Heritage of surname Crant, Canada?

Question

My grandmother is Canadian (I think around Quebec) and her maiden name was Crant.. is there any way to know whether she was of French or British descent?


Also.. does anyone know the heritage of someone with the last name Powell (Virginia), or Hanks (Alabama)?

Edit: My grandmother's maiden name was Dianne Crant, grandfather Richmond Hepburn Powell (Virginia), Opal Hanks (Evergreen County, Alabama), Jean Hanks Johnson (Escambia County, Alabama)

Answer 1

Revised answer (12/24/2007 at 2:50 p.m. CST):

. . . A separate web site from Ancestry.com listed below indicates that "Crant" is a surname unique to Newfoundland. Everything I've found also indicates that your grandmother was most probably of British rather than French descent . . .


PS Thanks for the added details. I've gone back to Ancestry.com and looked up the Crant family.

Your grandmother, Carol Diana Crant, was born 25 Oct 1936, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. She died 7 Jul 1999 in Orlando, Orange, Florida. She married Richmond Hepburn Powell, who was born on 30 Dec 1931 in Miami, Dade, Florida.

Your great grandfather, Harold Crant, was born 28 Jul 1911 in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, and died 5 Jun 1968 in Florida. He was married to Millie Giffin (born Feb 23, 1915, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada--died 16 Mar 1999 in Fort Myers, Lee, Florida).

Your great great grandfather, John Thomas Cant (born 18 Mar 1885 in Gaultois, Newfoundland, Canada--died 18 Oct 1976 in Fort Myers, Lee, Florida) was married to Julia Clara Retief (born 14 Oct 1890 in Bay St. George, Newfoundland, Canada--died Feb 3, 1974 in Fort Myers, Lee, Florida).

Your great--great-great grandfather John Cant (born 1842 in Gaultois, Newfoundland, Canada) married Elizabeth Bridget McDonald (born Nov 1858 in Gaultois, Newfoundland, Canada), the daughter of James McDonald (born 1815 in Gaultois, Newfoundland).

Your great-great-great -great grandfather, Thomas Cant (born 1809 in Gaultois, Newfoundland, Canada--died 1869 in Burgeo, Newfoundland) married a Martha Foote (born 1810 in Gaultois, Newfoundland, Canada--died 1868 in Burgeo, Newfoundland, Canada).

Now for the Powells: First of all, remember the name John Dalrymple Powell!

------Your grandfather, Richmond Heburn Powell, was the son of John Dalrymple Powell, your great grandfather (25 Jul 1886 in Virginia--1 Jan 1971 in Fort Myers, Lee, Florida).

------His dad, your great-great grandfather, was Leigh Richmond Powell (born 10 Dec 1855 in Virginia and died 5 Jun 1918 in Virginia; he married Cora Mauphin Eastwood).

------ His father, your great-great great grandfather, was also a John Dalrymple Powell (29 Aug 1828 in Winchester, Virginia to 29 May 1898 in Virginia); he married Annie Luke Hepburn (born 7 Dec 1835 in Washington, D. C. ).

------The John Dalrymple Powell born in 1828 was the son of William Alexander Powell (born 24 Jul 1798 in Middleburg, Loundon, Virginia--died 2 Oct 1870 in Richmond, Virginia)--your great, great, great, great grandfather. He married Lucy Peachy Lee (1804-1890).

I'll let someone else look up the Hanks' family tree.

Answer 2

I have Virginia Powell lineage. I guarantee, most of the VA Powells are good reason for a valium. Several are waaaay back, and no proof offered or known available, simply because there were so many.
If you want to send me a note via my profile, I might be able to help. You can also repost with specific person and where you are stuck (time and county if possible) and see what can be pulled out. My group was in Franklin co, VA prior to 1800.

Answer 3

From the evidence I can find, the Crant family of Canada was originally Irish. If you have a date of birth, I may be able to do better. But these are the closest records I can find for you:

Name: Carol Diana Crant
Arrival Date: 12 Aug 1948
Birth Date: 26 Oct 1936
Birthplace: Niagara Falls Ont
Gender: Female
Race/Nationality: Irish

Port of Arrival: Niagara Falls, New York, USA
Accompanied by: Father Harold Crant
Departure Contact: Grandfather Grandpa J B Christian

Name: Carole Diane Crant
Arrival Date: 25 Nov 1938
Age: 2
Birth Date: 25 Oct 1936
Birthplace: Niagara Falls Ont
Birth Country: Canada
Gender: Female
Race/Nationality: Irish

Port of Arrival: Niagara Falls, New York, USA
Accompanied by: Father Harold; Mother Mildred
Departure Contact: Grandfather Grandpa John Crant
Record has photo?: No