Dumais

Dumais is a surname of French origin. The name is most common in Quebec and in northern France, reflecting historical patterns of French settlement in North America and migration from France in the early modern period. It is typically understood as a habitational or toponymic surname, derived from a locality name in French-speaking regions; the -ais ending is a common suffix in French surnames indicating origin or belonging.

The surname spread to North America through French colonization and subsequent migration from the 17th to 19th centuries, contributing to its concentration in Quebec and to smaller communities in the United States, particularly in New England and the Midwest. Historical records show several spelling variants, including Dumay, DuMais, and Dumas, which illustrate regional orthographic shifts over time.

In genealogical sources, Dumais is associated with families tracing their ancestry to early French settlers who established themselves in New France and its successor communities. The name remains common among Francophone populations and in regions with historical French-speaking communities.

See also: Dumas (surname).