The Filles du Roi, or King’s Daughters, were approximately 800 young women who arrived in New France between 1663 and 1673 with support from King Louis XIV. Their migration was intended to encourage settlement and family formation in the colony.
Who were they?
They were not literally the king’s daughters. The group included women from different backgrounds, many from modest circumstances. The Crown generally covered transportation and provided assistance connected with settlement and marriage.
Choice, hardship, and marriage
Their stories should not be reduced to a romantic legend. The women crossed the Atlantic, evaluated potential husbands, and built lives under difficult colonial conditions. Individual experiences varied widely, and surviving records do not support treating every story as identical.
Their legacy
Many French Canadians and North Americans can trace ancestry to one or more Filles du Roi. Genealogical research should use parish registers, contracts, and reputable historical databases rather than unsourced family trees.
Visitors interested in this period can deepen the context in Old Quebec and at institutions interpreting New France. Pair the history with our guide to Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral.