Joseph Bonneau dit LaBécasse (1649-1701)

This Joseph Bonneau is much more frequently mentioned on the web than me. Since I've managed to overtake him as the #1 Google hit for "Joseph Bonneau," I felt like I should give him a mention.

His name translates (seriously) to Joseph "The Woodcock" Bonneau, which has to be among the greatest nicknames ever. He got the name, according to tradition, because his family was well-known for hunting snipe (woodhen) in France. Snipe are notorious as the most difficult birds to hunt, hence the expressions "snipe hunt" and "wild goose chase," and the word sniper. It's not clear if the nickname is because of actual snipe-hunting ability or if it is facetious, but I would love to have a nickname like that.

He immigrated to Québec in 1670 and had fifteen children, and most Bonneaus in North America can trace their ancestry back to him according to many genealogy websites (here's the official Bonneau genealogy site in English). I should look into it, I'm not sure if I am related to him or not, but I do know I was named after my great-grandfather and not him.

In addition to all the interest from the genealogists and the awesome nickname, he has at least two monuments in Québec:

"In Memory of Joseph Bonneau and Madeleine Duchesne, the first inhabitants of this land, on the 300th anniversary of their marriage, July 29 1984"

"In Tribute to Joseph Bonneau, who hailed from this parish, left for New France in 1668, married Madeleine Duchesne in 1684 at Saint-Françoise de l'Île d'Orléans. He is the ancestor of most Bonneau/Goodwaters now living in North America. Bonneau family reunion, September 16, 1989."