The history of the Gimbrere family goes back until the 16th century, when the ancestors can be found in the south of France, the Gers Department. In the 17th century one of them, Bernard Gimbrere, moves to Bordeaux, at a time when the local economy flourished, based a.o. on slave and wine trade. Hundred and fifty years later, his great-grandson Jean follows the traces of Napoleon’s army to Antwerp, probably also because of the booming economy, under the French rule.
However, the port of Antwerp suffered from a blockade by the Dutch, after the secession of Belgium from the Netherlands. Jean’s son, Jean François, therefore moved on to the city of Tilburg, in the Netherlands.
Since that time, most likely the French Gimbreres have become extinct, but Jean François Gimbrere has got many descendants. Most of them live in the Netherlands, but they can also be found in North America, Australia, the United Kingdom and …. France!
We have tried to explore some aspects of the life of the Gimbreres in their journey from France, via Belgium, to the Netherlands.
The results of these efforts can be found in a boor: Gimbrère, the family history. The book also contains a genealogy.
The book can be ordered online, but since it has to be paid in Euro’s, the most convenient way is probably to use the contact form and ask us to arrange this.