Nouvelle was first settled by
Acadians fleeing the
deportation of 1755, fish merchants from Jersey, Channel Islands and some Irish. The name Nouvelle (French meaning "new") was used as early as the end of the 18th century and stood for the "new land" being made available west of the town that is now called
Carleton-sur-Mer. It first appeared on documents in 1787 by the Jersey businessman Charles Robin and by Abbé Joseph Mathurin Bourg, the first Acadian priest. In 1842, the geographic township of Nouvelle was proclaimed. In 1845, the township, which included the area now known as
Escuminac, was first incorporated as the Municipality of Shoolbred. It was named after John Shoolbred, who was the first owner of the seignory granted there. In 1847, the municipality was abolished, but it re-established in 1855. From 1861, it was known as the Township Municipality of Nouvelle-et-Shoolbred. On July 1, 1869, the local mission was proclaimed as a parish, known as Saint-Jean-l'Évangéliste (Saint John the Evangelist). In 1881, the post office opened, also designated as Saint-Jean-l'Évangéliste. In 1907, the place separated from the township municipality and formed the Municipality of Nouvelle-et-Shoolbred-Partie-Nord-Est. It was renamed in 1912 to Municipality of Saint-Jean-l'Évangéliste, and on December 5, 1953, it was renamed again to the Municipality of Nouvelle. The same year, the post office name followed suit. ==Geography==