French name generator . Desroches – someone who lives near or among rocks. Examples include Jean de Gaulle, meaning "John, son of Gaulle," or Tomas FitzRobert, or "Tomas, son of Robert." Well, you can start your search here. It was pretty easy to adopt any last name you wished until 1474, when the king decreed that all last name changes had to go through him. The land of cheese, wine, and fashion, France is well-known for its delicious cuisine and passionate people, who are renowned for their pursuit of finer things in life, be it art, food, or the language. Kimberly Powell is a professional genealogist and the author of The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy. A French prefix or suffix is sometimes added to a given name to form a patronymic surname. Here are some common and popular French last names you just might recognize: Bélanger – This given name derived from Normandy, the region of ancient France, and the Anger family who lived there. Chastain – This is an old French name meaning “from the chestnut tree.” This surname may have two associations: a person who lived near a group of chestnut trees or a person with chestnut-colored hair. Aka a carpenter. – This last name originates from ancient Medieval France, but more specifically, a place called Breton. Another variation of this name is Belmont. British surnames beginning with 'DE'. Cartier – This is an occupational name and of Old English origin, referring to a carter, a transporter of goods. Felix – This is typically a male’s first name, stemming from Latin origin, meaning “lucky, successful.”. It is a variant of the Latin name Mary, meaning “star of the sea.”. Another variation of this name is spelled “Bonnay.”, – This is a Norman name with Germanic elements, typically given as a first name. – This is an occupational name and of Old English origin, referring to a carter, a transporter of goods. A dit name is essentially an alias, or alternate name, tacked on to a family name or surname. Means "rose" from Middle English, Old French and Middle High German rose, all from Latin rosa. Take the quiz to see if your symptoms may be HS—a chronic inflammatory skin condition that may be linked to the immune system. – This place-name is derived from old French, associated with someone who is from a place named Forest. – name meaning beautiful (beau) mountain (mont). Powell, Kimberly. Submit your writing to be published on Thought Catalog. Martin – This is a name that can fit as both a first or last name. Find out the meaning and origin of your last name. – This is an occupational name for someone who was a grower or seller of beans. ThoughtCo. Powell, Kimberly. This name has two very different meanings: “breath” and “son.”, This name is typically passed down from the father’s side of the family, derived from the Latin name Andreas. and since the de is considered part of the surname, you would do it as de Quieroz, Mario. You can opt-out at any time. – This Old French given name is often associated with St. Paul and the early Christians, who was ordered “to be steadfast in the faith.”, French Last Names That Can Be First Names, – a Biblical first name and derived from the Hebrew language. Lefebvre / Lefèvre – The variants of this name originated from an ironworker or smith. This is based on the old French word “charbon” meaning “charcoal.”, Rousseau / Roussel / Roux – “red-haired person,” “reddish,” “brownish red”. Based on a unique quality of the individual, descriptive French surnames were often developed from nicknames or pet names, such as Jacques Legrand, for Jacques, "the Big." Most people do. Check it out! "de", like "du" or "d'" are often used as Nobiliary particle in french surnames BUT it is not a real sign of nobility. In French, “faverge” means “forge.”, – this is a name that is also a girl or boy’s first name meaning “fountain’ or “water source.” There is also associated with the last name. That being said, some of the most utilized names are not specific to locale – rather, they deal with a trade. – This Germanic personal name is also a nickname, associated with someone who is bold or brave. The prefixes "de," "des," "du," and "le" (which translate to "of") are also used in French geographical surnames. Anouilh: Derived from Catalan (language is southern France) word anull, Anouilh means ‘slow worm’. Geographical or habitational French surnames are based on a person’s residence, often a former residence (for example, Yvonne Marseille means Yvonne from the village of Marseille). Dictionnaire des changements de noms de 1803–1956" (Dictionary of changed names from 1803 to 1956). Beginning in 1474, those who wished to change their names were required to get permission from the King. Firmin – This Old French given name is often associated with St. Paul and the early Christians, who was ordered “to be steadfast in the faith.”, Abel – a Biblical first name and derived from the Hebrew language. It was pretty easy to adopt any last name you wished until 1474, when the king decreed that all … Marie – This French name is often used for baby girls. – This last name is an occupational name for a shepherd. Alias Surnames or Dit Names In some areas of France, a second surname may have been adopted to distinguish between different branches of the same family, especially when the families remained in the same town for generations. The use of last names in France, like in much of Europe, didn't become necessary until the 11th century, to differentiate between people with the same first name. She teaches at the Genealogical Institute of Pittsburgh and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. Favager – This is a locational name, indicating that a person was from the town of Faverges in eastern France. marinelife ( 62450 ) “Great Answer” ( 1 ) Flag as… ¶ Marina is right. Based on a parent’s name, patronyms and matronyms are the most common method by which French last names were constructed. As a Jewish surname it is ornamental, from Yiddish רויז (roiz). Pronunciation : case sensitive: see the pronunciation key for a guide on how to write the sounds; sounds can only be searched in names that have been assigned pronunciations * is a wildcard that will match zero or more letters in the pronunciation example: *lee matches names which end with the sound lee _ is a wildcard that will match exactly one letter in the pronunciation Boucher – This is a given name is derived from the Old French word “bochier” meaning “butcher.” This, evidently, is an occupational name. Chevrolet – This is an occupational name, meaning “horseman, knight.” This is where the Chevrolet Motor Company got its name. – From the old French phrase, “of good appearance,” this surname refers to someone who is gentle, courteous, or handsome. This is often a nickname for a person who has a big mouth, because of the French word “bouche” meaning mouth, and the suffix “-ard.”, Charbonneau – This is a French surname (and nickname) for a person with dark hair and/or dark complexion. (These official name changes can be found indexed in "L' Archiviste Jérôme. Your answers indicate you’ve experienced symptoms commonly associated with HS. The prefixes "de," "des," "du," and "le" (which translate to "of") are also used in French geographical surnames. Savatier – the occupational name for someone who is a maker or seller of shoes. This practice was most common in France among soldiers and sailors. – This given name derives from “de la Croix” meaning “of the Cross.” The pronunciation of this surname is “del-a-croy.”, – This surname derived from Normandy during the Middle Ages. Dupond / Dupont – “bridge,” “from the bridge”, Janvier – This is the French word for “January.”. Leon – This French name originated from the Greek word meaning “lion.”. It extends beyond Europe as well, to overseas regions left over from conquests throughout history. – This is a name that can fit as both a first or last name. Boivin – This surname is a combination of French words “bois” (verb meaning “to drink”) and “vin” (wine). Another variation of this name is spelled “Bonnay.”, Bouchard – This is a Norman name with Germanic elements, typically given as a first name. Burial sites of French noble families‎ (22 C) In French, both “de” and “Fitz” mean “son of,” and are used at the start of a surname. The majority of French patronymic and matronymic surnames have no identifying prefix and are direct derivations of the parent's given name, such as August Landry, for "August, son of Landri," or Tomas Robert, for "Tomas, son of Robert." Discover the ethnic origin and meaning of last names. – This is a combination of two French first names: André (courageous) and Leon (lion). French Last Names: Starting With M. Have you ever wondered what your last name (surname) meant? This appendix is a sub-appendix of Appendix:Tagalog surnames and lists Tagalog surnames of Spanish origin.. Spanish surnames form the majority of Filipino surnames, and may be divided into these categories: Christian surnames, such as de la Cruz, Bautista, del Rosario adopted by Filipinos after being baptized into the Roman Catholic Church during the Spanish era. – Old French name meaning “lovely rose.” Another spelling variation of this name is Belrose. – This is an occupational name for a tradesperson known as a Cartwright, a person who is skilled in making or repairing wagons. Another French surname is Gardinier, meaning “gardener.”. It is derived from the pre-Christian name Augustus meaning “sacred.”, Archambault – This old French name is derived from Germanic origin, composed of the German words ercan (precious, excellent) + bald (bold, daring). Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/french-surname-meanings-and-origins-1420788. Have your physical symptoms, such as sores, wounds, or pain, impacted your lifestyle or mental outlook? This can also be a first name. This French last name refers to someone who drinks a lot of wine. French Surname Meanings and Origins. After completing this quiz, please talk to your dermatologist about your answers as soon as possible. It is a variant of the Latin name Mary, meaning “star of the sea.”. – This is a locational name of someone who lived in the city of Lyon, France. – Although this given name means “blanket,” it originated as referring to a fair-haired person. – This last name is a combination of French words “bon/bonne” (good) and “fils” (son), meaning “good son.”, – This surname is a combination of French words “bon/bonne” (good) and “heur” (time), meaning “good time.”, – This last name is a combination of French words “bon/bonne” (good) and “homme” (man), meaning “fellow,” “chap,” or “good man.”, – This locational name is derived from a person who lived in a hilly place. Larue – With the article “la” and “rue” (the street), this is a topographic name for someone who lived beside a road or street. Particles [edit | edit source] Some French last names include the word De- ("of") or Du- (contraction for de + le = "of the"). Bonnaire – From the old French phrase, “of good appearance,” this surname refers to someone who is gentle, courteous, or handsome. Blaise – This French and English name may be both a surname or a first name meaning “to lisp, to stammer.” This is an ancient Christian martyr name too. Generate quickly surname distribution maps. French prefixes that mean “son of”—which attach, of course, to the start of a name—include de and fitz (from the Norman). Blanchett – Although this given name means “blanket,” it originated as referring to a fair-haired person. The Meanings and Origins of Spanish Surnames, Richard: Surname Meaning and Family History, 50 Most Common Danish Last Names and Their Meanings, BERTRAND - Surname Meaning and Family History, LEFEBVRE - Surname Meaning and Family History, Certificate in Genealogical Research, Boston University, Arsenault (gun maker, keeper of the arsenal), Bassett (low, short, or of humble origins), Beausoleil (beautiful sun, a sunny place), Charbonnier (who sells or makes charcoal), Chatelain (constable, prison warder from the Latin word, Donadieu/Donnadieu (“given to God,” this name was often bestowed on children who became priests or nuns, or were orphaned with unknown parentage. This is commonly a French first name meaning “freeman.” This name is of Latin origin and has similar forms and spellings: – This common first name meaning “the king.”. It is a name for someone who was/is devoted to the Virgin Mary. Do these symptoms appear near your inner thighs, armpits, chest, groin, or buttocks? The pronunciation of this name is “leh-coo-yeah-er”, Lesauvage / Sauvage / Sauvageau / Sauvageon / Sauvageot – a person who is untamed/a savage. Charpentier – This word means “carpenter” in French and is also an occupational name of someone who is a fixer of wood. Need help finding a dermatologist? The official web-site of France Surname Map. – This is a topographic name from “the chapel,” which may have meant someone who lived near a chapel or church. Garnier – meaning “keeper of the granary” aka a storehouse for grain. Lévêque – This old French last name translates to “bishop.” It can also be associated as a member of a bishop’s household. This is a name for someone who is “courageous.”. Sometimes an individual even adopted the dit name as the family name and dropped the original surname. – This is typically a male’s first name, stemming from Latin origin, meaning “lucky, successful.”. Pronunciation: Blan-shay. If you are hurting, this guided journal is for you. Fontaine – this is a name that is also a girl or boy’s first name meaning “fountain’ or “water source.” There is also associated with the last name De La Fontaine, which means someone who lived near a spring or a well. Granger – This is an Anglo-Norman occupational name meaning “farm bailiff”. – This is a given name is derived from the Old French word “bochier” meaning “butcher.” This, evidently, is an occupational name. As so many French surnames are derived from first names, it's important to know that many common French first names have Germanic origins. Berger – This last name is an occupational name for a shepherd. In the beginning of the 14th century, this branch settled in Wexford, Ireland. Alarie. – In French, “vin” means “wine”, and in old French, it was spelled “vigne.” Therefore, this is a surname for someone who lived near a vineyard. It was pretty easy to adopt any last name you wished until 1474, when the king decreed that all last name changes had to go through him. Have you experienced tender, swollen bumps, either on or under your skin, that may produce foul-smelling liquid and scarring? You may unsubscribe at any time. Learn more about Thought Catalog and our writers on our about page. This can also include their status, too. "French Surname Meanings and Origins." Segal – the occupational name for a grower or seller of rye. Noble families often have several surnames, including one referring to the fief; for example, Chandon de Briailles, de Bourbon de Vendôme, or Dubois d'Ernemont. These alias surnames can often be found preceded by the word "dit." Bellerose – Old French name meaning “lovely rose.” Another spelling variation of this name is Belrose. Other French names associated with the forest are, – This is a locational name, indicating that a person was from the town of Faverges in eastern France. This is often a nickname for a person who has a big mouth, because of the French word “bouche” meaning mouth, and the suffix “-ard.”, – This is a French surname (and nickname) for a person with dark hair and/or dark complexion. – This surname is a combination of French words “bois” (verb meaning “to drink”) and “vin” (wine). – derived from the word “laurel,” this name is associated with the laurel leaves on crowns that victorious, powerful leaders wore in ancient times. Coming from the medieval French word "surnom," which translates as "above-or-over name," descriptive surnames names trace their use in France back to the 11th century when it first became necessary to add a second name to distinguish between individuals with the same given name. Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, 12th Marchioness of Castelldosríus, Eugenia Martínez de Irujo, 12th Duchess of Montoro, Francisco de Asís Rivera Ordóñez (famous bullfighter, not posh - used to be married to Eugenia, though) Surname wise the Spanish are a real pain in the culo. Perhaps that’s why so many people seek out French last names to use for characters in screenplays and novels. Find out the meaning and origin of your last name. It comes from the old French word “cousture” meaning “seam”, or in Latin, meaning (con)sure (“to sew together”). Meaning: While the word ‘blanchet’ literally means ‘blanket’, this … These surnames include the prefix “de,” “des,” “du,” and “le.” Your last name says a lot about where your family originated. It stems from Mars, the Roman god of war. This name could be associated with someone who was from this beautiful place. You should speak with a dermatologist about your answers to this quiz to get a proper diagnosis. – This French last name takes beau or bel (lovely) + lieu (place), meaning someone who lived in or near a lovely place. For more details, see our Privacy Policy. Lyon – This is a locational name of someone who lived in the city of Lyon, France. Langlais / Langlois – “Anglais” is the French word for “English,” so this surname quite literally means an “English man.” Langlois refers to “the English.”. This name is typically given to boys, meaning “lion-man.”, Lécuyer – In French, “écuyer” means “shield-bearer.” This name is derived from someone who belonged to the social rank immediately below the one of a knight. Check the diffusion of your surname in France and discover the geographic origin. – These are occupational names derived from the Old French word “fevre,” meaning “blacksmith.” Therefore, this is a surname for someone who could have been a blacksmith. The previx “bel” means “beautiful” and Anger (or, also common, D’Anger) was a surname of someone who lived near or in the former province of Anjou. Please note: This quiz is not meant to diagnose patients with HS. This town may be derived from Basque, an area that straddles a part of north-central Spain and south-western France. French Last Names Based on Locations. In some areas of France, a second surname may have been adopted to distinguish between different branches of the same family, especially when the families remained in the same town for generations. This name has two very different meanings: “breath” and “son.”, André – This name is typically passed down from the father’s side of the family, derived from the Latin name Andreas. – Not only is this a French name, but it is also of Hebrew origin meaning “Who is like God?” There are variations of this name, including Michael, Michelle, and Mitchell. In the mid-11th Century AD, last names began emerging throughout Europe as a way to help differentiate between people with the same first name. Historically, the nobility of old extraction have often been lords of a land, from which families took the name, often as an ellipse title of nobility. Deforest – This place-name is derived from old French, associated with someone who is from a place named Forest. Click here. All denote a person of a rosy complexion or a person who lived in an area abundant with roses. , which means someone who lived near a spring or a well. ex: Aimery Ier vicomte de Rochechouart has been called Aimery de Rochechouart This French last name refers to someone who drinks a lot of wine. The mother's name was usually used only when the father's name was unknown. Well, you can start your search here. Suffixes meaning "little son of" (-eau, -elet, -elin, -elle, -elet, and so forth) were also used. Here are the most common French last names and their meanings. Particles. The pronunciation of this name is “leh-coo-yeah-er”. Whether you’re a writer or just a regular person with an over-active imagination who needs a name for their alter-ego, this list of French surnames is exactly what you need. Remember to visit a dermatologist once you've completed the quiz, and talk to them about your answers. With some exceptions, especially in English-language contexts, French de following a first name or title such as Mme or duc is not used with the name alone. Michel – Not only is this a French name, but it is also of Hebrew origin meaning “Who is like God?” There are variations of this name, including Michael, Michelle, and Mitchell. Desrosiers – someone who lives among rose bushes. 20+ Interesting, Popular British Last Names, 20+ Most Popular Scottish Last Names [2020]. Subcategories. For example, Barre-en-Ouche in Eure or Barre-de-Semilly in Manche, it means “obstruction,” “bar,” or “gateway.” In another place, Barre in Lozère, it means “height.”, This is an old French name used in medieval times, which could mean “high” or “tall” but also could mean “lovely” + “oak” (chesne). French last names starting with D Other French names associated with the forest are Dubois, Forest, and Forestier. It is a name for someone who was/is devoted to the Virgin Mary. – Not only does this name originate from German descent, but it is a medieval surname of Biblical origin, too. Charron – This is an occupational name for a tradesperson known as a Cartwright, a person who is skilled in making or repairing wagons.