French names in the 1833 NB Census of Madawaska

Another thing to keep in mind is that in 1833 there was no single, standardized way to spell many names, so even if people could read and write they may have spelled their name differently from others with the same name.

This is only a guide to deciphering the names. For those names for which I have definite information, I have included the correct spellings of the names in italics and brackets [..] right under the name.

This page is meant to be a guide, that is, to suggest possible ways that some common names were spelled; and to suggest possible correct spellings for some of the more common names found in the census to help point you in a direction for further research. Before you assume that the equivalents given here are correct for a specific individual, you should find other evidence for that spelling of his/her name.

If you have any other examples, or know specific names in the census, please . Thanks.

• Here's a link to the American-French Genealogical Society's "Surname Variations" site; lots of spelling variations for French Canadian and Acadian Surnames.
• See also Québec GenWeb's list of Anglicized French Canadian surnames

Please note: This is only a guide. You should always check other sources to confirm the actual spelling of names.

Please note: This is only a guide. You should always check other sources to confirm the actual spelling of names.

"Real names" ---> 1833 census version Belzile = Belselle Chamberland = Chambalaine Comeau = Como Cyr = Cir, Crock Daigle = Deagle Dionne = Yon Dominique dit Rau = DeRoe Dubé = DeBay Fournier = Fourgner, Fourgnier Gagnon = Gagione, Gagion, Gagnion Mazerolle = Muzoroll, Muzorole Michaud = Micheod, Michoed, Misheau Moreau = Morrow Ouellet = Oulette, Ouillette Nadeau = Naddeau, Neddeau, Nedo Pelletier = Piltier, Peltier Ringuette = Ranket Sansfaçon = Sonfasson Saucier = Sorsier Sirois =Cirois Soucy = Soucis Tardif = Tardy Thériault = Terrio Thibedeau = Thibbadoe, Tibbado, Tibido Vaillancourt = Viancour

1833 census version ---> "real names" Belselle = Belzile Chambalaine = Chamberland Cir = Cyr Cirois = Sirois Como = Comeau Crock = Cyr Deagle = Daigle DeBay = Dubé DeRoe = Dominique dit Rau Fourgner, Fourgnier = Fournier Gagione, Gagion, Gagnion = Gagnon Micheod, Michoed, Misheau = Michaud Morrow = Moreau Muzoroll, Muzorole = Mazerolle Naddeau, Neddeau, Nedo = Nadeau Oulette, Ouillette - Ouellet Piltier, Peltier = Pelletier Ranket = Ringuette Sonfasson = Sansfaçon Sorsier = Saucier Soucis = Soucy Tardy = Tardif Terrio = Thériault Thibbadoe, Tibbado, Tibido = Thibedeau Viancour = Vaillancourt Yon = Dionne

First Names

First names, if they were common ones, were put down in their English equivalents. Thus Jean became John (and the common name Jean-Baptiste was often written down as John B., or just Baptist), Edouard - Edward, François - Francis, Michel - Michael, Antoine - Anthony, Henri - Henry, Pierre - Peter, Olivier - Oliver, Marie - Mary, etc. Others were written down phonetically according to how the census taker heard them.

Please note: This is only a guide. You should always check other sources to confirm the actual spelling of names.

1833 census version ---> "real names"

Alexr. = abbreviation for Alexandre

Augustus = Augustin

Babtist = Baptiste, short for Jean-Baptiste

Furmond, Fiermond, Firmond = Firmin

Ignus = Ignace

Jn. = abbreviation for John (Jean)

Junr. = abbreviation for Junior

Larion = Hilarion

Salastin is most likely Celestin

Sapriean = Cyprien

Senr. = abbreviation for Senior

Return to the 1833 NB Census of Madawaska
Return to Upper St.John Valley Communities Page

Last revised 14 Jun 2006
©2004-2006 C. Gagnon