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Here are several theories to the origins and expansion of the FOURQUET surname.
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Theories to FOURQUET origins |
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Origins of the Name Fourquet?
Fourquet was derived from the Latin word "Furca or Fourche", the French surname Fourquet can be defined as a kind of scoop, spoon or shovel used for mixing mash in drinking establishments like bars or pubs(1). A copper or brass rake or shovel (2), pierced with holes, used to stir the mash in holding tanks (3)."
The "fourquet" (or mashing rake) was traditionally used by brewers to process water and malted grains in vats of mash to convert the starch into fermentated sugar. Pubs, translated from the French word brasserie, manually brewed their own spirits in the early days. They mixed the unfermented juice used to make wine, or the fermented juice for the wine itself, in mash tubs with a "fourquet". This would conclude that a "fourquet" was an implement used in the manufacture of spirits and in all probability was first given an ancestor who handled the utensil, making it of occupational origin.
Today, in France, There are still about 340 Fourquets in the Pyrenees Orientales, 250 Hautes Pyrenees and 132 in Haute Garonne. The remainder scattered throughout France, and all over the world. This is rather odd because the name is of Norman origin, yet we will find only a few in Normandy and Picardy.
Where does it come from?
The FOURQUET family surname is quite rare even in France. There are only 2,000 persons listed of that name there today, with the majority in the area of the Pyrenees. The following is breakdown of Fourquet's found in France:
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As most of you already know, the surname FOURQUET has French origins....but what does it mean? How did the name come about?
Our names are one of the most personal possessions we have, differentiating us from one another. In ancient times, people were identified by single names. Later in the XIIth century as families grew and moved on and about, defining one's family identity became important and more permanent. The ways that family names were conceived have been different from place and place. In European countries, like many other countries, family names originated from several sources which are categorized in the following:
1) Locality Names: These names were given according to where the progenitors lived. Ancestors may have lived close to or in an area noted by some landmark or natural site. Names like Rios (rivers), Del Valle (of the valley), Torres (towers), Arenas (sands), Acosta (the coast) and Cuevas (cave) may have come to be in this manner.
2) Occupational: These are names derived from an ancestor's occupation or tools of the trade. Examples are: Mercado (Market place), Guerrero (warrior), Carillo (cart) Toro (bull) &Tirado (marksman).
3) Patronymic: These are names that originate from a head of household or fathers name. Very familiar with surnames like: Rodriguez (son of or family of Rodrigo), Alvarez (family of Alvaro), Ramirez (family of Ramiro), Martinez (family of Martin) and Sanchez (family of Sancho).
4) Characteristics: Names given to people based on marks of appearance includes surnames like: Moreno or Negron (dark skinned), Rubio (blonde) and Blanco (White).
5) Other Sources: Particularly in the Hispanic culture there has been a large number of surnames pertaining to the religious beliefs. Spain was a devoutly Catholic country so it wasn't surprising for people of faith to give themselves names like: De La Cruz (of the cross), Iglesias (churches), Santos (saints) and DeJesus (of Jesus).
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