Desmarais is a French surname, associated especially but not exclusively with a powerful business and political family in Canada and United States. Notable people with the surname include: * André Desmarais (born 1956), Canadian businessman * Charles Desmarais, president of the San Francisco Art Institute * France Chrétien Desmarais, Canadian lawyer and businesswoman, daughter of Jean Chrétien and wife of André Desmarais * François-Séraphin Régnier-Desmarais (1632–1713), French ecclesiastic, grammarian, diplomat and poet * Hélène Desmarais (born 1955), Canadian businesswoman, spouse of Paul Desmarais Jr. * James Desmarais (born 1979), Canadian professional ice hockey player * Jean Noël Desmarais (1924–1995), Canadian physician, radiologist, and politician and brother of Louis Desmarais * Lorraine Desmarais (born 1956), Canadian jazz pianist and composer * Louis Desmarais (born 1923), member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1979-1984 *Louis-Élie Desmarais, partner in 19th century Canadian photography studio Desmarais et Cie * Ludger Desmarais, professional ice hockey player from 1926–1939 * Marcel-Marie Desmarais (1908–1994), Quebec writer, preacher and broadcaster * Mathurin Desmarestz, Mathurin Desmarais (1653-1700), French pirate and buccaneer * Odilon Desmarais (1854–1904), Quebec lawyer, judge and politician * Ovide E. Desmarais (1919–1998), American author of books and detective stories *Ovila Desmarais, partner in 19th century Canadian photography studio Desmarais et Cie * Paul Desmarais (1927–2013), Canadian billionaire and CEO of the Power Corporation of Canada * Paul Desmarais Jr. (born 1954), Canadian businessman, son of Paul Desmarais, and chairman of Power Corporation of Canada * Pierre DesMarais, Canadian politician and Chairman of Montreal's Executive Committee 1954-1957

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