Bill Crant
Georgina Hussey

Excerpt from Dr. Seary's, Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, MUN 1977.

BILLARD, BILLIARD, surnames of England and France, in England ? from an Old English personal name Bileard containing the elements spear and strong (Weekley); in France from an Old German personal name containing the elements bili - soft, lovable and hard - hard, strong, or from the apheresis of the baptismal name and surname Robillard, a contraction of Robert. Dauzat denies an association with the game. (Weekley Surnames , Dauzat).

In Newfoundland:

Family tradition: Doreen (1840-1902) of Bay Bulls Arm (now Sunnyside), married 1856 (MUN Geog.).

Early instances: Robert, ? of St. John's, 1768 (DPHW 26C); Gabriel, fisherman of Red Island (Burgeo), 1840 (DPHW 101); Gabriel, John, Martin and Samuel, fishermen of Grand Bruit, 1871 (Lovell); Jean Belliard, of Port au Choix, 1873 (MUN Hist.).

Modern status: Billard, especially at Grand Bruit, Margaree and other settlements in the Burgeo-La Poile district, and at St. John's (Electors 1955); Billiard (Electors 1955) or Billard (Telephone Directory 1971) at Port au Choix.

Early Instances:

Gabrial BILLARD B: 1784, France D: JAN. 16, 1863, Grand Bruit
m. 1815, Francois, NF
Miriam DURNFORD B: 1792, Francois, NF D: AUG. 8, 1886 Grand Bruit
Father: Samuel DURNFORD
Mother: ? Ann
Children:

1 John BILLARD
MBorn: 1816 Grand Bruit, NF
Died: JUNE 1, 1899 Grand Bruit
2 Samuel BILLARD
MBorn: 1823 Grand Bruit, NF
Died: DEC. 28, 1897 Grand Bruit
3 Martin BILLARD
MBorn: C. 1828 Grand Bruit
Died: ????
4 Robert BILLARD
MBorn: 1835,Grand Bruit
Died: APR. 26, 1911, Grand Bruit
5 Francis BILLARD
FBorn: 1855, Lwr. Burgeo
Died: 1942
6 Gabriel BILLARD
MBorn: 24 May 1852 in: Grand Bruit
Died: - d 1939 bur Murray Hbr Cem, PEI
7 William BILLARD
MBorn:, b.c. 1819-824 d. Oct. 24, 1906
Died:
8 Elizabeth BILLARD
FBorn:
Died:

Georgina Hussey --ghussey@qouest.net--
wants info on
William BILLARD (son of Gabriel BILLARD and Miriam DURNFORD b.c. 1819-824 d. Oct. 24, 1906 m. (Mary Ann, Susannah, Elizabeth)