The Fabergé company was founded in St. Petersburg by Gustav Fabergé in 1842. The origins of the Fabergé family date back to 17th-century France.
The family left France after 1685 due to religious persecution (they were Huguenots, French Protestants), shortly after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes - it is estimated that about 250.000. Huguenots then became refugees.
Initially, the family's surname was Favri, but as they moved east the surname changed to Favry, Fabri, Fabrier, Faberges, and finally Fabergé.
