Surname Doucé - Meaning and Origin
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Doucé: What does the surname Doucé mean?
The last name Doucé is a French toponymic surname, meaning someone who was from, or lived in Douce, a small town in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. The surname likely first appeared in records during the medieval period, and its first known bearers were probably descendants of the Frankish people who lived in this region during the Early Middle Ages.
The root of the name is derived from the late Gallo-Romance dosit, which came from the Late Latin "dulcis", meaning ‘sweet.’ Thus, the surname is a reference to the pleasant nature of the place from which the first bearers originated. Over the centuries, the surname Doucé has spread throughout France and other parts of the world. It can now be found in Europe, the Americas, and many other parts of the globe.
While most people with this surname are descended from the small town of Douce, the use of the term in other areas likely began in the 19th century. During this period, due to various population movements across the world, individuals often adopted place-names from other countries as their surnames. Thus, it is possible that some individuals with the surname Douce are not from France, but from other parts of the world.
In short, the surname Doucé is a French toponymic name, originating from the town of Douce, Centre-Val de Loire, and has spread throughout the world over the centuries. While it closely ties the surname’s bearer to the small town of Douce, its use in other places likely began in the 19th century.
Order DNA origin analysisDoucé: Where does the name Doucé come from?
The surname Doucé is a French surname, typically found in the regions of Hollande and Nord-Pas-de-Calais, as well as Belgium and Switzerland. It likely originated in the northern part of France, and is a variant of the original Germanic name Dulcé.
In modern times, the Doucé family name is most common in France, with a population of about 630 people in the country bearing the surname. It is also found in large numbers in Belgium, where it is believed to have been derived from French immigrants. Additionally, the Doucé name is also present in Algeria, Mali, Canada, and the United States, with the latter two countries seeing an influx of French immigrants in the 19th century.
In the United States, the Doucé surname is most prevalent in Louisiana, having spread to the state by way of French immigrants. The most common variants of the Doucé surname in the US are Dousset and Dousay. Additionally, Georgia, Florida, Texas, and Mississippi also have populations of people bearing the Doucé name.
In Germany, the Doucé surname is most commonly seen in the eastern part of the country, likely because of its close proximity to France. Generally speaking, the Doucé surname is relatively rare in Germany, with only a population of about 300 people in the country bearing the name.
Overall, the surname Doucé is most common in France, Belgium, and the United States, with smaller populations found in countries like Germany and Algeria.
Variations of the surname Doucé
The surname Doucé is derived from a French given name, Douce, which is derived from the Latin word “dulcis” meaning sweet. The surname is found in both French and English-speaking countries and has several variations in spelling and pronunciation.
The most common spelling variant for the surname Doucé is Duche or Duché; other variants include Dusche, Dusset, Duchet, Duch, Duches or Duchête. In France, the surname Douce is pronounced similarly to Doucey. In other countries, such as the United States, the surname is often pronounced DEW-shay.
Variations in spelling also extend beyond the surname itself. Derivative surnames include doucette, duchisme, ducheval, Duchette, duchemin and doucet. These surnames are believed to have originated from the same root family name.
In terms of surnames, Doucé is an uncommon name in the United States. However, the name has been found in record sources tracing back to the 16th century in France, in many cases as nobility. Some of the earliest recorded examples of the Doucé surname can be found in Cintheaux, Normandy and Le Maine, Pays deLoire in France.
It’s believed that some of the variants of the surname have been changed over time. For instance, the name Duchête, a variant of Duches, has been found in records dating as far back as the 15th century. Similarly, records have shown that the spelling of Dusset has changed over the years, with some spellings including Dussetto and Duchet.
Overall, there are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Doucé. While the surname is not widely found in the United States, records show that the surname has been used in Europe for centuries.
Famous people with the name Doucé
- Jules Doucé: French gymnast who won 6 medals at the 1920 Summer Olympics.
- Diego Doucé: French professional footballer for FC Nantes.
- Jean-Marc Doucé: French composer who was co founder of the French collective of classical music composers ‘GRAME’.
- Jean-Philippe Doucé: French contemporary visual artist.
- Jean-Pierre Doucé: French theatre actor and director.
- Jérôme Doucé: French judoka, and Pan American Silver medallist.
- Michel Doucé: French rugby player who represented the France National Team.
- Carl Doucé: French mayor of Revin.
- Pierre Doucé: French politician who was Mayor of Montataire from 1959 to 1965.
- Jacques Doucé: French racer driver who competed in the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans.