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France is a country of beautiful landmarks, world-class art and architecture, and splendid museums. Also, their language French is considered one of the world’s most beautiful and romantic languages. Understanding the roots of these traditional French surnames can provide insight into centuries of history and culture. The origins of surnames in the French language are in their occupations, patriarchal names, and locations, providing a fascinating glimpse into the rich tapestry of French cultural heritage. Exploring these last names will enrich our knowledge and connect us to the traditions and stories of the past. Read on as we put together a list of the most beautiful French last names in this post.
250 French Surnames Or Last Names With Meanings
1. Abadie
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This French and English surname derives from the word abadia which means both ‘abbey’ and ‘family chapel’.
2. About
This is derived from the French word about that refers to ‘an extremity of a metallic or wooden element or piece’.
3. Abreo
This is a variant of the word Abreu, which means a ‘wise counselor’.
4. Alarie
The meaning of this French surname is ‘all power’.
5. Allard
Derived from old French, this surname means ‘noble’.
6. Anouilh
Derived from Catalan (language is southern France) word anull, Anouilh means ‘slow worm’.
7. Archambeau
This is derived from the Latin personal name Arcambaldus, which in turn derived from the German word Ercan meaning ‘precious’ and bald meaning ‘bold and daring’.
8. Arsenault
Derived from the French word arsenal which means ‘workshop’, Arsenault is also an occupational surname for a gunmaker, a seller of guns, or the keeper of an arsenal.
9. Aubert
It is derived from the old German compound Aedelbeort meaning ‘noble-bright’.
10. Auch
Occupational surname for someone who minds cattle at night.
11. Auclair
This surname is derived from the French word clair, which means ‘clear’.
12. Auger
This surname derived from the French personal name Auger, which originated from Adalgarius, wherein adal means ‘noble’ and gar means ‘spear’.
13. Auguste
The surname derived from a personal name Agostino, which is derived from the Latin word It means ‘favored with good omens’.
14. Aveline
In modern French, Aveline means hazelnut. This is derived from the botanical name of the common Hazel, Corylus avellana.
15. Badeaux
This is a derivative of the word ‘badar’, which means ‘to be open-mouthed’, ‘to gape’.
16. Bain
It is an occupational name for an attendant at a public bathhouse. Baine means ‘bath’ in old French.
17. Barbeau
This surname is derived from the word barbel, a type of fish. Hence it is an occupational surname for a fisherman.
18. Barbet
This is derived from the baptismal name meaning the ‘son of Barbara’.
19. Barbier
This is derived from the baptismal or Christian name meaning the ‘son of Barbara’.
20. Bardin
This surname is derived from old high German ‘barta’ which means ‘battle axe’.
21. Barreau
This French surname is a derivative of barrer, which means ‘to bar’, ‘to close or block off’. It could be a possible occupational name for a jailkeeper or doorkeeper.
22. Barrere
This is an occupational name for a gatekeeper or someone who lived by a gate or barrier. It is derived from the old French word barre, which means ‘obstruction’.
23. Bassett
In old French, this means ‘low’ or ‘short’. This name could refer to a short person or someone of humble origins.
24. Bastarache
This is a topographic name for someone who lived in a house by a boundary. The word is derived from basquebazter that means ‘border’ and eche that means ‘house’.
25. Bastien
This surname is a short form of the personal name Sabastian, which means ‘from Sebaste’ a town in Asia Minor.
26. Baudelaire
Pronounced as Boh-deh-lair, this French surname means ‘small sword’, or ‘dagger’.
27. Bazin
This French surname is derived from Basil, which in turn, is derived from ancient Greek name Basileios that means ‘royal ’. In some parts, it is also considered an occupational surname derived from the word bombasin, which is a kind of cotton cloth.
28. Beauchamp
In old French, Beau means ‘beautiful’ and champ means ‘field’ or ‘plain’.
29. Beauchene
This name is derived from beau meaning ‘beautiful’ and chene meaning ‘oak’.
30. Beaufort
Derived from old French in which Beau means ‘beautiful’, and fort means ‘stronghold’.
31. Beaulieu
A combination of Beau, which means ‘beautiful’ and lieu, which means ‘place’ or ‘location’.
32. Beaumont
The name meansa beautiful hill, wherein mont means a ‘hill’.
Trivia33. Beauregard
This surname means ‘beautiful outlook’.
34. Beausoleil
It means a ‘beautiful sun.’ It probably refers to a place exposed to the sun.
35. Bechard
Derived from an old French word bochier, which means ‘butcher’.
36. Bedeau
It is derived from the French word bedeau, meaning ‘beadle’, a sergeant of justice.
37. Bellamy
This surname is derived from old French words bel ami meaning a ‘beautiful friend’.
38. Bellefeuille
Derived from old French words belle meaning ‘lovely’ and feuille meaning ‘leaf’. It could be an occupational nickname for a woodsman.
39. Bellegrade
This French surname has the topographic meaning ‘beautiful watch-tower’ or ‘lookout’.
40. Belshaw
It means cheerful or lovely face. The surname is derived from the French words beu meaning ‘beautiful’ or ‘lovely’, and chere meaning ‘face’.
41. Benoit
This French surname is derived from the Latin word ‘benedictus’, which means ‘the one who says the good’.
42. Berengar
The surname has Germanic roots and means ‘bear and spear’. It could refer to a person bearing a spear.
43. Berger
This is an occupational name for shepherd derived from the old French word bergier.
44. Bernard
This surname is derived from German given name which means ‘strong as a bear’.
45. Bernier
It is derived from the French forename Bernier and from a Germanic personal name in which bern means ‘bear’ and nier means ‘hair or army’.
46. Bethune
This French surname originated from the town Bethune in Pas-de-Calais, France.
47. Bibeau
Also written as Bibaud and Bibaut, this French surname must be a derivative of bibere, which means ‘to drink’.
48. Bissonnette
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The topographic name of old French buisson means ‘bush or scrub’.
49. Blanc
Also known as le Blanc, this French surname means ‘white’.
50. Blanchard
It is derived from the old French word blanchart, which means ‘whitish’ or ‘bordering upon white’.
51. Blanchet
This French surname is derived from the word blanc. It was originally given to people who are blond or have a reputation of purity and piety.
52. Bloyer
This could be an occupational surname given to someone who separated hemp or flax fiber
53. Boisseau
It is an occupational surname for corn merchant. Derived from old French name bushel, it means the ‘measure of grain’.
54. Boivin
It is derived from old French words boi meaning ‘to drink’ and vin meaning ‘wine’.
55. Bonfils
The old French words bon fills means ‘good son’.
56. Bonheur
This surname is derived from old French words bonne heure, which mean ‘good time’ or ‘lucky’.
57. Bonhomme
This surname means a ‘good man’, where homme means a ‘man’.
58. Bonnet
This is a diminutive of the French word bon meaning ‘good’ or ‘attractive’.
59. Borde
This word means ‘board’ or ‘plank’. And could be a habitational name for someone who lived in a house of planks.
60. Boucher
Evolved from the French region of Champagne, Boucher is an occupational name for a butcher.
61. Boulanger
This is an occupational name for a baker, as the name means a ‘man who divides the dough into balls’.
62. Bourguignon
This local surname was held by people born in the beautiful region of Bourgogne.
63. Breguet
The surname originated from a region in ancient France.
Did you know?64. Bruneau
The surname means the ‘brown or dark skinned one’. Some variations are Brunel and Busnel.
65. Bullion
This means a ‘round spring’ or a ‘hollow in a rock containing rainwater’.
66. Cadieux
This is one of the ancient French surnames derived from the word ‘cad’ which means a ‘little fighter’.
67. Camus
This name is of Norman French origin and means the ‘snub-nosed one’. It is also considered a metonymic occupational surname for a shirtmaker, derived from the word chemise which means ‘shirt’.
68. Carbonneau
This surname is derived from the Latin word Carbo which means ‘carbon’ or ‘charcoal’.
69. Carpentier
This surname is of Norman-Picard origin and is a variation of French Charpentier, which means a ‘carpenter’.
70. Carre
This French surname is derived from the old French word carre, which means ‘square’.
71. Carrel
Derived from the old French word quarrel which means ‘bolt for crossbow’, Carrel could be an occupational name for a maker of crossbow bolts. This word also means ‘paving slab’ and could have been an occupational name for a street layer.
72. Cartier
This is derived from the Anglo-Norman French word caretier and is an occupational name for someone who worked as a transporter of goods.
73. Cellier
This French surname means a ‘storeroom’.
74. Cerf
Also known as Le Cerf, this French surname means ‘hart’ or ‘deer’.
75. Chapelle
This surname is a topographic name for someone ‘who lives by a shrine’. In old French, the word chapelle means ‘chapel’.
76. Chappuis
This French surname is derived from the old French word chaput, which refers to a chopping block that was used to create different shapes.
77. Charbonnier
It refers to someone ‘who sells or makes charcoal’.
78. Chastain
This name originated from the old French word castan, which means a ‘chestnut tree’. It could be a topographic name for someone living near a chestnut tree.
79. Chatelain
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This medieval cultural name refers to a governor, constable, or the warder of a prison. The name is derived from Norman old French word chastelain, which is in turn derived from the Latin word castellum that means a ‘watchtower’.
80. Chevalier
In old French, chevalier means ‘knight’, or ‘horseman’ or ‘rider’.
81. Chevrolet
This surname is derived from the French word chevre which means ‘goat’. It could be an occupational name for a person who cultivated goats.
82. Chopin
This surname is derived from the old French word chopine, which was an old medieval measure of liquid.
83. Clair
This surname is a French form of the Latin name calrus, which means ‘clear’, ‘bright’ or ‘famous’.
84. Cloutier
This French surname dates back to the medieval period. It was a Norman name given to a person who sold nails. The meaning of the French word clous is ‘nails’.
85. Collin
Some of the French surnames are patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father’s given name. Collin is derived from colle, which is ashort form of the Latin personal name Nicholaus that means ‘people’s victory’.
86. Comtois
This is a geographical surname of people from Franche-Comte, a province in eastern France, and means ‘free country’.
87. Corbin
This French surname was originally derived from the old French word corbeau, which means ‘raven, little crow’.
88. Courbet
It could be a place or a field with a curve shape or a meandering river. It could also have derived from the old French word corebt meaning ‘raven’.
89. Coutermanche
This means ‘short sleeve’ in French.
90. Couture
Derived from old French cousture meaning ‘seam’, this could be an occupational name for a tailor. Couture is among the exotic last names that start with C in French, commonly used as a word in the fashion industry.
91. Crozier
This is an occupational name for someone who carried a cross or bishop’s crook in religious processions.
92. De la Cour
This surname means ‘of the court’. It could be an occupational name for someone who lived at or was employed at a court.
93. De la Croix
The meaning of this surname is ‘of the cross’.
94. De la Rue
This name dates back to Medieval France. The name Rue is derived from old French ruelle which means ‘lane’ or ‘alley’. The meaning of this surname is ‘of the street’.
95. Delisle
Also written as De Lisle, this French surname has its roots in the medieval region of l’Isle in Languedoc. Delisle means ‘of the island’.
96. Deloney
This surname means ‘from Aunay’. There are several places in northern and eastern France with this name.
97. DeRose
This French surname is said to have originated from a sobriquet for a person with rosy complexion.
98. Descamps
This topographic surname, originating from Picardy in France, is given to a person residing near a hill, stream, church or a type of tree. In old French, the word champs means ‘of the field’.
99. Descoteaux
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This surname derived from coteau, which means a ‘small hill’.
100. Desjardins
This is another ancient French surname and translates to ‘from the gardens’.
101. Desmarais
In old French, this name translates to ‘from the marsh’.
102. De Villiers
This name is derived from the name of a plant known as vrilles (tendril). It could be an occupational name for a person who planted or worked on vrilles.
103. Droit
This means ‘right’ or ‘straight’. It could be a byname for an upright person.
104. Dubois
Originating from the French word bois meaning ‘forest’, the surname means ‘from the forest’.
105. Dupont
Also written as DuPont, duPont or du Pont, this French surname means ‘of the bridge’. This could be a habitational surname for a person living near a bridge.
106. Dupuis
This is one of the common French last names and it means ‘from the well/ hole’.
107. Durand
In old French, durand means ‘enduring’.
108. Edouard
This surname is French equivalent to Edward, and means a ‘prosperous guardian’.
109. Escoffier
It is derived from the word escofia, which means ‘to dress’.
110. Farrow
This occupational surname derived from the word ferror, which refers to an iron worker.
111. Faucher
Derived from fauche that means ‘sycthe’, Faucher could be an occupational name for a mower.
112. Favre
This surname derived from Latin word fevre, which means a ‘craftsman’.
113. Fay
This surname derived from the Norman surname de Fae, which means‘of the fairy’.
114. Fontaine
Derived from old French word fontane meaning ‘well’ or ‘fountain’.
115. Forestier
This Languedoc name is derived from the old French word foret, which means ‘forest’. This occupational name derived from the keeper of the king’s forest.
116. Fortier
Derived from old French word fort meaning ‘stronghold’, Fortier could be an occupational name for someone who lived or worked in such a place.
117. Fortin
This is derived from the French word fort which means ‘strong’.
118. Fournier
This is an occupational surname for baker. In old French, this word referred to someone who cooked dough in the fourneau or oven.
119. Fraise
This is a topographic surname for someone who lived by an ash tree or by an ash wood.
120. Frossard
This is derived from the old French word froisser, which means ‘to break’ or ‘shatter’.
121. Gagne
This is an occupational name for a farmer or peasant. Derived from the old French word gainer which means ‘to cultivate’ or ‘work’.
122. Gagneux
Derived from old French word gagnier, the surname means ‘to farm’ or ‘cultivate’.
123. Gagnon
It is derived from the old French name gagnon, which means ‘mastiff’ or a ‘guard dog’.
124. Garcon
This word means ‘boy’ in French and might be referring to a servant.
125. Garnier
This name is derived from the old French word gerner or gernier, which means ‘storehouse for corn’ or ‘keeper of the granary’.
126. Gaudin
This ancient surname derived from an old German name Godino, which means ‘son of God’.
127. Gauthier
This French surname is from Languedoc, and means an ‘army ruler’.
128. Gay
This name is derived from the nickname given to a person who is light-hearted and joyful. In old French, the word gai means ‘full of joy’.
129. Geiger
This is an occupational surname given to a person who plays or makes the violin. This is derived from the old French word gigaere, which means ‘violinist or fiddle player’.
130. Gerard
This is a derivative of the personal name Gerard. Ger means ‘spear’ and hard means ‘brave and strong’.
131. Gouin
This is a nickname for a person with fair or light complexion. It is derived from the word gwen, which means ‘light’ or ‘fair’.
132. Grange
This name is derived from the old French word grange, which means ‘granary’ or ‘barn’.
133. Guillaume
The name is derived from the popular Norman given name William, which means ‘protection’ or ‘strength’.
134. Heroux
This name is derived from the German personal name Hariwulf, in which Hari means ‘army’ and wulf means ‘wolf’.
135. Houde
This surname was first found in Auvergne, a province in south France. The name is derived from a village in Haute-Loire, in the district of Puy.This is derived from the French personal name Oudet, which is a Frenchified form of the Germanic name Odo, which was in turn derived from aud meaning ‘wealth’.
136. Janvier
Derived from French word janvier meaning ‘January’, this could have originated from a person who was born or baptized in that month.
137. Joubert
This name is probably a combination of a tribe called Gaut and the word berht, which means ‘bright’ or ‘famous’.
138.Jourdain
This is a French variant of Jordan, which means ‘one who descends’.
139. Kaplan
This word is derived from the old Norman French word caplain, which means ‘charity priest’.
140. La Cour
This French surname means ‘the court’. It could be an occupational name for someone who worked at a court.
141. Laferriere
This is a habitational name for places that have iron mines.
142. Lafitte
This is a topographic name for someone who lived near a boundary mark. In old French, fitte means ‘fixed stone’.
143. Laflamme
This is a nickname or an occupational name for a torchbearer. La means ‘the’ and Flamme means ‘fire’.
144. Laframboise
This French surname means ‘raspberry’.
145. Lagarde
This is a habitational name from various places in Ariege, Gers, and Moselle. In old French, Lagarde means ‘to watch’.
146. Lagrange
This French surname derived from someone who lived by a granary.
147. Lamar
Originated from a place in Normandy, this name is derived from the old French word la mare meaning ‘the pool’.
148. Lambert
This name is derived from an old German name Landberht, which means ‘bright land’ or ‘light of the land’. This surname could also be an occupational surname for a lamb herd.
149. Landry
It is derived from a German personal name Landric, in which Land means ‘land’ and ric means ‘powerful’ or ‘ruler’.
150. Lane
The French word lane means ‘wool’. It could be an occupational surname for someone who traded in wool.
151. Langlois
Also known as L’Anglois or Langlois, it means ‘the Englishman’. This word was used for the Englishmen living in France.
152. Laval
This name is derived from the French word vallee, which means ‘valley’. It also has an alternative spelling ‘Duval’ which means ‘of the valley’.
153. Lavigne
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In old French, vi(g)ne means ‘vineyard’. It could be the topographic name for someone who lived near owned a vineyard.
Trivia154. Lavoie
This is a topographic name for someone who lived by a road. The word voie means ‘road’ or ‘path’ in French.
155. Le Borgne
Also written as Leborgne, this French surname means ‘the one-eyed’.
156. Le Beau
In old French, beau means ‘fair’, ‘lovely’ or ‘handsome’.
157. Leclerc
In French, the words leclerc means ‘the clerk’. This could be an occupational name of a scribe or secretary.
158. Lefebvre
It is also written as Lefevre, Lefeuvre, and Lefebure. This is an occupational surname for an ironsmith. In old French, fevre means ‘craftsman’.
159. Leger
In French, leger means ‘light’ or ‘superficial’.
160. Lejeune
The word jeune means ‘young’.
161. Lemaire
This word means ‘mayor’. It is a title given to a town official.
162. Lemaitre
In old French, maistre means ‘master’. This could be an occupational name for someone who is a master of his craft.
163. Lenoir
In French, noir means ‘dark’ or ‘black’.
164. Leroux
This surname is derived from an old French name rous, which means ‘red’ or ‘red-haired’.
165. Leroy
In old French, Roy means ‘king’.
166. Le Sueur
This is a surname for a shoemaker or a cobbler. In old French, sueur means ‘one who sews’.
167. Levasseur
This surname was a status name from the old French word vasseor, who is a tenant ranking below a baron in the feudal system.
168. Loup
This French surname is derived from the Latin word lupus meaning ‘wolf’. Its variants are Leloup and Leleu.
169. Marchal
This surname is derived from the old German word marah, which means ‘horse’ and sclac meaning ‘servant’. This could be an occupational name for someone who looked after horses.
170. Marchand
This could be an occupational name for someone who bought and sold goods. In old French, Marchand means ‘merchant’.
171. Martel
Derived from the old French word martel meaning ‘hammer’, it could possibly be a name for a smith.
172. Matthieu
This surname derived from the Latin word Matthaeus, which is in turn derived from Greek Matthaios, meaning ‘gift of the lord’.
173. Milhaud
This French family name is derived from Milhaud, a small community in France’s Gard.
174. Moreau
It was originally a nickname for someone with dark skin. More means ‘dark-skinned’.
175. Moulin
Derived from the Latin word Molina, which means ‘mill’, Moulin could be an occupational name for a miller.
176. Ozanne
This originated from a female given name Osanna, which means ‘save now,’ or ‘save pray’.
177. Page
The occupationalname originated from the Greek word paidion, which means a ‘little boy’.
178. Palomer
Meaning ‘pigeon keeper’, the name derived from the Latin word palumbes that is ‘pigeon’.
179. Paquet
The old French word pacquet means a ‘bundle of kindling’. This could have been an occupational name for a gatherer or seller of firewood.
180. Pascal
This is derived from the Latin word Pascha, which means ‘pass over’.
181. Pelissier
In old French, pellice means ‘fur cloak’.
182. Picard
This name is derived from Picard, a place in northern France. This could be a habitual name for someone living in Picard.
183. Plamondon
In French, plat means ‘flat’ and mont means ‘mountain’. Could be a nickname for someone who lived near a flat-topped mountain.
184. Plantier
This is derived from the word plentive, which means ‘planter of wines’. This could also be a topographic name which means an ‘area with plants’ or ‘shrubbery’.
185. Plessis
Also written as Plessy and de Plessis, the surname means ‘a fence made of interwoven branches’.
186. Plourde
It could have derived from palourde, a type of shellfish.
187. Poirier
This means ‘pear tree’ in French and could be a name for someone who lived close to a pear tree.
188. Poirot
This surname, made famous by Agatha Christie’s character Hercule Poirot, derived from the word poire meaning ‘pear’.
189. Pomeroy
This surname originated from the word Pommeroie, meaning an apple orchard.
190. Porcher
Derived from the French word porchier meaning ‘swineherd,’ this could be an occupational name for someone who rears pigs.
191. Poulin
This could be an occupational surname for a person who breeds poultry. In old French poule means ‘chicken’.
192. Prevost
Prevost or provost was an ancient French appellation given to a chief.
193. Proulx
This surname is derived from old French word preu, meaning ‘valiant’ or ‘brave’.
194. Pueyrredon
This surname is derived from the Latin words podium rotudnum which mean a ‘rounded hill’.
195. Rayne
This surname is derived from the German word ragin, meaning ‘advice’ or ‘counsel’.
196. Reason
This surname is derived from the old French word raison, which means ‘intellectual faculty’.
197. Remy
This medieval personal name is represented by two Latin names, Remihius, which means ‘rower’ or ‘oarsman’, and Remedius, which means ‘cure’.
198. Renouard
This surname is derived from the German words ragin meaning ‘counsel’, and wald meaning ‘rule’.
199. Ricard
This is derived from the words ric meaning ‘powerful’ and hard meaning ‘brave’ and ‘strong’.
200. Richelieu
This is derived from the name of a town. Riche means ‘wealthy’ and lieu means ‘place’ in French.
201. Riviere
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This is a topographic name for someone who lived by the bank of a river. In old French, riviere means ‘river’ or ‘shore’.
202. Robida
This name was first used in Auvergne a place in ancient France.
203. Robillard
This surname from Normandy derived from Germanic words hrod meaning ‘glory’, and berht meaning ‘illustrious’ or ‘brilliant’.
204. Roche
This is a topographic surname who resided near hills. In old French, the word roche means ‘rocky outcrop’.
205. Rodier
This is an occupational name for wheelwright or a topographic name for someone who lived near a waterwheel. It is derived from the Latin word rota which means ‘wheel’.
206. Rossignol
This ancient French name refers to someone who has a pleasant voice. It derived from the old French word rossinhol, which means ‘nightingale’.
207. Rousseau
This surname refers to a person with red hair or complexion. It is derived from the old French name rous, which means ‘red’.
208. Rutter
There could be two origins for this surname.It could have originated from the old French words roteor, roteeur, and routeer, which are used for a person who plays the rote. Or it may be related to the old French word rotier, routier meaning ‘highwayman’.
209. Sale
This is derived from the old French word sale which means ‘salty.’ This could be a topographic or occupational name for someone who lived by, or worked in a salt marsh.
210. Sartre
This is a French occupational name for someone who sews clothes. It derived from the Latin word sartor meaning ‘tailor’.
211. Sauveterre
This name originated from the French word sauve meaning ‘safe’ and terre meaning ‘land’.
212. Schaeffer
This surname is of German origin and is derived from the word schaffaere meaning ‘manager’ or the ‘the head of the household’.
213. Segal
Occupational name for a grower or seller of rye, derived from Latin secale meaning ‘rye’.
214. Sergeant
This is derived from an old French word sergent meaning ‘servant’ which derived from a Latin word servire meaning ‘to serve’.
215. Serres
This could be a habitational name for places near southern and eastern France, or topographic name derived from the word serre meaning ‘ridge’ or ‘chain of hills’.
216. Serrurier
It means ‘locksmith’.
217. Simon
This is a popular surname is Europe and has historical origins. It means ‘to listen’.
218. Soulier
This is an occupational surname for a shoemaker, derived from the old French word soulier which means ‘shoe’ or ‘sandal’. It could have also originated from the old French word soule, which means ‘platform’.
219. Tardy
This could be a habitational surname for someone who is from a place called Tard or could have derived from the word Tardif, which means ‘slow’.
220. Tasse
Derived from old French word tasse meaning ‘purse’ or ‘bag’, it could be an occupational name for a maker of purses.
221. Tavernier
This is an occupational name derived from the old French word Tavernier, which means ‘innkeeper’.
222. Thibaut
This surname is derived from the French personal name Theobald which means ‘brave’ or ‘bold’.
223. Toussaint
Tous means ‘all’, and saint means ‘saints’.
224. Travers
Derived from the French word traverser meaning ‘to cross’, this name was used for a person who lived near a bridge or ford.
225. Tremblay
This is a plural form of tremble, which means ‘aspen’. This could be a topographic name for someone who lived near a group of aspen trees.
226. Trottier
This is an occupational surname derived from the old French word trotter, which means ‘walk fast’.
227. Vachon
This is derived from the Latin word vache, which means ‘cow’. It could be an occupational name for someone who was a cowherd.
228. Vadeboncoeur
This surname means ‘go with a merry heart’.
229. Vaillancourt
This is a variant of the word valencourt, which means a ‘low-lying farm’.
230. Vaillant
It is derived from the old French word vaillant, which means ‘sturdy’ or ‘brave’.
231. Valade
This word is an Occitan (a language spoken in southern France) variant of vallee, which means ‘valley’.
232. Vannier
This surname is derived from the French word vanier that referstosomeone who does winnowing (blows the chaff from wheat).
233. Varon
This surname is derived from the old German personal name Waro, which in turn derived from wara meaning ‘protection’.
234. Vautour
This surname is derived from the old French name voltor or Occitan name vautor, which means ‘vulture’.
235. Vaux
This could be a habitational name from various places in northern France, which are called vaux. This name is derived from the old French plural of val which means ‘valley’
236. Veilleux
This surname, derived from the old French word veille, means ‘watch’ or ‘guard’. It could also be an occupational name for a watchman.
237. Vercher
This name is derived from the medieval Latin name vercaria, which means ‘farmland’.
238. Verne
In French, the word verne means ‘alder’.
239. Verville
This French surname could have derived from the French words vers meaning ‘towards’ and ville meaning ‘town’. It could have also originated from from the words vert meaning ‘green’ and ville meaning ‘town’. The third origin is from the word vervelle, which ‘metal keeper’.
240. Vieux
This name is derived from the French word vieux, which means ‘old’. It
241. Vigeant
This is a habitational name from Vigeant in Vienne. It is known to be derived from the Latin word vinacus, which is a derivative of vicus meaning ‘village’.
242. Vigneau
It could also be a status name for the owner of a vineyard. This is derived from the Occitan word vinhier, which means ‘vineyard’.
243. Villeneuve
This name is derived from the words ville meaning ‘settlement’ and neuve meaning ‘new’.
244. Vinet
This French surname is derived from the old French word viner, which means ‘to make wine’. It could also be an occupational name for a wine-grower.
245. Violette
It is the French variation for ‘violet’.
246. Visage
It means ‘face’.
247. Voclain
This surname is derived from old French name Vauquelin, which must have probably originated from Walkelin meaning ‘the wealthy one’.
248. Voland
This is derived from the old French word voler, which means ‘to fly’ or ‘agile’.
249. Wack
This is derived from old Flemish word wacque which is a measure of weight. This could be an occupational name for an official responsible for weighing.
250. Webster
This is an occupational name for someone who weaves.
Discover More Names
When you have to choose a name for your baby, a few hundreds of names may not be just enough. Keep digging our mine of baby names until you find that one precious gem.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do French last names work?
French surnames are derived from several elements, such as the surname of either the mother or the father, profession, place of residence, or other unique characteristics.
2. Do French do not like to use the first name?
Some French do not like being called with their first name unless you are a close person. They prefer the formal way of calling, which is using their surname.
3. Do French wives take their husbands’ last names?
French women may take their husbands’ last names. However, it is not a legal requirement. They may also either keep their maiden surname after marriage or use both her and her husband’s family name as a hyphenated surname.
4. How did traditional French surnames come about?
The development of surnames in France can be traced back to the Middle Ages, and many early French surnames were derived from the given name of the person’s father or mother by adding a suffix or prefix to the parent’s name. Another significant category of French surnames originated from the occupation or trade of an individual.
5. What is the historical significance of surnames in France?
Surnames in France have evolved over centuries, originating from occupations, geographical locations, or personal characteristics. They serve to identify individuals and trace family lineage and history, reflecting the societal structure of the times. Many surnames help us understand historical roles and migration. These last names play a crucial role in administrative purposes, legal identification, and social hierarchy.
6. Are traditional French surnames still used today?
Yes, traditional French surnames are still used today. Many of these surnames have been passed down through generations to uphold their ancestors’ beliefs and culture and keep the family’s tradition alive.
This is a well-curated list of the traditional French surnames. French last names can be either patriarchal, matriarchal, or hyphenated in alphabetical order. One lesser-known fact about French surnames is that it is not legally mandatory for French women to adopt their husband’s surname after marriage, but some women do it customarily. A few surnames are also used as middle names by some. And if you like the meaning or the sound of any name, you may use it as a alias name, pen name, or stage name.
Infographic: French Last Names Or Surnames
French last names or surnames are usually based on ancestry or toponymic origin. If you are mesmerized by the country’s names and traditions, check out this infographic for some of the traditional and vibrant French surnames. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- The French last names and surnames reflect France’s rich culture and traditions.
- Abadie, Borde, Laferriere, and Picard are some locational and habitational surnames linked to different places in France.
- Surnames such as Bazin, Couture, and Farrow reveal information about the occupations of French individuals.
- Other French surnames, such as Cerf, Loup, and Vachon, draw inspiration from animals.
Learn about the literal translations of French surnames and their meanings! Discover the history behind your family name and its origin.
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