For countless North Americans researching their French-Canadian ancestry, few groups of women are as significant as the Filles du Roy. Their names appear in thousands of family trees, yet behind every marriage record lies the remarkable story of a young woman who left France to cross an ocean and help build a new society.
Their courage, resilience, and determination continue to echo through the generations. But who were these women, why did they leave France, and how did they help shape the future of New France?
What Inspired This Article
It was while continuing my research into the paternal ancestry of one of my husband’s American cousins (Jim Donndelinger) that I encountered my first Fille du Roy. (My husband David and Jim are cousins through their mothers.)
The ancestry of Jeannette Miller, Jim’s paternal grandmother, has been especially fascinating so far and a real source of new discoveries for me. A true joy for a genealogist!
I was very excited to find out that through his grandmother Jeannette Miller, Jim descends from the Dakota Sioux. He is related to Thaóyate Dúta, Little Crow III (1810–1863), a Wahpekute Dakota chief and leader in the Dakota War of 1862. Their common ancestor is Chief Četaŋwakuwamani, “Hawk that Hunts Walking” (1766–1833).
As I continued exploring Jim’s paternal grandmother’s lineage and tracing one branch after another, I eventually reached a Fille du Roy: Michelle Ouinville. That unexpected discovery immediately sparked my curiosity.
The more I learned, the more I realized that the story of the Filles du Roy extends far beyond genealogy. It is a fascinating chapter in the history of France, in the founding of New France, and in the lives of hundreds of courageous women whose descendants now number in the millions.
Oh… and did I mention that last week I discovered Marie Grandin—yet another Fille du Roy—in Jim’s ancestry?
📜 At a Glance
Period: 1663–1673
King of France: Louis XIV
Destination: New France (present-day Québec, Canada)
Women sent: About 770–800
Purpose: Encourage permanent settlement and family life in the colony.
A Quick Historical Context
By the early 1660s, New France remained a fragile colony of only a few thousand inhabitants. Although the colony possessed vast lands and abundant natural resources, one major obstacle threatened its future: there were far more men than women. Without families, the population could not grow naturally.
In 1663, King Louis XIV launched an ambitious immigration program to encourage permanent settlement. Over the following decade, until 1673, the French Crown financed the voyage of approximately 770 to 800 young women and helped them establish new lives in New France. Because the king paid for their passage and provided financial assistance, they became known as the Filles du Roy—the “King’s Daughters.”
Far from being a single, uniform group, the Filles du Roy came from many different regions of France and from a variety of social backgrounds. Some were orphans, others were daughters of artisans, merchants, or farmers, and many had been raised in charitable institutions. After arriving in New France, most married within weeks or months, received a dowry, and laid the foundations for families whose descendants would eventually number in the millions throughout Canada, United States, and beyond.
Dispelling a Common Misconception
One of the most enduring misconceptions about the Filles du Roy is that they were prostitutes, when in reality they were carefully selected women whose passage to New France was supported by the French Crown.
Although only about 770 to 800 women made the journey, their descendants today number in the millions, making the Filles du Roy among the most influential women in the history of New France. Their legacy lives on every time a genealogist discovers one of their names in a family tree.
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🌿 Genealogy
Here are the links to several pages on my Geneanet tree related to individuals, events or places mentioned in this post: (FYI: on Geneanet, the little “green circle” on an individual’s image indicates my direct lineage with the individuals).
Note: some individuals or events might be “alone” on my tree but check links to other pages.
- Louis XIV (1638-1715)
- Les Filles du Roy (“King’s Daughters”)
- Sioux People
- Little Crow III (1810-1863)
- Dakota War of 1862
A few “Filles du Roy” encountered during my research (so far):
- Michelle Ouinville (1647-1700) – Jim’s ancestor
- Marie Grandin (ca 1651-1715) – Another of Jim’s ancestor
- Catherine Paulo (ca 1646-1721) – Hillary Clinton’s ancestor
- Jeanne Ducorps (1649-1727) – Another ancestor of Hillary Clinton
- Madeleine Niel (ca 1651-1732) – Another ancestor of Hillary Clinton
- Catherine Basset (1651-1716)
A few “History” pages linking to other individuals and events:
My French Lineage 