History et Genealogy of family LATIL,

in Provence and in Louisiana,

since the 15th Century.

FAMILIES LATIL

ORIGIN.

"Latil" is the name of an ancient family, originating in Provence, France.

Latil represents a name originating from the Latin "tilia" (tilleul), designating a place plants, tilleuls. This name may have became a patronyme or family name in the distant past.

Alternatively, according to certain hypotheses, Latil would be a matronyme (name given by a mother to his descent), " la Til " that is the wife of Til (or de Thil). Being rare Til, one is sent back on the word Thil or Tilh, usual especially in the North of France, meaning "the  lime tree". The name " la Til " is possible, but rare in the North of France. Now, in the South of France, this origin is not possible, because there is a main rule which has to apply here : to indicate a wife when one uses the name of the husband, one feminizes it: it is unthinkable to say " la Til ", it would be necessary to say " la Tilba ", or " la Tillo ".

It seems more logical to see in " Latil ", the radical "lat" and the suffix " - il ".

For the radical: the adjective "lat" means "wide" in old Provençal, but noun "lat" means " the cöté, the side " and verb " lata " wants to say " latter, to furnish with slats " in Provençal French.

For the suffix: this suffix " -il " became archaic and goes back up certainly to high Moyen-Age. The suffix does not modify native sense of the word. It has the sense of an observation, a mark of a state.

In conclusion:

If the name " Latil " was formed with the adjective "lat", the first which carried it had to have a wide physical appearance and trapu,

If the name was formed with the noun "lat", or with the verb " lata ", then we have a man with the physical appearance in shape of slat, long and thin as the side, the side of a slat.

The name pronounces itself Làti in Provencal french.

There are differents forms od the spelling : Latil, de Latil, Latyl,  and even Laty, Latty, Latie, Latille, Lattye.

The Latil family, native of Les Mees, formed several branches :

- that of the lords of Entraigues, of Villosc, and of Convertis,

- that of the lords of Chasteuil, of Taloire, of Soleis, of Bourguet, of Sausses and of Gévaudan.

a Latil family were established in Louisiana, in New France.

a Latil family were established in Marseilles.

Any Latil of different tree stumps were distinguished everywhere.

(last update : 01.18.07 )