The Famous family came to America during the Revolutionary war period with Lafayatte, according to the stories Mama had heard from her elders. Interestingly enough, Mama was born in Havre de Grace Maryland, which was named by General Lafayette because it reminded him of the French seaport Le Havre, which Mama is reading about in Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon – Mama loved the first book in the series, called The Outlander.
From Wikipedia: During the Revolutionary War the small hamlet known as Harmer’s Town was visited several times by General Lafayette, who commented that the area reminded him of the French seaport of Le Havre, which had originally been named Le Havre-de-Grâce. Inspired by Lafayette’s comments, the town was incorporated as Havre de Grace in 1785.