The village is named after the plentiful soft-shell and bar clams found in the large tidal mud flats at low tide. ‘Grosse’ is French for large and ‘coque’ means clam.
Grosses-Coques was the site of the first church in Clare. Built in 1774, the site was chosen in this village at the time due to its central location in the community. Today a large stone cross stands in Grosses-Coques as a memorial to the first church. The monument remains a symbol of the Acadian pride and spirit, a reminder of the hardships and humble beginnings of this township.
