Trouillot

Trouillot is a surname of French origin that is found among people of Haitian descent and in other Francophone communities. In scholarly and cultural contexts, the name is associated with Caribbean history, anthropology, and literature, reflecting the broader Haitian diaspora’s intellectual contributions.

The most widely cited figure bearing the name is Michel-Rolph Trouillot (1949–2012), a Haitian anthropologist and historian. He is renowned for his analysis of power, memory, and the production of history. His book Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) is influential in studies of how historical narratives are constructed, whose voices are heard, and whose are excluded. Trouillot’s work often centered on Caribbean history and the Haitian Revolution, exploring how colonial and postcolonial contexts shape the ways societies remember and forget.

Beyond Michel-Rolph, the surname Trouillot is carried by other Haitian intellectuals, writers, and public figures, many of whom have contributed to literature, anthropology, and public discourse. The name appears in academic and cultural circles across the Caribbean diaspora and in academic institutions worldwide.

In summary, Trouillot denotes a surname with French roots linked notably to Michel-Rolph Trouillot’s influential work on history and memory, while also representing a broader family lineage involved in Caribbean scholarship and literature.