Surname Ouellette - Meaning and Origin

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M. Ouellette

Ouellette: What does the surname Ouellette mean?

The last name Ouellette usually has French-Canadian origins. Its root is the French word "ouelle", which literally translates to "small stream", derived from the Old French "oueil" meaning "little eye". As a topographic name, Ouellette is derived from a place name having the same meaning. Thus, the surname is often considered to refer to someone who once lived near such a small stream.

Although most prominently associated with Canada, the surname Ouellette is also found in varying forms in France, where it first appears in records as early as the 12th century. Historically, the bearers of this name have held a variety of occupations, including farmers, merchants, soldiers, and sailors. Many have contributed to the growth of Franco-American communities both in the United States and in Canada.

Today, the surname Ouellette is still prominent in French-speaking areas, especially in Canada. Its spelling may vary depending on the country and region, often appearing as "Ouellet" and "Wellet" in France and "Uellette" in Canada. Additionally, various alternate spellings include Wellit, Wuellit, Wellett, Wellett, Oulett, and Oullit.

Ouellette: Where does the name Ouellette come from?

The last name Ouellette is commonly found in French-speaking areas such as Quebec, Canada. The name Ouellette is of Quebecois origin and first appears in references to the area as early as the 15th century. Today, the last name Ouellette is quite common in French-speaking parts of Quebec, as well as other regions such as New Brunswick and Ontario.

The last name Ouellette is derived from the French words for "wolf" and "little", so it is likely related to a nickname for an individual who bore the characteristics of a wolf or was fond of wolves. It is possible to trace the lineage of the Ouellette name back to France and, more specifically, pertain to those who resided in Normandy.

In the United States, the surname Ouellette is quite rare. While it is still found in some French-American communities, it is less common than in Canada. The states with the most occurrences of the name are Massachusetts, Maine, and Louisiana.

Overall, the last name Ouellette is most commonly used in French-speaking parts of Canada, particularly Quebec, with a smaller presence in France and some parts of the United States.

Variations of the surname Ouellette

The surname Ouellette is thought to have French origins from an old Norman-French family. It is found in both French and English-speaking countries and can be spelled in various ways, including: Oullette, Wouelett, Ullette, Loulette, Oullet, Wouellete, Ouellet, Oullette, Udelot, Oudelot, and Udelott.

In French, the surname was most likely derived from the personal name Udelot, which was most likely derived from the Old German personal name "Uodalric" or "Odalric" meaning "prosperous power". The surname would have been a baptismal name for someone whose father was named Odalric.

In some cases, where the original name had more than one syllable, the French variant "W" instead of "U" was used as the second letter in order to create an easier pronunciation. For example, the variant Wouelett can be derived from the Old German name Oudelot.

Over the centuries, the surname Ouellette has been found in other languages as well as in France, including in Canada, the United States, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic. Variants of the name ranged from "Oullette" in Canadian French and "Ouellet" in Haitian Creole.

The surname Ouellette is still found across Canada and in other parts of the world, although its spelling may vary depending on the specific language of the country in which it is used. It is likely to remain in use for generations to come.

Famous people with the name Ouellette

1.Ross Ouellette, professional ice hockey player and coach 2.Keith Ouellette, Canadian film director and producer 3.Rad Quantz Ouellette, Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist 4.Alex Ouellette, Canadian actor in theatre, film and television 5.Lucas Ouellette, Canadian television actor 6.Caroline Ouellette, Canadian ice hockey player from Quebec and Olympic gold medalist 7.Yvon Ouellette, Canadian television actor 8.Paul Ouellette, French-Canadian actor and director 9.Bobby Ouellette, Canadian blues musician 10.Danny Ouellette, Canadian singer-songwriter

Other surnames

Ouellet