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Glossary of terms used in census source documents

Arpent:

“An old French measure for land. By a royal edict of 1669, it must contain 100 perches of 22 feet each (linearly), or 48,400 square feet. This was called the arpent royal, . . . The common arpent had 40,000 square feet, the arpent of Paris 32,400, these being based on perches of 20 and 18 feet. The following are the areas in ares [sic]: arpent of  Paris, 34.1887; common arpent, 42.2083; royal arpent, 51.0720; English acre, 40.4678. The arpent is still used in Louisiana, and in the province of Quebec.” (The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia, 1913, I:317).

dit:

Alias or “also known as”. A French naming custom helpful in distinguishing families with common surnames. The names could be listed in the following ways:

Guyon
Guyon dit Guitar
Guyon-Guitar
Guitar dit Guyon
Guitar