Surname Pelletier - Meaning and Origin
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How iGENEA DNA test illuminated my understanding of the Pelletier surname
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R. Pelletier
read morePelletier: What does the surname Pelletier mean?
The surname Pelletier is of French origin and it is an occupational name for a fur trader, derived from the old French word "pelletier" which means "furrier" or "fur trader". The term is derived from "pellet" or "pelle", which in old French translates as "animal skin" or "fur". Thus, someone bearing this surname originally had a family member who worked in the fur industry, either hunting and trapping animals for fur, or possibly crafting items such as clothing or accessories with fur. Like many surnames, Pelletier would have been used to identify individuals based on their occupation. Later, it was passed down through generations as a family name. The name is quite common in French-speaking regions such as Quebec in Canada.
Order DNA origin analysisPelletier: Where does the name Pelletier come from?
The last name Pelletier is most commonly found in France with a population of about 33,000 bearing the name. However, it is also found in many other French-speaking countries, including Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, and the United States. In the United States, the last name Pelletier can be found primarily in New England states, including Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, and New Hampshire.
The Pelletier name originates from old French for "wood grower," and was traditionally used for families engaged in the forestry industry and the wood trade. It may have also served as a name for those living in rural villages or hamlets around the woods.
Throughout Canada, the last name Pelletier is also its most popular in Quebec, with more than 13,000 people bearing the surname and is followed by Ontario and the Maritime Provinces as the second and third most popular locations.
In France, the Pelletier surname is common throughout the regions of Île-de-France, Centre, Aquitaine, Poitou-Charentes, and Languedoc-Roussillon.
Regardless of where the surname is found, it remains a popular name that has been passed down through many generations.
Variations of the surname Pelletier
The surname Pelletier has a number of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Common variants include Pellétrier, Pellétrieux, Pilletier, Piletrieux, Pilotier, Pillotier, Pilletier, Pilletière, and Pelletière. These variants are prevalent in France, mainly found in Normandy, Picardy, Burgundy, and other northern regions.
The Spanish variant Pellet, has also been seen in northern Spain as Pellet. In Canada and other French-speaking countries, Pelltier and Pelletier are common spellings.
The names Pellétrieux, Pilletier, and Pillotier are generally borne by people from the western Parisian region of Île-de-France. People with the spelling Pilletière are mostly seen in the Loire-Atlantique department located in France’s northwest region, while the spelling Pilotier is mostly seen in the Creuse department in the Limousin region.
The surname Pelletier is usually associated with a French origin. As more families moved away from France, the surname can now be found in countries such as the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, and many other parts of Europe, Australia, and Africa.
Given the varied spellings and variants of the surname Pelletier, many families may be unaware of the shared origin of the surname. However, records indicate that the surname began in France and is still heavily concentrated in France to this day.
Famous people with the name Pelletier
- Joannie Rochette: a Canadian figure skater, who won a bronze medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
- Alain Pelletier: a Canadian film producer and director. 3.Pool Pelletier: a former Canadian professional hockey player. 4.Hélène Pelletier-Ahlf: a French-Canadian actress and singer. 5.Élise Pelletier: a Canadian writer and journalist. 6.Éric Pelletier: a Canadian playwright and translator. 7.Jean-François Pelletier: a Canadian actor and voice actor. 8.Diane Pelletier: a Canadian curler. 9.Lily Pelletier: a Canadian child actress. 10.Paul Pelletier: a Canadian comic book artist. 11.Richard Pelletier: a Quebec judge. 12.Christian Pelletier: a Canadian politician and former leader of the Green Party of Quebec. 13.Pierre-Paul-Emile Pelletier: a Quebec physician and political figure. 14.Norman Pelletier: a Canadian politician and former minister in the Quebec government. 15.Gaston Pelletier: a Canadian football player and CFL Hall of Fame inductee. 16.Lorraine Pelletier: a Canadian artist, sculptor and teacher. 17.Micheline Pelletier: a Canadian artist. 18.Anthime Pelletier: a Canadian philosopher and theologian.