Profile Text
de Lesseps in 2015, photo by DFree /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: LuAnn Nadeau
Place of Birth: Berlin, Connecticut, U.S.
Date of Birth: May 17, 1965
Ethnicity: French-Canadian
LuAnn de Lesseps is an American socialite, television personality, model, author, and singer. She is also known as Countess Luann.
LuAnn is the daughter of French-Canadian parents, Rolande (Corriveau) and Roland B. Nadeau. She grew up with six siblings. Her father was born in Lac-Baker, New Brunswick. Her mother is from Montréal, Québec. She has two children, including contemporary visual artist, television personality, and socialite Victoria de Lesseps, with her former husband, French entrepreneur Alexandre de Lesseps. Alexandre is the great-great-grandson of French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps.
LuAnn’s paternal grandfather was Bélonie/Belone/Belonne/Beloni Nadeau (the son of François Xavier Nadeau and Célina Delvina Pelletier). Bélonie was born in Clair, Madawaska, New Brunswick. François was born in Saint-Basile, Madawaska, the son of Simon Nadeau and Marcelline Marie Michaud. LuAnn’s great-grandmother Célina was born in Saint-François, Madawaska, the daughter of Thomas Pelletier and Angèle Lamarre.
Regarding her ethnic background, LuAnn stated in her book, Class with the Countess: How to Live with Elegance and Flair , 2009:
My father’s mother was a full-blooded Native American of the Micmac tribe of the Algonquin Indians. He grew up poor in Canada, one of twelve children.
My father’s mother was a full-blooded Native American of the Micmac tribe of the Algonquin Indians. He grew up poor in Canada, one of twelve children.
LuAnn’s paternal grandmother was Matheide/Méthaide Tardif (the daughter of Joseph Tardif and Eugenie Caron). Matheide was born in Baker Lake, Madawaska, New Brunswick. Her “race” is listed as French on the 1931 Canada Census. Her parents were French-Canadian, with roots in Poitou-Charentes and Brittan on her father’s side, and Paris and Normandy on her mother’s side. No Indigenous ancestors appear on family trees of LuAnn’s paternal grandmother. LuAnn’s great-grandfather Joseph was born in Saint-Alexandre, Kamouraska, Québec, the son of Hyacinthe Tardif and Appoline Michaud. LuAnn’s great-grandmother Eugenie was born in Madawaska, the daughter of Hilaire Caron and Marie Delphine Soucy.
LuAnn is a fourth cousin, once removed, of singer and songwriter Oliver Tree . LuAnn’s maternal great-great-great-grandparents, Firmin Soucy and Marie Felicite Lagasse, were also Oliver’s maternal great-great-great-great-grandparents.
Sources: https://www.thestar.com
Obituary of Luann’s father – http://www.legacy.com
Birth record of possibly LuAnn’s paternal grandfather, Bélonie/Belone/Belonne/Beloni Nadeau – https://www.familysearch.org
LuAnn’s paternal grandmother, Matheide/Méthaide Tardif, on the 1931 Canada Census – https://www.familysearch.org