Quebec City: History, Former Names & Timeline
Fortress city on the St Lawrence and capital of New France.
Quebec CityExplore Quebec City in the interactive map
Former names of Quebec City
| From | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1608 | Québec |
Timeline of Quebec City
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1608 | Champlain founds Quebec |
| 1690 | Frontenac beats off an English colonial attack |
| 1759 | Battle of the Plains of Abraham: Britain takes Quebec |
| 1775 | The American Continental Army fails to take Quebec |
| 1867 | Becomes capital of the province of Quebec in Canada |
Who ruled Quebec City
Derived from the border maps; each row runs until the next recorded border change.
| Period | State |
|---|---|
| 500 BC–101 BC | Subarctic forest hunter-gatherers |
| 100 BC–599 | Point Peninsula |
| 600–1491 | Subarctic forest hunter-gatherers |
| 1492–1499 | Wabanaki (Dawnland Confederacy) |
| 1500–1599 | Algonquin |
| 1600–1649 | Subarctic forest hunter-gatherers |
| 1650–1782 | New France |
| 1783–1814 | Quebec |
| 1815–today | Canada |
Battles and sites near Quebec City
- Battle of Plains of Abraham · 1759
Famous people of Quebec City
| Lived | Person | |
|---|---|---|
| c. 1574 – 1635 | Samuel de Champlain | Explorer |
Nearby cities
Further reading
Questions about Quebec City
What was Quebec City called in the past?
Quebec City has been known as Québec (from 1608). Its present name dates from 1608.
Which states have ruled Quebec City?
On the historical border maps from 500 BC to today, Quebec City lies within 7 different states: Subarctic forest hunter-gatherers, Point Peninsula, Wabanaki (Dawnland Confederacy), Algonquin, New France, Quebec, Canada.
What are the key dates in the history of Quebec City?
1608: Champlain founds Quebec. 1690: Frontenac beats off an English colonial attack. 1759: Battle of the Plains of Abraham: Britain takes Quebec. 1775: The American Continental Army fails to take Quebec. 1867: Becomes capital of the province of Quebec in Canada.
Which famous people are connected with Quebec City?
Samuel de Champlain (explorer, c. 1574 – 1635).
Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.