French Submitted Surnames

French names are used in France and other French-speaking regions. See also about French names.
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Embiid French (African)
Meaning unknown. A famous bearer is Philadelphia 76ers player Joel Embiid. (1994-)
Emery English, French, Norman
English and French from a Germanic personal name, Emaurri, composed of the elements amja ‘busy’, ‘industrious’ + ric ‘power’... [more]
Émilien French
From the given name Émilien.
Emperaire French
Means "Emperor".
Engelbert German, English, French
From a Germanic personal name composed of engel (see Engel) + berht ‘bright’, ‘famous’. The widespread popularity of the name in France during the Middle Ages was largely a result of the fact that it had been borne by a son-in-law of Charlemagne; in the Rhineland it was more often given in memory of a bishop of Cologne (1216–25) of this name, who was martyred.
Érable French (Rare)
From érable meaning "maple."
Erman German (Modern), French (Modern)
Erman is a shortened French adaption of the Swiss-German surname Ermendinger, itself derived from the older surname Ermatinger, a name connected to the village of Ermatingen on the Swiss shore of Lake Constance, and came into existence during the early or middle 18th century when Jean-Georges Ermendinger (1710-1767), a Swiss fur trader from Geneva, married into a French speaking Huguenotte family... [more]
Esprit French
From the given name Esprit.
Estimé Haitian Creole, French
Means "valued, esteemed" in French.
Etcheberry Basque, French
Variant of Basque Etxeberria.
Eustache French
From the given name Eustache.
Évariste French
From the given name Évariste.
Faber German, Dutch, French, Danish
An occupational name for a blacksmith or ironworker, ultimately derived from Latin faber "artisan, creator, craftsman, smith".
Fabergé French (Huguenot, Russified, ?), Popular Culture
From Russian Фаберже (Faberzhe), which is ultimately of Huguenot French origin, having evolved (since c. 17th century) from Favri; compare Favre... [more]
Fafard French
Possibly derived from the french 'fard' meaning 'made-up' or 'make-up'. This is in a theatrical sense and does not imply lying. Very possibly a derivation form a theatrical occupation
Fain French, English, Welsh
Deriving from the Latin fanum meaning "temple."
Falba Occitan (Archaic), French (Rare)
Possibly from French fauve "wildcat".
Farand English (Canadian), French (Quebec)
Derived from the given name FARIMOND or from the French word ferrer meaning "to be clad in iron" or "to shoe a horse".
Farge French
Reduced or Americanized form of La Farge/Lafarge.
Farion French
Possibly meaning "from Fare".
Farragut Breton, French, Catalan, American
A Breton-French surname of unknown origin. A notable bearer was American naval flag officer David Farragut (1801-1870), who is known for serving during the American Civil War. His father was of Catalan ancestry... [more]
Faucette French
From French fausette, meaning "falsehood." Variant of Fasset and Faucet.
Fauriel Occitan, French
Diminutive of Occitan faure meaning "blacksmith" (see Faure).
Faustin French
From the given name Faustin.
Favier French
Occupational name for a grower of beans or a bean merchant derived from Latin faba "bean".
Favri French (Huguenot), Medieval French
The medieval French word for Blacksmith.
Fayard French
Originally French topographic name for someone who lived by a beech tree or beech-wood.
Faye French, English
Refers to one who came from Fay or Faye (meaning "beech tree") in France.
Félicien French
From the given name Félicien
Fernel French
Derived from French ferronel, a diminutive of (obsolete) ferron "maker or seller of iron".
Ferrand French, English
This French surname can be derived from a given name (thus making it a patronymic surname) as well as from a nickname (thus making it a descriptive surname). In the case of a patronymic surname, the surname is derived from the medieval French masculine given name Ferrand, which was a variant form of the name Fernand, itself a contraction of Ferdinand.... [more]
Ferrandin French (Rare)
This French surname can be derived from a given name (thus making it a patronymic surname) as well as from the name of a profession (thus making it an occupational surname). In the case of a patronymic surname, the surname is derived from the masculine given name Ferrandin, which was a diminutive of the medieval French given name Ferrand... [more]
Ferron French
Variant of Feron.
Feuille French
This is actually a standard word in French, correctly pronounce like "furry" without the r's. It means "leaf", or "sheet" (i.e. feuille de papier).
Février French
Meaning, "February."
Fey German, English, French, Danish
English: variant of Fay. ... [more]
Figuier French (Rare)
From French figuier meaning "fig tree" (ultimately from Latin ficus; a cognate of Figueroa), possibly indicating a person who lived near a fig tree or one who owned a plantation of fig trees.
Fillion French, French (Quebec)
Probably a diminutive of fils or fille, respectively "son" and "daughter". May have alluded to the bearer being the youngest amongst siblings.
Fils French
From fils "son", used to identify the younger of two bearers of the same personal name in a family.
Firman English, French
From a medieval personal name meaning "firm, resolute, strong man." Borne by early saints and bishops. First name variants Firman and Firmin... [more]
Flamand French
ethnic name for a Fleming someone from Flanders from Old French flamenc.
Flamel French
Meaning unknown. Proposals include french flamme meaning "flame" or a description of origin, such as "Flemish", or the French term for the same word, Flamand.... [more]
Flameng French
Possibly a form of Fleming.
Flament French, Flemish
French and Flemish cognate of Fleming.
Flandre French
French cognate of Flanders, given to someone from Flanders (which is called Flandre in French).
Flavigny French
French form of Flavinius. The Flavigny Abbey, in the French region of Burgundy, became famous because of the candies made by its Benedictine monks, called the anise of Flavigny... [more]
Fleytoux French
Surname of Léa Fleytoux, French-born dancer with the American Ballet Theater
Florent French
From the given name Florent.
Florentin Romanian, French, German
From the given name Florentin.
Florine French
From the given name Florine.
Flory French
Southern French surname derived from the given name Florius.
Font Catalan, Occitan, Spanish, French
topographic name for someone living near a spring or well Catalan and Occitan font "spring well" (from Latin fons genitive fontis).
Fontan Galician, Occitan, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian (Rare)
Derived from Old French fontane meaning "well, fountain".
Fontane French, Occitan, Catalan
From Old French meaning "well, fountain".
Fontenot French (Cajun)
From the Old French word "fontaine", meaning "fountain."
Foret French, French Creole
From Old French forest ‘forest’, a topographic name for someone who lived in or near a royal forest, or an occupational name for a keeper or worker in one. See also Forrest... [more]
Forrest French
French and English last name
Fort French, Walloon, English, Catalan
Either a nickname from Old French Middle English Catalan fort "strong brave" (from Latin fortis). Compare Lefort... [more]
Fortescue French
Means 'strong shield' from French elements fort meaning "strong" and escu meaning "shield#
Fortin French
Diminutive of Fort.
Foucault French
Derived from the Germanic given name Folcwald, which was composed of the elements folk "people" and walt "power, leader, ruler"... [more]
Fouche French
"people army"
Fouquereau French (Quebec)
Jean Fouquereau was born on November 6, 1617, in Anjou, Isère, France, his father, Louis, was 23 and his mother, Catherine, was 20. He married Renee Bataille on December 31, 1639, in Angers, Maine-et-Loire, France... [more]
Fouquet French
From a pet form or a diminutive of Fouques.
Foy French
From a medieval nickname based on Old French foi "faith", applied either to a notably pious person or to one who frequently used the word as an oath; also, from the medieval French female personal name Foy, from Old French foi "faith".
Frain French
Topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent ash tree from Old French fraisne fresne "ash" from Latin fraxinus "ash".
France French
Ethnic name for an inhabitant of France, a country in Europe.
Francisque French
From the given name Francisque.
Franck English, French
From the given name Franck.
Frasure French
The surname Frasure is of French origin and is derived from the Old French word "frasor," meaning "breaker" or "smasher." It is believed to have been a nickname given to someone who was strong or forceful.
Fray French, English
From the German surname Frey or the Old French given name FRAY.
Freer French
Dutch spelling of Frere (brother); another variant spelling is Frear.
Fregeau French
Metathesized form of Fergeau from an old vernacular form of the Latin personal name Ferreolus derived from ferrum meaning "iron".
Frémont French (Americanized), English (American)
Fremont is a French surname meaning Free Mountain. People include John Frémont a US Explorer and Politician who fought in the Mexican-American War to free California and many places named after him, Including Fremont, California, and Fremont Nebraska.
Frere French
From French frere meaning "brother".
Fromager French
Occupational name for someone who makes or sells cheese.
Froment French, Walloon, English
from French froment "wheat" (from Latin frumentum "grain") probably applied as a nickname for a peasant or as metonymic occupational name for a dealer in wheat... [more]
Furneaux French (Anglicized), English
Locational surname from any of several places in France called Fourneaux, or from fourneau "furnace".
Gabin French
From the given name Gabin.
Gaétan French
From the given name Gaétan.
Gagné French (Quebec, Modern)
From Gagnier/Gagner (cf. Gagner), alternative form of Gagneux/Gagneur ("ferm laborer"), from Old French gaignier, "to farm, to work the earth".
Gagneau French
Variation of Gagne.
Gagner French (Rare), French (Anglicized)
Alternate or anglicized form of Gagné or Gagneur.
Gaines English, Norman, Welsh
English (of Norman origin): nickname for a crafty or ingenious person, from a reduced form of Old French engaine ‘ingenuity’, ‘trickery’ (Latin ingenium ‘native wit’). The word was also used in a concrete sense of a stratagem or device, particularly a trap.... [more]
Gainsbourg French
French form of Ginsburg.
Galant French
French cognate of Galante and variant of Galland.
Galante Italian, French, Jewish
Comes from the ancient French word "galant" meaning someone in love or who has fun. In the case of Mordecai Galante, a Spanish exile in 16th century Rome, his courteous manners won for him from the Roman nobles the surname "Galantuomo" (gentleman), from which Galante was eventually derived.... [more]
Galland French
Nickname for a cheerful or high-spirited or bold person from Old French galant "lively vivacious" also "bold valiant" (the meanings "gallant" and "attentive to women" developed only in the 16th century) the present participle of Old French galer "to be in good humor to enjoy oneself" a word of ancient Germanic origin... [more]
Gallet French
Either a nickname for a cheerful companion a noun derivative of the Old French verb galler "to enjoy oneself to have fun". Or from a pet form of the personal name Gall.
Galliard French
It resembles the French word "galliard," meaning "brave, cheerful, spirited." Marcel and Porco Galliard from Attack on Titan are known bearers of this name.
Gallion English, French
Derived from the given name Galian.
Gallois French
Either a nickname for a bon vivant Old French galois. Or perhaps an ethnic name from gallois "Welsh".
Galloni D'istria French, Italian
Meaning "Gallons from Istria" in French and Italian.
Gally French
Derived from southern French gal "rooster", this name was used as a nickname for a vain or conceited person.
Galvin French
Variant of Gauvain.
Gamache French, Walloon
From French meaning "glove" or "mitten". Possibly an occupational name for a glover, someone who makes gloves or mittens, or had a connection to the glove-making industry.
Gambier French
Derived from gambier, a Northern French variant of jambier, the masculine form of jambière "greave (a piece of armour that protects the leg, especially the shin, and occasionally the tops of the feet)"... [more]
Gamelin French
From pet form of any of the compound personal names formed with gamal, related to Old Norse gamall, Old German gamel "old", "aged". ... [more]
Gandin French
From the French gandin, pronounced /ɡɑ̃dœ̃/, which is a word used for a dandy, an elegant young man with affected, quite often ridiculous, manners.
Garand French
nickname or status name from the Old French legal term garant "guarantor". perhaps from a personal name based on the ancient Germanic element warin "protection shelter" or "guard".
Garde French
from Old French garde "watch", "protection"; an occupational name for someone who kept watch or guard, or a topographic name for someone who lived near a vantage point or watchtower.
Garneau French
From a pet form of the Germanic given name Warinwald, composed of the elements war(in) meaning "guard" and waldan meaning "to govern".
Garrigues French, Provençal
This surname comes from Old Provençal garrique meaning "grove of holm oaks or kermes oaks."
Garson Scottish, French, English, German (Anglicized), Spanish, Jewish
Variant of Scottish Carson and Corston, French Garçon, Spanish-Jewish Garzon and English Garston, or an Americanised form of German Gerson... [more]
Gascon French
French cognitive of Gascoigne. Habitational name for someone from the province of Gascony Old French Gascogne (see Gascoigne).
Gasnier French
From Old French gaaigner meaning "to win, to earn" or "to till, to cultivate", possibly used as an occupational name for a farmer.
Gaubert French
From the given name Gaubert.
Gaucher French
Means "left-handed" in French.
Gaudin French
From the Old French personal name Gaudin Norman French Waldin Waudin a pet form of ancient Germanic names based on the element wald "rule power".
Gaudreault French (Quebec)
Diminutive of Gaudier, a variant of Gauthier.
Gauvain French
From the given name Gauvain.
Gay English, French
Nickname for a lighthearted or cheerful person, from Middle English, Old French gai.
Gay English, Norman
Habitational name from places in Normandy called Gaye, from an early proprietor bearing a Germanic personal name cognate with Wade.
Gayheart German (Anglicized), French (Anglicized)
Americanised form of German Gerhardt or possibly French Jolicoeur. A famous bearer is American actress Rebecca Gayheart (1971-).
Gee Irish, Scottish, English, French
Irish and Scottish: reduced form of McGee, Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Aodha ‘son of Aodh’ (see McCoy). ... [more]
Gelin French
Most often an alternate form of Ghislain. Could also be the Old French gelin (dim. of Latin gallus), "chicken", which would then refers to a cowardly person or a poultry farmer.
Gendron French
Either a diminutive of French gendre meaning "son-in-law" or a habitational name for someone from the town of Gendron in Belgium.
Généreux French
From the given name Généreux.
Gentry French
From the English word, which is in turn from French gentrie, referring to that which is "noble," or the "nobility." From earlier gentillece, which was originally from gentil, "refinement."
Geoffrey English, French
From the given name Geoffrey
Geoffroy French
From the given name Geoffroy
Gérald French
Derived from the given name Gérald.
Germaine French
Germaine was first found in Savoy in the Rhône-Alpes region of the French Alps, where the family held a family seat from ancient times.
German English, Norman, German, Jewish, Greek
From Old French germain meaning "German". This sometimes denoted an actual immigrant from Germany, but was also used to refer to a person who had trade or other connections with German-speaking lands... [more]
Gervais English, French
From the French given name Gervais, cognate with English Jarvis.
Gerwig German, French
Derived from the Germanic given name Gerwig, ultimately from the elements gēr meaning "spear" and wīg meaning "battle, fight". This surname is also found in France (mainly in the region of Alsace)... [more]
Giguère French, French (Quebec)
Unclear, possibly from Middle French giguer ("to dance, to frolick") but could also refer to the gigue, a medieval three-string vielle, which would suggest a musical profession.
Gillard English, French, Swiss
English and French from an assimilated form of the personal name Gislehard, a compound of Old High German gisel ‘hostage’, ‘pledge’, ‘noble youth’ (see Giesel) + hard ‘hardy’... [more]
Gilles French, Walloon
From the given name Gilles. Cognate of Giles.
Gillette English, French
English: from a feminine form of Gillett.... [more]
Gilliard French, Swiss
French and Swiss French from a derivative of Gillier, from the Germanic personal name Giselher, composed of gisil ‘hostage’, ‘pledge’, ‘noble offspring’ (see Giesel) + heri ‘army’.
Gilly French
Southern French variant of Gilles.
Gilson English, French (Belgian)
Means "son of Gill" or "son of Giles".
Gingras French (Quebec), French
Western France variant of Gingreau, possibly derived from Old French ginguer ("to frolick, to dance")
Girardot French
Diminutive of the given name Gérard.
Giresse French
Alain Giresse is a French footballer and manager... [more]
Giroud French
Variant of Giraud.... [more]
Giscard French
Variant spelling of Guiscard. A famous bearer was the French president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing (1926-2020).
Gober English, French
The surname Gober was first found in Warwickshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Norman influence of English history dominated after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed.
Gobert French, German, English
From the given name Gobert a compressed form of Godebert composed of the ancient Germanic elements god "good" or god/got "god" and berht "bright famous".
Godefroy French
From the given name Godefroy. Cognate of Godfrey.
Godet French
From Old French godet, meaning "glass, tumbler", used as a nickname for a maker or seller.
Godoy French, Spanish
Derived from the Norman given name Gaudi.
Gognon French, Occitan
Nickname for an aggressive or belligerent man, from Old French Gagnon ‘ mastiff’, ‘guard dog’. Possibly from Occitan ganhon ‘young pig’, applied as an offensive nickname. See also Gonyeau.
Gombert French, German
French and German: from Gundbert, a Germanic personal name composed of the elements gund ‘battle’ + berht ‘bright’, ‘famous’... [more]
Gonthier French
Derived from the given name Gonthier.
Gonyeau French
Respelling of French Gagnon, found predominantly in New England, possibly also of Gagneau, from a diminutive of Gagne.
Gonzague French (Rare)
Gallicized form of Italian Gonzaga.
Gonze French
My family surname originated in southern French-speaking Belgium. There is a tiny village called Gonzeville in northern France near the Belgian border which you can find on Wikipedia. Many surnames from French speaking Belgium have 5 or 6 letters and end in -ze, such as Gonze and Meeze... [more]
Goose English, Norman
Occupational name for a goose-herd (a person who tends to geese) or a medieval nickname for a person who resembled a goose in some way. It could also be a English (of Norman French origins) cognate of Gosse.
Goudeau Germanic (Rare, Archaic), French
Possible variant of the surname Goethe. It also possibly derives from the diminutive Old French of "gode", meaning "happy-go-lucky, debauched".
Goulet French (Quebec), French
Of uncertain origin and meaning. Theories include a derivation from Old French goule "mouth" (combined with a diminutive suffix), in which case this name would have been a nickname for a glutton.
Goupil French
nickname for someone with red hair or for a cunning person from Old French goupil "fox" Late Latin vulpiculus a diminutive of classical Latin vulpes a distant cognate of Wolf . This was replaced as a vocabulary word during the Middle Ages by Renard originally a personal name.
Gourmand French, Walloon
From French gourmandise meaning "gluttony, greedy eating". Perhaps a nickname for someone who eats a lot.
Gourmaud French
A famous bearer is a journalist well known from the educational TV, Jamy Gourmaud
Gousset French
It is derived from the Old French word gousset, which means "purse" or "wallet". It is likely that this surname was originally given to someone who was a purse maker or a merchant who dealt in small items.
Grainville French
Original French form of Granville, from locations in France called Grainville from the given name Guarin and ville "town" meaning "Guarin's town".
Grand French, Romansh
Derived from Old French grand, grant and Romansh grand "tall; large".
Grandin French
Diminutive of Grand.
Grandis Italian, French
Ultimately from Latin meaning "big, tall".
Grandjean French, French (Swiss)
Derived from French grand meaning "tall, large" and the given name Jean 1, hence possibly a nickname for a tall or large person.
Grandpierre French
Derived from French grand meaning "tall, large" and the given name Pierre.
Grange English, French
Topographic name for someone who lived by a granary, from Middle English, Old French grange (Latin granica "granary, barn", from granum "grain"). In some cases, the surname has arisen from places named with this word, for example in Dorset and West Yorkshire in England, and in Ardèche and Jura in France... [more]
Granier French
French for a grain merchant (from Latin granarius), a topographic name for someone who lived by a granary (from Latin granarium) or a metonymic role name for someone who monitors or owned one.
Gras French
Means "fat" in french.
Grave French
Topographic name for someone who lived on a patch of gravelly soil, from Old French grave "gravel" (of Celtic origin).
Gravelotte French
Derived from a commune (town) in the Moselle department in Grand Est in north-eastern France, near Metz.
Graves English, French
English: patronymic from Grave.
Graves French, English
Topographic name from the plural of Old French grave "gravel"
Graves English, French, German
Derives from someone who had an occupation as a grave digger or a caretaker for a graveyard.
Greeley English, Norman
English (of Norman origin): nickname for someone with a pock-marked face, from Old Northern French greslé ‘pitted’, ‘scarred’ (from gresle ‘hailstone’, of Germanic origin).
Grégoire French, Belgian
Derived from the given name Grégoire.
Grenier French
Occupational name for a grain merchant (from Latin granarius), or a topographic name for someone who lived by a granary (from Latin granarium) or a metonymic occupational name for someone who supervised or owned one.
Griffon French
From a diminutive of Old French griffe "claw", hence a nickname for a grasping or vicious person, or perhaps for someone with a deformed or otherwise remarkable hand.
Grignon French
From French 'grignard' meaning "angry" and "contemptuous", and Old French (of Germanic origin) 'grignier' "to grit the teeth" or "curl the lips".
Grindy German (Modern), French
I have seen elsewhere explanations about this name being German or French in origin. Sorry, I do not have the sources to hand
Grisel French, French (Swiss)
Derived from the Old French adjective grisel, a variant of gris meaning "grey". It was a nickname for a person with grey hair a grey complexion or who habitually wore grey.
Grosjean French, French (Belgian)
Derived from French gros "large" and the given name Jean 1. As a nickname, it is sometimes applied to a person who is perceived as stupid.
Groulx French
French spelling, often found in Canada, of Groult, Grould, possibly reduced forms of Gréoul, a personal name of Germanic origin, composed of the elements gred "hunger" + wolf, wulf "wolf".
Grullon Dominican, Mexican, French
Possibly from a derivative of Spanish grulla "crane (bird)" presumably applied as a nickname for tall thin person; in Mexico however grulla denotes a crafty person
Guay French
Variant of Guyet or Guet.
Guay French
Variant of Gay.
Guerlain French
Derived from the given name Guerlain.
Guerre French
French cognate of Guerra and variant of Laguerre, from the element werra "war".
Guerrier French, Haitian Creole
Nickname for an aggressive person or occupational name for a soldier, from Old French guerrier "warrior". Cognate of Guerrero and Guerriero.
Guerry French
From the Germanic given name Wigric derived from the elements wig "battle" and ric "powerful".
Guertin French
A French surname that evolved from the Old Germanic given name Warin meaning "to guard" or "protection". This surname was often given as an occupational name for a guard, or someone who served as a protector in their community.