Acadian Ancestors and Their DNA

Recently, I’ve been focused on writing about my Acadian ancestors, and I’ve come across new, never-before-published information. When writing my ancestor articles, it’s always easiest to work my way up the tree, from child to parents. This article includes a summary of each Acadian line, with informational links.

My mother’s grandfather was half-Acadian, so I have a LOT of Acadian ancestors. That’s also why I’m one of the volunteer administrators for the Acadian AmerIndian DNA Project at FamilyTreeDNA. Many Acadian families have intermixed European and Mi’kmaq lineages. Our project celebrates both and welcomes all.

We are working hard to obtain at least two Big Y-700 tests for each paternal surname line and each maternal mitochondrial DNA line.

Why is that important?

Different DNA Tests Tell Us Different Things

Y-DNA descends through all males to only males, so men have their father’s and grandfather’s Y-DNA, on up that line. The Y chromosome is what makes males male. In the Western world, it’s the paternal surname line. You can view the Acadian AmerIndian project’s Y-DNA test results here.

Everyone has mitochondrial DNA, which is passed from female ancestors to both sexes of their children, but only females pass it on. If your direct matrilineal ancestor (you to mother to mother, etc., on up the tree) is Acadian, then you have Acadian mitochondrial DNA. You can view the project’s mitochondrial DNA test results here.

Additionally, we welcome all Acadian descendants who have taken an autosomal DNA test, meaning the Family Finder test at FamilyTreeDNA, or who have uploaded a DNA file from either Ancestry or MyHeritage. (23andMe DNA file uploads have been paused following the 23andMe data compromise, but will resume soon.) You can find upload/download instructions, here.

I encourage anyone who descends from any Acadian, Mi’kmaq, or Atlantic Maritime Native ancestor to join the Acadian AmerIndian DNA Project. We’ve been working on our genealogy together for 18 years, and we love to welcome new cousins!

Acadian Descendants are “All” Related

When I first discovered my Acadian heritage, my now-deceased cousin Paul LeBlanc told me that if you’re related to one Acadian, you’re related to all Acadians. I thought he was being facetious, but when he sent me a list of 137 ways we were related, I quickly realized how intermarried this isolated group of people had been.

The Acadians were French settlers who established homes in Nova Scotia beginning in the early 1600s and stayed until their forced removal by the English in 1755.

Click to enlarge any image.

Shiploads of people, after being stripped of all their belongings, were forcibly relocated elsewhere – locations that included various English colonies along the eastern seaboard, Caribbean islands, the Falkland Islands, South America, and France.

Some managed to return to Nova Scotia years later, but many either stayed where they wound up or made their way to Quebec sometime after 1766. A large number eventually relocated to the Louisiana area, where they are known as Cajuns today.

After deportation, all the Acadians had, literally, was each other, so they tried to stick together as best they could. Families were split as people were herded onto ships that were intentionally sent to different destinations. Most Acadians didn’t speak the language where they were exiled. They were also Catholics in an English world where Catholicism was often illegal. This meant that they remained in communities and intermarried with whatever other Acadians happened to have been herded into the same ship when the deportation occurred.

After at least a decade in exile, some Acadian families reunited in Louisiana, Quebec, or Nova Scotia, where they established communities.

It’s no wonder that today’s Acadian family trees are interwoven, and their DNA shows a significant amount of pedigree collapse and endogamy. So, not only are all Acadians related on paper, but many share some DNA with each other, too.

DNA Testing – You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

Almost everyone is familiar with the benefits of autosomal DNA testing. You match lots of cousins with whom you can collaborate and confirm ancestors across multiple lines in a variety of ways. It’s like a big jigsaw puzzle.

Not everyone understands why we need to do Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA testing for each of our Acadian ancestors and ancestral lines.

Put simply, you don’t know what you don’t know. Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA provide additional tools, and you know exactly which line they pertain to. Unlike with autosomal DNA, you’re not limited to “maybe” matching someone with whom you shared an ancestor just a few generations ago. Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA are direct, targeted lineage tests that break through barriers.

Ideally, we need to test the following:

Males directly descended through all males for each line to confirm there is no biological break in the line. Preferably a Big Y-700 test.
At least one Big Y-700 tester from each of two sons of the original ancestor to confirm that ancestor’s Y-DNA signature.
At least two people who descend from each female ancestor through all females to the current generation, which can be male, to confirm that ancestor’s mitochondrial signature
At least one mitochondrial tester from each of the original ancestor’s female children to confirm that all of the children attributed to her are her children.

Big Y-700 tests and mtFull (full sequence mitochondrial DNA tests) provide a smorgasbord of information, including:

Continental-level ethnicities for that ancestral line including European, African, Asian, Native American, and Jewish.
Highly detailed migration paths with Globetrekker and the Discover tools.
Time ranges when the various mutations occurred forming lineages which can be critical for determining relationships and timelines.
Matching with ancient DNA samples, which informs us of history beyond surnames.
Sometimes literally a village or a very specific location in a country where other testers’ ancestors are from.

I can’t tell you how many brick walls have fallen, including several Acadian lineages that, without Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA testing, we would never have been able to unravel.

The more people who test, the more refined the results, and the more information that becomes available for all of us. Since DNA testing is illegal in France, it’s up to the descendants of those who emigrated elsewhere to step up and fill the void.

Acadian Genealogy Trees

As with any genealogy, sometimes it’s challenging to sort the wheat from the chaff when it comes to genealogical information. Often, DNA testing and other resources add to the library of knowledge that we have, correcting and refining what was previously believed.

Genealogy is a team sport, and future research, both for us and new researchers to follow, is built on the foundation of those who have come before us and continue to contribute.

I encourage Acadian researchers to utilize two of my favorite sources in addition to DNA testing.

Karen Theriot Reader is a professional genealogist whose family is Acadian. You can access her free tree with sources, here. Thank you, Karen.
WikiTree is a free one-world tree that utilizes specialized volunteer teams that focus on accuracy and, when needed, dispute resolution. You can find the WikiTree Acadian project here, and I encourage you to add your lineage.

My Trees

I’ve uploaded trees everywhere I’ve DNA tested, and I also have public trees available for viewing.

You can view my tree at WikiTree, here. Antoine Lore is my most recent Acadian ancestor, so the Acadian portion of my tree begins here.
My MyHeritage tree can be viewed for free, here.
My Ancestry tree can be viewed by Ancestry subscribers, here.
My branch of the FamilySearch tree can be viewed here. I love FamilySearch’s one-world tree, but it doesn’t have specialty moderation teams, so I find its trees less accurate than the Acadian WikiTree entries or Karen Theriot Reader’s tree.

Ancestors

It’s difficult to decide how best to organize these ancestors, so I’ve chosen alphabetical groupings with explanations.

Please note that I haven’t yet written a comprehensive article about each ancestor. I’ll be updating this page as I add articles. Right now, I’m adding articles every week or so in anticipation of a trip to Nova Scotia to visit where they lived.

You’re going to see some new Acadian surnames here. That’s because we recently discovered records that were previously buried in France.

Aucoin Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Aucoin	Jeanne	1630	1718	Francois Girouard	H
Aucoin	Martin	c 1595	Bef 1671	Barbe Minguet		I-FTC21121

Origins

The Aucoin family originated in LaRochelle, France, where Martin Aucoin was married in 1632. Jeanne Aucoin was baptized there on November 26, 1630.

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

You can purchase an autosomal Family Finder DNA test here or upload a DNA file from another testing company. Then, join the Acadian AmerIndian project by clicking on “Group Projects” at the top of the page after you sign in.

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are an Aucoin male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here. If you are an Aucoin male who has already purchased a Y-DNA STR test, please upgrade to the Big Y-700.
If you descend from Jeanne Aucoin through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Aucoin Links

Blanchard Family

Click to enlarge trees.

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Blanchard	Jeanne	c 1675		Jean LePrince	HV4a1a4
Blanchard	Guillaume	c 1650	1715/1717	Huguette Gougeon	X2b4	I-M253 need Big Y-700 test
Blanchard	Madelaine	c 1643		Michael Richard	X2b4
Blanchard	Jean	c 1611		Radegonde Lambert		I-M253 need Big Y-700 test

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Blanchard male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here. If you are an Blanchard male who has already purchased a Y-DNA STR test, please upgrade to the Big Y-700.
If you descend from either Jeanne Blanchard or Madeleine Blanchard through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Blanchard DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need at least two Blanchard males from both Guillaume Blanchard and Jeanne Blanchard’s lines to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test. We don’t actually know if those two men are related.

Blanchard Links

Bonnevie Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Bonnevie	Marie Charlotte	c 1703	After 1742	Jacques Lore/Lord	X2a2
Bonnevie	Jacques	c 1660	1733	Francoise Mius		I-Y21507

Origins

Jacques Bonnevie was reported by Father Clarence d’Entremont to have been a conscripted soldier born in Paris, France.

Roberta’s Articles

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Bonnevie male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here. If you are an Bonnevie male who has already purchased a Y-DNA STR test, please upgrade to the Big Y-700.
If you descend from Marie Charolotte Bonnevie through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Bonnevie DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need at least two Bonnevie males to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.
We need mitochondrial DNA testers that descend from each of Marie Charlotte Bonnevie’s sisters to prove beyond a doubt that they share a mother. If you descend from Marie Charlotte or her female siblings through all females to the current generation, please take a mitochondrial DNA test.

Bonnevie Links

Bourg Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Bourg	Perrine	c 1626	After 1693	Simon Pelletret	H14b1

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Bourg male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Perrine Bourg through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Bourg DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any Bourg male or similarly spelled surname to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.

Bourg Links

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bourg-20

Bourgeois Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Bourgeois	Marie Francoise	1659	Before 1697	Claude Dugas	H1ag1
Bourgeois	Jacques dit Jacob	1618/1621	1698/1700	Jeanne Trahan		R-FTC6661

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Bourgeois male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here. If you are an Bourgeois male who has already purchased a Y-DNA STR test, please upgrade to the Big Y-700.
If you descend from Marie Francoise Bourgeois through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Bourgeois DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need at least two Bourgeois males to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.

Bourgeois Links

Broussard Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Broussard	Marie Anne	1686		Rene Doucet	X2b4
Broussard	Francois	c 1653	1716	Catherine Richard		R-FT282415

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Broussard male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here. If you are a Broussard male who has already purchased a Y-DNA STR test, please upgrade to the Big Y-700.
If you descend from Marie Anne Broussard through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Broussard Links

Chaumoret Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Chaumoret	Francoise	c 1605	Before 1650	Antoine Chebrat	HV4a1a4
Chaumoret	Vincent	Before 1585				Need Big Y-700 test

Origins

Francoise Chaumoret’s husband, Antoine Chebrat, is found operating a mill in La Chaussee, Poitou, France, in 1650.

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Chaumoret male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here..
If you descend from Francoise Chaumoret through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Chaumoret DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any Chaumoret male to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.

Chaumoret Links

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Chaumoret-1

Chebrat Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Chebrat	Jeanne	c 1626	After 1677	Antoine Gougeon	HV4a1a4
Chebrat	Antoine		Before 1662			Need Big Y-700 test

Origins

Antoine Chebrat is found operating a mill in La Chaussee, Poitou, France in 1650.

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Chebrat male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here..
If you descend from Jeanne Chebrat through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Chebrat DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any Chebrat male to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.

Chebrat Links

Corbineau or Charbonneau Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Corbineau, Charbonneau	Francoise	C 1605	Before 1666	Guillaume Trahan	H1ag1

Origins

Francoise Corbineau was born in St. Etienne Parish in Chinon, Indre-et-Loire, Touraine, France, and was of de la Paroisse St-Etienne when she married Guillaume Trahan in 1627.

Francoise Charbonnier, born in 1599, may be this person, but additional research is needed.

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Corbineau or Charbonneau male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Francoise Corbineau through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Corbineau or Charbonneau DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any Corbineau male or similarly spelled surname from this line or this region to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.

Corbineau Links

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Corbineau-3

Cousin Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Cousin	Marie	c 1667	After 1710	Nicholas Goicheau	Need mitochondrial DNA

Origins

Jacquette Soulard was married on July 2, 1685 to Pierre Garceau in Saint-Marsault, Deux-Sèvres, France, about 55 miles northwest of La Rochelle. From Filae, “Pierre Goicheau, age 33, laboureur, père Nicolas Goicheau, mère Marie Cousin; Jacquette Soulard, age 18, père Jacque Soulard, mère Perrine Estancheau.” Hat tip to cousin Mark for deep–diving and finding this extremely elusive record.

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Cousin male whose ancestors are from this region of France, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Marie Cousin, through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Cousin DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any Cousin male or similarly spelled surname from this line or this region to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.
Additional children would certainly have been born to this couple. If you descend from Marie Cousin through all females to the current generation, which can be male, please purchase a mitochondrial DNA test.

d’Azy Family – see Mius

d’Entremont Family – see Mius

DeForest, Forest, de Forest, Foret or La Foret Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
DeForest	Marguerite	1747	1819	Francois Lafalle	HV41a14
DeForest	Jacques	1707		Marie Josephe LePrince	H1ag1	R-FT146490
DeForest	Rene	1670	1751	Francoise Dugas	J1b2	R-FT146490
DeForest	Michel		Before 1691	Marie Hebert		R-FT146490

Origins

Please note that Y-DNA testing has proven that this is NOT the Gereyt deForest line from Leyden, Holland.

Roberta’s Articles

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Forest male by any spelling, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Marguerite DeForest through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

DeForest Links

Desloges or Deloges Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Desloges	Renee	c 1570	Before 1632	Nicholas Trahan	Need mitochondrial DNA

Origins

Two of Renee Desloges’s children were baptized at Montreuil-Bellay, France in 1601 and 1614.

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Desloges or Deloges male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Renee Desloges through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Desloges or Deloges DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any Desloges male or similarly spelled surname from this region or this region to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.
We need anyone who descends from Renee Desloges’s daughters, Anne, Renee or Lucrece Trahan through all females to take a mitochondrial DNA test.

Desloges Links

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Desloges-2

Doucet Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Doucet	Anne	1713	1791	Daniel Garceau	X2b4
Doucet	Rene	C 1678	After 1701	Marie Anne Broussard	H14b1	R-FT413594
Doucet	Pierre	C 1621	1713	Henriette Pelletret	T2b7a2	R-FT413594
Doucet	Marguerite aka Marie Judith?	1625	1732	Abraham Dugas	T2b7a2

Marguerite’s parents are unknown. She is the sister of Pierre.

Origins

Germaine Doucet, the uncle of Pierre and Marguerite, was born in Couperoue en Brye (or Coupri en Brie), today Coupru in the department of Haunts-de-France region, Picardie, France, about 20 miles northeast of Paris.

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Doucet male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from either Anne or Marguerite Doucet through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Doucet DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need at least two Big Y-700 testers. If you are a Doucet male from this line, please take a Big Y-700 DNA test. If you are a Doucet male who has already taken a Y-DNA STR test, please upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.

Doucet Links

Dugas Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Dugas	Francoise	1678	After 1723	Rene DeForest	H1ag1
Dugas	Claude	1652	1732	Francoise Bourgeois	T2b7a2	J-FT168292
Dugas	Abraham	1616	1693/1700	Marguerite Doucet		J-FT168292

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Dugas male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Francoise Dugas through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Dugas Links

Estancheau Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Estancheau	Perrine	Before 1647		Jacque Soulard	Need mitochondrial DNA

Origins

Jacquette was married on July 2, 1685, to Pierre Garceau in Saint-Marsault, Deux-Sèvres, France, about 55 miles northwest of La Rochelle. From Filae, “Pierre Goicheau, age 33, laboureur, père Nicolas Goicheau, mère Marie Cousin; Jacquette Soulard, age 18, père Jacque Soulard, mère Perrine Estancheau.” Hat tip to cousin Mark for deep-diving and finding this extremely elusive record.

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are an Estancheau male whose ancestors are from this region of France, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Perrine Estancheau through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Estancheau DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any Estancheau male or similarly spelled surname from this line or this region to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.
Additional children would certainly have been born to this couple. If you descend from Perrine Estancheau through all females to the current generation, which can be male, please purchase a mitochondrial DNA test.

Garceau, Garsseault or Goicheau Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Garceau	Appoline	1742	1788	Honore Lore	X2b4
Garceau	Daniel	1707	1772	Anne Doucet	U6a7a1a	Need Big Y-700 test
Garceau	Jean	c 1675	1707	Marie Levron		Need Big Y-700 test
Garceau	Pierre	c 1652		Jacquette Soulard		Need Big Y-700 test
Garceau	Nicolas	Before 1632		Marie Cousin		Need Big Y-700 test

Origins

Pierre Garceau married Jacquette Soulard in 1685 in Saint-Marsault, part of La Foret-sur-Sevres, about 55 miles northwest of La Rochelle. From Filae, “Pierre Goicheau, age 33, laboureur, père Nicolas Goicheau, mère Marie Cousin; Jacquette Soulard, age 18, père Jacque Soulard, mère Perrine Estancheau.” Hat tip to cousin Mark for deep-diving and finding this extremely elusive record.

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Garceau male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Appoline Garceau through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Garceau, Garsseault or Goicheau DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any Garceau or Goicheau male or similarly spelled surname from this line or this region to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.
We need anyone who descends from Jacquette Soulard through all females to the current generation to test for her mitochondrial DNA. At this point, we know of no female children born to Pierre and Jacquette. If you discover those records, please reach out.

Garceau Links

Gaudet Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Gaudet	Marie	c 1633	1710	Etienne Hebert	J1b2
Gaudet	Jean	C 1575	1671/1678			G-YP786

Origins

Historian Geneviève Massignon believed that the Acadian Gaudet, Hebert, and LeBlanc families were already allied in France. Jean Gaudet, was censistaire (paid quit-rent to a feudal Lord) in 1634 on land at Martaizé (Vienne) in the Seigneurie d’Aulnay. D’Aulnay arranged for some of the people from this region to settle in Acadia. Massignon did not find baptismal or marriage records, although I’m unclear how much research was done.

Roberta’s Articles

Marie Gaudet (c1633-1710) – The Three Maries

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Gaudet male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Marie Gaudet through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Gaudet DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need at least two Gaudet males from this line to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.

Gaudet Links

Girouard or Gerard Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Girouard	Charlotte Anne	1659	1742	Jullien Lord/Lore	H
Girouard	Francois	1640/1651	1686/1690	Jeanne Aucoin		Need Big Y-700 test

Roberta’s Articles

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Girouard male by any spelling, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Charlotte Anne Girouard or her sisters through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Girouard DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need two Girouard males from this line or this region to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test. One test is in process, but we still need at least one more.

Girouard Links

Gougeon Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Gougeon	Huguette	1647/1655	1717	Guillaume Blanchard	HV4a1a4
Gougeon	Antoine	c 1626	Before 1679	Jeanne Chebrat		Need Big Y-700 test

Huguette Gougeon’s mother’s first husband was Jean Poirier, so there is some confusion that Huguette was a Poirier, but she was the child of her mother’s second husband, Antoine Gougeon.

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Gougeon male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Huguette Gougeon through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Gougeon DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any Gougeon male or similarly spelled surname from this line or this region to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.

Gougeon Links

Hebert Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Hebert	Marie	c 1651	1677	Michel DeForest	J1b2
Hebert	Marguerite	c 1652	After 1715	Jacques LePrince	J1b2
Hebert	Etienne	c 1625	1669/1671	Marie Gaudet		R-BY31006

Marie and Marguerite Hebert are sisters.

Roberta’s Articles

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Hebert male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Marie or Marguerite Hebert, or their sisters through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Hebert Links

Helie Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Helie	Madeleine	C 1626	Before 1678	Philippe Mius I	J – partial haplogroup – need mtFull test

Madeleine Helie’s parents are unknown. Her surname is spelled variably as Elie, Ellie, d’Elie, and E’Lie

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Helie male by any spelling, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Madeleine Helie through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Helie DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any Helie male or similarly spelled surname to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.
We need anyone descended from Madeleine Helie through all females to the current generation to take a mitochondrial DNA test. If you have already tested at a lower level, please upgrade to the full sequence test.

Helie Links

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Helie-2

LaFaille, Lafay, or Lafaye Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Lafay, Lafaille	Marie	1767	1836	Honore Lore	HV4a1a4
Lafay, Lafaille	Francois	1744	1824	Marguerite DeForest		Need Big Y-700 test

Origins

Francois Lafaye, Lafay or Lafaille, was a French sailor whose parents may have been Joseph Lafay and Francoise Germon from Bordeaux, France.

Roberta’s Articles

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a LaFaille, Lafay, or Lafaye male by any spelling, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Marie LaFaille/Lafay through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Lafaille, Lafay, or Lafaye DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any Lafaille, Lafaye or Lafay male or similarly spelled surname from this line or whose ancestors descend from from Bordeaux to take the Big Y-700 test.

LaFailly or Lafay Links

Lambert Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Lambert	Radegonde	c 1621	1686/1693	Jean Blanchard	X2b4

Origins

Radegonde’s parents are unknown, but there has been speculation for years that Jean Lambert, the only male in Acadia at that time with the Lambert surname was her father. It’s currently believed that she married and arrived with Jean Blanchard. Her mitochondrial DNA proves beyond a doubt that she is not Native.

Roberta’s Articles

Radegonde Lambert (1621/1629-1686/1693), European, Not Native

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Lambert male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Radegonde Lambert through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Lambert DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any Lambert male or similarly spelled surname from this line or this region to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.

Lambert Links

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Lambert-395

LeJeune Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
LeJeune	Catherine	1633	c 1678	Francois Savoie	U6a7a1a

There may have been three LeJeune siblings in early Acadia, but no definitive information or consensus has been reached. At this point, Catherine LeJeune’s parents are unknown.

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a LeJeune male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Catherine LeJeune or any female LeJeune born in the same timeframe in Acadia through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

LeJeune DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any LeJeune male or similarly spelled surname to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.

LeJeune Links

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Lejeune-11

LePrince or Le Prince Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
LePrince	Marie Josephe	1715	After 1748	Jacques DeForest	HV4a1a4
LePrince	Jean	c 1692	After 1752	Jeanne Blanchard	J1b2	Need Big Y-700 test
LePrince	Jacques	c 1646	1692/1693	Marguerite Hebert		Need Big Y-700 test

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a LePrince male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Marie Josephe LePrince through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

LePrince DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any LePrince male or similarly spelled surname from this line to take the Big Y-700 test.

LePrince Links

Levron Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Levron	Marie	c 1686	1727	Jean Garceau	U6a7a1a
Levron	Francois	c 1651	1714	Catherine Savoie		Need Big Y-700 test

Origins

Francois Levron’s dit name is Nantois, which may be the source of his origins being placed in Nantes. Additionally, other Acadians came from there as well. To date, we need confirmation.

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Levron male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Marie Levron through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Levron DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any Levron male or similarly spelled surname from this line to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.

Levron Links

Lord, Lore, Lor, L’Or, Laur, or Laure Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Lore	Antoine	1805	1862/1868	Rachel Hill	HV4a1a4	R-BY93943
Lore	Honore	1768	1834	Marie Lafay	X2b4	R-BY93943
Lore	Honore	1742	1818	Appoline Garceau	X2a2	R-BY93943
Lor/Lord/Lore	Jacques	1679	1786	Marie Charlotte Bonnevie	H	R-BY93943
LorLord/Lore	Julien	1653	1724	Anne Charlotte Girouard		R-BY93943

Julien’s dit name is LaMontagne, which was used as a surname at least once.

Roberta’s Articles

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Lore or Lord male by any spelling, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.

Lord/Lore Links

Minguet Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Minguet	Barbe	C 1600	After 1630	Martin Aucoin	H

Origins

The Aucoin family was from LaRochelle, France, so it stands to reason that the Minguet family was also from that area.

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Minguet male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Barbe Minguet through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Minguet DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any Minguet male or similarly spelled surname from this region to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.

Minguet Links

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Minguet-1

Mius, Muis, Miuse, Muise, Mews, d’Azy, or d’Entremont Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Mius	Francoise	c 1683	1515/1517	Jacques Bonnevie	X2a2
Mius	Philippe II	1660/1662	After 1726	Unknown Mi’kmaq	J	E-V13, need Big Y tester
Mius	Philippe I	c 1609	1700	Madelaine Helie		E-V13, need Big Y tester

Roberta’s Articles

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Mius, d’Azy, or d’Entremont male by any spelling, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Francoise Mius or her sisters through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Mius, d’Azy, or d’Entremont DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any Mius, d’Azy, or d’Entremont male or similarly spelled surname from this line to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.
We need at least one person who descends through all females from each one of Francoise Mius’s sisters to the current generation, which can be male, to take a mitochondrial DNA test. We need to verify which siblings share the same mother. Her father, Philippe Mius, is known to have had one Native wife, is believed to have had two, and could have had more.

Mius Links

Pelletret, Pelletrot, or Peltret Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Pelletret	Henriette	c 1541	1686/1693	Pierre Doucet	H14b1
Pelletret	Simon	c 1616	1643/1645	Perrine Bourg		Need Y-DNA tester

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Pelletret male by any spelling, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Henriette Pelletret through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Pelletret DNA Needed – Can You Help?

Simon did not have any known male children. Therefore, we are hoping for a Pelletret male whose ancestors are from France to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.

Pelletret Links

Richard Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Richard	Catherine	1663	1716	Francois Broussard	X2b4
Richard	Michel	c 1630	1686/1689	Madeleine Blanchard		R-FT137222

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Richard male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Catherine Richard through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Richard DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any Richard male from this line or this region to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test. Please note that several men with the surname Robichaud match the Richard line. These men are also invited to upgrade.

Richard Links

Savoie Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Savoie	Catherine	c 1659	1701/1703	Francois Levron	U6a7a1a
Savoie	Francois	c 1621	Before 1679	Catherine LeJeune		R-FT397291

Origins

The Savoie family origins are uncertain, but Bona Arsenault cites Massignon and states that they are, “Doubtlessly originally from Martaize, department of Vienne, France.” Additional research is needed.

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Savoie male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Catherine Savoie through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Savoie DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any Savoie male or similarly spelled surname from this line or this region to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.

Savoie Links

Soulard Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Soulard	Jacquette	c 1667	After 1710	Pierre Garceau	Need mitochondrial DNA
Soulard	Jacque	Before 1647		Perrine Estancheau		Need Big Y-700 test

Origins

Jacquette married Pierre Garceau on July 2, 1685, in Saint-Marsault, Deux-Sèvres, France, about 55 miles northwest of La Rochelle. From Filae, “Pierre Goicheau, age 33, laboureur, père Nicolas Goicheau, mère Marie Cousin; Jacquette Soulard, age 18, père Jacque Soulard, mère Perrine Estancheau.” Hat tip to my cousin Mark who did the deep-diving and found this extremely elusive record.

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Soulard or possibly Foulard male whose ancestors are from this region of France, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Jacquette Soulard or her mother, Perrine Estancheau, through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Soulard DNA Needed – Can You Help?

We need any Soulard or Foulard male or similarly spelled surname from this line or this region to take or upgrade to the Big Y-700 test.
Additional children would certainly have been born to this couple. If you descend from Jacquette Soulard or Perrine Estancheau through all females to the current generation, which can be male, please purchase a mitochondrial DNA test.

Soulard Links

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Soulard-17

Trahan Family

Last	First	Birth	Death	Spouse	mtDNA	Y-DNA
Trahan	Jeanne	c 1629	1698-1700	Jacques Bourgeois	H1ag1
Trahan	Guillaume	c 1601	1684	Francoise Corbineau		R-BY34988
Trahan	Nicolas	1570/1580	After 1627	Renee Desloges		R-BY34988

Origins

Guillaume Trahan was born in Montreuil-Bellay, Maine-et-Loire, Anjou, France.

Roberta’s Articles

I have not written any articles about these ancestors yet, although they may be mentioned in others. You can search for the surname by entering the surname in the search box at my blog.

The Project

In addition to the autosomal test:

If you are a Trahan male, please purchase the Big Y-700 test, here.
If you descend from Jeanne Trahan through all females to the current generation, please purchase the mitochondrial DNA test.

Trahan Links

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16 thoughts on “Acadian Ancestors and Their DNA”

Karen Smith on April 9, 2024 at 8:05 pm said:

I’m interested in the LeJeune branch as I’m likely to be related to that family. My mtDNA is u6a7a1b (very similar to u6a7a1a). I have distant Acadian matches. My family is Ashkenazi Jewish with some Sephardic.

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- Roberta Estes on April 10, 2024 at 4:49 am said:
  
  It will be interesting to view those two branches after the new mito tree is released.
  
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  - Marcelle Comeau on April 13, 2024 at 1:19 pm said:
    
    I also am interested in the Lejeune branch as Edmée Lejeune is my Mother of Acadia (MOA). mtDNA U6a7a1b
    
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  - Marcelle Comeau on April 13, 2024 at 1:39 pm said:
    
    Correction to my first post mtDNA U6a7a1a
    
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Lynne Belcher Burgess on April 10, 2024 at 3:21 am said:

Hi Roberta. (Just started you NA DNA book so this makes a nice adjunct.) Looking over your Acadian project and see one of my direct lines/ancestor – Dennis McClendon. The line is Scot. Can you clarify how that tester ended up in your Acadian study? Making sure I am clear on the process.

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- Roberta Estes on April 10, 2024 at 4:51 am said:
  
  People don’t have to be 100% Acadian to join the project. We don’t currently have any specific restrictions or make people answer questions before joining. We hope that they wouldn’t join if they don’t have at least one Acadian line. Please note that only Y DNA and mitochondrial DNA results can be shown in projects. So the tester’s paternal line is McClendon, but I’m presuming here that his other lines would be Acadian.
  
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Ed Lebeau on April 10, 2024 at 12:37 pm said:

What an amazing article. I’m about 8% Acadian and get a big kick out of people who post on Acadian DNA pages that they just discovered their Acadian Ancestry and are they related to anyone on gedmatch. I usually will match them on 10 or 12 short segments (3-5) for a total that would make them a not-too-distant cousin. That’s what endogamy does.

I’m descended from Jean Bourgeois and Ludivine Granger. There are serious questions about where Jean came from, and I second your request for Bourgeois males to take a DNA test.

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Richard T Devin on April 10, 2024 at 3:47 pm said:

Hello Roberta,

Regarding the above listing for “Gaudet Family” of Martaizé, Vienne, Poitou-Charentes, France: Marie GAUDET has a full sister named Françoise GAUDET who is also mtDNA = J1b2 – they share the same ‘unknown’ mother, the first wife of Jean GAUDET (1575-1671).

Françoise GAUDET, b. 23 Sep 1623, Martaizé, Vienne, Poitou-Charentes, France; m.1. 1644 to Jean MERCIER in Martaizé, Vienne, Poitou-Charentes, France (1 daughter Marie MERCIER 1645-1736); m.2. 1650 to Daniel LE BLANC in Port Royal, Acadia (1 daughter Françoise LE BLANC 1653-1677); d. 25 Oct 1698 at the home of her son Pierre, Port Royal, Acadia; b. Garrison Graveyard, Port Royal, Acadia.

She can be found here: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gaudet-14

Françoise GAUDET is my Earliest Known Direct mtDNA Ancestor (J1b2) and I am listed on your “Acadian and Amerindian Ancestry DNA Project – mtDNA Test Results” (FT 191248). My direct mtDNA descent from Françoise GAUDET has been confirmed by Stephen A. White, Lucie LeBlanc Consentino, Karen Theriot Reader, “The Mothers of Acadia mtDNA Project-Group” and “Founding Mothers of Acadia”.

Thank you to add Françoise to the “Gaudet Family” listing above.

Kind regards and keep up the great work.

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- Roberta Estes on April 10, 2024 at 11:19 pm said:
  
  Be sure you have Françoise on your tree. I’m sure you do. The people I listed above in the article are my ancestors. It’s nice to know that our ancestors were siblings.
  
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Donald Simoneaux on April 10, 2024 at 9:31 pm said:

I have autosomal lines (LeBlanc, Crochet, Corporon, Hebert) that trace back to Acadia but no Y or mitochondrial lines. Is there any value in my trying to add details for those lines to my tree on FTDNA?

Many people think Francois Simoneaux, the first Simoneaux male in Louisiana was Francois Simon who lived in Acadia, but Stephen White disagrees, and my Big Y-700 indicates strongly that Francois was not from Acadia. He may not have been French, but rather changed his name before he married Marie Anne Osite Corporon in Maryland.

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- Roberta Estes on April 10, 2024 at 11:14 pm said:
  
  I would probably not add those lines at this point unless there are within 5 or 6 generations.
  
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  - Roger Savoy on April 15, 2024 at 5:04 pm said:
    
    Roberta et al…
    
    Thank you for your continuing dedication to this project. I found your attachment very interesting. Since I am of predominately Acadian ancestry most of the ancestors mentioned are also part of my lineage. Unfortunately none of the testing you’re searching apply to me directly.
    
    My y-dna haplogroup is First Nations, C-BY22870 is through the unknown father of my paternal grandfather. Nevertheless less your email has encouraged me to upgrade my test to Big Y-700, which was done today.
    
    My mtdna haplogroup, J1b1a1 is not one you’re specifically looking for, but in any case I believe that I already have the full mtdna test results with « ftdna ».
    
    As an aside, my father’s mtdna haplogroup is HV4a1a4 tracing back to Jeanne Chebat via Anne Blanchard, a sister to the Jeanne and Madeleine Blanchard mentioned in your information. This was determined by testing my father’s great nephew who is the son of his sister’s daughter. By taking the test he helped verify a correction of an error in my paternal grandmother’s lineage… The test was taken through 23&me. Though I don’t know this cousin well, I could see if he’s willing to transfer his 23&me results to « ftdna »;, if and when that may be possible and if you find it may be useful
    
    In any case, keep up the good work and safe travels to Nova Scotia….
    
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    - Roberta Estes on April 15, 2024 at 9:24 pm said:
      
      Thanks Roger. MtDNA can’t be transferred from 23andMe because they only selectively test. It would be very nice if he uploaded his autosomal DNA test and then purchased the full mitochondrial. He may well have additional mutations that will firm a new haplogroup either way others.
      
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Will Johnson on April 12, 2024 at 6:41 pm said:

The *males* were deported for the most part. Not all Acadians.

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Cindy Schroeder on April 12, 2024 at 10:40 pm said:

Roberta,
Thank you for your detailed research on this group!

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Peter D. Murphy on April 13, 2024 at 10:39 pm said:

I am one-eighth Acadian. My ancestors were among those who hid in the woods during the Expulsion and then returned to what is now the Nova Scotia/New Brunswick border area. I often get DNA matches with folks in Louisiana who are described as being related in the 2nd-3rd cousin range! That says it all!

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