How did "Dit" come into a French name?

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NOMS DE GUERRE AND THE FRENCH SOLDIER

When a soldier enlists in the French army, he is given a nickname or nom de guerre, for example Philibert Couillaud dit Roquebrune, soldier of the régiment de Carignan (4). This nickname takes on an official character. It becomes the equivalent of an identification number. The soldiers are recognized by their family names, their first names, and their noms de guerre. In daily life, the nom de guerre replaces the real family name especially when the soldier speaks a dialect or the provençal language. In the absence of a nom de guerre, he is given the same one as his name. Thus in 1651, soldier Antoine Beaufour dit Beaufour makes a deal for the baking of flat cakes at Fort Saint-Louis de Québec (5). In 1716, French military rules require a nom de guerre for all regular soldiers. The assignment of these nicknames is done in a flexible manner. It can be the soldier's choice or that of the Company's captain (6) During the American revolution, France sends the régiment de Tourraine to help the American rebels. A list of these soldiers has been published (7). In each company, all the nicknames start with the same letter. Thus in the Dugre company, the soldiers' nicknames all start with the letter D, in another company, they start with B. It is thus easy to identify to which company a soldier belongs. From 1764 to 1768, the Company of Casaux of the Régiment de Boulonnois-infantrie uses names of vegetables. We thus find Lartichaud, Lalétue, Lachicorée, Lecresson et Lecerfeuil. (Translator's note: the artichoke, lettuce, chicory, cress, and chervil.)

The nom de guerre is a personal property. A soldier does not change it readily. It can happen when the soldier is transferred to another company and the nickname is already in use. In France, the soldier's wife will take his nom de guerre. On the other hand, a soldier's son will always carry a name that is different from his father's if he serves in the army. The absence of a genuine nickname is a sign of esteem. Officers, cadets, volunteers, and gentlemen do not have one.

André Corvisier maintains that a rigorous classification of military nicknames is impossible (8). Nevertheless, he establishes seven categories for which I have found examples in New France.

Given names and patronymics: the given name, often preceeded by Saint, one has only to think of Saint-Jean, Saint-Pierre, Saint-Louis and Saint-Marc.

Nicknames of origin. In 1688, Jean Deslandes dit Champigny, a soldier from Champigny, archdiocese of Paris is married (9). The following year, it is the turn of soldier Robert Houy of Saint-Laurent, native of the parish of Saint-Laurent des Orgeries, diocese of Orléans (10)

Nicknames based on a trade: Marien Taillandier dit Labeaume, soldier and surgeon, signs a marriage contract in 1688(11). (t.n. balm)

An alteration of the family name: soldier Jacques Rivière dit Larivière is married in 1699 (12). Soldier Jean-Jacques Treillet dit Latreille dies at the Conquest of New France (13).

The soldier's military past or occupation: In 1699, soldier Claude Panneton dit Lefifre (t.n. fife) signs an obligation in front of a notary (14). Soldier Jacques Quena dit LaBatterie (t.n. drums) dies in 1759 as well as three soldiers with the nickname Lagrenade, all grenadiers. In this category, one can also include Merry Petit dit Latraversée (15). (t.n. crossing)

Names of plants and animals. Just think of all our Lafleur, Latulipe, Larose, Loiseau, Létourneau or Jean Coton dit Fleurdesprés (16). (t.n. flower of the fields)

Names referring to personal traits: here are a few spicy ones, Antoine Bonnet dit Prettaboire (17), (t.n. ready-to-drink), René Cruvinet dit Bas d'argent (18), (silver stockings), Jean Amarault dit Lafidélité (19), Jacques Legendre dit Bienvivant (20), Martial Paschal dit Brisefer (21), (wrecker) In certain cases, the nickname is an improvement on the original family name, as for soldier Jean de Lavacherie dit De Floriers (22). (vacherie= dirty trick)