Doucet is a French language surname, especially popular in Canada, the former area of Acadia in particular (now Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and parts of Quebec and New England.
As a result of the Great Expulsion in 1755 and later from Acadia, Doucets are also amongst the Cajuns and Creoles of Louisiana.
The first Doucet to reach North America is thought to be Major Germain Doucet dit La Verdure, a French military officer at Port-Royal (now Annapolis Royal) in 1632 who attempted to defend what is now Maine and Acadia from invasions from Boston in 1654. Many Doucets in North America trace their lineage to Germain Doucet.
Variants and pronunciation
Common variants include "Doucett" and "Doucette". Most Doucets in Canada pronounce their surname as "DOU-set" or "Dou-SET", rather than "Dou-SAY" as modern French might require. Some argue this pronunciation may derive from dialects of sixteenth-century French such as was found in Brittany, a common origin of French-Canadian settlers; however Dou-SAY is the most popular pronunciation among Cajuns in Louisiana.
Albert Doucet (born 1942), Canadian businessman and politician from New Brunswick
Alexandre-Joseph Doucet (1880–1951), Canadian farmer and politician from New Brunswick
Andrea Doucet, Canadian sociologist and writer
Benoit Doucet (born 1963), Canadian-German ice hockey coach
Cat Doucet (1899–1975), sheriff of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana from 1936–1940 and 1952–1968
Camey Doucet (born 1939), American musician and disc jockey
Camille Doucet (1812–1895), French poet and playwright
Catherine Doucet (1875–1958), American actress
Clément Doucet (1895–1950), Belgian composer and jazz/classical pianist
Clive Doucet (born 1946), Canadian politician and writer
Early Doucet (born 1985), American football wide receiver
Eddie Doucet (1924–2008), American businessman and politician from Louisiana
Fred Doucet (born 1939), Canadian lobbyist, educator, university administrator, and political aide
George Doucet (born 1939), Canadian high school principal and politician from Nova Scotia
Gerald Doucet (born 1937), Canadian politician, former Progressive Conservative MP from Nova Scotia
Germain Doucet (1595–c. 1654), called Sieur de la Verdure, French commandant in Maine and Acadia
Henri Lucien Doucet (1856–1895), French painter
Jacques Doucet (disambiguation), multiple people, including:
Jacques Doucet (fashion designer) (1853–1929), French fashion designer
Jacques Doucet (sportscaster) (born 1940), French-Canadian sportscaster for the Montreal Expos
Jacques Doucet (sailor), French sailor who competed in the 1900 Summer Olympics
J. André Doucet (1880–1963), Canadian politician from New Brunswick
Jeffrey Doucet (born 1991), Canadian software entrepreneur, founder of CareerJSM, and political commentator
Joe Doucet, (born 1970), American designer
Julie Doucet (born 1965), Canadian cartoonist
Luke Doucet (born 1973), Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist
Lyse Doucet (born 1958), Canadian journalist, presenter and correspondent for both the BBC World Service radio and BBC World television
Michael Doucet (born 1951), Cajun fiddler, singer and songwriter who founded the Cajun band BeauSoleil from Lafayette, Louisiana
Michael Doucet (born 1961), Senior Canadian bureaucrat from Ottawa, Canada
Moses J. Doucet (1862–1906), Canadian merchant and politician from Nova Scotia
Paul Doucet, Canadian actor
Rick Doucet, Canadian businessman and politician from New Brunswick
Roger Doucet (1919–1981), Canadian singer, known as Mr. O'Canada, for his rendition of Canada's National Anthem
Suzanne Doucet (born 1944), German composer and producer
Tommy Doucet (1902–1992), Acadian fiddler, from Concession, Digby County, Nova Scotia, Canada
