350+ Cajun Last Names or Surnames and Their Stories

Hey, are you curious about Cajun last names and what they mean? They’re seriously some of the coolest family names around – each one’s like a tiny piece of Louisiana’s story! You know those old family tales your grandparents tell? That’s exactly what these names are like, but better, because they’ve been passed down through generations of folks living in the bayous and swamps of Louisiana.

Let me tell you something neat – every time I hear a Cajun name like Boudreaux or Thibodeaux, I can almost taste the gumbo and hear the zydeco music playing. It’s like these names carry a little bit of that Louisiana magic wherever they go.

Want to explore these names together? Trust me, you’re going to love learning about where they came from and what they mean. It’s like opening up your family’s old photo album, but instead of pictures, we’re looking at names that tell amazing stories about the people who helped make Louisiana what it is today.

Cajun Last Names

Let’s start with some classics that you’ll hear all over Louisiana:

• Boudreaux (means “little brother”)
• Thibodeaux (“bold people”)
• Hebert (pronounced “A-bear”)
• Landry (“landlord”)
• Guidry (“leader”)
• Breaux (“brave”)
• Fontenot (“little fountain”)
• Broussard (“brush clearer”)
• LeBlanc (“the white one”)
• Doucet (“sweet”)
• Richard (pronounced “Ree-shard”)
• Comeaux (“like home”)
• Bergeron (“shepherd”)
• Gautreaux (“from the woods”)
• Prejean (“before John”)
• Robichaux (“son of Robert”)
• Melancon (“little black one”)
• Arceneaux (“arsenal”)
• Theriot (“son of Thierry”)
• Babineaux (“little gate”)

Cajun Surnames

Here’s another batch of names that tell amazing stories:

• Allemand (“German”)
• Aucoin (“from the corner”)
• Baudoin (“bold friend”)
• Belliveau (“beautiful view”)
• Benoit (“blessed”)
• Bourgeois (“townsperson”)
• Bourque (“from the borough”)
• Champagne (like the region!)
• Chauvin (“little bald one”)
• Clement (“merciful”)
• Cormier (“apple tree”)
• Desormeaux (“from the elm trees”)
• Dupuis (“from the well”)
• Durand (“enduring”)
• Gaspard (“treasurer”)
• Giroir (“proud spear”)
• Granger (“farm bailiff”)
• Lafleur (“the flower”)
• Lalonde (“by the water”)
• Mire (“one who looks”)

Cajun French Surnames

Check out these names that really show off their French roots:

• Beauchamp (“beautiful field”)
• Beaulieu (“beautiful place”)
• Beauregard (“beautiful gaze”)
• Blanchard (“whitish”)
• Bonfils (“good son”)
• Bonvillain (“good tenant”)
• Boudoin (“bold friend”)
• Chaperon (“hood maker”)
• Chateauvert (“green castle”)
• Chevalier (“knight”)
• Daigle (“eagle”)
• DuBois (“from the woods”)
• Dumont (“from the mountain”)
• Dupont (“from the bridge”)
• Fabre (“craftsman”)
• Fournier (“baker”)
• Gaudet (“happy”)
• Lavergne (“from the alder grove”)
• LeBeau (“the handsome one”)
• LeJeune (“the young one”)

Cajun Family Names

Man, these names tell some incredible stories! They’re like little pieces of Louisiana history. Just like these family group names, they really bring people together.

• Auclair (“bright”)
• Babin (“little baby”)
• Belanger (“good angel”)
• Bonneville (“good town”)
• Boucher (“butcher”)
• Charpentier (“carpenter”)
• Chiasson (“chosen one”)
• Courville (“short town”)
• Daigre (“thin”)
• Delahoussaye (“from the holly”)
• Deschamps (“from the fields”)
• Dugas (“from the forest”)
• Foret (“forest”)
• Gravois (“gravel”)
• Labauve (“mud dweller”)
• Lacroix (“the cross”)
• Lafitte (“fixed”)
• Leboeuf (“the beef”)
• Ledet (“the thimble”)
• Lemoine (“the monk”)

Male Cajun Last Names

Here are some names that have been passed down through generations of Cajun men:

• Arsenault (“arsenal keeper”)
• Bertrand (“bright raven”)
• Duhon (“from the high place”)
• Gremillion (“grain miller”)
• Guilbeau (“bright pledge”)
• Leger (“light warrior”)
• Menard (“strong ruler”)
• Monceaux (“little hill”)
• Mouton (“sheep”)
• Naquin (“little boat”)
• Olivier (“olive tree”)
• Pellerin (“pilgrim”)
• Picard (“from Picardy”)
• Pinard (“pine keeper”)
• Romero (“pilgrim”)
• Rousseau (“red-haired”)
• Sonnier (“bell ringer”)
• Trahan (“from Troarn”)
• Verret (“boar hunter”)
• Vincent (“conquering”)

Female Cajun Last Names

You know what’s cool? These names often have fascinating stories about the women who carried them. Speaking of fascinating names, check out these women team names.

• Abadie (“abbey dweller”)
• Beauvoir (“beautiful view”)
• Celestine (“heavenly”)
• Delacroix (“of the cross”)
• Doucette (“sweet little one”)
• Fleur (“flower”)
• Girouard (“brave spear”)
• Labelle (“the beautiful”)
• Larose (“the rose”)
• LeBeau (“the beautiful”)
• Lefebvre (“the craftsman”)
• Lemieux (“the better”)
• Madeline (“from Magdala”)
• Marcelle (“young warrior”)
• Marguerite (“pearl”)
• Marie (“beloved”)
• Martine (“warlike”)
• Simone (“one who hears”)
• Suzette (“little lily”)
• Yvette (“yew wood”)

Rare Cajun Last Names

Ever come across names that make you do a double-take? These rare gems aren’t ones you’ll hear every day in the bayou! If you like unique names, you might also enjoy these unique group names.

• Ancelet (“little angel”)
• Barilleaux (“barrel maker”)
• Courvelle (“short view”)
• Deshotels (“from the hotels”)
• Faucheux (“reaper”)
• Gautreau (“little Walter”)
• Jeansonne (“John’s son”)
• Juneau (“young one”)
• Labruzzo (“from Abruzzo”)
• Lafontaine (“the fountain”)
• Latiolais (“from Tilloy”)
• Louviere (“wolf den”)
• Malbrough (“bad bridge”)
• Migues (“Michael’s son”)
• Patin (“skate maker”)
• Pontiff (“bridge builder”)
• Quibodeaux (“bold wood”)
• Soileau (“alone”)
• Toups (“top”)
• Zeringue (“from Zehringen”)

Unique Cajun Last Names

Talk about standing out from the crowd! These names are about as unique as a crawfish in a lobster tank. Love unique cultural names? Check out these cultural team names.

• Ardoin (“bold friend”)
• Billeaud (“bill keeper”)
• Calongne (“from Cologne”)
• Denoux (“from the walnut”)
• Folse (“false”)
• Granier (“grain keeper”)
• Jarreau (“from Jarry”)
• Lachaussee (“the causeway”)
• Maisonneuve (“new house”)
• Nereaux (“black water”)
• Ordoyne (“from the garden”)
• Pertuit (“hole”)
• Quebedeaux (“beautiful head”)
• Rizzuto (“curly-haired”)
• Schexnayder (“beautiful cutter”)
• Talbot (“messenger”)
• Uzee (“used”)
• Veronie (“truth teller”)
• Waguespack (“wagon maker”)
• Zeringue (“from the ring”)

Common Cajun Surnames

Now these? These are the names you’ll hear all over Louisiana! They’re as common as mosquitoes in summer (but way more welcome!).

• Abshire (“from the maple tree”)
• Bergeron (“shepherd”)
• Breaux (“brave”)
• Comeaux (“like home”)
• Doucet (“sweet”)
• Fontenot (“little fountain”)
• Guidry (“leader”)
• Hebert (“bright army”)
• Landry (“landlord”)
• Leblanc (“the white”)
• Melancon (“little black one”)
• Naquin (“boat maker”)
• Picard (“from Picardy”)
• Richard (“powerful ruler”)
• Sonnier (“bell ringer”)
• Thibodeaux (“bold people”)
• Trahan (“from Troarn”)
• Vincent (“conquering”)
• Webre (“weaver”)
• Young (“young one”)

Louisiana French Last Names

You know what’s cool about Louisiana French names? They’re like a tasty gumbo – a mix of French tradition with that special Louisiana spice! Want to explore more French connections? Check out these French team names.

• Alleman (“all man”)
• Bellefontaine (“beautiful fountain”)
• Cassagne (“oak tree”)
• DuBois (“from the woods”)
• Etienne (“crown”)
• Faucheux (“mower”)
• Gaudin (“bright”)
• Honore (“honored”)
• Isabelle (“pledged to God”)
• Jourdain (“flowing down”)
• Lamothe (“the mound”)
• Marcel (“little warrior”)
• Normand (“northman”)
• Olivier (“olive tree”)
• Perret (“stone”)
• Rousel (“little red one”)
• Savoy (“from Savoy”)
• Trosclair (“three bells”)
• Vidrine (“from Vitry”)
• Zachary (“remembered by God”)

Cajun French Last Names

Hey, these names are like a bridge between old France and the Louisiana bayous! Pretty neat, right?

• Baillargeon (“dancing branch”)
• Champagne (yep, like the bubbly!)
• Delacroix (“of the cross”)
• Evangeline (“good news”)
• Fournier (“baker”)
• Gardemal (“evil guard”)
• Lalande (“the moor”)
• Mailloux (“hammer user”)
• Noël (“Christmas”)
• Paradis (“paradise”)
• Porche (“porch”)
• Robichaud (“bright fame”)
• Savoie (“from Savoy”)
• Theriot (“son of Thierry”)
• Toussaint (“all saints”)
• Valois (“from Valois”)
• Voisin (“neighbor”)
• Xavier (“new house”)
• Yvon (“yew bow”)
• Zenon (“gift of Zeus”)

Louisiana Last Names

These names are pure Louisiana magic! Just like these family group names, they really bring folks together.

• Acosta (“from the coast”)
• Bartholomew (“son of Ptolemy”)
• Chatelain (“castle keeper”)
• Dufrene (“from the ash tree”)
• Eunice (“good victory”)
• Falcon (“falcon”)
• Gaspar (“treasure bearer”)
• Janvier (“January”)
• Lafayette (“the faith”)
• Marceaux (“little Marcus”)
• Nunez (“son of Nuño”)
• Pascal (“Easter child”)
• Quebedeaux (“beautiful water”)
• Rodrigue (“famous ruler”)
• St. Pierre (“Saint Peter”)
• Tullier (“tile maker”)
• Verdin (“green”)
• Wiltz (“wild”)
• Yoes (“archer”)
• Zeringue (“from the ring”)

Common Cajun Last Names

Let’s talk about the names you’ll hear at pretty much every crawfish boil in Louisiana! These are as common as hot sauce on the dinner table.

• Arceneaux (“little arsenal”)
• Bourque (“from the town”)
• Champagne (fancy, right?)
• Domingue (“Sunday child”)
• Giroir (“proud spear”)
• Lalonde (“by the water”)
• Mouton (“sheep”)
• Naquin (“boat maker”)
• Prejean (“before John”)
• Robichaux (“son of Robert”)
• Savoie (“from Savoy”)
• Theriot (“from Terry”)
• Verret (“boar hunter”)
• Wiltz (“wild”)
• Bergeron (“shepherd”)
• Broussard (“brush clearer”)
• Dugas (“from the south”)
• Fontenot (“little fountain”)
• Hebert (remember, it’s “A-bear”!)
• Landry (“landlord”)

Louisiana Family Names

You know what’s cool about these names? Each one’s got a story that goes back generations. Just like these family group names, they really show how connected everyone is.

• Angelle (“angel”)
• Baudoin (“bold friend”)
• Cavalier (“horseman”)
• Ducote (“from the hillside”)
• Fabre (“craftsman”)
• Gaspard (“treasure keeper”)
• Labauve (“from the mud”)
• Mire (“one who watches”)
• Ordoyne (“from the garden”)
• Pellerin (“pilgrim”)
• Romero (“pilgrim”)
• Sonnier (“bell ringer”)
• Trahan (“from Troarn”)
• Veillon (“old one”)
• Blanchard (“white”)
• Chiasson (“chosen”)
• Dupuis (“from the well”)
• Gravois (“gravel”)
• Leboeuf (“the ox”)
• Menard (“brave strength”)

Creole Last Names

Now these names? They’re like a perfect jambalaya – mixing French, Spanish, African, and Caribbean flavors! For more cultural name inspiration, check out cultural team names.

• Ambrose (“immortal”)
• Baptiste (“baptist”)
• Claiborne (“born bright”)
• DeCuir (“leather worker”)
• Esprit (“spirit”)
• Flamand (“Fleming”)
• Gaillard (“brave”)
• Laveau (“the valley”)
• Macarty (“loving friend”)
• Perrault (“hero”)
• Reynaud (“wise ruler”)
• St. Martin (“Saint Martin”)
• Trepagnier (“through the marsh”)
• Villere (“farm town”)
• Antoine (“priceless one”)
• Boutte (“end of town”)
• Dauphine (“dolphin”)
• Fortier (“strong”)
• Livaudais (“by the water”)
• Marigny (“from the marsh”)

Want to learn more about cultural names? You might enjoy checking out these French team names or family group names for more inspiration!

Some Fun Facts About Cajun Names

You know what’s really interesting about all these Cajun names we’ve been talking about? Let me share some cool stuff that makes them extra special!

Name Pronunciation Adventures

Ever tried explaining your Cajun last name to someone outside Louisiana? It can get pretty funny! Here’s what often happens:

• Boudreaux becomes “Boo-drox” (instead of “Boo-dro”)
• People add extra letters that aren’t there
• Sometimes folks just give up and point at the name badge!

Modern Life With a Cajun Name

Living with a Cajun last name these days is quite an adventure! Here’s what a lot of folks deal with:

1. The Starbucks Challenge
   • “Could you spell that again?”
   • “Maybe just use my first name…”
   • The legendary “close enough” shrug
2. The Business World
   • Email signatures with pronunciation guides
   • Conference call name explanations
   • The “Let me spell that for you” dance

Keeping Traditions Alive

Hey, want to know something cool? A lot of young Cajuns are getting super interested in their family names. They’re:

• Learning the proper French pronunciations
• Sharing family stories on social media
• Teaching their kids about their name’s history

Tips for Researching Your Cajun Name

Got a Cajun name and curious about where it came from? Here’s what I’d do:

1. Start with the old folks in your family (they know everything!)
2. Check out local libraries in Louisiana
3. Join some Cajun genealogy Facebook groups
4. Look up old church records

The Future of Cajun Names

You might be wondering what’s happening with Cajun names today. Well, let me tell you – they’re going strong! Sure, some things are changing:

• More creative spellings popping up
• Mixed marriages bringing in new combinations
• Young people proudly reclaiming their heritage

Why These Names Matter

Think about it – every time someone says their Cajun name, they’re keeping a piece of history alive. It’s like having a little bit of Louisiana magic wherever you go!

And here’s a fun thought – if you’ve got a Cajun name, you’re basically carrying around a family story that goes back hundreds of years. How cool is that?

Want to learn even more? Check out these cultural team names or dive into French team names. There’s always more to discover about these fascinating names!

The Cajun Journey

The story of Cajun names really kicks off in the 1750s, when French-speaking Acadians got forced out of Nova Scotia by the British. Picture this: thousands of families, crossing oceans and traversing wilderness, finally finding a home in Louisiana’s welcoming bayous. Want to learn more about similar cultural journeys? Check out these French team names that share some historical connections.

Think of Cajun surnames as family badges that survived this incredible journey. Each name carries echoes of:

• The original French heritage
• The Acadian exodus
• Life in the Louisiana bayous

French Roots in Cajun Names

Let me share some classic French surnames that became cornerstones of Cajun culture:

1. Beauchamp (“beautiful field”)
2. Chevrier (“goat herder”)
3. Dubois (“from the woods”)
4. Leblanc (“the white one”)
5. Moreau (“dark-skinned”)

Acadian Influence

The Acadian touch transformed many names. Here’s what happened to some common ones:

1. Blanchard became “Blanche”
2. Bourgeois turned into “Bouzgee”
3. Hébert simplified to “A-bear”
4. Richard became “Reeshare”
5. Thibodeaux transformed to “Tib-a-do”

Cultural Melting Pot

Like any good Louisiana gumbo, Cajun names got spiced up with influences from:

• Spanish settlers (Rodriguez became “Rodrigue”)
• Native American terms
• Caribbean influences

Most Common Cajun Last Names

Let’s look at the names you’ll hear everywhere in Cajun country. If you’re interested in more naming traditions, you might want to explore family group names.

Last Name	Origin	Meaning
Broussard	French	“brushwood clearer”
Guidry	French	“leader”
Hebert	Germanic-French	“bright army”
LeBlanc	French	“the white one”
Thibodeaux	French	“bold people”

Thanks! Let’s keep exploring these fascinating Cajun names.

What Makes Cajun Last Names Special?

You know how sometimes names get a bit twisted when people move to new places? That’s exactly what happened with Cajun surnames.

Those Tricky Spellings

Here’s something fun – Cajun last names often got spelled differently depending on who was writing them down. Take the name Boudreaux. You might see it written as:

• Boudreau
• Boudrot
• Boudrault
• Boudreault

And guess what? They’re all the same family! Pretty wild, right?

Say What? Pronunciation Adventures

If you’re new to Louisiana, you might do a double-take when you hear how some names are pronounced. Think you know how to say “Hebert”? In Cajun country, it’s not “He-bert” – it’s “A-bear”! For more fun with names, check out these unique group names.

Some other head-scratchers:

• Breaux = “Bro”
• Gautheaux = “Go-tro”
• Prejean = “Pray-john”

Family Naming Traditions

One super sweet Cajun tradition? Naming kids after their godparents. So you’ll often see names running through families like a thread through a quilt.

Types of Cajun Last Names

On the Job

These names came from what people used to do for work:

• Boulanger (baker)
• Charpentier (carpenter)
• Labouef (cattle handler)
• Meunier (miller)
• Roy (king’s servant)

Home Sweet Home

Some names tell you where families came from:

• Doucet (from Sweet Valley)
• Lalonde (from the banks)
• Landry (from the manor)
• Poirier (from the pear orchard)
• Sylvestre (from the woods)

If you love exploring cultural names, you might enjoy these cultural team names.

Famous Folks with Cajun Names

Historical Heroes

• Jean Lafitte (the famous pirate – bet you didn’t know he had Cajun connections!)
• Alexandre Mouton (Louisiana’s first Cajun governor)
• Pierre Bottineau (the famous frontier guide)

Modern-Day Stars

• James Carville (the political wizard)
• Justin Wilson (the cooking show legend)
• Tab Benoit (blues guitarist extraordinaire)

Keeping the Heritage Alive

Want to trace your Cajun roots? You’re in luck! There are tons of resources:

Digital Detective Work

• Ancestry.com’s Acadian Collection
• The Acadian Memorial Foundation
• Louisiana State Archives

DNA Adventures

More and more Cajuns are discovering their roots through DNA testing. Cool fact: some tests can actually show your Acadian ancestry percentage!

Cajun Names in Today’s Louisiana

You know what’s really cool? Walking through southern Louisiana today is like taking a trip through history.

Those old Cajun names are everywhere – on street signs, businesses, and mailboxes.

Where You’ll Find Them

The heart of Cajun country spreads across these parishes:

• Lafayette (the unofficial Cajun capital!)
• St. Martin
• Vermilion
• Acadia
• St. Landry

Funny enough, if you check out the phone book in these areas (do people still use those?), you’ll probably find pages and pages of family names like Boudreaux and Thibodeaux!

How Names Have Changed

Let’s be real – times change, and names do too. Some interesting trends I’ve noticed:

• Simplified spellings (Breaux becoming Bro)
• Americanized pronunciations
• Mixed marriages bringing in new name combinations

Want to Research Your Cajun Family Tree?

Getting Started

Ready to dive into your family history? Here’s what I’d do first:

• Chat with your oldest relatives (they’re like walking history books!)
• Dig through old family photos and documents
• Check out local parish records
• Connect with other Cajun families online

Cool Places to Look

There are some amazing resources out there:

• Center for Louisiana Studies in Lafayette
• Acadian Museum in Erath
• South Louisiana Historical Association

Pro tip: Many libraries in Louisiana have special Cajun genealogy sections. They’re gold mines for family research!

Why Cajun Names Matter Today

Think about it – every Cajun last name is like a little piece of a bigger story. They remind us of:

• The incredible journey from Nova Scotia
• The strength of families sticking together
• A unique culture that’s still going strong

Looking Ahead

Sure, things are changing. Kids today might not speak as much French as their grandparents did. But those Cajun names? They’re not going anywhere. They’re part of what makes Louisiana… well, Louisiana!

Final Thoughts

Isn’t it amazing how much history one last name can hold? Whether you’re a Bergeron, a Guidry, or a Landry, your name tells a story of survival, adaptation, and keeping culture alive. For more inspiration about preserving cultural names, check out traditional group names.

And here’s something to think about: Every time someone says a Cajun last name, they’re keeping a centuries-old tradition alive. Pretty cool, right?

Quick Tips for Name Research

1. Start with family stories
2. Check parish records
3. Join Cajun genealogy groups online
4. Visit local historical societies
5. Connect with distant relatives

Fun Facts About Cajun Last Names

You know what’s kind of wild? Some Cajun names are so unique to Louisiana that when you hear them, you just know where someone’s family is from. Here’s some cool stuff I’ve learned:

Name Game Fun

• Some families have nicknames that stuck better than their real names
• There are places where practically everyone is a Boudreaux or a Thibodeaux
• Some folks can tell which parish you’re from just by how you pronounce your last name!

Common Mix-Ups

Let me tell you about some names that always get people tongue-tied:

• Aucoin (oh-KWAN, not aw-COIN)
• Prejean (pray-JOHN, not pre-JEAN)
• Robichaux (ROW-bi-show, not robi-CHAWS)

Modern Life with a Cajun Name

Living with a Cajun last name these days can be pretty entertaining. Just ask anyone named Boudreaux who’s tried to spell their name over the phone!

Daily Life Adventures

• Getting your coffee at Starbucks (good luck with that spelling!)
• Explaining your name’s pronunciation at job interviews
• Instant connections with other Cajuns when traveling

Speaking of connections, if you love group identity stuff, you might want to check out these social club names.

Starting Your Own Name Research

Want to dig into your Cajun family history? Let me tell you how I’d do it:

First Steps

1. Start a family tree online
2. Talk to your aunts, uncles, and cousins
3. Join some Cajun Facebook groups
4. Plan a trip to Louisiana (any excuse works!)

Cool Resources

• Local libraries (they’re goldmines!)
• Church records (lots of good stuff there)
• Online forums (so many helpful people!)

Why These Names Rock

You know what makes Cajun last names so special? They’re like little time machines. Every time someone calls out “Hebert” or “Guidry” at a crawfish boil, they’re keeping a piece of history alive.

What Makes Them Special

• They tell stories of brave families
• They keep French culture alive in America
• They help connect people to their roots

Wrapping It Up

At the end of the day, Cajun last names are more than just words on a page. They’re about family, history, and that special Louisiana magic that makes the world a more interesting place.

Got a Cajun last name yourself? Take pride in it! Your name is carrying forward a pretty amazing story. And if you’re just learning about Cajun names, well, now you know why people get so excited about them!

Just remember – whether you’re a Richard (that’s REE-shard, by the way!) or a Broussard, your name is part of one of America’s coolest cultural stories. Pretty neat, right?

Want to dive even deeper? There’s always more to learn about these fascinating names and the culture behind them. Maybe it’s time to plan that trip to Louisiana!