“Desired street” translates from French. But how did Rue de la Désirade get this name?
Rue de la Désirade echoes tales of longing. It whispers stories from medieval France. This street’s name is tied to the broader history of “Rue”. Rue often indicated someone lived in a lane or alley.
The name Rue dates back to Normandy. It comes from the Old French word “ruelle”. This means lane or alley. So, families with “Rue” in their name once lived by a notable lane.
The Rue family held an eminent seat. They lived almost exclusively in Normandy. They also lived in Brittany Picardy Artois and Flanders. The family name has many spelling variations. These include Rueil Ruel and Ruell. Desruelles and De Ruell are also variations.
Pierre de la Rue was a notable member. He was a Franco-Flemish composer. He lived during the Renaissance. Juan de Roelas was another notable member. He was a painter born in Flanders. He spent his career in Spain.
In the United States Rue is a popular surname. It ranks 5767th. This means about 4974 people share that name. In France however Rue ranks 8809th. About 500 to 1000 people share it.
Migration played a role in the Rue name’s spread. Many settlers carried the name to new lands. James Rue arrived in Maryland in 1671. Later John Rue landed in New Orleans in 1825. Alex Rue arrived in San Francisco in 1851.
Some Rues moved to Canada. Abraham Rue arrived in Nova Scotia in 1783. He traveled on the ship HMS Clinton. Others sought new lives in Australia. Robert Rue was transported to Tasmania in 1823.
The name Rue appears in contemporary times too. Sara Rue is an American actress. Rue McClanahan was known for “Maude” and “The Golden Girls”. William Goff Rue was on the USS Indianapolis. He died when it sunk in 1945.
So as you wander down Rue de la Désirade remember alleys gave it a name. Think of families who walked these lanes centuries ago. Their stories echo in the very stones beneath our feet. The longing that perhaps one felt when naming the street.