France has a rich history and culture; its surnames reflect that diversity and complexity. French last names and surnames are a source of fascination for many, whether they are French citizens or not.
The origins of French surnames are diverse and can be traced back to different historical periods and regions of the country. Some surnames are related to the French language, while others have roots in other languages, such as Latin, Germanic, or Celtic.
We will explore the origins and meanings of French last names and some popular and classic examples. Ultimately, we hope you can consider one of these for your baby’s name.
In This Article
100 French Last Names and Surnames as Baby Names
Here are 100 of our favorite French last names and surnames for your little one.
Allard
Allard is a French last name that has Germanic roots. It is derived from the Old Germanic name "Adalhard," which means "noble and brave."
Andre
Andre is a French last name that is derived from the Greek name "Andreas," which means "manly" or "brave."
Archambault
Archambault is a French last name that has been in use since the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "arche," meaning "bow," and "bold," meaning "bold." Archambault was the name of a powerful medieval family in France and is still a popular surname today.
Armand
Armand is a French last name that is derived from the Old Germanic name "Harmann," which means "soldier" or "warrior."
Aubert
Aubert is a French last name that is derived from the Old French word "aubert," meaning "bright."
Babin
The name Babin has its origins in the Old French word "babin", meaning "baby", and was likely used as a nickname for a baby or young child.
Beauchêne
Beauchêne is a French surname that is derived from the Old French words for "beautiful" and "oak tree".
Beaumont
The name Beaumont originates from the combination of the French words "beau," meaning "beautiful," and "mont," meaning "mountain."
Bernard
Bernard is a popular French surname that is derived from the Germanic name Bernhard, meaning "brave as a bear".
Blanc
Blanc is a French surname that is derived from the Old French word for "white".
Bonnet
Bonnet is a French surname that is derived from the Old French word for "bonnet" or "hat".
Caron
The French surname Caron is derived from the Old French word "caretier," meaning "cartwright," or someone who makes carts. The name can be found throughout France and in Francophone regions.
Chaput
Chaput is a French surname that means "cap" or "hood" in French. The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who wore a cap or hood, or for someone who made them.
Charpentier
Charpentier is a French surname that means "carpenter" in French. The name likely originated as an occupational name for someone who worked as a carpenter.
Clement
Clement is a French surname that means "mild" or "merciful" in French. The name likely originated as a personal name, which was later adopted as a surname.
Cloutier
The Cloutier surname is derived from the French word "clou," which means "nail," and the suffix "-ier," which indicates a profession or occupation.
Comtois
The Comtois surname is derived from the name of the Comté region of France, which is located in the eastern part of the country.
Deschamps
The Deschamps surname is derived from the French words "des champs," which means "of the fields." This name was likely given to someone who lived by a field or worked in agriculture.
Dior
The Dior surname is derived from the Old French word "d'or," which means "golden." This name may have been given to someone with blond or golden hair, or to someone who had a sunny disposition.
Dubois
The Dubois surname is derived from the Old French words "du" and "bois," which mean "of the woods." This name was likely given to someone who lived in or near a forest.
Dupont
Dupont is one of the most common surnames in France, with over 300,000 people carrying this name. It originated from a place near Rouen where a bridge once stood.
Durand
Durand is a popular surname in France and is derived from the Latin name Durandus, which means "enduring."
Echeverria
Echeverria is a Basque/French surname that means "new house" in Basque. It is a common name in the Basque Country, which spans parts of both Spain and France. In France, the name is often spelled Etxeberria.
Esposito
Esposito is a surname that has both Italian and French origins. In Italy, the name means "exposed," while in France, it means "deposited." It is a popular name in Southern Italy and is often found in the regions of Campania and Calabria.
Etienne
Etienne is a French surname that originated from the given name Étienne, which means "crown" in French. The name was popularized by Saint Etienne, a Christian martyr in the 2nd century.
Favreau
The name Favreau is derived from the French word "Ferre," which means iron. It was a name given to people who worked as ironworkers.
Fontaine
The name Fontaine is derived from the French word "Fontana," which means fountain. It was a topographic name for someone who lived near a fountain or spring.
Fournier
The name Fournier is derived from the French word "four," which means oven. It was a name given to bakers or someone who worked in a bakery.
Francois
The name Francois is derived from the French word "Franc," which means free man. It was a name given to people who were free or independent.
Gagneux
Gagneux is a French surname with origins in the wine-making industry. It is relatively uncommon and has no notable namesakes. However, it remains an interesting piece of French cultural history, reflecting the country's long and storied tradition of wine-making.
Gagnon
Gagnon is a French surname that comes from the word "gagner," which means "to win." It is most common in Canada, where it is the 37th most common surname.
Gautier
Gautier is a French surname that derives from the Germanic name Walter. Théophile Gautier, a French poet and novelist, is one of the most famous bearers of the name.
Girard
Girard is a French surname that originated from the Germanic name Gerhard. One notable bearer of the name is Charles Girard, a French naturalist who described many species of fish during his career.
Henry
Henry is a French surname that derives from the Germanic name Heinrich. It is most commonly found in English-speaking countries, where it is a popular first name as well as a surname.
Hernandez
Hernandez is a Spanish surname that means "son of Hernando or Fernando." It is one of the most common surnames in the Spanish-speaking world and is also found in many other countries.
Herve
The name Herve has been used in France since the Middle Ages and is still common today. It is also occasionally used in other French-speaking countries such as Belgium and Canada.
Huet
The surname Huet is primarily found in France, particularly in the Normandy region.
Imbert
The surname Imbert is primarily found in the south of France, particularly in the Occitanie region. It is derived from a Germanic personal name that was popular during the Middle Ages.
Isabelle
The surname Isabelle is rare in France and primarily found in English-speaking countries such as the United States and Canada, where it is often used as a first name.
Ivanov
The surname Ivanov is one of the most common surnames in Russia and other Slavic countries. It is a patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from the father's first name.
Jacquard
The Jacquard loom, invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard, revolutionized the textile industry by automating the process of weaving intricate patterns.
Jacques
Jacques is a common French given name and surname that is derived from the name James.
Jean
Jean is a popular French given name and surname, and is derived from the name John.
Joly
The French surname Joly is derived from the Old French word "joli," which means "pretty" or "happy."
Joubert
Joubert is a French surname that is derived from the Old French word "juber," which means "to order" or "to command."
Kerjean
The Kerjean name is derived from the Breton words "ker", meaning village, and "jean", meaning John. It is primarily found in the Brittany region of France. There are not many notable people with the Kerjean surname.
Kessler
The Kessler surname comes from the German word "kessel" meaning kettle or cauldron. The name was given to people who made or sold pots, pans, or other cooking vessels.
Kieffer
The Kieffer name is derived from the German word ‘küfe’ meaning a barrel. It was a surname given to those who made barrels or tubs.
Koenig
The Koenig surname is derived from the German word for king, "König". It was often given to someone who played the part of a king in a pageant or a person who worked in the king's household.
Lachapelle
The Lachapelle surname is derived from the Old French "la chapele", meaning the chapel. It was often given to someone who lived near or worked in a chapel. Today, the name is particularly common in Quebec, Canada, where it is the 97th most common surname.
Lambert
Lambert is a Germanic surname meaning "bright land."
Laurent
Laurent is a French given name and surname derived from the Latin name Laurentius, which means "from Laurentum," a city in ancient Italy.
Léandre
Léandre is a French given name and surname derived from the Greek name Leander, which means "lion man."
Lefebvre
Lefebvre is a French surname derived from the occupational name for a blacksmith.
Martin
Martin is a French given name and surname derived from the Latin name Martinus, which means "of Mars," the Roman god of war.
Mercier
Mercier is a common French surname, particularly in the northern regions of France.
Moreau
Moreau is a common French surname, ranking as the 11th most common surname in France. It has spread to other countries, particularly Canada, where it is the 35th most common surname.
Nadeau
Nadeau is a French surname that originated in the southern regions of France.
Nicolas
Nicolas is a common French surname, derived from the popular first name of the same spelling.
Noel
Noel is a popular French surname, particularly in the regions of Normandy and Brittany.
Oger
The origin of the name Oger is uncertain, but it is thought to be of Germanic origin, possibly derived from the name Odgar. In French folklore, Oger was a giant who fought against the legendary hero Roland.
Olivier
The name Olivier comes from the French word for olive tree. In France, the olive tree is associated with peace and wisdom.
Ouellet
Ouellet is a French surname derived from the word oueille, which means "small woolen blanket" in French. It was likely used as a nickname for someone who made or sold blankets.
Paquet
The name Paquet was originally an occupational surname for someone who transported goods or was involved in the packaging and delivery of goods.
Patenaude
The name Patenaude comes from the French word "patenôtre" meaning "Our Father," which is also the name of a Christian prayer. It was used as a nickname for someone who recited the prayer frequently.
Pelletier
Pelletier is a French surname derived from the Old French word "pel", which means "skin". It is an occupational name for a furrier.
Périgord
Périgord is a French surname derived from the name of the region of Périgord in southwestern France. The region is known for its prehistoric caves and rich culinary traditions, including foie gras, truffles, and confit de canard.
Perrot
Perrot is a French surname derived from the personal name Pierre. It is a diminutive of Pierre, which means "rock" or "stone".
Petit
Petit is a French surname meaning "small" or "little." It was likely used as a nickname for someone who was short in stature or who had a small or slight build.
Porcher
The surname Porcher comes from the Old French word "porc" meaning pig. It was likely an occupational name for someone who raised or sold pigs.
Richard
Richard is a common French surname meaning "brave power."
Richelieu
Richelieu is a French surname meaning "rich soil." It is best known as the surname of Armand-Jean du Plessis, better known as Cardinal Richelieu, a famous French statesman and clergyman who served as chief minister to King Louis XIII of France.
Remy
Remy is a French surname meaning "oarsman."
Roux
Roux is a French surname derived from the word for "red-haired." It is most commonly found in the Burgundy region of France.
Sanchez
Sanchez is a patronymic surname derived from the first name Sancho, which means "holy" or "sacred" in Spanish. It is a common surname in Spain, Latin America, and the Philippines.
Severin
Severin is a French surname meaning "severe." It has been borne by several notable individuals throughout history, including Roman Catholic saint Saint Severin of Cologne and American painter Severin Roesen.
Simon
The name Simon is derived from the Hebrew name Shimon, meaning "heard" or "listener". It has been a popular first name for centuries and is also a common surname in many countries around the world.
Souza
Souza is a French surname derived from the word "souche", meaning "stump" or "willow tree". It is a common surname in Portugal, Brazil, and other Portuguese-speaking countries.
Tanguay
Tanguay is a rare surname with uncertain origins. It is mainly found in Canada, particularly in the province of Quebec, where it is associated with the Tanguay family that settled there in the 17th century.
Tremblay
Tremblay is a French surname meaning "quivering". It is most commonly found in Quebec, Canada, where it is one of the most common surnames.
Theroux
Theroux is a French surname with meaning "the wells".
Thibault
Thibault is a popular surname in France and its meaning "brave people" likely contributed to its popularity among warriors in medieval times.
Ulrich
Ulrich is a surname of German origin that is also common in France. It derives from the Old High German name Odalric, which means "prosperity and power".
Urvoy
Urvoy is a relatively rare surname in France, particularly in the region of Brittany. Its origins are uncertain, but it may be a variant of the surname Hervé or a variation of the Breton name Yves.
Uzan
Uzan is a relatively uncommon surname in France and its origins are unclear. It may be a variant of the surname Ozan or a variation of the Hebrew name Uziel.
Valentin
Valentin is a popular French and German last name that is derived from the Latin name Valentinus. It has been used as a first name in many cultures, including French, German, and Russian.
Vidal
Vidal is a French last name that originated from the Old French word "vital", meaning "life-giving". It is also a common first name in Spanish-speaking countries.
Vincent
Vincent is a popular French and English last name that is derived from the Latin name Vincentius, meaning "conquering".
Voclain
Voclain is a rare French last name that means "the wealthy one".
Wagner
Wagner is a German last name that is derived from the German word "wagnis", meaning "venture". It is also a common first name in German-speaking countries.
Weber
The Weber surname is derived from the German word "Weber," which means "weaver." The name was originally an occupational name for someone who made clothing out of wool or linen. Today, the Weber surname is particularly common in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Wurtz
The origin and meaning of the Wurtz surname is not entirely clear. It may be a variant of the German surname Wurtzel, which means "small root," or it may have a different origin entirely.
Xavier
The Xavier surname is of Basque origin and means "new house." It was originally a given name, but eventually became a surname. The name is particularly common in the Basque Country and in Spanish-speaking regions of the world.
Ximenes
The Ximenes surname is of Spanish origin and is derived from the given name Ximeno, which means "son." The name was originally a patronymic surname, indicating that the bearer was the son of Ximeno.
Xiong
The Xiong surname is of Chinese origin and means "bear." It is a common surname among the Han Chinese ethnic group, and is one of the ten most common surnames in China. The Xiong surname is also found in other East Asian countries, such as Vietnam and Korea.
Yann
Yann is a common name in Brittany, a region in northwest France. It is also a popular given name in other French-speaking countries like Canada and Switzerland.
Yilmaz
Yilmaz is a common Turkish surname, which is also found in other parts of the world due to migration. It is derived from a Turkic word for "sword", and is often used as a given name in Turkey.
Yver
Yver is a rare French surname, which is derived from a word for "winter". It is mostly found in the northwestern part of France, particularly in the Normandy region.
Zeller
Zeller is a common German surname, which is derived from an occupational name for a seller or merchant. It is mostly found in the southern part of Germany, particularly in the states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.
Ziegler
Ziegler is a common German surname, which is derived from an occupational name for a brick maker or tile maker. It is mostly found in the southern part of Germany, particularly in the states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.