Doucet is a

French language French ( or ) is a Romance language of the Indo-European family. It descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire, as did all Romance languages. French evolved from Gallo-Romance, the Latin spoken in Gaul, and more specifically in Nor ...

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

, especially popular in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

, the former area of

Acadia Acadia (french: link=no, Acadie) was a colony of New France in northeastern North America which included parts of what are now the Maritime provinces, the Gaspé Peninsula and Maine to the Kennebec River. During much of the 17th and early ...

in particular (now

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...

New Brunswick New Brunswick (french: Nouveau-Brunswick, , locally ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. It is the only province with both English and ...

Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island (PEI; ) is one of the thirteen Provinces and territories of Canada, provinces and territories of Canada. It is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, but the most densely populated. The island has seve ...

, and parts of

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...

and

New England New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian provinces ...

). As a result of the

Great Expulsion The Expulsion of the Acadians, also known as the Great Upheaval, the Great Expulsion, the Great Deportation, and the Deportation of the Acadians (french: Le Grand Dérangement or ), was the forced removal, by the British, of the Acadian pe ...

in 1755 and later from Acadia, Doucets are also amongst the

Cajuns The Cajuns (; French: ''les Cadjins'' or ''les Cadiens'' ), also known as Louisiana ''Acadians'' (French: ''les Acadiens''), are a Louisiana French ethnicity mainly found in the U.S. state of Louisiana. While Cajuns are usually described as ...

and Creoles of

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...

. The first Doucet to reach North America is thought to be Major

Germain Doucet Germain Doucet, Sieur de La Verdure (born around 1595 near Couperans en Brye, most likely Coubron northeast of Paris, France) was a French commander in the French colony of Acadia. Doucet's career began when he entered into an association with Ch ...

dit La Verdure, a French military officer at Port-Royal (now

Annapolis Royal Annapolis Royal, formerly known as Port Royal, is a town located in the western part of Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Today's Annapolis Royal is the second French settlement known by the same name and should not be confused with the n ...

) in 1632 who attempted to defend what is now Maine and Acadia from invasions from Boston in 1654. Many Doucets in North America trace their lineage to Germain Doucet.

Variants and pronunciation

Common variants include "

Doucett Doucett is a French language surname and a variant of Doucet. Notable people with the name include: * George Doucett (1897–1974), Canadian politician from Ontario * John Doucett (died 1726), Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia * Linda Doucett ( ...

" and "

Doucette Doucette is a French language surname and a variant of Doucet. Notable people with the name include: * Allan Doucette (1872–1901), American footballer * Bernard Doucette (died 1974), Franco-American meteorologist * Chad Doucette (born 1988), Can ...

". Most Doucets in Canada pronounce their surname as "DOU-set" or "Dou-SET", rather than "Dou-SAY" as

modern French French ( or ) is a Romance language of the Indo-European family. It descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire, as did all Romance languages. French evolved from Gallo-Romance, the Latin spoken in Gaul, and more specifically in Nor ...

might require. Some argue this pronunciation may derive from dialects of sixteenth-century French such as was found in Brittany, a common origin of French-Canadian settlers; however Dou-SAY is the most popular pronunciation among Cajuns in Louisiana.

Notable people

* Albert Doucet (born 1942), Canadian businessman and politician from New Brunswick * Alexandre-Joseph Doucet (1880–1951), Canadian farmer and politician from New Brunswick *

Andrea Doucet Andrea Doucet (born c.1960) is a Canadian social scientist and writer. She is professor of sociology and gender studies at Brock University, and holds the Canada Research Chair in gender, work and care. She was also the editor of the academic jour ...

, Canadian sociologist and writer *

Benoit Doucet Benoit Doucet (born April 23, 1963) is a Canadian-German ice hockey coach and a former professional player. He spent most of his professional playing career in Germany and represented the German Men's National Team at the 1994 and 1998 Olympic G ...

(born 1963), Canadian-German ice hockey coach *

Cat Doucet Daly Joseph "Cat" Doucet Sr. (November 8, 1899 – February 9, 1975) was an American politician who served as Sheriff of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana from 1936 to 1940 and 1952 to 1968. Background Doucet was born in Grand Prairie, Louisiana ...

(1899–1975), American sheriff from Louisiana *

Camey Doucet Camey Joseph Doucet is a Cajun musician and disc jockey. Doucet has been twice honored by the Cajun French Music Association being inducted into the hall of fame in its inaugural year in 1997 and awarded for ''Continuing Contribution to Cajun Mu ...

(born 1939), American musician and disc jockey *

Camille Doucet Camille Doucet (16 May 1812 in Paris – 1 April 1895 in Paris) was a French poet and playwright. Biography Camille Doucet was born on 16 May, 1812, in Paris, France. He was a solicitor's clerk and notary, the secretary of Baron Fain in the ...

(1812–1895), French poet and playwright *

Catherine Doucet Catherine Doucet (born Catherine Green; June 20, 1875 – June 24, 1958) was an American actress. She appeared in more than 30 films between 1915 and 1954. Her film debut came in ''As Husbands Go''. Doucet's work on Broadway began with ''B ...

(1875–1958), American actress * Clément Doucet (1895–1950), Belgian composer and jazz/classical pianist *

Clive Doucet Clive Doucet (born 1946) is a Canadian writer and politician. He served as the Ottawa City Councillor for Capital Ward from 1997 to 2010 and ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Ottawa in the 2010 Ottawa municipal election, finishing third with 15 pe ...

(born 1946), Canadian politician and writer *

Early Doucet Early Joseph Doucet III (born October 28, 1985) is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisiana State University. Early year ...

(born 1985), American football player *

Fred Doucet Jean Alfred "Fred" Doucet (born January 30, 1939) is a Canadian lobbyist, educator, university administrator, and political aide. He was chief of staff to Brian Mulroney, from 1983 to 1984, when he was Leader of the Opposition and was a senior ...

(born 1939), Canadian lobbyist, educator, university administrator, and political aide *

George Doucet George Raymond Doucet (born March 28, 1939) is a former high school principal and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Halifax Cobequid in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1974 to 1978 as a Liberal. He was born in Quebec City ...

(born 1939), Canadian high school principal and politician from Nova Scotia *

Gerald Doucet Gerald Joseph Doucet, QC (May 4, 1937 – November 23, 2017) was a Canadian politician and lobbyist. He represented the electoral district of Richmond in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1963 to 1974, as a Progressive Conservative. Born ...

(born 1937), Canadian politician from Nova Scotia *

(1595 – c.1654), called ''Sieur de la Verdure'', French commandant in Maine and Acadia * Gilbert Doucet (1956–2020), French rugby player *

Henri Lucien Doucet Henri Lucien Doucet (23 August 1856 – 31 December 1895) was a French figure and portrait painter and pastellist, born in Paris. Biography Doucet studied under Lefebvre and Boulanger, and in 1880 won the Prix de Rome. In 1888, he taught at A ...

(1856–1895), French painter * Jacques Doucet (disambiguation), multiple people, including: **

Jacques Doucet (fashion designer) Jacques Doucet () (1853–1929) was a French fashion designer and art collector. He is known for his elegant dresses, made with flimsy translucent materials in superimposing pastel colors. Life Doucet was born in Paris in 1853 to a prosperous fa ...

(1853–1929), French fashion designer **

Jacques Doucet (sportscaster) Jacques Doucet (born March 8, 1940)
is a Canadian radio announcer of baseball

(born 1940), French-Canadian sportscaster ** Jacques Doucet (sailor), French sailor * Jeff Doucet (died 1984), American kidnapper and child molester, killed by

Gary Plauché Leon Gary Plauché (November 10, 1945 – October 23, 2014) was an American man known for publicly killing Jeff Doucet, who had kidnapped, raped, and molested Plauché's prepubescent son, Jody. The killing occurred on Friday, March 16, 1984, and ...

* J. André Doucet (1880–1963), Canadian politician from New Brunswick *

Julie Doucet Julie Doucet (born December 31, 1965)
is a Canadian

Luke Doucet Luke Doucet (born June 9, 1973) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist. He has written and performed as a solo artist and as a member of the indie rock band Veal and the folk rock band Whitehorse. In 2006 and 2011, Doucet was nominated f ...

(born 1973), Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist *

Lyse Doucet Lyse Marie Doucet , (; born 24 December 1958) is a Canadian journalist who is the BBC's Chief International Correspondent and senior presenter. She presents on BBC World Service radio and BBC World News television, and also reports for BBC ...

(born 1958), Canadian journalist, presenter and correspondent for the BBC *

Michael Doucet Michael Louis Doucet (born February 14, 1951) is an American singer-songwriter and musician best known as the founder of the Cajun band BeauSoleil. Early life Doucet was born in Scott, Louisiana, to a Cajun family. Family parties in the 1950s ...

(born 1951), American fiddler, singer and songwriter * Moses J. Doucet (1862–1906), Canadian merchant and politician from Nova Scotia *

Paul Doucet Paul Doucet (born 1970) is a Canadian actor known for his portrayal of Jean Duceppe in ''Jean Duceppe''. Early life Doucet was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1970. He studied drama at the Université du Québec à Montréal. Career His most ...

, Canadian actor *

Rick Doucet Richard Michael Doucet (born in Sussex, New Brunswick) is a New Brunswick businessman and politician who has represented since 2003 the riding of Fundy-The Isles-Saint John West in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick. Family Doucet li ...

, Canadian businessman and politician from New Brunswick * Roger Doucet (1919–1981), Canadian singer *

Sandrine Doucet Sandrine Doucet (10 September 1959 – 4 February 2019) was a French politician. As a member of the Socialist Party, she served as a Deputy between 2012 and 2017, representing Gironde's 1st constituency The 1st constituency of the Gironde ...

(1959–2019), French politician * Suzanne Doucet (born 1944), German composer and producer * Tommy Doucet (1902–1992), Acadian fiddler, from Nova Scotia, Canada * Yves Doucet, the name taken by

Yves Dreyfus Yves Dreyfus (17 May 1931 – 16 December 2021) was a French epee fencer who held two medals as part of the French Olympic épée team. Life and career Dreyfus was born in Clermont-Ferrand, France, and was Jewish. He survived the Nazi occupati ...

(born 1931), Olympic medalist épée fencer, to escape Nazi detection during the

Nazi occupation of France The Military Administration in France (german: Militärverwaltung in Frankreich; french: Occupation de la France par l'Allemagne) was an interim occupation authority established by Nazi Germany during World War II to administer the occupied zo ...

References

{{surname French-language surnames Surnames