on February 22, 1884 in New York, Jennie had lived in an institution for the blind (though I don't know if she herself was blind) on 9th Ave in New York City from birth until 11 or 12 years old. When she developed pneumonia she was sent to live on a farm in Glenville or Charlton, New York with Margaret Hayes, who later adopted her.
Joseph and Jennie's son (my great-grandfather) Marlen Elzear was born on September 20, 1907, in Schenectady, New York, USA. Sometime after May 1908 they returned to Canada and their son Herbert Emerson was born in March 1909 in Quebec City, Quebec. At the 1911 Census Joseph was living in the Jacques-Cartier District of Quebec. His daughter Margaret McKeiver was born on January 5, 1912, in Montréal, Quebec.
Canada’s entry into World War I in August 1914 would likely have transformed daily life for Joseph and his family.
Joseph Amedee M. died on September 25, 1957, in Montréal, Quebec, when he was 72 years old. Jennie died less than 3 years later, on January 5, 1960.
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| Marlen Elzear |
Marlen Elzear made his way back to the U.S. and married Ruby Elizabeth Rosina Wade in Detroit, Michigan, USA, on February 5, 1926, when he was 18 years old and she was 21 years old. I'm not sure what brought Ruby to the U.S. as she had immigrated to Canada at age 13 after her mother died in England.
Marlen Elzear was a machinist, and his job may have included running power-driven metal-cutting, boring and grinding machines set up to make many identical metal parts.
His daughter May Gloria Jennie was born on December 7, 1926, in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Between then and 1928 they immigrated back to Canada and their son Marlen Sidney (my grandfather) was born on August 13, 1928, in Montréal, Quebec.
Marlen Elzear must have paid a visit to the U.S. as he's recorded as having returned to Canada from the U.S. in November 1929. He had $500 with him and $175 worth of personal effects. He is noted as having previously been in Montreal, Canada from 1908 to 1925. [3]
Marlen Elzear died tragically in a motorcycle accident on March 29, 1930, in Montréal, Quebec, when he was only 22 years old. He had been married 4 years and his children were 3 and 1 years old.
Ruby never remarried and died on May 26, 1983, in Montréal, Quebec, when she was 78 years old.
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Sources:
1 & 2. Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967
3. Border Crossings: From U.S. to Canada, 1908-1935
Marlen Elzear was a machinist, and his job may have included running power-driven metal-cutting, boring and grinding machines set up to make many identical metal parts.
His daughter May Gloria Jennie was born on December 7, 1926, in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Between then and 1928 they immigrated back to Canada and their son Marlen Sidney (my grandfather) was born on August 13, 1928, in Montréal, Quebec.
Marlen Elzear must have paid a visit to the U.S. as he's recorded as having returned to Canada from the U.S. in November 1929. He had $500 with him and $175 worth of personal effects. He is noted as having previously been in Montreal, Canada from 1908 to 1925. [3]
Marlen Elzear died tragically in a motorcycle accident on March 29, 1930, in Montréal, Quebec, when he was only 22 years old. He had been married 4 years and his children were 3 and 1 years old.
Ruby never remarried and died on May 26, 1983, in Montréal, Quebec, when she was 78 years old.
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Sources:
1 & 2. Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967
3. Border Crossings: From U.S. to Canada, 1908-1935
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