re: What % if people who claim to be “cajun” actually are?

After looking at that list of ship passengers from Canada, I can claim being Cajun. I have a few of those names in my family tree.

Funniest thing is some people think they are cajun just from their last name, but take Soileau for example. The Soileaus aren't Cajun by the Soileau side of the family. The Soileaus came straight from France.

I don’t claim to be Cajun, I’m certain that my French back ground hails directly from Europe. Having said that I think it’s a culture that needs to be celebrated. Especially the language which is dying out. I support anything having to do with pro longing the Cajun culture of south Louisiana.

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My dad's side of the family went straight from France to Marksville via New Orleans.
Not one Cajun ancestor in the family, just French. Doesn't deter anyone in Alabama from thinking I'm a gen-u-ine coonass from the bayou, no matter how many times I tell them I'm not. French ancestry+From Louisiana=Coonass to my dear Gump friends.

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If they came when LA was just a colony that would be you Creole by the true definition of the word

I can go 3 generations back on my dad side. And 2 generations back on my moms side. My maternal grandmother spoke French. And my great grandfather’s brother, whom was still alive when I was around 12 was an abbyville native went to his funeral and it was performed in French

However, for me, other then a Cajun last name, I am so watered down through the proceeding generations, I don’t consider my self Cajun, but just claim to have Cajun roots

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My grandmother didn't speak English until 2nd grade and took a pirogue to school until 5th grade

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This is the BS line i hear all the time.

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If I was Cajun I would keep it quiet

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You should keep quiet regardless.

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Me too! I'm from Meaux.

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Mais cher, I’m from Andrew, me.

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What % if people who claim to be “cajun” actually are?

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Why would they frickin' want to?

Cajun is to Louisiana what hillbilly is to Arkansas and what redneck is to Alabama and Mississippi.

White trash by any other name is still white trash.

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Falgout is a common name in S. La. It is a French name, but it's not Cajun, it's Norman French by way of England.

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The thing is, though, if your family background in Louisiana goes far enough back to Colonial French lineage, there’s probably a better chance than not, you also have some Acadian/Cajun lineage in there somewhere as well.