Association of the Veillet/te Patronym in America
A Quebec-based nonprofit association dedicated to the history, genealogy, cultural heritage, and family reunions of Veillet and Veillette descendants in America.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Association of the Veillet/te Patronym in America is a nonprofit genealogical and heritage organization representing descendants of Jean Veillet and Catherine Lariou, regarded by the association as the ancestral couple from whom the Veillet and Veillette families of America descend. Its historical center of gravity is the Mauricie region of Quebec, especially the area around Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan and the Rivière à Veillet, but its stated scope extends to descendants throughout America, including Quebec, other parts of Canada, and New England. The organization received its letters patent on March 12, 1986, under Part III of the Quebec Companies Act. Its creation formalized a broad family-history project: bringing descendants together, supporting historical and genealogical research, publishing the results of that research, organizing cultural and social gatherings, and commemorating important events connected with the Veillet/te families. Its stated vision is to help people bearing or descending from the Veillet/te surname understand their origins, document their family histories, and share those histories with a wider public. The association’s genealogical focus is rooted in the life of Jean Veillet, who was born in France in 1664 and left Saint-André-de-Niort for New France in 1667. After military service, he settled near the Rivière à Veillet in Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan. He married Catherine Lariou in Batiscan on November 19, 1698. Their descendants subsequently spread through Quebec and into other parts of North America. The association’s work treats this lineage as a shared historical framework while also documenting the varied family branches, occupations, migrations, and biographies that developed over successive generations. A major early undertaking was the commemoration of the tercentenary of Jean Veillet’s arrival in America. Held in Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan on August 13–14, 1986, the festivities attracted more than 2,000 people and established the association as a vehicle for large-scale family and cultural events. The organization also coordinated the collection of family records that supported its principal reference work, Histoire et généalogie des familles Veillet/te d’Amérique, published in 1988. The 771-page volume combined historical research, genealogical material, and biographies, and was prepared by Jacques F. Veillette, Françoise Veillette, and Hubert Veillette. The association has maintained an ongoing communications and reunion program. Its Le Pathiskan Bulletin reached 97 issues, including five special issues, by the spring–summer 2020 edition, with more than 2,144 pages published. Annual general meetings have also functioned as rotating reunions across Quebec. Thirty-four such meetings were held between 1986 and 2019. These activities give the organization both a research role and a community-building role, linking archival work with face-to-face encounters among relatives. The association’s visual identity includes a coat of arms adopted in 1986 and the motto “Veille et marche,” proposed by Eugénie Veillette-Dion. The motto appears on the ribbon beneath the arms representing the American Veillet/te families. Related publications include genealogical registers, family albums, biographies, and historical or literary works concerning individual Veillet/te branches. In August 2021, the association reported that more than 22,856 descendants of Jean Veillet and Catherine Lariou had been identified in America. The organization therefore functions less as a commercial consumer brand than as a nonprofit surname association, archival network, publisher, and custodian of family heritage.
History
The Association of the Veillet/te Patronym in America was established in Quebec in 1986 to bring together descendants of Jean Veillet and Catherine Lariou and to preserve the history of the Veillet and Veillette families in America. The organization obtained its letters patent on March 12, 1986, under Part III of the Quebec Companies Act. Its historical work is centered on a lineage associated with Jean Veillet, who left Saint-André-de-Niort in France for New France in 1667. Following military service, he settled near the Rivière à Veillet in Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan. His marriage to Catherine Lariou took place in Batiscan on November 19, 1698. Although the Mauricie region became the principal historical concentration of Veillet/te descendants, the association was formed with a continental mandate. It seeks to connect descendants throughout Quebec, Canada, New England, and the wider American context. Its objectives include genealogical and historical research, publication and promotion of research findings, cultural and social meetings, and commemorations of events significant to the family. The association’s work is therefore both documentary and communal: it gathers records and reconstructs lineages while also creating opportunities for relatives to meet and maintain a shared identity. One of its first major public projects was the 1986 tercentenary commemoration of Jean Veillet’s arrival in America. The event, held in Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan on August 13–14, brought together more than 2,000 people. The association subsequently supported the compilation of family information into a substantial reference work, Histoire et généalogie des familles Veillet/te d’Amérique, published in 1988. The 771-page book included historical material, genealogical records, and special biographies, with contributions from Jacques F. Veillette, Françoise Veillette, and Hubert Veillette. The organization also developed a continuing publication program through Le Pathiskan Bulletin. By its 97th issue, including five special issues, the bulletin had accumulated more than 2,144 pages; the 97th issue was identified with the spring–summer 2020 edition. The bulletin provides a vehicle for family news, research, historical material, and association information. Annual general meetings serve as recurring reunions and have rotated among different regions of Quebec. Between 1986 and 2019, the association held 34 such meetings. The association’s heritage program includes symbols as well as publications and events. In 1986 it adopted a coat of arms representing the Veillet/te families of America. Its motto, “Veille et marche,” was proposed by Eugénie Veillette-Dion and placed on the ribbon below the arms. Other works connected with its field include genealogical albums, registers of early generations, family biographies, and historical or literary treatments of individual members of the lineage. By August 2021, the association stated that its records listed more than 22,856 descendants of the ancestral couple in America. The organization is not a conventional commercial brand: it is a nonprofit family-history association whose principal outputs are research, publications, heritage interpretation, commemorations, and community activities. Its significance lies in preserving and communicating the history of a French-Canadian family network whose descendants have spread across North America.
- 2021
More than 22,856 descendants identified
[1]The association reported a list exceeding 22,856 descendants of Jean Veillet and Catherine Lariou in America.
- 2020
Le Pathiskan reaches its 97th issue
[1]The bulletin’s spring–summer 2020 edition was identified as issue 97, including five special issues across the publication’s history.
- 2019
Thirty-four annual general meetings recorded
[1]The association had held 34 annual general meetings between its foundation and 2019, generally combining organizational business with regional reunions.
- 1988
First major association history published
[1]The association issued a 771-page history and genealogy of Veillet/te families in America.
- 1986
Association incorporated
[1]The organization obtained its Quebec letters patent on March 12, 1986.
- 1986
Tercentenary celebration held
[1]A two-day commemoration in Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan marked 300 years since Jean Veillet’s arrival and attracted more than 2,000 people.
- 1698
Jean Veillet marries Catherine Lariou
[1]Jean Veillet and Catherine Lariou married in Batiscan on November 19, 1698, establishing the ancestral couple emphasized by the association.
- 1667
Jean Veillet arrives in New France
[1]Jean Veillet left Saint-André-de-Niort in France and traveled to New France, later becoming the ancestral figure associated with the Veillet/te families of America.
Products and positioning
A nonprofit surname and heritage organization combining genealogy, historical research, publishing, commemoration, and family-community activities for Veillet/te descendants in America.
Genealogical reference book · 1988
Histoire et généalogie des familles Veillet/te d'Amérique
A 771-page reference work published by the association in 1988. It brought together historical research, genealogical information, and special biographies concerning Veillet/te families in America. Its preparation was supported by a broad collection of family records begun after the association’s formation. Jacques F. Veillette handled the historical section, Françoise Veillette the genealogical section, and Hubert Veillette the special biographies.
Association bulletin · 1986
Le Pathiskan Bulletin
The association’s continuing bulletin serves as a channel for genealogical research, family-history material, organizational information, and community communication. By the spring–summer 2020 issue it had reached number 97, including five special issues, and had published more than 2,144 pages.
Research service · 1986
Genealogical and historical research resources
The association’s core service is the collection, organization, publication, and promotion of historical and genealogical information about Veillet/te families in America. The work covers descent from Jean Veillet and Catherine Lariou, later family branches, biographies, migrations, and related heritage materials.
Cultural and social event · 1986
Annual general meetings and family reunions
Annual general meetings combine association governance with opportunities for descendants to meet. The events rotate among regions of Quebec and form a continuing social component of the organization’s heritage mission. Thirty-four meetings were recorded between 1986 and 2019.
Marketing campaigns
- 1986Tercentenary of Jean Veillet's arrival in America
Quebec · Canada · North America
The association organized a major public and family commemoration in Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan on August 13–14, 1986, marking three centuries since Jean Veillet’s arrival in New France.
Outcome. More than 2,000 people attended, making the event a prominent early expression of the association’s cultural and genealogical mission.
- 1986Family-record collection campaign
Quebec · Canada · North America
After its creation, the association undertook a broad effort to collect family records and genealogical information from Veillet/te descendants.
Outcome. The collected material helped support the association’s 1988 history and genealogy volume.
Brand decisions
1986
Adoption of a broad genealogical and cultural mandateStrategyBackground
The association was established to do more than maintain a membership network: its stated objects included research, publication, cultural gatherings, historical commemoration, and the organization of descendants of Jean Veillet and Catherine Lariou.
Action taken
It structured its activities around genealogy, family-history publishing, reunions, and heritage commemorations across the Veillet/te community in America.
Aftermath
This mandate shaped later projects including the 1986 tercentenary, the 1988 reference book, the Le Pathiskan Bulletin, and rotating annual reunions.
1986
Adoption of the association's motto and coat of armsOtherBackground
The newly established organization sought a shared visual and cultural identity for the Veillet/te families of America.
Action taken
It adopted a coat of arms and the motto “Veille et marche,” proposed by Eugénie Veillette-Dion.
Aftermath
The motto was placed on the ribbon beneath the arms and became part of the association’s heritage symbolism.
Recent events
- 2021
Descendant database exceeds 22,856 identified people[1]
Other
The association reported that more than 22,856 descendants of Jean Veillet and Catherine Lariou had been identified in America by August 2021.
- 1988
Major Veillet/te history and genealogy volume published[1]
Product launch
The association published a 771-page history and genealogy of Veillet/te families in America, drawing on family information collected after the organization was established.
- 1986
Association receives Quebec letters patent[1]
Other
The organization was formally incorporated on March 12, 1986, under Part III of the Quebec Companies Act.
- 1986
Tercentenary gathering marks Jean Veillet's arrival in America[1]
Campaign · Other
The association organized a large commemoration in Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan on August 13–14, drawing more than 2,000 participants.
Sources1 sources
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