Origins of surname
This name is puzzling. A literal translation is 'from the ponds', or pools, suggesting somebody living by ponds, but none of our usual sources has a reference to the name, yet it is quite a common surname in French records, particularly in the Loire area of the country. The closest name for which we have a derivation is Desmars, which sounds as if it should have the same origin, but is said to mean someone from a locality called les Mars. It is possible that Desmarés is a corruption of Desmarais (the pronunciation with an accented é is identical) which means from the marches
Further research which led to the extended tree below has revealed that the name is most common in Normandy and is, indeed, believed to be derived from the old French mare, meaning 'pond'
Early records
The first appearance of this surname in Jersey records was the baptism of Guillaume, son of Francois Desmares and Esther Dolbel, in St Helier in 1718. His brother Francois was baptised in 1721, but there was then a gap of 130 years before the first child of Pierre Francois Desmares and Esther Mourant was baptised in Grouville
Variations
- Desmares
- Des Mares
- Des Marres
- Desmarais
- Marais, a separate family in Jersey, with its own page
Family records
Church records
- Desmares baptisms in Jersey
- Desmares marriages in Jersey (groom)
- Desmares marriages in Jersey (bride)
- Desmares burials in Jersey
Family trees
Great War service
Notes on our list, abbreviations used etc
- Francis Arthur Desmares (1896- ) (St S) son of Francis and Clara Eliza, OV, Lieutenant, RFA, wounded
Occupation records
Family wills
These wills created by members of the Desmares family are now held by Jersey Archive. By visiting the archive site and using the names, dates and reference numbers shown here, it is possible to view a copy of each will. You will have to subscribe to the Archive's online service to do this. To find out more about this collection, which covers the period from 1663 to 1980, and how to search for your family's wills there, visit our Jersey wills page
- Desmares : Amy Gertrude , of Grasmere, Longueville, Grouville - 17/Jun/1977 , 23/Sep/1977 , D/Y/B1/266/12
- Desmares : Clara Eliza , nee Le Couilliard, New York Villa, Longueville, St Saviour, widow - 23/Sep/1930 , 28/Apr/1939 , D/Y/A/104/107
- Desmares : Eliza Jane , Newfield, No 4, Green Road, St Clement - 27/Feb/1936 , 19/Dec/1944 , D/Y/A/113/31
- Desmares : Evelyn Renouf , of Vale View, Bagot, St Saviour - 4/Sep/1974 , 12/Mar/1980 , D/Y/B1/318/9
- Desmares : Francis , St Saviour - 6/Oct/1898 , 11/Jan/1924 , D/Y/A/84/4
- Desmares : Jane Eliza , wife of Alfred Herbert Hamon, of Vale View, Bagot, St Saviour - 26/May/1954 , 14/Feb/1972 , D/Y/B1/170/47
- Desmares : John , Grouville - 25/Apr/1927 , 7/Jan/1930 , D/Y/A/90/6
- Desmares : John Francis Philip , of Grasmere, Longueville, Grouville - 18/Aug/1965 , 7/Nov/1973 , D/Y/B1/197/17
- Desmares : Marjorie Clara , wife of Leslie Thomas Anthoine, of Longueville, Vingtaine de Grande Longueville, St Saviour - 31/Dec/1969 , 6/Feb/1970 , D/Y/B1/141/47
- Desmares : Philip Mourant , of the British Hotel, Broad Street, St Helier - 20/Dec/1965 , 20/Dec/1965 , D/Y/B1/92/50
Burial records
Family gravestones
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