This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/0lABAEB/116.1 Message Board Post: Hello, a bit of info that might be of help.First of all, vermont used to be french as the name vert mont suggests which in French means green mountain, it was annexed to the US approx 200 yrs ago. there was also a great migration from the province of quebec towards New England in the 1860s due to economic difficulties in Lower Canada your ancestors probably immigrated at that time. my own potvin ancestors came from France to Quebe in 1756 under name of De La Garde (Nicholas) from Poitou whose inhabitants are called Poitevins from which derives our common family name of Potvin fro some unknown reason it was changed to this. In Canada Potvin is a very widespread name with a concentration of Potvins in the Saguenay region of Lac St Jean. If you wish to find your ancestors there is a good chance that they originated in France and immigrated to New France (Quebec) and then to Vermont. I hope that these tidbits of info may help , by the way Michel Potvin is common in my family in fact one of my brothers bears this name . God Bless from Wilfrid Potvin Canada