Who are the Voyageurs?

Question

Who are the Voyageurs?

Answer 1

The term means several things but I suspect that what you are looking for is the reference to the coureur des bois of the late 17th and early 18th century in what was then called New France.

They were fur trappers and traders who operated in very small groups or individually, wandering over vast areas and  trading with the native peoples.

EDIT@ChocoBN: This term is familiar to me as  I took my BA and my first PhD in Montreal when folk music was the big thing. The songs of the Voyageurs were very popular in those days. But I'm surprised that its not generally known among the French. The American equaivalent, the so called "Mountain men" have been celebrated in films and popular literature.

Answer 2

In France "voyageur" only has one meaning: traveller. But since you capitalized it I guess you are talking about the fur traders mentioned by Rillifan. I'd never heard of the word in this context until today : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coureur_des...

I don't think any French person would know either unless they have a particular interest in the history of Quebec. French Canadians would probably know... It is also the name of a Canadian soccer fan club: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Voyageu...

In any case, your question seems to have more to do with Canada than France.

Answer 3

travelers, or a customer for traveling companies