Sunday, March 15, 2009

What is in a Name?

Have you ever heard a man called Fred a Joe a Meleme? Or Jean a Fidele a Charles? Many Acadian families were identified that way. (Meaning Fred son of Joe who was a son of Meleme.)
By the way this was my father in law's family. So for example if there were two Joseph LeBlanc in the same village, they would identify them as Joseph a Pierre or Joseph a Marcel.
Have you ever heard someone called Saindoux?Bonhomme Gould,Leonide Menteur. And some children of certain families would be known as the Cormiers, the Landrys etc. Among the Leblancs of Village du Bois and Memramcook some were known as Charlittes, Mulligan, Petits Chicot and Saindoux. The Charlittes and Saindoux were two different branches.
Saindoux name or nickname that we still hear of today started with Dominique LeBlanc in the middle of the 19th century. Here is what was said from a descendant: In the olden days they would kill a pig and take the fat from it and melt it like Shortening (Saindoux) ,they cooked with it. Anyway old Dominique my grandfather's father,came to old Jude's house. It was in the spring and they were killing the pigs and they would melt the fat to make shortening . Then it would melt on the road ,there were little patches of ice, and Dominique would be walking along with his pail, then he hit a patch of ice and his two feet lifted in the air. And all the Saindoux fell on the ice and all over him. And they have called him Saindoux from that day on. source book Village du Bois.
I remember a family in my youth , that were named Musquit. I forget what their last names were . Now Olivier Doiron was known as Olivier dit Bouleau. I guess these were ways to distinguish families. Many families had pet names for their children, such as Princess, Pitonne,Titi,Tata, Peete,Pouch, Catoo,Catchoo, Catonne, Catin, Chol. I am sure you must have heard some of these names before. Now do you have any nicknames used by your ancestors or family? Why don't you share them ?
I hope you have enjoyed todays blog, and will drop by again.
Have a great day
Aline

4 comments:

Velda said...

My dad's name is Major James (his name, not his rank) but they've always called him Sonny since he was a little boy.

alineskee said...

I knew someone nicknamed Sonny, when I went to school. There was also a lady nicknamed queen of sheeba. grin Thanks Velda for sharing.

Anonymous said...

THIS WAS VERY INTERESTING TO ME
I HAD SOME FRIENDS BOTH WHOSE MAME WAS ARTHUR BUT ONE WAS CALLED CHEE CHEE THE OTHER TU TU BY THEIR AND FRIENDS FAMILIES THEY WERE COUSINS

alineskee said...

what about nicknames like ,tititte, tiny, pooch,tit tomme, grand Joe?