French colonization of the Americas French colonization of the Americas The French colonization of the Americas began in the 16th century, and continued on into the following centuries as France established a colonial empire in the Western Hemisphere. France founded colonies in much of eastern North America, on a number of Caribbean islands, and in South America. Most colonies were developed to export products such as fish, rice sugar, and furs. As they colonized the New World, the French established forts and settlements that would become such cities as Quebec and Montreal in Canada; Detroit, Green Bay, St. Louis, Cape Girardeau, Mobile, Biloxi, Baton Rouge
Juniper (given name) The French name was shortened to "geneva", sounding the same as the place name, and further abbreviated to 'gin'. In some French dialects, the plant is known as "geneviève". This is also a French given name, notably that of Sainte Genevieve, patron saint of Paris. However, this name was derived from Latin "Genovefa" for Germanic "Kenowefa" (like English "kin" and "wife") and originally had no link with "genièvre" (French for "juniper"), which is not a female first name. Another name which was originally unrelated is the British name Guinevere ("Guenièvre" in French), a variant Old French spelling of "Gwenhwyfar", which