Whether you're from France, a French-speaking country, or somewhere else in the world, if you have a French last name, your surname probably rolls right off the tongue. French is a beautiful language, and even common terms sound lovely. So, if you have a French last name, find out how common it is and what it means.
Popular French Last Names
If you're strolling through the streets of Paris, gazing upon one of the many museums or historical landmarks the country is well known for, you will likely say "Bonjour" to a few fine folks with these last names, as they are quite popular in the country.
- Alexandre - Means "warrior, defender of mankind"
- André - Means "giant or manly"
- Armand - Means "army's man"
- Bernard - Means "warrior brave" or "bold as a bear"
- Blanc - Means "white"
- Dupont - Means "of the bridge"
- Fontaine - Means "fountain"
- Girard - Means "brave"
- Lambert - Means "land of light"
- Laurent - Means "from Laurentum"
- Leroy - Means "king-like manner"
- Martin - Means "son of Martin"
- Michel - Means "who is like God"
- Monet - Means "to be heard"
- Moreau - Means "medium or dark complexion"
- Petit - Means "small"
- Richard - Means "son of Richard"
- Robert - Means "son of Robert"
- Roux - Means "redhead"
- Simon - Means "to harken"
- Thomas - Means "twin"
- Toussaint - Means "all saints"
- Vincent - Means "to conquer"
Unique French Monikers
These unique French surnames are either unusual because they are uncommonly heard today or because they have meanings that seem stranger than fiction.
- Auclair - Means "clear"
- Anouilh - Means "a slow worm"
- Bain - Means "bath"
- Beaufoy - Means "fair or good faith"
- Beauséjour - Means "beautiful sojourn"
- Benefiel - Means "bean field"
- Bonneville - Means "good settlement"
- Cellier - Means "storeroom"
- Escoffier - Means "to dress up"
- Floquet - Meaning unknown. One of the more rare names in France.
- Relish - Means "taste"
Related: Does the French Royal Family Still Exist? A Look Inside the Monarchy
French Surnames Derived From Occupations
Many last names have come from the jobs that people performed. Surnames derived from the work people did for a living were among the most common ways for the French to arrive at a last name. Does your last name stem from the occupation of your ancestors?
- Arsenault - Means "gunmaker"
- Aubine - Means "noble"
- Auch - Means "cattle herder at night"
- Barbeau - Means "fisherman"
- Barbier - Means "barber"
- Berger - Means "shepherd"
- Barreau - Might stem from "jailkeeper" or "doorkeeper"
- Bissett - Means "weaver"
- Bonnet - Means "bonnet maker"
- Boucher - Means "butcher"
- Boulanger - Means "baker"
- Camus - Means "shirtmaker"
- Cartier - Means "transporter of goods"
- Charron - Means "cartwright" (a person who repairs wagons)
- Chevrolet - Meaning "goat herder"
- Fabreau - Means "grower and seller of beans"
- Favreau - Means "blacksmith"
- Fournier - Means "baker"
- Gagneux - Means "farmer"
- Granger - Means "farm "bailiff"
- Lagrange - Means "someone who lived by the grainery"
- Lambert - Means "lamb herder"
- Lefebre - Means "craftsman"
- Lemaire - Means "the mayor"
- Maçon - Means "mason"
- Marchand - Means "one who sews"
- Mercier - Means "textile trader"
- Moulin - Means "miller"
- Palomer - Means "pigeon keeper"
- Pelletier - Means "fur trader"
- Porcher - Means "swine herder"
- Sartre - Means "tailor"
- Serrurier - Means "locksmith"
- Tavernier - Means "innkeeper"
- Vachon - Means "cow herder"
- Webster - Means "one who weaves"
Last Names That Reflect the Beauty of Nature
Surnames have often reflected the nature of an area. Many centuries ago, last names came from the topographical region in which a family resided. Names may also signify other aspects of the natural world.
- Arnauld - Means "eagle power"
- Aveline - Means "hazelnut"
- Bastarache - Means "a person who lived near a boundary"
- Beauchêne - Means "beautiful oak"
- Beausoleil - Means "a sunny place"
- Brisbois - Comes from the words "cut" and forest"
- Cerf - Means "deer"
- Chastain - Means "chestnut tree"
- Corbin - Means "little raven"
- Deschamps - Means "from the field"
- Descoteaux - Means "small hill"
- Desjardins - Means "from the garden"
- Descoteaux - Refers to a person who lived in a hilly space
- Desroches - Means "people near the rocks"
- Desrosiers - Means "people who live near the roses"
- Dubois - Means "of the forest"
- Duval - Means "of the valley"
- Fraise - Someone who "lived by the ash tree"
- LaFramboise - Means "raspberry"
- Lavigne - Means "vine"
- Lyon - Refers to a person who resided in the Lyon region of France
- Montagne - Means "mountains"
- Noyer - Means "walnut"
- Perreault - Means "stone"
- Plamondon - Means "one who lives near a flat-topped mountain"
- Poirot - Means "near a pear tree"
- Pomeroy - Means "of an apple tree"
- Vaillancourt - Means "low-lying farm"
Royal French Last Names
French last names from royal families date back to the time when kings ruled France. These are their royal surnames, which are mostly derived from either the line they descended from or the region they came from.
- Carolingian - Descendants of Charles (Charlemagne)
- Robertian - Descendants of Robert
- Bosonid - Descendants of Boso
- Capetian - From the house of Capet
- Valois - From the valley
- Orléans - From Orléans
- Angoulême - From Angoulême
- Bourbon - From the Bourbon region
- Bonaparte - Means "good solution"
Surnames Are a Gateway to Your Heritage
Learning about your family heritage and where your ancestors came from provides a glimpse into all that makes them unique. Uncovering the meaning behind a last name can offer a deeper understanding of ancestry, what the people who came before you did, and where and how they lived. While learning about your lineage, be sure to spend time unearthing all there is to know about your last name. It's an interesting way to get to know your roots.
