Acadian and Cajun Ancestry: How to Claim Canadian Citizenship (Even 9+ Generations Back)

If you have Cajun or Acadian roots, you may already be a Canadian citizen. Under Bill C-3, descendants of Acadians expelled during Le Grand Derangement in 1755 can claim citizenship, and applications up to 9 generations back have been approved.

The Acadian Story

Between 1755 and 1764, the British expelled approximately 11,500 Acadians from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island in what is known as Le Grand Derangement. Many eventually settled in Louisiana, where their culture evolved into what we now know as Cajun.

Those Acadians were born on Canadian soil. Their descendants, spread across Louisiana and beyond, now qualify for Canadian citizenship under Bill C-3.

Why Acadian Claims Are Uniquely Strong

Acadian genealogy is among the best documented in North America. There are several reasons for this:

Catholic parish records survived the expulsion. When the British began burning Acadian churches, many communities managed to save their parish registers. These records, documenting baptisms, marriages, and burials going back to the early 1600s, traveled with the Acadians to Louisiana and elsewhere.

Acadians maintained strong community ties. Even after displacement, Acadian communities kept meticulous records. Louisiana Catholic parishes continued the tradition of detailed record-keeping.

Extensive genealogical research already exists. Scholars like Stephen White at the Centre d'etudes acadiennes (Universite de Moncton) have compiled comprehensive genealogical databases covering virtually every Acadian family from the founding of Acadia through Le Grand Derangement.

How to Build Your Acadian Citizenship Claim

Step 1: Identify Your Acadian Ancestor

Start with what you know and work backward. Common Acadian surnames include: Arceneaux, Babineau, Babin, Blanchard, Boudreaux, Bourgeois, Breau, Broussard, Comeaux, Cormier, Doucet, Dugas, Dupuis, Gaudet, Gautreau, Hebert, Landry, LeBlanc, Leger, Melanson, Pellerin, Poirier, Richard, Robichaud, Thibodeau, and Theriault.

If your surname (or a family surname) appears on this list, you likely have Acadian ancestry.

Step 2: Document the Chain

For each generation from you back to your Canadian-born ancestor, you need:

Recent generations (you, parents, grandparents): Civil birth certificates and marriage certificates from the relevant US state.

Older generations: Church parish records are accepted by IRCC. Baptismal certificates, marriage records, and burial records from Catholic parishes are all valid documentation. Records in French are accepted without translation.

Step 3: Use Acadian Genealogical Resources

These resources are invaluable for Acadian research:

1. Centre d'etudes acadiennes (Universite de Moncton) has the most comprehensive Acadian genealogical collection
2. Stephen White's Dictionnaire genealogique des familles acadiennes covers families from 1636 to 1714
3. FamilySearch.org has indexed parish records from both Canada and Louisiana
4. Diocese of Baton Rouge Archives holds Louisiana Catholic parish records
5. Archives of the Archdiocese of New Orleans for older Louisiana records
6. BAnQ (Bibliotheque et Archives nationales du Quebec) for any Quebec connections

Step 4: Apply

Complete the CIT 0001 form with your full chain of descent documented. Include all parish records and civil certificates. Pay the $75 CAD fee and submit to IRCC.

Common Challenges

Long chains of descent. A 9-generation claim means documenting 9 parent-child relationships. This requires patience and thorough research, but Acadian records make it achievable.

Name variations over centuries. Names evolved over time and across languages. Boudreaux may appear as Boudreau, Boudrot, or Boudreau in older records. LeBlanc might appear as Le Blanc, Leblanc, or White.

Records in French. This is actually an advantage. IRCC accepts documents in both English and French without translation. French-language parish records are perfectly valid.

The Bottom Line

If you are Cajun or have Acadian ancestry, Bill C-3 may be your path to Canadian citizenship. The records exist, the law supports you, and applications going back 9 generations have been approved.

Check your eligibility with MaplePass's free 2-minute assessment, and start building your chain of descent.