List of French Americans explained

French Americans are U.S. citizens or nationals of French descent and heritage. The majority of Franco-American families did not arrive directly from France, but rather settled French territories in the New World (primarily in the 17th and 18th centuries) before moving or being forced to move to the United States later on (see Quebec diaspora and Great Upheaval). Also, the largest French territory in North America was sold to the U.S., absorbing their French citizens (see Louisiana Purchase). About thirteen million U.S. residents are of French descent, and about 1.5 million of them speak the French language at home. Being isolated, mixed with different cultures, or ignored, the French-Americans developed particular cultures that reflect varying degrees of adaptation of their environments. This gave birth to streams of French-Americans like the Acadians, the Cajuns (an Anglicization of the autonym Cadien, from the French word for Acadian, Acadien), Louisiana Créoles and many others.

The following is a list of notable French Americans by occupation, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants.

To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are French American or must have references showing they are French American and are notable.

Business

General

Entertainment

Actors

Artists

Musicians

Other entertainers

Explorers

Law and politics

Governors and presidents

Congressmen and senators

Mayors

Other politicians

Authors and writers

Education

Journalism

Military

Religion

Science

Sports

Baseball

Basketball

Football

Hockey

NASCAR

Rodeo

Soccer

Tennis

Other sports

Other

Art

Cuisine

Miscellanea

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Can Kahn Plan End U.S. Medal Drought? . September 2, 2004 . Pegasus Racing . April 2, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130827213005/http://www.pegasus.com/thelog_interview.htm . August 27, 2013.
  2. Web site: Gérard Louis-Dreyfus & family . 2006 . The World's Billionaires . . April 2, 2013.
  3. Commentary: A Deal That Could Break The House . John . Rossant . Emily . Thornton . https://web.archive.org/web/20120630121825/http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2004-10-17/commentary-a-deal-that-could-break-the-house . dead . June 30, 2012 . Bloomberg Businessweek . . October 17, 2004 . April 2, 2013.
  4. Web site: Pierre Omidyar . March 2013 . The World's Billionaires . . April 2, 2013.
  5. Book: Ball, Lucille. Love, Lucy . registration. June 30, 2013 . 1996 . G.P. Putnam's Sons . 978-0-7862-0965-1.
  6. Book: Barbeau, Adrienne. There Are Worse Things I Could Do . registration. June 30, 2013 . 2006 . Carroll & Graf . 978-0-7867-1637-1.
  7. It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's a Hunk!; 'Lois & Clark's' Dean Cain, Flying the Friendly Skies . Tom . Shales . https://archive.today/20130701061434/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/72187673.html?dids=72187673:72187673&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=SEP+23,+1993 . dead . July 1, 2013 . Style . The Washington Post . October 17, 2004 . April 2, 2013.
  8. Book: Wallechinsky . David . David Wallechinsky . Wallace . Irving . Irving Wallace . People, Races, Ethnicity in the U.S. French Americans – Part 2 . April 2, 2013 . . 1975–1981 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070929091758/http://www.trivia-library.com/b/people-races-ethnicity-in-the-u-s-french-americans-part-2.htm . September 29, 2007 . dead .
  9. Sinbad . . Interview with Sinbad . . 1998 . April 2, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110003/http://lacey-chabert.dayah.com/text/VIBE.html . March 4, 2016 . dead .
  10. Web site: Rencontre avec Timothée Chalamet, "the next big thing" du cinéma hollywoodien. Les Inrocks. fr-FR. March 22, 2019.
  11. Web site: Oscars: Hollywood s'arrache Timothée Chalamet, un Franco-Américain de 22 ans. March 4, 2018. LExpress.fr. fr. March 22, 2019.
  12. Web site: robert_clary.htm . libranpoet . July 1, 2013 . From stage performer to singer to painter, the French actor... . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081015214033/http://www.libranpoet.com/robert_clary.htm . October 15, 2008. "
  13. News: 'Endgame' Provides a New Beginning for Bud Cort . Polly . Warfield . Drama-Logue . December 19, 1984 . June 30, 2013 . Half Irish, half French-Canadian, half English. . https://web.archive.org/web/20090321115547/http://www.geocities.com/budcortfanclub/Dec13-191984.html . March 21, 2009 . dead.
  14. News: Madonna, Ellen DeGeneres distant cousins with Canadian roots . Boswell . Randy . . March 31, 2010 . April 2, 2013.
  15. News: Julie Delpy is bursting with feeling, full of words – and all that is propelling her beyond the screen. Edward. Guthmann. San Francisco Chronicle. November 4, 2004. April 2, 2013.
  16. International Woman of Mystery: Actress and Singer Arielle Dombasle Embodies Romance of Another Era . 2002 . Rock Paper Scissors . June 30, 2013.
  17. Web site: In Step with ...Josh Duhamel . Parade.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090726073209/http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2007/edition_06-24-2007/In-Step-With-Josh-Duhamel . July 26, 2009 .
  18. Ian . Harvie . 2008 . The Ian Harvie Show . Television production . https://web.archive.org/web/20140201113453/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0H3MjsMySo&feature=player_embedded . 2014-02-01 . dead. April 2, 2013 . Ian Harvie on YouTube.
  19. Web site: Biography . Goulet . Robert . 1994–2011 . Robert Goulet's Official Website . Rogo & Rove/Vera Goulet . April 2, 2013.
  20. Web site: Biography . Goulet . Robert . 2009–2010 . Catalog . The Vineyard Press . June 30, 2013 . Famous French-Canadian author Robert Goulet ....
  21. News: Nevin . Charles . The glamour of Swindon: Billie Piper, Melinda Messenger ... and Ena Sharples' hairnet . https://web.archive.org/web/20121111005614/http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/charles-nevin-news-from-elsewhere-499196.html . dead . November 11, 2012 . April 2, 2013. The Independent. July 18, 2005.
  22. Sessums . Kevin . Wild at heart. Allure Magazine. November 2004 . April 2, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070503044807/http://fansites.hollywood.com/~ajolie/int34.html . May 3, 2007.
  23. Web site: Zacharie Cloutier . April 1, 2013 . Peche-Quebec . July 1, 2013.
  24. News: Christopher Lambert . https://web.archive.org/web/20080608100210/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/40134/Christopher-Lambert/biography . dead . June 8, 2008 . Movies & TV Dept. . . Sandra Brennan . 2008 . July 1, 2013.
  25. Web site: Christopher Lamber Biography . 2012 . . July 1, 2013.
  26. Web site: Taylor Lautner Fans Blog . June 19, 2005 . . July 1, 2013 . https://archive.today/20130423054850/http://www.myspace.com/taylorlautnerfans/blog . April 23, 2013 . dead.
  27. Web site: Lipton . Brian Scott . A View from the Gate . August 16, 2005 . TheaterMania.com . New York City . April 2, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071211142738/http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/6529 . December 11, 2007 . dead .
  28. Web site: Kiele Sanchez Biography – Profile of Lost's Kiele Sanchez . November 2010 . . July 1, 2013.
  29. Web site: Reni Santoni Biography . . July 1, 2013.
  30. . . May 9, 1999 . In Step with Leelee Sobieski . . . June 29, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120609024905/http://www.leeleesobieski.com/articles/parade/parade.html . June 9, 2012.
  31. News: TESSA VON WALDERDORFF. I Love You. June 4, 2018. en.
  32. News: Ultra Violet . Grace . Glueck . Art in Review . New York Times . February 17, 2006 . July 1, 2013.
  33. Web site: Ali Landry . Bernard . Shane K. . cajunculture.com . . July 1, 2013 . A Cajun and Breaux Bridge native, Ali Landry was crowned Miss USA in February 1996 at age twenty-two — the first Miss Louisiana to win the pageant since 1961. Ali is now a full time mother and a ‘Celebrity Mom’ on Yahoo. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222105/http://www.cajunculture.com/People/landryal.htm . September 27, 2007 .
  34. News: Show Business: Now: Madonna on Madonna . https://web.archive.org/web/20070219233140/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,957025,00.html . dead . February 19, 2007 . Time . May 27, 1985 . May 8, 2010.
  35. Maria McBane Nude . . July 1, 2013 . Francophiles will be pleasantly surprised to learn that despite the unmistakably Celtic ring to her name, May Playmate Maria McBane is every bit as French as croissants and the cancan. Born in Avignon, in the heart of the French wine region of Provence, our 19-year-old May miss was reared in the traditions of the provincial petite francaise until the age of ten, when her family sold their small vineyard and came to America. . https://web.archive.org/web/20130712044657/http://www.playboy.com/girls/view/maria-mcbane . July 12, 2013 . dead .
  36. Linda Moon Nude . . July 1, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130521004022/http://www.playboy.com/girls/view/linda-moon . May 21, 2013 . dead .
  37. February 1, 2006 . Les Breastfeeders pay tribute to Joe Dassin . . July 1, 2013.
  38. Encyclopedia: 2000 . Charles Martin Loeffler . . Columbia University Press.
  39. Encyclopedia: 2013 . Lily Pons (American singer) . . . French-born American coloratura soprano ....
  40. Web site: Get to know: Marc Rebillet. November 6, 2018.
  41. Martinez . Miriam . 2003 . Jaci Velasquez: Chasing Papi star with a blazing trail of album hits . Latino Leaders . Ferraez Publications . https://web.archive.org/web/20130403171751/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-113053490.html . dead . April 3, 2013 . July 1, 2013.
  42. Web site: Brasserie Les Halles home base of Chef-at-large Anthony Bourdain . . June 18, 2007.
  43. Encyclopedia: 2013 . Alexander McGillivray . . Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc..
  44. Described as French-Canadian at Gambit. Both parents, Medore Moisant and Josephine Fortier, were French Canadian immigrants to the United States.
  45. Web site: Paul Revere . 2012 . Olga's Gallery . July 1, 2013.
  46. Bedini . Silvio A. . December 2002 . Isaac Roberdeau (1763–1829) Civil Engineer and Surveyor . The History Corner . Professional Surveyor Magazine . July 1, 2013.
  47. News: In Louisiana, Concerns Over France-Bashing . . . March 14, 2003 . July 1, 2013 . 'So many people in Louisiana actually speak French every day and feel French, and I think they're a little disappointed about the situation,' says Lt. Gov. Kathleen Blanco, a French Acadian whose maiden name was Babineaux. 'We're looking at a 200-year historical time when France was our greatest ally.'.
  48. Web site: Manuscript Group 633, Elisha Boudinot (1749–1819) Family . 2001 . Archives . . July 1, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131105172659/http://www.jerseyhistory.org/findingaid.php?aid=0633 . November 5, 2013 . dead .
  49. Web site: Hillary Clinton . November 1, 2012 . Peche-Quebec . July 1, 2013.
  50. Web site: 14748231.htm . DFW.com . July 1, 2013 . 'I trust that you do know Mr. DeLay is French,' she said. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070203100050/http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/state/14748231.htm . February 3, 2007.
  51. Gravel . Mike . Mike Gravel . . Interview with Former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel . April 17, 2006 . July 1, 2013.
  52. His great-grandfather was born in France; most of his other ancestry was English and American.
  53. Web site: A Little History of Tennessee . Schneider . Bridgett Edwards . 1995–2000 . Bridgett's Gene Joint . MomNDoc Online Services . July 1, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20030204231453/http://www.maddoc.net/bridgett/tennhist.htm . February 4, 2003.
  54. Web site: James Carville . . 2009 . Anchors/Reporters . CNN . July 1, 2013 . Often referred to as the "Ragin' Cajun" for his animated and colorful debating style ....
  55. Encyclopedia: 2000 . Alexander McGillivray . . Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc..
  56. News: Pierre Salinger, Kennedy Aide, Dies at 79 . Thomas J. . Lueck . New York Times . October 17, 2004 . June 27, 2013.
  57. News: Billy Tauzin, Charming Villain . Michelle . Cottle . https://web.archive.org/web/20160116003529/https://business.highbeam.com/4776/article-1G1-108410020/cajun-dressing-billy-tauzin-charming-villain . dead . January 16, 2016 . New York Times . October 6, 2003 . July 1, 2013.
  58. Web site: Kate Chopin – A Woman Ahead of Her Time . 1999 . . July 1, 2013 . Kate Chopin was born Katherine O'Flaherty on February 8, 1850, of an Irish and French descent in St. Louis, Missouri..
  59. Dufresne . John . Nathan Leslie . Interview with John Dufresne . April–June 2005 . July 1, 2013 . ... I write from being a French Canadian/American who grew up on what had been called French Hill until the Irish and Italians muscled us out. . https://archive.today/20130701061427/http://www.thepedestalmagazine.com/gallery.php?item=1822 . July 1, 2013 . dead .
  60. Web site: My Memories of Will Durant . Levy . Rose . Will Durant Foundation . https://archive.today/20120919153844/http://www.willdurant.com/levy.htm . September 19, 2012 . dead . July 1, 2013 . Will Durant was French-Canadian and a Roman Catholic ....
  61. Web site: Jack Kerouac . Asher . Levi . July 23, 1994 . . July 1, 2013 . Jack Kerouac was born Jean-Louis Kerouac, a French-Canadian child on March 12, 1922, in working-class Lowell, Massachusetts..
  62. His French ancestors immigrated to England in the 16th century.
  63. Web site: Anaïs Nin . Books and Writers (kirjasto.sci.fi) . Petri . Liukkonen . Kuusankoski Public Library . Finland . https://web.archive.org/web/20060709220822/http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/anaisnin.htm . July 9, 2006 . dead.
  64. Encyclopedia: 2013 . Pierre-Samuel du Pont . . Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc..
  65. His paternal grandfather was from the Isle of Jersey. His other ancestry was English American.
  66. Web site: ASAIL Home Page . Nelson . Robert . 2013 . Association for the Study of American Indian Literatures (ASAIL) . July 1, 2013.
  67. Haseltine . Patricia . The Voices of Gerald Vizenor: Survival Through Transformation . American Indian Quarterly . 1 . 9 . 1985 . 1 . . 1184651 . . 10.2307/1184651 .
  68. Gallaudet, Thomas Hopkins . 11 . 416 . of French Huguenot ancestry. 1.
  69. Web site: Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years . 2001 . The City Review . July 1, 2013 . The torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient [French] heritage..
  70. Web site: Captain Benjamin L. E. Bonnevillee eBooks . Non Fiction Wise . July 1, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071020153025/http://nonfictionwise.com/eBooks/CaptainBenjaminLEBonnevilleeBooks.htm . October 20, 2007 . dead .
  71. Web site: John James Audubon . 2011 . National Audubon Society . New York City . July 1, 2013 . ... French-American ornithologist ....
  72. Web site: John James Audubon . 2012 . Aubudon . . New York City . July 1, 2013 . Audubon was born in Saint Domingue (now Haiti), the illegitimate son of a French sea captain and plantation owner and his French mistress. Early on, he was raised by his stepmother, Mrs. Audubon, in Nantes, France, and took a lively interest in birds, nature, drawing, and music..
  73. January 1911. The Death Of Octave Chanute. Popular Mechanics. 38.
  74. Encyclopedia: 2013 . René Dubos . . Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc..
  75. Born in Paris to George L'Enfant and Frances Ragond, and immigrated to the U.S.
  76. Web site: Rodrigue and Guidry Honored as Outstanding Alums . 2003 . Rodrigue Studio . July 1, 2013 . Just like George, he's a nice, country, Cajun guy, who left Louisiana to follow his dream and continued that dream by returning to his roots. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120216070629/http://www.georgerodrigue.com/outstandingalum.htm . February 16, 2012.
  77. News: Gotta-wanna-needa-getta-hava: cajun quarterback Jake Delhomme, who led the Carolina Panthers to the super bowl, inked a deal to endorse Bojangles' spicy chicken . . . https://web.archive.org/web/20160116003529/https://business.highbeam.com/4776/article-1G1-108410020/cajun-dressing-billy-tauzin-charming-villain . dead . January 16, 2016 . Tattle Tales . Business North Carolina . April 1, 2004 . July 1, 2013.
  78. Web site: Brett Lorenzo Favre lineage . Ruff . Bonnie . July 19, 2003 . GenForum . Genealogy.com . July 1, 2013.
  79. Web site: Bobby Hebert . Bernard . Eddie "Bush" . November 17, 2006 . Sports . Lafourche.com . July 1, 2013.
  80. News: Barrow, Morton among likely cuts . . May 27, 2005 . July 1, 2013.
  81. Web site: Cowboy legend Earl Bascom was a rodeo pioneer and Western artist. Los Angeles Daily News. July 22, 2013.
  82. Web site: David Regis Biography . 2013 . US Soccer Players . July 1, 2013.
  83. Web site: YA Best XI: Quentin Westberg . https://web.archive.org/web/20140112010958/http://yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=show&id=1912 . usurped . January 12, 2014 . Quentin . Westberg . June 1, 2006 . Yanks Abroad . July 1, 2013 . ... I do have an idea about being the son of an American father and a French mother..
  84. News: Nice native sworn in during Vegas ceremony . Associated Press . Olympic Sports . . Las Vegas . January 9, 2004 . July 1, 2013 . French figure skating champion Surya Bonaly has become a U.S. citizen during a ceremony Friday in Las Vegas. . https://archive.today/20130701092428/http://static.espn.go.com/oly/news/2004/0109/1704584.html . July 1, 2013 . live.
  85. Web site: 1997.html . 1997 . Innisfree.org . July 1, 2013 .
  86. Rodrigue . George . Rodrigue Studio – From Cajun Roots to Blue Dog Fever . January 21, 2006 . Rodrigue Studio . July 1, 2007 . George Rodrigue, a Cajun from New Iberia, Louisiana ... . https://web.archive.org/web/20160218080938/https://georgerodrigue.com/galleryhandout.pdf . February 18, 2016 . dead .
  87. Book: Eisenberg, John . Native Dancer: The Grey Ghost Hero of a Golden Age . July 1, 2013 . May 1, 2003 . Grand Central Publishing . 978-0-7595-2801-7 . Eric Guerin, the twenty-eight-year-old Cajun jockey who rode all of Vanderbilt's top horses under a contract arrangement ....
  88. Web site: Ryan Theriot . https://web.archive.org/web/20070226053550/http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=444135#content_2011=&sectionType=career&statType=1&season=2013&gameType=%27R%27&level=%27ALL%27 . dead . February 26, 2007 . . 2011 . Ryan Theriot Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio → Bio . . July 1, 2013.
  89. Book: Triple H . Triple H . Caprio . Robert . Triple H Making the Game: Triple H's Approach to a Better Body . July 1, 2013 . May 11, 2010 . . 9780743478885 . Publisher comments . ... to adjust to a difficult life on the road as 'the French guy' in World Championship Wrestling ....
  90. Web site: Skywayman: The Story of Frank W. Abagnale Jr. . Bell . Rachael . . Crime Library . . July 1, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090831075128/http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/criminal_mind/scams/frank_abagnale/index.html . August 31, 2009 . dead .
  91. News: New Beauty Queen Ideal, Says Artists . . . . September 10, 1922 . July 1, 2013.
  92. Web site: Is Derek Chauvin of French-Canadian origin? Are French-Canadians racists?. August 29, 2021. August 29, 2021.