Bellemare (/ˈbɛlmɑːr/; [bɛlmɑʁ]) is a common Norman surname, that means "somebody from Bellemare", name of several hamlets in Normandy (± 20). It is also one of the most common family names in Mauricie, Quebec. It is a conpound of French belle "nice, pretty" and mare "mere, lake, pond", Norman word of Old Norse origin marr "sea", finally borrowed from Norman by French around 1600 as "pond, puddle".
The Bellemares share a common ancestor with the Gélinas: Étienne Gellineau, a sargier, from La Salenderie, close to Saintes in France's Saintonge area (now known as Charente-Maritime). Gellineau married France Huguette Robert in Saint-Michel's catholic Church 27 June 1645. He settled the Mauricie area in 1658 and worked for three years as an indentured servant for Pierre Boucher, Governor of Trois-Rivières. Gellineau had three sons: Étienne, Jean-Baptiste and Pierre. Jean-Baptiste eventually took the name Bellemare.
Rituals preserved by the Bellemares include the paternal blessing (French: la benédiction paternelle). Until the mid-1980s and in some cases even to this day, it has been customary for the children and grandchildren of a Bellemare family unit to ask their patriarch to bless them on New Year's Day. The practice is not exclusive to the Bellemare Family.
Well-known Bellemares include:
Adélard Bellemare (1871–1933), Independent Conservative Member of Parliament for the district of Maskinongé from 1911 to 1917Eugène Bellemare, Liberal Member of Parliament for the district of Ottawa—Orléans from 1988 to 2004Dionel Bellemare (1880–1950), Union Nationale Member of the Legislative Assembly in Quebec from 1936 to 1939Gilles Bellemare (1932–1980), Liberal Member of the National Assembly in Quebec from 1973 to 1976Marc Bellemare, a former Liberal Cabinet Member in QuebecMaurice Bellemare (1912–1989), Union Nationale Cabinet Member in QuebecMayors and council members
Alain Bellemare, City Councillor from 1999 to 2005 and Mayor since 2005 in Saint-Paul, near Joliette, LanaudièreGilles Bellemare, Mayor of Saint-Boniface, Mauricie since 1996Ginette Bellemare, City Councillor for the District of Rigaud in Trois-RivièresJules Bellemare, Mayor of Saint-Étienne-des-Grès, Mauricie from 1977 to 1989Louise A. Bellemare, Mayor of Yamachiche, Mauricie from 1991 to 1999Michel Bellemare, City Councillor for the District of Beacon Hill-Cyrville in OttawaRoger Bellemare, Mayor of Saint-Étienne-des-Grès, Mauricie from 1973 to 1975Annie Bellemare, Canadian figure skaterPierre-Édouard Bellemare, French ice hockey wingerRose-Eliandre Bellemare, (1989 - ), French gymnast;Thomas Bellemare, Canadian defense hockey playerAlain M. Bellemare has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Bombardier Inc. since February 13, 2015Adrien Alexandre Adolphe de Carrey de Bellemare, (1824-1905), French generalEdmond Bellemare, (~1833 - ?), French worker who tried to assassinate emperor Napoléon IIIJoseph de Bellemare, (1773-1858), French politicianDiane Bellemare, Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist of the Conseil du patronat du QuébecEdward Ritchie Bellemare, Canadian diplomatGilles Bellemare, Director of the Trois-Rivières Symphony Orchestra from 1978 to 2005Pierre Bellemare, French writer and radio hostPierre-Marc Bellemare, Musical critic and Professor at Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaSerge Bellemare, environmental activist and supporter of the Green PartyComedian Jean-Louis Millette performed the role of Oscar Bellemare, a funeral director, in TV sitcom Symphorien from 1970 to 1977.
A number of family enterprises are owned by Bellemare in the Mauricie area, the most important of whom is transportation and construction business Groupe Thomas Bellemare Ltée in Yamachiche.
Places and landmarks
Bellemare is the name of many streets in the Mauricie area in Quebec, including:
Rue Bellemare, Cap-de-la-MadeleineRue Bellemare, CharetteRue Bellemare, LouisevilleRue Bellemare, Saint-Étienne-des-GrèsRue Bellemare, Trois-Rivières-OuestRue Bellemare, YamachicheMaison Bellemare is a concert hall located at 2760, rue Principale, Saint-Jean-des-Piles.
Rue Bellemare Timmins, OntarioHamlets in Normandy
Bellemare, Hamlet at le Catelier, Haute-Normandie, Seine-MaritimeBellemare, Hamlet at Cristot, Basse-Normandie, CalvadosBellemare, Hamlet at Duranville, Haute-Normandie, EureBellemare, Hamlet at Hauville, Haute-Normandie, EureBellemare, Hamlet at le Mesnil-Hardray, Haute-Normandie, EureBellemare, Hamlet at Val-de-Saâne, Haute-Normandie, Seine-Maritime