Doucet

For the wine grape that is also known as Doucet, see Chasselas.

Doucet is a French language surname, especially popular in Canada, the former area of Acadia in particular (now Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and parts of Quebec and New England.

As a result of the Great Expulsion in 1755 and later from Acadia, Doucets are also amongst the Cajuns (an Americanization of "Acadiens") of Louisiana.

The first Doucet to reach North America is thought to be Major Germain Doucet dit La Verdure, a French military officer at Port-Royal (now Annapolis Royal) in 1632 who attempted to defend what is now Maine and Acadia from invasions from Boston in 1654. Many Doucets in North America trace their lineage to Germain Doucet. ^[1]

Variants

A common variant in spelling is "Doucette". Most Doucets in Canada pronounce their surname as "DOU-set" or "Dou-SET", rather than "Dou-SAY" as modern French might require. Some argue this pronuciation may derive from dialects of sixteenth century French such as was found in Brittany, a common origin of French-Canadian settlers; however Dou-SAY is the most popular pronunciation among Cajuns in Louisiana.

Notable Doucets

Early Doucet, current American football player playing for the Arizona Cardinals
Cat Doucet (1899-1975), sheriff of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana from 1936-1940 and 1952-1968
Clement Doucet (1895-1950), Belgian composer and jazz/classical pianist
Gerald Doucet, former Progressive Conservative politician from Nova Scotia
Germain Doucet (1595-1654?), called Sieur de la Verdure, French commandant in Maine and Acadia
Henri Lucien Doucet (1856 – 1895), French painter
Jacques Doucet, sportscaster, longtime play-by-play announcer for the Montreal Expos
Jacques Doucet (1853-1929), French fashion designer
Joe Doucet, (1970- )American Designer
Julie Doucet, Canadian cartoonist
Michael Doucet, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist.
Lyse Doucet, Canadian journalist, presenter and correspondent for both the BBC World Service radio and BBC World television.
Michael Doucet, Cajun fiddler, singer and songwriter who founded the Cajun band BeauSoleil from Lafayette, Louisiana.
Roger Doucet, Canadian, (1919-1981) singer, known as Mr. O'Canada, for his rendition of Canada's National Anthem.

References

^ [|Les Doucet du Monde]. "Descendants of Germain Doucet, Sieur de LaVerdure". http://www.doucetfamily.org/Genealogy/Bio.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-06.

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