If it is, I haven't been able to prove it. DeMerchant is most likely a translated version of the German name Kauffman. Key word being versions because the direct translation for Kauffman is Merchant.

Consider the following:

German to French translation of the word Kauffman is Marchand.
German to English translation of the word Kauffman is Merchant.

The earliest known record of the surname DeMerchant is a 1805 land grant petition in New Brunswick. (To see a copy of this petition see the page MAPS etc etc). Prior to this time the surname is non-existent anywhere, including France or Quebec. Every DeMerchant decedent can trace their roots back to Carleton County, New Brunswick, which isn't exactly known as a French bastion.

The DeMerchant surname can be undeniably placed within Carleton County, NB since 1809. Farther to this, a November 1818 land petition for John DeMerchant Jr. states "That he at present resides in the aforesaid Parish of Wakefield and has resided there in for the last 13 years." At this time the Parish of Wakefield (A Parish would be similar to a Township) extended from just above Woodstock to the undefined border with Lower Canada (Quebec). This would represent a DeMerchant had been in this location since 1805, meaning this family was one of the first pioneers to this section of the St. John River valley.

The question which everyone asks "What about the prefix. De". I cannot conclusively explain or prove why the prefix De is added to the name. I do have theories based on observation and common sense. (Hopefully I posses some.)

1. There was another Loyalist by the name of Jesse Merchant, he was a tailor around Gagetown, NB. To avoid confusion with this family a De was added.

2. Several reputable Loyalist had names with the De prefix. Including one in John Coffman's own Regiment Prince of Wales American Volunteers. Gabriel DeVeber was a Lt. Colonel and another prominent Loyalist was Oliver DeLancey. He was one of the wealthiest men in New York prior to the American Revolution and one of the most influential Loyalists.

3. We know it is a custom of the Dutch to add the De prefix. Our man was most likely German but hey, I can't explain everything.

4. As mentioned to me one time, the vanity licence plate MERCHANT was takin and this was his only choice to have an original. (I'm joking)

Another small clue which has offered itself is the following. John DeMerchant's oldest daughter Mary, married a Frenchman by the name of Cantin Dionne. They lived in a English area until they migrated to the Madawaska Settlement (modern day St. Basile, NB area) about 1828. This was a French-speaking area and of course it had a Catholic priest. In several baptismal records for the Dionne children their mother is shown as Mary Desmarchand. If the name DeMerchant is French why couldn't a educated man such as a priest spell it properly?

This goes along very well with a story my father related to me about his time working in Quebec. On many occasions French people could not spell our last name. In fact a common spelling of the name was Desmarchand, the "French version".

Once again I want to stress these are my opinions. Compared with some other stories I have heard these seem reasonable. If you want to share your opinion please feel free, leave a message or e-mail.

Norm...

A special thank you goes out to Mark Dionne who has been a big help and inspiration in searching and writing this information. Thanks MARK!! Please check out his excellent site at the link above or at www.markdionne.com

This information is subject to international COPYRIGHT laws. Unless otherwise noted, this material is the work of Norman A. DeMerchant. It can be used with permission, contact Norm...
 

Last modified May 24, 2005.