surname
I would like to know the meaning and orgin of my last name Broussal. I'm told it's French but can't find it anywhere!Any help appericaited
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It is my mother's maiden name. Yes, it's French! My great grandparents came from the south of France.
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Probably locative, possibly Southern France. It looks like it's based on a variant of broussaille, meaning "bushes, brushwood", something like that.
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HI JIM Young,Is Broussaille French in orgin? Does the name go back to Hebrew orgin?
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French beyond doubt, I can't see a Hebrew connection.
There are some Jewish surnames of French origin, if you're thinking along those lines, names from places in Southern France, such as Crémieux, Milhaud, etc. These are surnames of a very old and privileged Jewish community of Avignon. They were known as "the Pope's Jews", as Avignon was papal territory. Maybe Broussaille comes from that community, who knows?
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Thank you Jim Young for your help!!
Alica
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