Surname Chiasson - Meaning and Origin
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Chiasson: What does the surname Chiasson mean?
Chiasson is a surname of French origin. It is most prevalent in Canada and particularly associated with the French-speaking region of Acadia, where it was first recorded in the late 17th century. The name is believed to have evolved from the Old French word "chacier," meaning "to hunt or chase," suggesting that the original bearers of the name were hunters. It's also suggested that Chiasson may be a patronymic name, stemming from the personal name Chasse, meaning that it would have been given to a son of someone named Chasse. Like many surnames, the exact meaning can vary based on its historical and geographical origins but it remains intertwined with French-Canadian identity.
Order DNA origin analysisChiasson: Where does the name Chiasson come from?
The surname Chiasson is of French origin and is often associated with the Maritime Provinces of eastern Canada. The French branch of this paternal line reportedly derived from Chauçon or Chausson, a diminutive of Nicholas or of the old French term “chausse”, meaning a boot or shoe.
Many Chiassons emigrated from France to the area now known as Nova Scotia, Canada during the 17th and 18th centuries when Nova Scotia was part of New France. After the British conquest of New France, many Chiassons relocated to the area now known as Quebec or back to France. However, others remained or eventually returned to the Maritime Provinces.
Today, the surname Chiasson is most common in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia where it is closely identified with the Acadian French-speaking population. Its popularity also extends to the neighboring U.S. state of Maine. In France, the name seems more common in the regions of Brittany and Normandy. The name can also be found in the French Caribbean, particularly in Guadeloupe and Martinique, as well as in Louisiana, USA where it is spelled as Chaisson due to Acadian migration.
Variations of the surname Chiasson
The surname Chiasson is of French origin and has multiple variants and spellings. These variations have likely occurred due to regional pronunciations, translations, or even a recording error in the transcription of the original documents. Some common variants of this surname include Chiassan, Chiassone, Chaisson, Chaison, Chason, Cheatson, Cheason, Chiasse, Chiaison, Chiaisson, and Chiassone. Chiasson is generally interchanged with the surname Chiasson and Chassin in various registers. Other surnames like Chaissan or Chaissone also share the same roots. Variations can also include transpositions such as Chaisso, Cheison, or Cheisson which stand for the same surname. Sometimes, it is found as a compound surname such as Chiasson-Duplessis or Chiasson-Lafleur. Given the strong French influence, any of these versions can be counted as a valid variation of this surname. Remarkably, this surname has also been Americanized in some cases with spellings like Shason or Shayson popping up in different regions. Hence, any spelling that phonetically or visually resembles Chiasson can be considered a variant, as most of these alternate spellings resulted from centuries of the name being spoken and written in different regions or dialects.
Famous people with the name Chiasson
- Alex Chiasson: A Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL).
- Phyllis Chiasson: A lawyer, human rights activist, and former executive director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in Canada.
- Melissa Chiasson: An accomplished painter whose work has been exhibited and recognized internationally.
- Samuel Chiasson: A Canadian politician who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 1970 general election.
- Rolande Chiasson: A retired Canadian swimmer, who represented Canada in international competitions including the Olympics.
- David Chiasson: An Australasian former rugby league player, his professional career spanned nine seasons, with eight different teams, in three different leagues.
- Jason Chiasson: Former American football player with a long career in the National Football League. These are some of the most well-recognizable people carrying the Chiasson surname. Most of them have gained recognition or success in their professional field ranging from sports, politics to arts, and human rights activities.