re: Most Cajun Last Names

I am not surprised by the confusion of what people assume to be Cajun names. Cajun means your ancestors were kicked out of Nova Scotia around 1760. The French were in Louisiana prior to this event. Those French are called Creole. Creole has nothing to do with race, but more so ethnicity. The parents of Creoles were from across the ocean, to include Italy, France, Spain, Africa, etc. They spoke French and practiced the Catholic faith. They settled Louisiana 40+ years prior to the Cajuns arriving. Most of Louisiana is Creole, not Cajun.

So why are we known as Cajun? A marketing push by Acadiana during the 1970s to promote Cajun culture. It erased the Creole identity. But the term "Creole" was used for two hundred plus years to describe our ancestors, including in civil records and newspapers.

Next time you pull out your bottle of Tony Chacere's, take a good look at it. This product was created prior to the Cajunization of Louisiana. You will notice it is listed as "Creole" seasoning.

The following names I saw listed are Creole, nor Cajun:

Jeasonne
Saucer
Lemoine
Coco
Rabalais
Ducote
Decuir
Quebedeaux
Bordelon (the mother of the Bordelon family, Anne Francois Roland, was in 1720s NOLA. Her son went on to become a commander in the Pointe Coupee Militia, thereby eventually getting a land grant in Avoyelles.)
Gremillion
Mayeaux
Normand
Oubre
Juneau
Couvillion

Also, most people are unaware that the two oldest settled areas in the state outside of New Orleans are Pointe Coupee and Natchitoches, which were being settled at the same time as NOLA.

And that, kiddos, is your Louisiana history lesson of the day.

My ancestors were among those ethnically cleansed from Nova Scotia. Research into Acadian history is one of, if not, my biggest hobby. I can trace my ethnic heritage directly to those displaced by Le Grand Dérangement.

Frankly, it’s insulting that you have the audacity to think we do not know the difference between Creole and Acadian, and that Acadian heritage did not exist before the 1970’s. These are, and always have been, 2 distinct ethnic groups despite what newspapers of the era written by outsiders may have stated.

We coexist and get along because we are both adoptive cultures. To state we are one and the same is ignorant at best. The most beginning student of south Louisiana cuisine is aware that Creole cuisine uses far more tomato based dishes than Acadian, for example, and this is just the first example that springs into my mind.

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Acadian heritage did not exist before the 1970’s.

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it did of course but wasn't really thought much of outside of Louisiana, what started the Cajun band wagon rolling, particularly Cajun cuisine, was the Nawlins World's Fair in '84

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Hymel

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Not even French

Carriere has not been mentioned. Also, all Richard's decended from Michel Richard he was known as "Sanscoucy" (carefree). He arrived in Acadia in 1651. He married Madeline Blanchard at Port Royal, Acadia in 1656. Madeline died in 1682. He married Jeanne Babin in 1683. His numerous decendants had large families in Acadia. After the expulsion, many settled in Louisiana in the River Parishes and many in the Attakapas region(Opelousas) in 1765.

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many settled in Louisiana in the River Parishes 

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My paternal great something grandfather arrived in St James in 1765 with his three younger brothers from Acadia. Their names are on the Wall of Names at the Acadian Memorial in St Martinville. One of the brothers is depicted on The Arrival of The Cajuns mural. His brothers and his sons all moved in later years to Attakapas. He remained in St James where he died in 1803. He was buried in the St James Church cemetery, but his grave is now under the Mississippi River levee, when they constructed the levee it took the oldest part of the cemetery. He was a member of the local Militia that accompanied the Galvez Expedition when they captured Baton Rouge from the British during the Revolutionary War.

I've visited the graves of all my other paternal grandfathers, since they are all buried in the St Michael's Cemetary in St Martinville, except one that is buried at the church cemetery in Patterson.

The overwhelming majority of people in Louisiana do not know the difference between Creole and Cajun. This is clearly illustrated in this thread by posts stating ancestors were directly from France and not knowing the term for this group of people.Then we have authentic Creole surnames that are thrown into the Cajun group. It is up to the people who know to explain the difference between the two. Other than my history and genealogy friends, the average person in Louisiana doesn't know the difference.

I had two ancestors who served in the Spanish milita called up by Governor Galvez. They also marched on Mobile and Pensacola. After La was sold to the US, I had two ancestors who served in the La militia in the War of 1812 in defense of New Orleans. Was a long trip from St Landry Parish!

Girouard

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the average person in Louisiana doesn't know the difference.

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It’s all the same and really doesn’t matter.

While other places may be the melting pot, we are the crawfish pot with all groups adding their own spice to boil.