What are dit names used for?
In Quebec, many families used a dit name or surname in addition to their family name. These variants frequently appear in parish registers, census records, notarial documents and other historical sources. Knowing them can broaden genealogy research and make it easier to identify an ancestor despite name variations found in the archives.
A dit name could distinguish one branch of a family, recall a place of origin, refer to an occupation or characteristic, or preserve a tradition across generations. Its use was not always consistent: one person might be recorded under the main family name in one document, under the surname in another, or under both names together. Spelling could also change with the priest, notary or census enumerator.
To use this directory, begin with the family name you already know. Review the suggested associations, then repeat your searches with the relevant surname variants and possible spelling differences. Try both the principal family name and the dit name when searching separate collections, since an index may preserve only the form written in the original document. This approach may uncover records that were previously difficult to locate, but an association alone does not prove a family relationship. Always compare dates, places, spouses and other people named in the Quebec records.