Surname Turcatte - Meaning and Origin
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Turcatte: What does the surname Turcatte mean?
The surname Turcatte doesn't have a specifically documented meaning as it's relatively rare and its origins are unclear. It appears to be of French origin, likely relating to the branches in Canada and France. Its exact meaning may have been lost over time or it might be derived from a profession, location, or characteristic of an ancestor, as is common with many last names. However, without specific historical and linguistic data, the meaning of Turcatte remains speculative. It should be noted that surname meanings often evolved from a trade, such as smith, from physical features, such as long, or from a characteristic, such as strong. However, Turcatte does not appear to directly reflect these types of derivations.
Order DNA origin analysisTurcatte: Where does the name Turcatte come from?
The last name Turcatte is quite common in North America, mainly in the United States and Canada. In the United States, it is most common in the Midwest states of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, with some clustered families found in other states. In Canada, the last name is found mostly in Québec, but also in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta.
In the United States, the last name is often seen in French communities, especially those of Moravian descent. People of this descent are often the descendants of French traders, explorers, and soldiers who came to the region and intermarried with local Native Americans. In Canada, Turcatte families are primarily the descendants of French Canadian settlers who moved to the eastern parts of the country.
The prevalence of this surname in North America can be attributed to the French colonial presence in the region. Many families from France, Spain, and other countries in Europe immigrated to the Americas in the 18th and 19th centuries, and descendants of these immigrants often still have names like Turcatte. Although today the surname is primarily French-Canadian in origin, it still holds hints of its diverse past.
Variations of the surname Turcatte
The variants and spellings of the surname Turcatte, or Turcat, date back to the thirteenth century, and the name can be found in France and Quebec, Canada. The most common spelling of the surname is Turcotte, although some forms include Turcott, Tercotte, Turcot and Turcott. These alternative spellings originated from the French word "turc," meaning "Turkish."
The original French form of the name is Turcotte, derived from the Old French word "turcote," meaning a piece of cloth used for mending clothing. Over the years, the surname has been misspelled and modified to Turcat, Tercotte, Turcot and Turcott. In some cases, a French word was Anglicized and given a phonetic spelling, such as Turcotte becoming Turcatte.
Surnames of the same origin include Tourcot, Turquat, Turquette, Turot, Turkit, Turquaud and Turcas. Other surnames that are closely related to Turcatte include Turcottin, Turque, Turcaty, Turcault, Turqueau, Turket and Turquois.
The surname Turcatte has been found throughout France and Quebec. It is believed that many of the variants and spellings of the surname have been influenced by the dialects spoken in different regions. In France, some of the variants were derived from the Ancient Provençal and Old French languages. In Quebec, the most common form of the surname is Turcotte, and the variations correspond to local dialects.
Famous people with the name Turcatte
- Bobby Turcotte: Bobby Turcotte is a former NHL hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings from 1972 to 1978. During his time in the NHL, he scored over 200 points in just under 300 games.
- Simon Turcotte: Simon Turcotte is a retired professional tennis player from Canada. He won three doubles titles and reached a peak ranking of No. 129 in singles.
- Michel Turcotte: Michel Turcotte is a politician from Canada, having served as the Quebec Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife from 2007 to 2011.
- Kim Turcotte: Kim Turcotte is an Canadian World Cup alpine skier who competed in several events during the 1970s and 1980s. She represented Canada in the 1984 Winter Olympics.
- Pierre Turcotte: Pierre Turcotte is a Canadian politician from Quebec, who has been the Member of the National Assembly of Quebec since 1998, and who was appointed to the position of Speaker of the National Assembly in 2008.
- Pierre-Hervé Turcotte: Pierre-Hervé Turcotte is a French Canadian racing driver and race car engineer. He has competed in various racing series, including Indy Lights and the Natioal Autocross Championship.
- Luc Turcotte: Luc Turcotte is a Canadian professor and researcher, specialized in the fields of economic sociology and leisure studies. He is the former president of the Université du Québec en Outaouais.