Acadian Names

Naming their predecessors
Acadians have a unique way of identifying each other. While it is common for people from the area to ask whom your parents are when meeting you for the first time in order to more easily relate to you, Acadians proceed to tell you a bit of their ancestry. The word "à" is used as an identification tool.

The word helps to follow the patriarchal lineage in families. Many people are known not by their name, but by their relatives. Usually most people when naming their predecessors make reference to at least two or three generations.

For example - If we follow Nicole Boudreau's lineage, when people ask her whose daughter she is she would answer- "I am Nicole à Russell à Denis à Semide à Henri à George". Russell being Nicole's father, Denis being Russell's, Semide being Denis' and so on. This method of identification is still widely used in the Clare area.

Here are a few more examples:
Danny à Marc à Alexandre - Alexandre is Danny's grandfather…
Adolphe à Nicolas - learn this legendary man's story
Cy à Mateur - this guy's famous too! Click to learn more!
Marc à Normand à Lucien à Théophile

A similar method is also used in English speaking areas.
For example - I am Nicole, daughter of Russell, son of Denis, son of Simide…

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