Bouchet is my husband’s family name. The Bouchet name originates in the Champagne region but found mostly in Britanny and in the Alps. It is possibly derived from a nickname meaning ‘mouthpiece’ or ‘big mouth’ – no comment!   

Our family’s connection with the Bouchets is in the heart of Britanny, France, mostly Dinan and the surrounding area.  Wierdly, an area of France that the family has loved for holidays but didn’t know anything about the connection until I started digging.

The earliest Bouchet I have traced so far is his grandfather, Julien Bouchet who was likely born around 1740 and died in Dinan in 1820. He was married to Julienne L’Abbé and they had a number of children who died at a young age.  Their son Pierre Jean Bouchet who was born on 18 April 1768 was the only child (I’ve found) who survived and went onto have a family of their own – our family. 

Pierre Jean Bouchet became a Tisserand (Weaver) and lived in Dinan. He married Perrine Boivin (Who we named our daughter after). Their son Pierre Marie Jacques Bouchet born on 9 July 1823 was the first Bouchet in Jersey. 

Pierre-Jean’s occupation is listed as retired military on his and Perrine’s marriage certificate.  He was a member of the French Royal Artillery – 1^st Batallion Bombardiers and he would possibly have served in the Napoleonic wars.

The best thing I’ve found about researching the Bouchet family is trying to work out the French Republican calendar which was created during the French Revolution. Perrine’s father Francois Boivin was born on the 24^th day of the Floréal month in the 3^rd year of the Republic aka 14th May 1794!!