Proper name form: "Dit" vs "dit" [closed]

Question

While I think I'm getting the basics of how "Dit names" are used, I haven't found definitive guidance on the use capitalization.

Is it "nnn Dit nnn" or nnn dit nnn"? (masculine)
Does the same rule apply for "Dite" vs "dite" (feminine).

From everything I've read about the use of Dit names, rules are hard to come by.  There seems to be many time-sensitive regional "guidelines".

Answer 1

The are dit and dite.

There is a good explanation all about dit names the Quebec project page.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Project:Quebecois

Comments

Thanks Cindy. I had consulted the Quebec project page before posting. There is a great discussion on dit names. I did not find any explanation of the use of Dit vs dit. Just the default use of dit. My question comes up from the large number of instances, including names at baptism, and other records using Dit. It appears to be a common variation that is more a writer's preference, where the standard is 'dit'.

Answer 2

Dit and dit both mean the same thing - Said

In a sentence - like I never SAID so.  Someone SAID this to you

Dite and dite also means - Said

in sentences like - profound things he's ever SAID or

nicest thing she's ever said

In a name like Jacque dit DeViller's it would me it's Jacque said DeViller's

I myself think of it as the words SON OF meaning Jacque SON OF DeViller's

I hope this help you.

Comments

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, my question is a very specific on the proper name form (dit vs Dit).

Answer 3

I would use lower case "dit" because the dit itself is not the proper name but joining two proper names. I.e. Fontaine dit Bienvenu. Where Bienvenu and Fontaine are the two Proper names and dit is indicating which is the dit name. Does that make sense?

Comments

It makes sense, but I have seen it written both ways, including in church records, and was hoping for a definitive source.

In the meantime, I checked Rene Jette's DGFQ. He uses "dit". It appears Stephen White also used "dit".

I will use "dit", and hope I don't prove myself wrong later.

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I know this is closed, and I agree you chose lower case correctly. I just wanted to add that you should not enter "dit" or "dite" in any of the name data fields, as the word itself is not part of the name (which would go in 'nickname' or 'other last name' fields, unless it evolved into a 'current last name,' as they sometimes did. But you would use dit or dite in the biography, as it is a descriptor.

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Thanks. Dit names will forever confuse me. They were used in so many different ways, that every time I think I understand, I am faced with a new one.  It seems to be an issue that has been around for 400 years.

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dit is the proper form, it is not a name in itself so should not be capitalized.. Some folks enter it with caps, mostly due to lack of knowledge I would think.

It would get entered in the current last name as ''Boyer dit Laframboise'', the other last name field would show Laframboise in it without the ''dit''. (presuming the LNAB was Boyer).  

You think you're confused?    The Canadian government in 1870s or so basically forced people to take one or the other name henceforth, they couldn't keep track of people otherwise and were confused by it all.   Some people got around the stricture by hyphenating the names, so they would then have had Boyer-Laframboise.

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Thanks Danielle.