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.
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).
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.
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.
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".
Frink Anglo-Saxon, Norman
It was a name given to a person who was referred to as being free or generous. The surname was originally derived from the Old French franc, which meant "liberal, generous." ... The surname also has origins from the Norman official title, the frank which also means free.
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.
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
Original French cognitive of Galante.
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]
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
From Gallois meaning "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.
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]
Gibbins Norman, Anglo-Saxon
>The surname “Gibbins” has multiple origins:... [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]
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.
Godet French
From Old French godet, meaning "glass, tumbler", used as a nickname for a maker or seller.
Godoy French, Spanish
It is derived from the personal 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.
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.
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.
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
English and French topographic name for someone who lived by a granary, from Middle English, Old French grange (Latin granica ‘granary’, ‘barn’, from granum ‘grain’)... [more]
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' 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 Cognitive of Guerra, 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.
Guet French
French - From Old French guet "lookout, watchman".
Guichard French
From the medieval name Guichard derived form the Germanic name Wighard... [more]
Guidry French (Cajun), Louisiana Creole
Derived from the given name Witeric. This surname is particularly associated with Cajuns in Louisiana, United States, who seem all to be descended from Claude Guédry dit Grivois, who arrived in Acadia before 1671.
Guignard French
from the old Germanic name Winhard composed of the elements win "friend" and hard "hard strong".
Guilbeau French
Possibly from Ancient Germanic wil, meaning "will, power", and Latin bellus, meaning "beautiful".
Guilbert French, Guernésiais
Either from the given name Guilbert the French form of Wilbert or a variant of Gilbert.
Guiles French
Of uncertain origin; it could be a variant of French Guill or of English Guile or Giles .
Guillard French
From the given name Willihard and French cognitive of Willard.
Guilleaume French, German
Possibly related to the French given name Guillaume.
Guilliot French
From a pet form of the personal name Guille, itself a short form of Guillaume.
Guillotin French
From a diminutive of Guillaume and a variant of Guillot. A notable user is Joseph-Ignace Guillotin whom the guillotine was named after.
Guillou French, Breton
Possibly derived from the given name Guillaume.
Guimond French
from the medieval French name Guimond from the Germanic name Wigmund composed of the ancient Germanic elements wīg "battle combat" and mund "protection".
Guin French
From the given name Guin the French form of Wino a short form of names with the element win "friend".
Guion French
French: from the Germanic personal name Wido (see Guy).
Guiscard French
Derived from the Medieval French given name Guiscard.
Guitry French
Derived from the given name Witeric. A famous bearer of this name was Sacha Guitry (1885-1957), a French actor, playwright, screenwriter and director.
Gullette French
Comes from Guillemme or William of Normandy. Reference 1066: The Battle of Hastings.
Guy English, French
From a French form of the Germanic personal name Wido, which is of uncertain origin. This name was popular among the Normans in the forms Wi, Why as well as in the rest of France in the form Guy.
Guyet French
Derived from Guy.
Guyon French
From a diminutive of Guy 1.
Halart French
Derived from the Germanic given name Halhard.
Hamel French
topographic name for someone who lived and worked at an outlying farm dependent on the main village Old French hamel (a diminutive from an ancient Germanic element cognate with Old English hām "homestead"); or a habitational name from (Le) Hamel the name of several places in the northern part of France named with this word.
Hamon Breton, French, English
From the given name Hamon.
Harcourt French
This name is of locational origin either from the town and ancient chateau of Harcourt near Brionne in Normandy.
Harduin French
From the given name Harduin.
Hargier French
Known back to the 15th or 16th century in France.... [more]
Harmel French
Derived from the given name Armel.
Harold English, Norman, German
English from the Old English personal name Hereweald, its Old Norse equivalent Haraldr, or the Continental form Herold introduced to Britain by the Normans... [more]
Harrett French
France, England
Hasard French
Variant of Hazard.
Hässli German (Swiss), French (Rare)
Swiss German diminutive form of Haas. This is a French surname via Alsace-Lorraine. A notable bearer is French footballer (soccer player) Eric Hassli (1981-).
Hauteville French
From French haute "high" and ville "town, estate".
Hay English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, French, Spanish, German, Dutch, Frisian
Scottish and English: topographic name for someone who lived by an enclosure, Middle English hay(e), heye(Old English (ge)hæg, which after the Norman Conquest became confused with the related Old French term haye ‘hedge’, of Germanic origin)... [more]
Hazard English, French, Dutch
Nickname for an inveterate gambler or a brave or foolhardy man prepared to run risks, from Middle English, Old French hasard, Middle Dutch hasaert (derived from Old French) "game of chance", later used metaphorically of other uncertain enterprises... [more]
Hennard French
From the ancient Germanic personal name Haginhard composed of the elements hag "enclosure protected place" and hard "strong hardy".
Henri French
From the first name Henri.
Herbarth German, Norman
References Old Norse Deity "Odin" being one of the "Son's of Odin". Remember that the Geats became the Ostrogoths through the Denmark pass--referenced in Beowulf. Or, it means "Warrior of the Bearded One", perhaps a King... [more]
Hermès French
Either a topographic name for someone who lived in a deserted spot or on a patch of waste land from Occitan erm "desert waste" (from Greek erēmia) and the topographic suffix -ès, or from the given name Hermès.
Heron French, Caribbean
Either derived from the given name Heron, or given to someone who resembled a heron bird.
Herve French
From the given name Hervé.
Hilaire Haitian Creole, French
From the given name Hilaire.
Hilbert English, French, Dutch, German
English, French, Dutch, and German: from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements hild ‘strife’, ‘battle’ + berht ‘bright’, ‘famous’.
Hildreth Norman
English (Durham): of Norman origin, a variant of the male personal name Hildred (ancient Germanic Hild(i)rad, from hild 'battle' and rād 'counsel'). German: from the ancient Germanic personal name composed of hild 'fight, battle' + rāt 'counsel'.
Hippolyte French, Haitian Creole
From the given name Hippolyte 2, Variant of Hyppolite.
Hoddson French
Variation of the surname, HODSON.
Hollande French
French form of Holland 2, indicating someone from the province of Holland in the Netherlands.
Hollier English, French
Occupational name for a male brothel keeper, from a dissimilated variant of Old French horier "pimp", which was the agent noun of hore "whore, prostitute". Hollier was probably also used as an abusive nickname in Middle English and Old French.... [more]
Houard French
Variant of Huard.
Houde French
From either of the given names Hildo or Audo.
Houle French (Quebec)
Either from Old French hole, houle, "hole, cave", or a deformation of Houde.
Hourmilogué Occitan, French
Meaning unknown.
Houseal French (Anglicized), German (Anglicized)
French (Lorraine) spelling of German Häusel, a topographic name meaning ‘small house’, a diminutive of Haus... [more]
Huard French
From the Old French given name Huard the French form of Hughard... [more]
Huber French
Derived from the given name Hubert.
Hue French
From the given name Hue a variant of Hugues.
Huet English, French
From the nickname from given name Hugh, Hugues, Hugo or Hubert.
Huette French
French variant of Huet.
Hugo French
Victor Hugo was a French poet, novelist, and dramatist of the Romantic movement. He was also the writer of 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' and 'Les Misérables'.
Hugues French
From the given name Hugues.
Huguet French, Catalan
From a diminutive of Hugo.
Humbert German, Dutch, French
From a Germanic personal name composed of the elements hun "Hun, giant" or hun "bear cub" and berht "bright, famous". This was particularly popular in the Netherlands and North Germany during the Middle Ages as a result of the fame of a 7th-century St... [more]
Huot English, French
Variant of Huet.
Hurrell English, Norman
English (of Norman origin) from a derivative of Old French hurer ‘to bristle or ruffle’, ‘to stand on end’ (see Huron).
Husson French
From a pet form of Hue a variant of Hugues.
Huval French (Cajun)
The Huval name has historically been labeled German or Acadian (Cajun), however, recently more information has been discovered that shows the Huvals came directly from France.... [more]