The surname Provancha has its origins in the Provence region of southern France, dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old French words "provant" and "champ," meaning "fertile field" or "cultivated land." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who worked as a farmer or lived near a productive agricultural area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Provancha can be found in the Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Victor de Marseille, a medieval manuscript dated around 1150. This document mentions a landowner named Guilhem Provancha, who owned property near the city of Marseille.

During the 13th century, the Provancha family appears to have gained some prominence in the region. In 1278, a nobleman named Raoul Provancha was mentioned in the Livre des Fiefs de Provence, a record of feudal landholdings in Provence. This suggests that the Provancha family had achieved a certain level of wealth and status by this time.

As the centuries passed, the name Provancha spread beyond the borders of Provence. In the late 15th century, a merchant named Jean Provancha is recorded as having lived in the city of Lyon, which was a major trade hub at the time.

One notable figure bearing the Provancha surname was Antoine Provancha, a French playwright and poet who lived from 1632 to 1692. He was known for his comedic plays and satirical works, which often poked fun at the aristocracy and upper classes.

Another individual of note was Marie-Anne Provancha, a French painter who lived from 1755 to 1829. She gained recognition for her portraits and historical scenes, and her works were exhibited at the prestigious Paris Salon.

In the 19th century, the Provancha name made its way across the Atlantic. Louis Provancha, born in 1820 in France, emigrated to Canada and became a prominent figure in the Quebec literary scene, publishing several volumes of poetry and essays.

Another noteworthy individual was Jacques Provancha, a French explorer and adventurer who was born in 1875. He is known for his expeditions to various parts of Africa and Asia, and his writings about his travels were widely read during his lifetime.

Finally, one cannot overlook the contributions of Simone Provancha, a French resistance fighter during World War II. Born in 1912, she played a crucial role in the underground resistance movement against the Nazi occupation, risking her life to assist Allied forces and help protect Jewish citizens.