Understanding ‘Dit’ Names

Geoff Rasmussen

18 Jan 2006

Researchers with French ancestors are sometimes confused by the common usage of a "dit" name. An example of such a "dit" name is Joseph Paquin dit Pocha. Joseph is the first name, Paquin is the family surname, and Pocha is the dit name. A "dit" name is an alias or nickname attached to a surname. In contrast to a nickname given to an individual, a dit name is often given to distinguish between branches of a family. Its usage exists mostly in France, New France, Acadia and even the Métis population of Canada.

Some "dit" names seem to suggest the origins of the families, such as Orillon dit Champagne. Other "dit" names suggest an occupation or military connection. For example, the dit name "Tranchemontagne" as in Garceau dit Tranchemontagne means "mountain slicer," suggesting an ancestor who worked in a quarry. A given name could also be used such Hébert dit Manuel, where Manuel is the Christian name of the male head of the particular branch of the Hébert family.

For more information point your browser to:

http://www.eogen.com/AcadianDitNames

Comments (2)

As a descendent of Jean Garceau dit Tranchemontagne, I of course asked what the translation of tranchemontagne was. I found that folks who learned French in school or not as their first language gave me the answer that you propose, Mountain Slice however in asking older generation French speakers (my grandfather one of them) the translation to them is “hillbilly”.

More details on “dit” names used by soldiers
In France, when a young man enrolled he was assigned a “dit” name. At times he may have been able to choose his “dit” name, but one rule was always followed. In any regiment each “dit” name must be unique at any given time.
Upon returning to his village after completing his military service, the soldier generally dropped the use of his “dit” name. However, in the French colonies (Acadia and Quebec) the opposite was true. This was because the soldiers were generally billetted with a family in a village where they became known by their military names. It was then only natural for those soldiers who chose to remain in the colony after their service term was ended to retain the name by which everyone knew them.

AG
Aron Garceau

18 years ago

As a descendent of Jean Garceau dit Tranchemontagne, I of course asked what the translation of tranchemontagne was. I found that folks who learned French in school or not as their first language gave me the answer that you propose, Mountain Slice however in asking older generation French speakers (my grandfather one of them) the translation to them is “hillbilly”.
MA
Maurice A. LeBlanc

19 years ago

More details on “dit” names used by soldiers
In France, when a young man enrolled he was assigned a “dit” name. At times he may have been able to choose his “dit” name, but one rule was always followed. In any regiment each “dit” name must be unique at any given time.
Upon returning to his village after completing his military service, the soldier generally dropped the use of his “dit” name. However, in the French colonies (Acadia and Quebec) the opposite was true. This was because the soldiers were generally billetted with a family in a village where they became known by their military names. It was then only natural for those soldiers who chose to remain in the colony after their service term was ended to retain the name by which everyone knew them.