França (family)
Original title: França
Origins of the França family in Madeira, descended from André Gonçalves 'Polonês'; his son João de França founded the Estreito da Calheta church and a large entail, last held by the Conde da Calçada (d. 1906).
Shortly after the discovery, André Gonçalves, known as ‘Polonês’, came to this island; he settled in Estreito da Calheta (‘the narrows of Calheta’) and held land there as a sesmaria (royal land grant to settlers on condition of cultivation). His son João de França, who introduced this surname to the island, owned a great deal of land and a fine house in Estreito. He founded the original church of this parish (freguesia), where he established the seat of the entailed estate (morgadio) he created. He died in 1511 and was buried in the church of which he was founder and patron. The last holder of this entailed estate, one of the largest on the island, was the Count of Calçada (‘paved way’), who died in 1906.