Ancient History of Surname Deserre, Rooks Co., Kansas

ROOKS COUNTY, KANSAS

Ancient History of Surname Deserre

Submitted by Larry Desaire

The Deserre family name was first found in Languedoc, a region in southern France. Our eminent family was seated in Languedoc, France since ancient times. In addition to its present boundaries, Languedoc also included Toulouse and parts of the Central Massif. Louguedoc's capital is Toulouse. Toulouse was also the capital of the ancient kingdom of Aquitaine. The Romans occupied the region in the year 120 BC. In the 5th century it was invaded by the Vandales, Sueves, and the Visigoths. Later in the 5th century, the Franks also overran Languedoc.

In the 10th century, Languedoc was ravaged by the Moslem invasions from the Moors. From the 11th and 12th century it passed through the hegemony of the Lords of Toulouse. It fell prey to the ambitions of the Kings of Aragon and of the Capetians. Languedoc was also distressed during the Hundred Years War and was severely ravaged. In the 16th century, the region also suffered from the religious conflicts between the traditional and the reformed Church.

The Deserre family name can be traced back through history to about the year 1220 A.D. Our earliest ancestor, Pierre Arnaud de Serres was found in Languedoc. Bernard de Serres was noted as the Consul of Toulouse in 1270. Garcias-Arnaud de Serre was knighted in 1271. Jean and Pierre de Serres were Knights who owned land and paid taxes.

One of our most noteworthy relatives, Bernard Deserre was acknowledged by the Pope in the fourteenth century as "being savior of the Church in Italy" for his military efforts to save the leaders of Christianity in Italy.

Our Deserre family name has been documented four times throughout history as being of royal heritage. As a result of our family’s participation in the military, many members of this ancient family were rewarded with lands, titles, and letters of patent confirming their nobility. Distinguished amongst the family were Lord Fortanie de Serre, Knight, Lord of Maure, of Belloc, of Nizan, of Rieucaze, co-Lord of Caujac and named Seneschal of Nebouzan in 1415. Francois de Serres, was a doctor and lawyer in 1532. Jean de Sern was declared a noble in 1532. In March 1654 Jean de Serres was named Lord of Lastourelle and was exempted from lodging soldiers because of services he rendered. Pierre de Serres was the Lord of Cahuzac and a Lieutenant and became a Captain of the Vaisseaux Regiment. He died in 1702. Bernard de Serres was the Lord of Lastourelle, horseman, Captain of the Royal-Vessel, and Captain of a carabineer regiment of Santerre in 1694.

Jean-Paul-Francois de Serres, Lord and Baron of Justiniac, was the ancestor from whom the Justiniac branch of this celebrated family descends. Many members of this branch participated in the wars of their times. Jean-Blaise-Alexandre-Maurice de Serres was a member of Napoleon's Guard of Honor as was Alexandre-Regis de Serres of Justiniac. Notable amongst the family name at this time was Charles-Francois-Bernard, Baron of Serres of Pontaut Lord of Baulias. This information comes from a Deserre genealogy document printed in French that gives the early history of our ancestral Deserre name connected to the Justiniacs. I am in the process of getting that document translated into English at this time.\

Here is the first translation of that document:

"The Origins In her rich manor of Poitiers, the gracious Duchess of Aquitaine, sitting tall on her couch decked with cushions of finest kid skin, listened untiringly to her favorite troubadours, the Gascon Marcabru known as Panperdut, and the Limousin Bernard de Ventadour, poor son of a servant raised by his artistic gifts to the company of princes. Like her father William, Count of Poitiers, Duke of Aquitaine and Gascony - who was one of the first troubadours -- and like her grandmother Philippa of Toulouse, Eleanor loved poetry - the songs and dances in the chivalrous and joyful atmosphere of her court.

At that time, in her far away lands of Gascony, in the territory of Chalosse, near St. Sever, Dax, Hagetmau1 and Aire sur l'Adour, lived a fine and indomitable people, country-folk and squires. Among these were the lords of Serres-Los and Serres-Gaston, our ancestors.

While their domains were modest, they were nevertheless located on the famous route from Vezelay to Saint Jacques de Compostelle and it was here that pilgrims began their last stage north of the Pyrenees Mountains, from St. Sever to Ostabat. I could say, as others have, that in the society of southern France at that time, where civilization and original culture bloomed, there was only one class of men, all equal, at least in theory, "even though placed in different spheres, and who could raise themselves through bravery, merit or virtue."

Until the 15th century, members of the family were still found on the ancestral lands: in 1476, for example, the lords of Serres-Los (today the area of Serres-Los and Arribans) and Serres-Gaston (archives of Basses Pyenees E 77) figure among those nobles of Chalosse who were part of the army sent to Spain by Louis XI in support of Alphonse V of Portugal against Isabelle of Castille. It is to be noted, incidentally, that Hagetmau has some association with history as it was the birthplace in 1554 of the beautiful and clever Diane d'Andouins, Countess of Gramont, later known as Corisande, who was for eighteen years the faithful friend and confidant of Henry IV and was referred to by Montaigne as "the great Corisande."

In the XIth and XIIth centuries, the Serres, like many noble families of the time, all possessing more energy than money, began to leave their lands in Gascony. Towards the end of the Crusade against the Cathars (commonly called the Albigensian Crusade) they formed new groups in Saintonge, in the lands of the Pyrenees, and as far away as the Rhone valley, Comtat Venaissin and the Vivarais.

Some wished to improve or extend their land holdings; others wished to keep or obtain their freedom of religion; still others chose to become soldiers or administrators of their former or new lords' territories. So it was that, in following the Viscount of Bearn with the army of Henry III of England in 1242, one group settled in Saintonge from where some of its members emigrated to Canada during the 1630s and again about 1655 along with the 1200 men of the famous Regiment of Carignan-Salieres (during the XVIIIth century the inhabitants of Saintonge and Poitiers again showed an inclination to emigrate, this time to the areas of Santo Domingo, Guyana, and India).

In various positions and for various reasons, there was a group of Pierre, Martin and Jean in the royal lands, with their constantly changing borders, of Vivarais (the king was far away, and the men were relatively free to do as they pleased). From there Fortanier left St. Sever for the area of Toulouse as did Bernard, a future consul of the Rose City [Toulouse]. The group of the Pierre-Arnauds, the Garcias-Arnauds, Pierre and Jean headed for the lands of the Count of Foix. The mercenary captain Bernardon left Serres-Los for Comtat Venaissin and from there to the wars of Italy (Historical Archives of Gironde XII; Archives of the Basses Pyrenees IV. E. 77.314.408.432; Catalog of the Roles Gascons I, French National Library Vol. 2694, File Serres - 4. 5. 7. 14. 20. 22; The Gascons in Italy, Editor G. Foix, 1885) Refer to Appendix IV.

Among the settlers in North America were the distinguished surname Deserre were Mr. Serre who settled in Carolina in 1679 with a woman and two children. Noel Serre settled in Carolina with his wife Catherine Challen in 1695. Noel Serres settled in Carolina in 1679. Joseph Serres settled in Philadelphia in 1806. George Saires at age twelve settled in the Sopmer Islands and in Bermuda in 1635. William Serres settled in Maryland in 1634. Jose Louis Sert was Architect and city Planner of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Roger de Serres, president of the Olmer de Serres company in Montreal and administrator of the Franco-Canadian Credit Foncier; and Jacques de Serres, M.O. Center, 3730 Blvd. Metropolitain Est, Montreal 455.

The Deserre family name has made significant contributions to the culture, the arts, sciences, and religion in France and New France.