The Acadians – settlers, pioneers in a new land allied with and intermarried into the Native population of seaboard Nova Scotia beginning in 1603. They lived in harmony, developing their farms and then, roughly 150 years or 6 generations later, in 1755, they found themselves evicted, ruthlessly and forcibly deported, losing absolutely everything. They became landless refugees, living off of the benevolence of strangers…or dying. The Acadian diaspora was born. You can view a timeline here.
Marie Rundquist, Acadian and Native descendant, genetic genealogist, researcher and founder of the original AmerIndian project visited the Acadian homeland this past summer and is graciously sharing her experience through some of her photography and narrative.
Courtesy Marie Rundquist
Marie Rundquist:
This cross, located on the beach near Grand Pre where the Acadians were herded onto ships, is a priceless icon of our Acadian ancestry and represents all of our ancestors who were forcibly removed from their lands – marched on to the awaiting boats at gunpoint – and who left their footprints on this beach. Their last footprints in the land into which their effort and blood had been poured for 150 years. This cross is very symbolic and meaningful to all who look at it.
Courtesy Marie Rundquist
This photo was taken at Waterfront Park in the town of Wolfville which borders the Minas Basin and the historic Acadian dykelands our ancestors once farmed. The area is known for the spectacular tides that rush into the basin bordering the park, totally changing its landscape.
Courtesy Marie Rundquist
Sabots, the wooden shoes pictured above were worn by Acadian ancestors who farmed the wet, marshy dykelands and were also worn on boats. Wolfville is within a short distance of the Grand Pre UNESCO Historic Site where my husband and I stayed while attending the 2017 Acadian Mi’kmaq Celebration of Peace and Reconciliation this past August.
If you have Acadian ancestors, these pictures probably caused you to catch your breath. Your ancestors walked here, stood here and the blood in their veins ran thick with fear, here, as they boarded the ships that would disrupt their lives forever, destroying what they had built over a century and a half.
Focus on the Homeland
Marie has recently begun a new chapter in her life which allows her to focus more directly on the Acadian and AmerIndian homelands and communities. She has been preparing for this transition for years, and all Acadian and AmerIndian researchers will be beneficiaries.
Marie initially founded the AmerIndian out of Acadia project in 2006 to sort out the relationships between the various Acadian and Native families both in Nova Scotia, and wherever their descendants have dispersed since “Le Grand Derangement,” their forced removal in 1755. The story of the Acadians didn’t end in 1755, it began anew in different locations throughout the world, the Acadian diaspora.
Through traditional genealogy research paired with genetic genealogy, we are breathing life into those ancestors once again, honoring their memory and sacrifices, and along the way, getting to know them better and finding unexpected surprises as well.
This is an exciting time in genetic genealogy for descendants of Acadians and those with American Indian roots in eastern Canada and the northeastern portion of the US.
The Acadian homeland is located in the easternmost portion of Canada, Nova Scotia.
By Mikmaq – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1351882
Many, if not most, Acadians were admixed with the Native population in the 150 years that the French colonists lived in harmony with the Native Mi’kmaq (also referenced as Micmac) people on the Atlantic coastline of Nova Scotia. It’s impossible to study one without studying the other. Their fates, genealogies and DNA are inextricably interwoven.
Having Acadian and Native ancestors as well, and after several years of working together on other projects, I joined Marie as a co-administrator of this project in early 2017.
Today, Marie and I have several exciting announcements to make, the first of which is the renaming of the project to more accurately reflect a new, expanded, focus.
The Acadian AmerIndian Ancestry Project
You might have noticed that the AmerIndian project was renamed a few months ago as the Acadian AmerIndian Ancestry Project to reflect our expanded goals. Specifically, our goal is to create a one-stop location in which to discover Acadian genetic roots. While the Acadia – Metis Mothers and Mothers of Acadian DNA projects have existed for several years to document proven matrilineal Acadian lines, nothing of the same nature existed for Y DNA for paternal surname lineages, or for those who want to connect with their Acadian roots through autosomal DNA.
After weighing various options, Marie and I, in conjunction with Family Tree DNA, decided that the best option was to expand the existing AmerIndian project to include Y, mitochondrial and autosomal DNA of the entire Acadian population into our existing project which already has over 1000 members.
In a word, our new project focus is FAMILY!
In Marie’s words:
Primary project goal: Through genetic genealogy research techniques combined with advanced Y DNA testing, it is our goal to add to and develop Y DNA signatures for male descendants of our legacy Acadian ancestors that may be referenced by others in verifying genealogies.
We want to assure that in our surname studies we are informed by Y DNA results primarily but take into account the mtDNA Full Mitochondrial Sequence results when considering the spouse, and Family Finder (autosomal) DNA results when researching all who may share ancestry.
Surname variants and dit names are of particular interest and factor into our development of a database of surname signatures as related to Acadian genealogies.
We encourage all who have tested and have the surname lineages listed in our project profile to join our project as their combined DNA results help us see through the genealogy brick walls and help us find answers to our genealogy questions.
We want to let new and existing members know how their results have contributed to our ability to develop and verify Acadian genealogies – and for the men in particular, the attainment of Y DNA “signatures” for surname lineages against which all may compare their own Y DNA results – and reference in genealogy research. Adoptees with matching Y DNA results for Acadian surnames (as we already have a number of these) are welcome to join and participate. Our team is expert in the areas of Y DNA testing and analysis, including the latest Big Y DNA tests only through years of practical experience with geographical and haplogroup-related DNA projects. Both Marie and Roberta have extensive project administration experience and both are affiliate researchers with The Genographic Project.
Introducing Deadre Doucet Bourke
Marie and I realized that we needed assistance, so we are very pleased to welcome our new co-administrator, Deadre Doucet Bourke. Many Acadian researchers already know Deadre, a long-time genealogist and contributor from within the project, so adding her expertise as a project administrator is a natural progression. Deadre will be focused on communicating with people regarding their genealogy and utilizing social media.
You can read the bios of our administrators here.
Welcome Deadre!!!
The DNA Focus
The Acadian AmerIndian Ancestry Project is primarily focused on Y DNA and autosomal DNA. While we aren’t competing with the two mitochondrial DNA projects, we certainly welcome those with direct mitochondrial lineages to join this project as well. We encourage researchers to combine all of the DNA that makes us family to confirm our Acadian heritage and connect to our ancestors.
Acadian researchers struggle with the inability to find their Acadian ancestor’s Y DNA signatures gathered together in one place. Marie and I decided to fix that problem, hence, the redesign of the project.
The Acadian AmerIndian Ancestry Project welcomes everyone with Acadian heritage!
If you descend from a particular line, but aren’t male or don’t carry the surname today, you’ll be able to discover information about your ancestors from the Y DNA, mitochondrial and autosomal DNA carried by other project members. Genetic genealogy is all about collaboration and sharing and finding all types of results in one project location makes that search much easier!
Who Should Join the Acadian AmerIndian Ancestry Project?
- If you have an ACADIAN SURNAME in your family lines, as listed in the project profile or on the surname list later in this article, and you’ve had the Y DNA, mtDNA or Family Finder test, you are qualified to join this project.
- If you are a MALE with an ACADIAN SURNAME, please join the Acadian AmerIndian Ancestry Project by ordering (minimally) a Y Chromosome 37 marker test.
- If you are either male or female and have Acadian MATRILINEAL ANCESTRY (your mother’s mother’s mother’s line) that leads to a Native and/or an Acadian grandmother through all females, please join the Acadian AmerIndian Ancestry Project by ordering the mtFull Sequence mitochondrial DNA test.
- If you have Acadian or Native American ancestors from the Acadian region of Canada or diaspora regions where Acadian families settled after the 1755 deportation, and would like to discover new leads for ancestry research and close, immediate and distant cousins, please join the project by ordering a Family Finder test.
- If you have Acadian ancestry and have already taken the Y or mitochondrial DNA test at Family Tree DNA, please click here to sign in to your account and order a Family Finder test by clicking on the “Upgrade” button on the top right of your personal page.
- If you have already tested and have Y DNA, mtDNA, or Family Finder matches with members of the Acadian Amerindian Ancestry project and are researching your ancestry, you are welcome to join this project.
- If you have already tested your DNA at Family Tree DNA, but are not yet a project member, please click on the Project tab at the top left of your personal page to select a project to join. If the Acadian AmerIndian Ancestors project is not showing on your list, just type “Acadian” into the search box and click on the “Acadian AmerIndian Ancestry” link to join the project.
- If you have tested your autosomal DNA at either Ancestry or 23andMe, but not at Family Tree DNA, you can download your autosomal results into the Family Tree DNA data base and use many tools for free – including the ability to join projects. You can read more about this here.
Not sure which kinds of DNA you can test for, and the difference between the different tests, please read 4 Kinds of DNA for Genetic Genealogy.
Questions? Just ask!
Saving Money by Joining the Acadian AmerIndian Project
Please note that DNA testing discounts are available through our project site for people who have never ordered a test from Family Tree DNA previously.
First, click here to go to the Family Tree DNA webpage. Scroll down, then, type the word Acadian into the search box, as shown below. This search process works for surnames as well.
Then, when the results are returned, select the Acadian AmerIndian Ancestry Project and click that link, shown below, to see DNA testing prices available to project members, example shown below.
You’ll need to scroll down to see test prices. The screen shot below only shows a portion of what is available.
DNA testing prices through the project are less than ordering the same test without joining a project.
As A Project Member
Of course, the point of DNA testing and projects is to share. Family Tree DNA has provided several tools to help genealogists do just that. We would ask that project members complete the following four easy steps, unless for some reason, you can’t. For example, adoptees may not have this information. Just do the best you can.
First, please upload a tree of at least your direct line ancestors at Family Tree DNA.
Just sign in to your personal page and click on “My Family Tree” to get started.
DNA and family trees are extremely powerful tools together – the genetic and genealogy parts of genetic genealogy.
Second, please complete the name and location of your earliest known direct matrilineal ancestor (your mother’s mother’s mother’s line) and your direct patrilineal line (your father’s father’s father’s line) by clicking on the orange “Manage Personal Information” link below your profile photo on the left side of your personal page.
Then, click on the Genealogy Tab, and then click on Earliest Known Ancestors. Please note that you can click on any image to enlarge.
You’ll need to complete:
- Both Earliest Known Ancestor fields on the left side of the page.
- Both Ancestral Locations by clicking on the orange “update location” for the patrilineal AND matrilineal ancestor on the right side.
Be sure to click “Save” at the bottom of the page when you’re finished.
Third, under the Privacy and Sharing tab, please consider allowing your Y and mitochondrial DNA results to show on the public page of the project.
When Acadian descendants are searching for projects to join, or information about their ancestral lines, the public project display is often what they find and how they decide if participation or DNA testing is worth their time.
Here is what our public Y DNA project page displays and here is what our mtDNA project page displays. There is also an option for administrators to display the participants surname, but we do not have this field enabled at this time. Other projects that you may have joined probably do have this field enabled, and your selection affects all projects of which you are a member.
Under “My Profile,” you’ll see an option to “Share my Earliest Known Ancestor with other people in the projects I’ve joined.” If you don’t have this option enabled, only a blank space will appear, which doesn’t help anyone determine if you share a common ancestor.
A second option on this page under “My DNA Results is “Make my mtDNA and Y DNA public” which allows your results to show on the public project page. If you select “project only” then only project members will be able to see your results when logged in to their account. Your results will no show on the public project page unless you select the public option.
Remember to click “save.”
Fourth, if your mitochondrial line (mother’s mother’s mother’s line) is Acadian or Native, you’ll need to provide the project administrators with the ability to see the coding region of your mitochondrial DNA so that your mitochondrial DNA can be properly grouped within the project. If your direct matrilineal line does NOT pertain to Acadian or Native ancestry, then you’re done.
If your matrilineal line is Native or Acadian, on the Privacy and Sharing page, under “Account Access,” please click on the “Only You” answer to “Who can view my mtDNA Coding Region mutations.”
You will then see a drop down list of the projects you have joined. You can select any of the projects by clicking the box beside the project. Only the administrators of the projects you’ve selected can see your coding region results, and you can change this at any time. In my personal account, I’ve selected all of the projects that my mtDNA is relevant to.
Your coding region results are NEVER displayed publicly and no one other than project administrators can see those results. Family Tree DNA does not offer the option of displaying coding regions in any project.
Again, don’t forget to click “save,” or you haven’t.
Need Help?
Need help? Just ask. We’re here to help.
Project administrators can help you by completing some fields, like most distant ancestor, with your permission, but Privacy and Sharing fields can’t be changed or edited by administrators for everyone’s security. However, we’d be glad to step you through the process, as would Family Tree DNA customer support. You can call or contact customer support by scrolling down to the very bottom of your personal page.
Acadian Surnames
Courtesy Marie Rundquist
I compiled the following list of Acadian surnames along with dit names (surname nicknames) from the following Acadian website where you can view which ancestral families were recorded in various census documents including 1671, 1686, 1714 and a deportation list from 1755.
Brenda Dunn’s list was prepared for the Canadian National Parks Service for the Grand Pre National Historic site.
Variant spellings were retrieved from this site and may not be inclusive.
| Surname | Various Spellings | Source |
| Abbadie, de Saint-Castin d’ | Brenda Dunn | |
| Allain | Alain, Alin, Allain, Halain, Halin | Brenda Dunn |
| Allard | Alard, Allard, Allart, Halard, Hallard | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Amirault dit Tourangeau | Amireau, Amireault, Mero, Miraud, Mirau, Miraux, Mireau, Mireault, Moreau | Brenda Dunn |
| Angou dit Choisy | Brenda Dunn | |
| Apart | Brenda Dunn | |
| Arcement | Brenda Dunn | |
| Arnaud | Arnaud, Arnault | Brenda Dunn |
| Arosteguy | Brenda Dunn | |
| Arseneau | Brenda Dunn | |
| Aubin | Aubain, Aubin, Obin | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Aubois | Brenda Dunn | |
| Aucoin | Aucoin, Coin, Ocoin | Brenda Dunn |
| Ayor | Brenda Dunn | |
| Babin | Babain, Babin | Brenda Dunn |
| Babineau dit Deslauriers | Babinau, Babineau, Babineaux, Babino, Babinot | Brenda Dunn |
| Barillot | Brenda Dunn | |
| Barnabe | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Barriault | Bariau, Bariault, Barieau, Barillault, Barrillaut, Barillon, Barillot, Bario, Barrio | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Bastarache dit (Le) Basque | Brenda Dunn | |
| Bastien | Baptien, Basquien, Bastien, Vasquais | Brenda Dunn |
| Beaulieu | Baulieu, Baulieux, Beaulieu, Beaulieux | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Beaumont | Beaumon, Beaumont | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Belisle | Belisle, Bellisle, de Bellisle | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Bellefontaine | Bellefontaine, Bellefontenne | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Belleville | Beliveau | Brenda Dunn |
| Belliveau dit Bideau | Beliveau | Brenda Dunn |
| Belliveau dit Blondin | Brenda Dunn | |
| Belou | Brenda Dunn | |
| Benoit dit Labriere | Benois, Benoist, Benoit | Brenda Dunn |
| Bergereau | Brenda Dunn | |
| Bergeron d’Amboise | Brenda Dunn | |
| Bergeron dit Nantes | Bargeron, Bergeon, Bergeron, Berjeron | Brenda Dunn |
| Bernard | Bernar, Bernard | Brenda Dunn |
| Berrier dit Machefer | Brenda Dunn | |
| Bertaud dit Montaury | Brenda Dunn | |
| Bertrand | Bartrand, Berterand, Bertran, Bertrand, Bertrant | Brenda Dunn |
| Bezier dit Lariviere | Brenda Dunn | |
| Bezier dit Touin | Brenda Dunn | |
| Bideau | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Blanchard dit Gentilhomme | Blanchar, Blanchard, Blanchart | Brenda Dunn |
| Blondin | Blondain, Blondin | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Blou | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Bodard | Brenda Dunn | |
| Boisseau dit Blondin | Boissau, Boisseau, Boisseaux | Brenda Dunn |
| Bonnevie dit Beaumont | Brenda Dunn | |
| Borel | Brenda Dunn | |
| Boucher dit Desroches | Bouché, Boucher, Bouchez | Brenda Dunn |
| Boudreau | Boudrau, Boudraut, Boudreau, Boudro, Boudrot | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Boudrot | Brenda Dunn | |
| Bourg | Bourc, Bourg, Bourgue, Bourk, Bourque | Brenda Dunn |
| Bourgeois | Bourgeois, Bourgois, Bourjois | Brenda Dunn |
| Boutin | Boudin, Boutain, Boutin, Bouttain, Bouttin | Brenda Dunn |
| Brassaud | Brenda Dunn | |
| Brasseur dit Mathieu | Brasseur, Brasseux | Brenda Dunn |
| Breau | Brenda Dunn | |
| Breton | Berton, Breton, Lebreton | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Brossard | Brosard, Brossar, Brossard, Brossart, Broussard | Brenda Dunn |
| Brun | Brun, Lebrun | Brenda Dunn |
| Bugaret | Brenda Dunn | |
| Bugeaud | Brenda Dunn | |
| Buisson | Buisson, Busson, Dubuisson | Brenda Dunn |
| Buote | Brenda Dunn | |
| Buteau | Butau, Butaud, Buteau, Buteux, Buto, Butteau | Brenda Dunn |
| Cadet | Caddé, Cadet, Cadette | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Caissy dit Roger | Brenda Dunn | |
| Calve dit Laforge | Brenda Dunn | |
| Carre | Caray, Caré, Caret, Carr, Carré, Carret | Brenda Dunn |
| Cassy dit Roger | Brenda Dunn | |
| Celestin dit Bellemere | Brenda Dunn | |
| Cellier dit Normand | Brenda Dunn | |
| Champagne | Champagne, Champaigne | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Chauvert | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Chauvet | Chauvet, Chauvette, Chovet | Brenda Dunn |
| Chenet dit Dubreuil | Chenay, Chenet, Chenette, Chesnay | Brenda Dunn |
| Chesnay dit Lagarene | Brenda Dunn | |
| Chiasson dit La Vallee | Chiasson, Giasson | Brenda Dunn |
| Chouteau dit Manseau | Brenda Dunn | |
| Clemenceau | Brenda Dunn | |
| Cloustre | Brenda Dunn | |
| Cochu | Cochu, Cochus | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Cognac | Cognac, Coignac | Brenda Dunn |
| Comeau | Brenda Dunn | |
| Cormier dit Bossigaol | Cormié, Cormier, Cornier | Brenda Dunn |
| Cormier dit Thierry | Brenda Dunn | |
| Cornelier | Brenda Dunn | |
| Corporon | Brenda Dunn | |
| Cosse | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Cosset | Cosset, Cossette | Brenda Dunn |
| Coste | Brenda Dunn | |
| Cottard | Brenda Dunn | |
| Cousineau | Brenda Dunn | |
| Crepeau | Crepau, Crepaux, Crepeau, Crepeaux, Crepos, Crespau, Crespeau, Crespel | Brenda Dunn |
| Creysac dit Toulouse | Brenda Dunn | |
| Cyr | Cir, Cire, Cyr, Cyre, Sir, Sire, Siree, Syr, Syre | Brenda Dunn |
| Daigle | Daigle. Daigles, Dehegue | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Daigre | Brenda Dunn | |
| Damboue | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| D’Amours de Chauffours | Brenda Dunn | |
| D’Amours de Clignancour | Brenda Dunn | |
| D’Amours de Freneuse | Brenda Dunn | |
| D’Amours de Louviere | Brenda Dunn | |
| D’Amours de Plaine | Brenda Dunn | |
| Daniel | Daniel, Daniele, Danielle, Deniel | Brenda Dunn |
| Darois | Brenda Dunn | |
| David dit Pontif | Davi, David, Davit, Davy | Brenda Dunn |
| Debreuil | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Delatour | Delatour, Latour | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Delisle | Delile, Delille, Delisle, Delisles, | Brenda Dunn |
| Denis | Deni, Denis, Dennis, Denys | Brenda Dunn |
| D’Entremont | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Denys de Fronsac | Brenda Dunn | |
| Depeux | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Derayer | Brenda Dunn | |
| Desaulniers | Desaulnier, Desaulniers, Desaunié, Desaunier, Desauniers | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Deschamps dit Cloche | Dechamp, Dechamps, Dechant, Deschamps | Brenda Dunn |
| Desgoutins | Brenda Dunn | |
| Desmoulins | Demoulin, Desmoulin, Desmoulins, Dumoulin | Brenda Dunn |
| Desorcis | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Després | Depre, Depres, Despre, Despres, Desprez | Brenda Dunn |
| Devaux | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Deveau dit Dauphine | Devau, Devaux, Deveau, Deveaux, Devot, Devots | Brenda Dunn |
| Dingle | Brenda Dunn | |
| Doiron | Doiron, Douairon, Doueron | Brenda Dunn |
| Domine dit Saint-Sauveur | Brenda Dunn | |
| Donat | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Douaron | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Doucet dit Laverdure | Doucet, Doucette | Brenda Dunn |
| Doucet dit Lirlandois | Brenda Dunn | |
| Doucet dit Mayard | Brenda Dunn | |
| Druce | Brenda Dunn | |
| Dubois dit Dumont | Debois, Desbois, Dubois, Duboy | Brenda Dunn |
| Dufault | Dufau, Dufault, Dufaut, Dufaux, Duffault, Duffaut, Duffaux, Dufo, Dufos, Duphaut | Brenda Dunn |
| Dugas | Duga, Dugas, Dugast, Dugat | Brenda Dunn |
| Duguay | Dugai, Dugaie, Dugay, Duguay, Dugué | Brenda Dunn |
| Dumont | Dumon, Dumond, Dumont | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Duon dit Lyonnais | Brenda Dunn | |
| Dupeux | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Duplessis | Duplaissy, Duplassis, Duplassy, Duplecy, Duplesis, Duplessis, Duplessy, Placy | Brenda Dunn |
| Dupuis | Dupui, Dupuis, Dupuit, Dupuits, Dupuy, Dupuys | Brenda Dunn |
| Egan | Brenda Dunn | |
| Emmanuel | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Esperance | Lespérance, Lesperence | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Fardel | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Flan | Brenda Dunn | |
| Fontaine dit Beaulieu | Delafontaine, Fonteine, Lafontaine, Lafonteine, Lafonteinne | Brenda Dunn |
| Forest | Fores, Forêt, Laforêt, Laforest | Brenda Dunn |
| Foret | Forest | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Forton | Brenda Dunn | |
| Fougere | Brenda Dunn | |
| Fournier | Fournié, Lefournier | Brenda Dunn |
| Froiquingont | Brenda Dunn | |
| Gadrau | Brenda Dunn | |
| Galerne | Brenda Dunn | |
| Galle | Brenda Dunn | |
| Garceau dit Boutin | Garco, Garso, Garsot | Brenda Dunn |
| Garceau dit Richard | Brenda Dunn | |
| Garceau dit Tranchemontagne | Brenda Dunn | |
| Gardet | Gardai, Garday, Gardé | Brenda Dunn |
| Gareau | Garau, Garaud | Brenda Dunn |
| Gaudet | Gaudais, Gaudé, Gaudette, Godé, Godet, Godete, Godette | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Gauterot | Brenda Dunn | |
| Gauthier | Gaultier, Gautier, Gotier | Brenda Dunn |
| Gentil | Brenda Dunn | |
| Giboire Duverge dit Lamotte | Brenda Dunn | |
| Girouard | Geroir, Gerroir, Giouard, Giroir, Girroir, Jirouard | Brenda Dunn |
| Gise | Brenda Dunn | |
| Godin Boisjoli | Brenda Dunn | |
| Godin dit Beausejour | Gaudain, Gauden, Gaudin, Godain, Goddin, Godin | Brenda Dunn |
| Godin dit Bellefeuille | Brenda Dunn | |
| Godin dit Bellefontaine | Brenda Dunn | |
| Godin dit Catalogne | Brenda Dunn | |
| Godin dit Chatillon | Brenda Dunn | |
| Godin dit Lincour | Brenda Dunn | |
| Godin dit Preville | Brenda Dunn | |
| Godin dit Valcour | Brenda Dunn | |
| Godon | Gandon, Gaudon, Godon | Brenda Dunn |
| Gosselin | Gaucelin, Gauscelin, Gausselin, Goscelin, Gosselain | Brenda Dunn |
| Goudreau | Gaudrau, Gaudrault, Gaudreau, Gaudreault, Gaudro, Godereau, Godrault, Godreault, Godro, Godrot, Goodrow | Brenda Dunn |
| Gougeon | Gougeon, Gougon, Goujon, Goujou | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Gourdeau | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Gousille | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Gousman | Brenda Dunn | |
| Gouzille | Brenda Dunn | |
| Grandmaison | Degrandmaison | Brenda Dunn |
| Granger | Brenda Dunn | |
| Gravois | Brenda Dunn | |
| Grosvalet | Brenda Dunn | |
| Guedry dit Labine | Brenda Dunn | |
| Guedry dit Labrador | Brenda Dunn | |
| Guedry dit Laverdure | Brenda Dunn | |
| Guedry Grivois | Guidry, Guildry | Brenda Dunn |
| Gueguen | Brenda Dunn | |
| Guenard | Brenda Dunn | |
| Guerin dit LaForge | Guerrin | Brenda Dunn |
| Guilbault | Guibau, Guibaut, Guibeau, Guibo, Guilbau, Guilbaud, Guilbaux, Guilbeau, Guillebault, Guillbeau, Guilbaut | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Guilbeau | Brenda Dunn | |
| Guillot | Brenda Dunn | |
| Guy dit Tintamarre | Degui, Deguy, Gui | Brenda Dunn |
| Guyon | Dion, Dionne, Gion, Guillon, Guion, Gyon, Yon | Brenda Dunn |
| Hache dit Gallant | Brenda Dunn | |
| Hamel | Amel, Amell, Emmel, Hamell, Hamelle, Hornel | Brenda Dunn |
| Hamet | Brenda Dunn | |
| Hamon | Brenda Dunn | |
| Hébert dit Manuel | Abaire, Abare, Abbot, Ebart, Éber, Ébert, Heber, Heberd, Hébere, Herber, Herbert, Hesbert, Hibbart, Hubert | Brenda Dunn |
| Helys dit Nouvelle | Brenda Dunn | |
| Henry dit Robert | Henri | Brenda Dunn |
| Hensaule | Brenda Dunn | |
| Heon | Brenda Dunn | |
| Herpin | Arpin, Guertin, Harpin, Hertin | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Heuse | Brenda Dunn | |
| Hugon | Brenda Dunn | |
| Jasmin | Jassemin | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Jeanson | Jeansonne | Brenda Dunn |
| Joseph | Brenda Dunn | |
| Kimine | Brenda Dunn | |
| Labarre | Delabarre, Labar, Labard | Brenda Dunn |
| Labat, dit Le Marguis, de | Labatte | Brenda Dunn |
| LaBauve | Brenda Dunn | |
| Lachaume | Delachaume | Brenda Dunn |
| Lacroix | Delacroix | Brenda Dunn |
| Lafond | Lafon, Lafont | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Lafont | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Lagasse | Lagace, Lagacee, Lagassee, Lagassees, Lagasset | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Lalande dit Bonnappetit | Delalande, Lalande | Brenda Dunn |
| Laliberte | Laliberte, Liberte | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Lambert | Lamber, Lembert | Brenda Dunn |
| Lambourt | Brenda Dunn | |
| Lamontagne | Delamontagne, Montagne | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Landrom | Brenda Dunn | |
| Landry | Landri, Landrie, Landril, Landrille, Lendry | Brenda Dunn |
| Langlois | Anglais, Anglois, Langlais, Langloi, Langlouois | Brenda Dunn |
| Lanoue | Brenda Dunn | |
| Lapierre dit LaRoche | Delapierre, Lapeer, Pierre | Brenda Dunn |
| Latour | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Laurier | Lauriere,Lorier | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| LaVache | Brenda Dunn | |
| Lavallée | Lavale, Lavalee, Vale, Valee, Valle, Vallee | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Lavergne | Laverne | Brenda Dunn |
| Lavigne | Delavigne | Brenda Dunn |
| Lebasque | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Lebert dit Jolycoeur | Abare, Hébert, Labare, LeBear, Leber, Leberre, Libest | Brenda Dunn |
| Leblanc dit Jasmin | Blanc, Leblan, Lebland, Leblant | Brenda Dunn |
| LeBorgne dit Belisle | Brenda Dunn | |
| Lebreton | Berton, Beurton | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Leclerc dit Laverdure | Clair, Claire, Clerc, Leclair, Leclaire, Lecler, Leclerq | Brenda Dunn |
| Lecul | Brenda Dunn | |
| Lefebvre | Febur, Febvre, Lefaivre, Lefebre, Lefebur, Lefeuvre, Lefevre | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Leger dit La Rozette | Legere, Legey, St-Leger | Brenda Dunn |
| Lejeune dit Briard | Jeune, Lejeunne | Brenda Dunn |
| LeJuge | Brenda Dunn | |
| Lemaistre | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| LeMarquis dit Clermont | Brenda Dunn | |
| Lemire | Lemir, Lemirre, Lemyre, Lemyrre, Mire | Brenda Dunn |
| LeNeuf de Beaubassin | Lenef, Leneuf | Brenda Dunn |
| LeNeuf de Boisneuf | Brenda Dunn | |
| LeNeuf de LaValliere | Brenda Dunn | |
| L’Enfant | Brenda Dunn | |
| LePoupet de Saint-Aubin | Brenda Dunn | |
| LePrieur dit Dubois | Brenda Dunn | |
| LePrince | Brenda Dunn | |
| Leroy | Leroi, Roi, Roy | Brenda Dunn |
| L’Eschevin dit Billy | Brenda Dunn | |
| Lespérance | Delesperance, Lesperence | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Lessoile | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| LeVanier dit Langevin | Brenda Dunn | |
| LeVasseur dit Chamberlange | Brenda Dunn | |
| Leveille | Leveiller, Leveillez, Leveillie, Leveillier | Brenda Dunn |
| Levron dit Nantois | Leveron | Brenda Dunn |
| Loiseau | Laiseau, Laizeau, Loisau, Loisseau, Loizeau, Loseau, Loyseau, Lozeau | Brenda Dunn |
| Long | Brenda Dunn | |
| Longuepee | Brenda Dunn | |
| Loppinot | Brenda Dunn | |
| Lord dit Montagne | Lore | Brenda Dunn |
| Lort | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Lucas | Luca | Brenda Dunn |
| Lyonnais | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Maffier | Brenda Dunn | |
| Maillard | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Maillet | Brenda Dunn | |
| Maisonnat dit Baptiste | Brenda Dunn | |
| Malboeuf | Malbeuf | Brenda Dunn |
| Mangeant dit Saint Germain | Brenda Dunn | |
| Manseau | Manceau, Mansau | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Marcadet | Brenda Dunn | |
| Marchand dit Poitiers | Marchan, Marchant | Brenda Dunn |
| Marres dit LaSonde | Brenda Dunn | |
| Martel | Martelle | Brenda Dunn |
| Martil | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Martin dit Barnabe | Martain | Brenda Dunn |
| Massé | Macé, Macés, Masset, Massey | Brenda Dunn |
| Massie | Brenda Dunn | |
| Mathieu | Mathieux, Matthieux | Brenda Dunn |
| Maucaire | Brenda Dunn | |
| Mazerolle dit Saint Louis | Brenda Dunn | |
| Melanson dit LaRamee | ||
| Melanson dit Laverdure | Melanson, Melençon, Melenson, Menançon | Brenda Dunn |
| Mercier dit Caudebec | Lemercier, Mersier | Brenda Dunn |
| Messaguay | Brenda Dunn | |
| Meunier | Megné, Menié, Mesnier, Meusnier, Munier, Musnier | Brenda Dunn |
| Michaud | Michau, Michault, Michaut, Michaux, Micheau | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Michel dit LaRuine | Bichel, Miché, Michelle, Micher | Brenda Dunn |
| Migneau dit Aubin | Mignau, Mignaud, Mignault, Mignaux, Migneaux, Mignot, Migneau | Brenda Dunn |
| Mignier dit Lagasse | Brenda Dunn | |
| Mignot | Mignau, Mignaud, Mignault, Mignaux, Migneaux, Mignot | Brenda Dunn |
| Mirande | Brenda Dunn | |
| Mius d’Azit | Miusse, Mousse | Brenda Dunn |
| Mius de Entremont de Plemarais | Miusse, Mousse | Brenda Dunn |
| Monmellian dit Saint Germain | Brenda Dunn | |
| Mordant | Brenda Dunn | |
| Morin dit Boucher | Maurain, Maurin, Morrin | Brenda Dunn |
| Morpain | Brenda Dunn | |
| Moulaison dit Recontre | Brenda Dunn | |
| Mouton | Brenda Dunn | |
| Moyse dit Latreille | Brenda Dunn | |
| Muis de Entremont de Pobomcoup | Miusse, Mousse | Brenda Dunn |
| NaQuin dit L’Etoile | Brenda Dunn | |
| Nogues | Brenda Dunn | |
| Nuirat | Brenda Dunn | |
| Olivier | Oliver, Olivie, Ollivier | Brenda Dunn |
| Ondy | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Onel | O’Neale | Brenda Dunn |
| Orillon dit Champagne | Aurillon, Aurion, Orion, Oriont | Brenda Dunn |
| Oudy | Brenda Dunn | |
| Ozelet | Brenda Dunn | |
| Paris | Deparis, Parisis, Parisse, Pary | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Parisien | Leparisien, Parisiens, Parizien | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Part | Brenda Dunn | |
| Pellerin | Pelerin, Pelrin | Brenda Dunn |
| Pesseley | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Petitot dit Saint Sceine | Brenda Dunn | |
| Petitpas | Brenda Dunn | |
| Pichot | Brenda Dunn | |
| Picot | Brenda Dunn | |
| Pincer | Brenda Dunn | |
| Pinet | Brenda Dunn | |
| Pitre dit Marc | Lepitre, Pistre, Piter, Pittre | Brenda Dunn |
| Poirier | Poerier, Poirie, Poiriers, Poirrier, Porier, Poyrie, Poyrier | Brenda Dunn |
| Poitevin dit Cadieux | Lapoitevin, Paudevin, Poidevin, Poitvin, Potdevin, Potevin, Potvin | Brenda Dunn |
| Poitevin dit Parisien | Lapoitevin, Paudevin, Poidevin, Poitvin, Potdevin, Potevin, Potvin | Brenda Dunn |
| Poitier | Brenda Dunn | |
| Porlier | Brenda Dunn | |
| Pothier | Pauthier, Pautier, Poitié, Poitier, Poitiers, Potier, Potiers, Pottier | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Poujet dit Lapierre | Brenda Dunn | |
| Poulet | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Poupard | Poupar, Poupare, Poupart | Brenda Dunn |
| Prejean dit LeBreton | Pregeant, Pregent, Prejan | Brenda Dunn |
| Pretieux | Brenda Dunn | |
| Pugnant dit Destouches | Brenda Dunn | |
| Racois dit Desrosiers | Brenda Dunn | |
| Raymond | Raimon, Raimond, Raymont, Raymon, Remond, Remont | Brenda Dunn |
| Renaud dit Provencal | Rainaud, Raynaud, Raynalt, Regnault, Regneault, Renau, Renauld, Renault, Renaut, Renaux, Reneau, Reneault, Renaux, Renod | Brenda Dunn |
| Richard dit Beaupri | Richar, Richart | Brenda Dunn |
| Richard dit Boutin | Richar, Richart | Brenda Dunn |
| Richard dit Lafont | Richar, Richart | Brenda Dunn |
| Richard dit Sancoucy | Richar, Richart | Brenda Dunn |
| Rimbeau | Rimbaut | Brenda Dunn |
| Rivet | Rivais, Rive, Rivest, Rivette, Rivez | Brenda Dunn |
| Robichaud dit Cades | Robichau | Brenda Dunn |
| Robichaud dit Niganne | Robichau | Brenda Dunn |
| Robichaud dit Prudent | Robichau | Brenda Dunn |
| Rodoham | Brenda Dunn | |
| Rodrigue dit DeFonds | Rodrigues, Rodriguez | Brenda Dunn |
| Rossette | Roucet, Roucette, Rouset, Rousette | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Rousse dit Languedoc | Leroux, Rousse, Roux | Brenda Dunn |
| Roy dit Laliberte | Leroi, Roi, Roy | Brenda Dunn |
| Rullier | Brenda Dunn | |
| Saindon | Brenda Dunn | |
| Saint Etienne de La Tour, de | Brenda Dunn | |
| Saint Julien de La Chaussee, de | Brenda Dunn | |
| Saint Scene | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Samson | Sanson | Brenda Dunn |
| Saulnier | Saunier | Brenda Dunn |
| Sauvage dit Chrystophe | Sauvages, Sauvagesse, Sauvaget, Savage | Brenda Dunn |
| Sauvage dit Forgeron | Sauvages, Sauvagesse, Sauvaget, Savage | Brenda Dunn |
| Savary | Brenda Dunn | |
| Savoie | Brenda Dunn | |
| Semer | Brenda Dunn | |
| Sereau | Serot, Serreau | Brenda Dunn |
| Serreau de Saint-Aubin | Brenda Dunn | |
| Simon dit Boucher | Cimon | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Simoneau | Simonau, Simonaud, Simoneaux, Simonneau, Simono, | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Soulard | Soular, Soulard, Soulart, Soullard | Brenda Dunn |
| Soulevent | Brenda Dunn | |
| Surette | Brenda Dunn | |
| Tandau | Brenda Dunn | |
| Teriot | Teriau, Teriaut, Teriot, Terriau, Terriaux, Terriau, Terriaux, Terriot, Theriault, Theriaux, Therieau | Brenda Dunn |
| Testard dit Parish | Testar, Testard, Tetard, Tetart | Brenda Dunn |
| Thebeau | Brenda Dunn | |
| Thibault | Brenda Dunn | |
| Thibeau | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Thibodeau | Brenda Dunn | |
| Tillard | Brenda Dunn | |
| Tourangeau | Tourangeau, Tourangeaux | Acadian-Cajun.com |
| Tourneur | Brenda Dunn | |
| Toussaint dit Lajeunesse | Tousain, Toussain, Toussaint, Toussin, Touzin | Brenda Dunn |
| Trahan | Brenda Dunn | |
| Triel dit LaPerriere | Brenda Dunn | |
| Turcot | Brenda Dunn | |
| Turpin dit LaGiroflee | Brenda Dunn | |
| Vallois | Brenda Dunn | |
| Veco | Acadian-Cajun.com | |
| Vescot | Brenda Dunn | |
| Viger | Brenda Dunn | |
| Vigneau dit Maurice | Vignau, Vignault, Vignaux, Vigneau, Vigneaux | Brenda Dunn |
| Villatte | Vilatte | Brenda Dunn |
| Vincent dit Clement | Vincant, Vincent | Brenda Dunn |
| Voyer | Brenda Dunn | |
| Yvon | Acadian-Cajun.com |
Additional Resources
In addition to the resources utilized to compile the Acadian surnames listed above, we recommend the following resources for genealogical research:
- View the Acadian family tree contributed and maintained by genealogist Karen Theriot Reader at this link.
- The Acadian Rootsweb list hosted by Paul LeBlanc provides an invaluable resource for sharing information. To subscribe to the list, please send an email to ACADIAN-request@rootsweb.com with the word ‘subscribe’ without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message. If you are not already a member, you can browse the archives here or you can search the Acadian list archives for keywords like surnames by utilizing the search engine here.
- Please visit the Family Heritage Research Community to read exciting articles about how real people like you discovered their roots by way of DNA testing.
Additional projects administered by Roberta Estes and Marie Rundquist that may be relevant to Acadian descendants include:
- American Indian Project (Dr. David Pike is also an administrator)
- Mitochondrial haplogroups A, A2, A4 and A10
- Mitochondrial haplogroup X2b4 (Tom Glad is also an administrator)
- Y DNA haplogroup C-P39 (Dr. David Pike is also an administrator)
Thank You
We want to extend a big thank you to the incredible members of the Acadian AmerIndian Ancestry Project for recruiting new members, for their individual research, and for sharing so willingly. A project is only as strong as the members!
We hope you’ll be joining us soon!
Photography Credit
The location photos used in this article were taken this summer at the Annapolis Royal Historic Site, Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens and the Grand Pre UNESCO World Heritage Site by Marie Rundquist. Thanks to Marie for being our project ambassador, for permission to use her photography here and on the Acadian AmerIndian Ancestry Project page as well.
______________________________________________________________
Disclosure
I receive a small contribution when you click on some of the links to vendors in my articles. This does NOT increase the price you pay but helps me to keep the lights on and this informational blog free for everyone. Please click on the links in the articles or to the vendors below if you are purchasing products or DNA testing.
Thank you so much.
DNA Purchases and Free Transfers
- Family Tree DNA
- MyHeritage DNA only
- MyHeritage DNA plus Health
- MyHeritage FREE DNA file upload
- AncestryDNA
- 23andMe Ancestry
- 23andMe Ancestry Plus Health
- LivingDNA
Genealogy Services
Genealogy Research
- Legacy Tree Genealogists for genealogy research
Thanks for distributing this information. I always appreciate seeing recognition of the suffering of the Acadian people back then. It chokes me up a bit, to be honest. I can’t imagine visiting there. I’d be a blubbering fool, but in a good way!
I joined the group. Maybe it will help to identify which DNA comes from the different founders of Acadie. That might be asking for much, but one can always hope. My dad’s family tree and DNA connections are a mass of entanglements that can drive you crazy. With hopes of one day straightening it out, I did test two of my dad’s siblings. I’ve started to do the visual phasing twice, but both times I get flustered because matches from both sides of his family match each other. It’s not like I’ve never looked at visual phasing before – I’ve got all of my mom’s grandparents designated except for a few small segments on the ends.
Maybe this group will help to sort it all out.
Maybe…
Fingers crossed. My cousin, Paul LeBlanc said that if you are related to one Acadian, you are related to all Acadians. At that time, I thought that he was being funny. He wasn’t. 🙂
In my pedigree, this similar genetic phenomenon exists in Suffolk County, Long Island, NY. When citizens of Greenport, NY greet one another with, “Hey cousin”, it’s not just an expression. Colonial endogamy was popular on the narrow forks of land extended out into the ocean.
Hi Roberta,
Can you please contact me to start my search. My family line is from Claude Guedry and Marguerite Petitpas line. Could you please email me. I know all of my family tree but would like to find out if I have indigenous ancestry
Tina
My book would be what I recommend to start. https://dna-explained.com/2021/11/12/dna-for-native-american-genealogy-hot-off-the-press/
Since I have a great grandfather whose parents must have been in the witness protection program, I researched this a bit quite a while ago and found that Francis Cooke supplied a ship that made at least one trip with exiles to somewhere. I’ve forgotten where. My great grandfather married Harriet Cooke, a descendant of Francis. I don’t know if there would have been any kind of connection between Francis and the Acadians or how/why Francis supplied a ship. He did get paid for it and from how the article reads, he was not hired to do it. IF Francis Cooke knew any member of my Ward family could it be that they were Acadian? So many questions. So few answers! Ward is not on the Acadian list and it doesn’t sound French enough unless it was shortened from something else. However, The original Francis Cook (the Mayflower separatist) was married to a Frenchwoman, Hester Mahieu. And who knows for sure where Francis came from! Since everyone married everyone else’s sibling, there must be several connections if I ever find the first one.
I am interested in learning more about Catherine LeJeune and her correct information as with Radegonde Lambert. My my haplogroup is U6a7a1. Radegonde is my 9th Great Grandmother by marriage. Many of the Acadian Surnames are found in my family. I am a descendant of Guillaume Trahan many times.
Did you see the article I wrote about Radegonde? https://dna-explained.com/2016/09/18/radegonde-lambert-16211629-16861693-european-not-native-52-ancestors-132/
I hope you have or will join the project. We only have one Y test from a Trahan male, and it’s only a 12 marker. We would certainly welcome a Y DNA test at a higher marker level if you are interested in participating in that way.
Thank you
I joined the project because I have Family Finder.
the yDNA and mtDNA are British Isles (even have my own SNP)
But I am 1/8 Acadian, thanks to 2 3rd GG’s
Welcome to the project.
Hi, Bart. Welcome! You are a perfect example of an “Allied” Acadian Amerindian Ancestry project member — where your surname is not Acadian (as you have described so clearly above), and neither is your matrilineal ancestry; that being said, your Family Finder results are ALIVE with Acadian ancestry links – and the numbers of your Family Finder (autosomal DNA) cousins who are a part of the Acadian Amerindian project and have the Acadian lineages show it! Thanks for joining.
Thanks for that information, Roberta. I just joined the project, as I have numerous Acadian ancestors. My Amerind ancestry is Algonquin from Quebec. And please note: my Y-chromosome is from the Quebec Daigle clan, not the Acadian Daigle clan. As you may know, the Acadian Daigle descend from Olivier Daigle, born 1643 in France, while the Quebec Daigle (my paternal line) descend from Jean Daigle dit L’Allemand (“the German”) born 1751 in Austria.
Thanks for letting me know about the Daigle line. And welcome.
Erratum: Jean Daigle dit L’Allemand was born 1651 (not 1751) in Austria.
Based on the information you have so kindly furnished to the Acadian Amerindian DNA Project, I have grouped your results under the Y DNA category heading, Daigle dit L’Allemand Surname Subgroup (Alied: Austria), ordered by your Y DNA haplogroup. You have pointed out a key component of our research: geo-location. Y DNA signatures (carried by males) may vary within surnames, and surname variants, as surnames (and corresponding surname variants) may in fact arise from different geographic locations, distinguishing the earliest origins of surname progenitors and lineages.
Where once a family may have believed that all men having a particular surname are descended from the same progenitor, they will now know, through Y DNA surname studies, that is possible for the same surname to have multiple origins — out of the Americas and Europe!
Another point about geo-location as related to family studies: It is not enough to spread out your family group sheets on the dining room table. With advanced DNA studies like the Acadian Amerindian DNA project now a part of your family’s genetic genealogy picture, to trace your family history, you will also need to spread out a map, take out your pen, and start marking your family locations!
Thank you, Howard. This was very helpful. Based on your concise explanation, you are an “Allied” Daigle — out of Quebec (with relation to the Acadian Amerindian DNA project) as opposed to being a “Legacy” Daigle out of Acadia and your surname has been grouped as such in the Y DNA results section. Thanks for joining our project!
I hope one of your important resources is http://www.museeacadien.ca – they have compiled extensive genealogical and historical files on early settlers; Fr. Clarence d’Entremont wrote an exhaustive history of Cap Sable which contains numerous genealogical references, as well as historical legal documents, treaties and official royal correspondence (http://hssh.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/hssh/article/view/38257).
I was surprised at the following statement on this page: “The Acadian homeland is located in the easternmost region of Nova Scotia.”, especially since the map you use clearly shows and names the western part of N.S. as the Acadian Peninsula. The easternmost region would be Cape Breton, which did not have any permanent European settlements until 1713.
Port Royal was the first French settlement in North America, founded in 1605, and was the capital of Acadia until 1749. It is situated in the Annapolis Valley, which is in the western part of N.S. Most N.S. Acadians trace their roots and still live in the western parts of N.S. For example, my family, and indeed most residents of Pubnico in Southwest N.S., are direct descendants of Sieur Philippe Mius d’Entremont, who arrived in 1651 and founded the Baronnie de Pobomcoup (Pubnico) in 1653 (Pubnico is the oldest Acadian community still inhabited mainly by Acadians, and the oldest village in Canada still occupied by the descendants of its founder). His son Philippe Mius d’Azy married a Mi’kmaq named Marie Coyoteblanc and became the progenitor of the Meuse and Muise families.
I am proud to be a descendant from this line, my great great grandfather was Simone doctrove Muise, his daughter Jane or Genivive was great GM, her daughter Agnes, was GM and her daughter Yvonne Boudreau was my mother.
I was adopted out at 10 days, took 50 years to find family, now trying to track
Father.
If you’re not already aware, http://www.dnaadoption.com is very helpful.
I don’t believe I’m a descendant of the Acadians, but DNA results of multiple family members have lead us to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. It appears a brick wall in our pedigree may be torn down someday among the “Foreign Protestants” of Lunenburg. The British government wanted to repopulate and expand the colony of Nova Scotia in the 1750’s. German immigrants were enticed by the British to cross the ocean for a better life. The locals called the new arrivals Foreign Protestants to distinguish them from the French Catholics and Acadians. Your informative article expanded my understanding of the region. I suspect my German ancestors were most likely involved in the displacement and death of the Acadians, Yesterday’s family history can sometimes be today’s shameful past.
Hello Roberta,
What is the difference between the genealogic information I would upload into myFamilyTree and the GEDCom I have uploaded 10 years ago with my Y-DNA and mtDNA results?
Thank you,
If you only had your y and mtDNA lines, that’s not enough now. If you have your direct line ancestors as back as far as you know, then it’s just fine.
Thank you, I’ll upload it if and when I get tested with Family Finder.
Great!!!
Are you able to read my email? First of all, I have no Native American ancestry nor any known French Canadian ancestry. When I took the full sequence mtDNA test, my results came out as Sephardic Jewish. However, I had several Acadian matches at the hvr1/hvr2 level as well as many other French matches. My mtDNA haplogroup is only one letter different from the Acadian mtDNA haplogroup. Gedmatch reported some French Basque admixture.
I wonder if the Sephardic Jews and Acadians have some sort of connection? This would have been a hundred or so years BEFORE they even arrived in Eastern Canada. I’m not sure whether I would be a valid candidate for the Acadian project.
K. Smith
Sent from my iPhone
>
For instances like yours, we have the “collateral” membership category. We have a number of members whose Y DNA, mtDNA, or Family Finder (autosomal DNA) results tell a story of a possible relationships with an Acadian surname lineage, a matrilineal grandmother, or Acadian cousins. We also hold our adopted project members dear — and recognize that their DNA may shed light on key family relationships that they would not have been told about. In your situation, I would join. Family Finder is telling you a story that documented genealogies may not reflect (yet!) and your matches are worth investigating for this reason.
Thanks, Roberta, for this information. I have long suspected that my husband, Bill, has roots in old Blanchard territory in Nova Scotia and whose Blanchard ancestors were chased out of that area. His grandmother was a Blanchard so Ydna doesn’t help me out. She married a Fortner. Strange, though, that his Ydna (familytreedna) results only have one person who matches and that is not a Blanchard or Fortner. I love this genealogy and searching for information. Thanks again.
If the original Acadians from Nova Scotia intermarried with the local Canadian First Nation population, then perhaps the “AmerIndian” term is American centric and needs changing to reflect that the native population are not American Indian.
Language is always a challenge, that’s for sure.
I’m so excited about this Roberta. My 2nd great grandfather (mother’s mother’s father’s father) came from Québec and then the other side of this family has two French branches from Québec as well. It was just this past Spring that I pushed it back far enough that I found an entire branch of Acadians who were able to flee and regroup in Québec. My Grandma descended from this branch. I did an autosomal test on her this summer. She just passed away last Sunday. I’ll get her added to your project!
I’m so sorry that she passed away, but so glad she left you such a wonderful gift. Her DNA.
Thank you. 🙂
So since my grandmother was a Leblanc born of Julie Chiasson and Alphe Leblanc i should push my quest more to your group . Viaguard tested me at 4.3 natives and FT 1 % and might only be traces as they said. But all oral testimonies should i have Huron from Ouellet and Fortin On my mother side and Leblanc n Chiasson from my father side
What is the most interesting here is that i m s native Cheif from Miscou island NB
Hi Marie Asselia,
I do am a descended from Anne-Marie…her first son Philippe married Catherine Hebert and they had a Anne who married a Doucet ….they had a daughter Marie Josephe who married Pierre Pothier…Pierre and Marie had a bunch of children and Dominique had Charles who had Sylvain who had Francois who had Jean Apollinaire who then had my great grandmother Monique Adelle who had Mary Anne who had my dad William …..So I was wondering if by chance since there was so many boys passing the dna down would they still be able to detect Anne-Marie’s blood
While you won’t carry her mitochondrial DNA, you may well carry some of her other DNA. If you have taken the Family Finder test or have transferred in another test at Family Tree DNA, please join the Acadian AmeriIndian project.
My mother is a Comeaux from Jennings and my father is a Granger from Soileau, how do I do this?
If you join the project at FTDNA, the e-mail you will receive when joining provides a lot of resources.
I did my DNA and it showed a very small percentage of native american, but I have been told my entire life that there is indian on my mother and father’s side.
Hi, My name is Janet (Landry)
I just sent out for a MtDNA test kit from FTDNA and I had my autosomal test done years ago through Ancestry which I downloaded over to GedMatch and to MyHeritage. I have always shown Native/Indigenous of 1-3% and I have many Acadian names throughout all my large tree. I believe my last updated percentages on Ancestry are 93% Acadian/French with 2% Irish, 2% Scottish (those two are new, I was always showing as the French and Native before) Recently Ancestry shows the 2 parentage split of the DNA and it shows the Indigenous on both maternal and paternal which is exciting as there are long history stories spoken orally from my moms family, however I am confident that my dads mother being a Muise from Nova Scotia confirms there is definite Mi’kmaq from that line married to Muise D’Azy from Nova Scotia.
Can you give me the best advice how to proceed to get involve in your project.
Thank You, Janet
Hi Janet. At FamilyTreeDNA, click in the project link at the very top of the main page when you sign in. Search for the Acadian Amerindian Project and click through to join.
Thank you
I am excited to be a part of this!