150+ Popular, Rare & Royal French Surnames (with Meanings)

French last names are often connected to family ancestry, geography, past occupations, and historical origins. Finding out the meanings behind popular surnames can help you learn more about your background or choose the perfect name for a character. That’s why we’re providing the ultimate list of common French last names below. We’ll also break down the meaning of each one, plus explain the origins of French surnames and naming traditions.

Well-Known French Last Names

Martin - Means “Martinus,” referring to Mars, the Roman God of War.
Bernard - Means “strong as a bear.”
Thomas - Means “twin.”
Petit - Means “small,” a surname with Catalan origins.
Robert - Means “bright or shining.”
Richard - Means “brave or powerful.”
Durand - Means “firm or enduring.”

Section 1 of 9:

The Most Common French Last Names

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Martin, Bernard, and Thomas are the most common French surnames. The following list contains the most widespread surnames throughout France, which often reflect historical origins related to occupations, geography, or personal characteristics. Here are common French surnames, along with what they mean:^{[1]
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- Martin - Means “Martinus,” referring to Mars, the Roman God of War.
- Bernard - Means “strong as a bear.”
- Thomas - Means “twin.”
- Petit - Means “small,” a surname with Catalan origins.
- Robert - Means “bright or shining.”
- Richard - Means “brave or powerful.”
- Durand - Means “firm or enduring.”
- Dubois - Means “of the wood.”
- Moreau - Means “dark-skinned.”
- Laurent - Means “laurel or from Laurentum.”
- Simon - Means “he who hears.”
- Michel - From the French form of “Michael.”

Section 2 of 9:

Popular French Last Names

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Allard, Garnier, and Dupont are other popular French surnames. The following surnames still appear frequently, but they just aren’t as common as Martin, Bernard, and Thomas (and others from the “most common” section). Here are some more popular French surnames and their meanings:^{[2]
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- Alarie - Means “all-powerful.”
- Alexandre - Means “warrior or defender of mankind.”
- Allard - Means “noble or hardy.”
- André - Means “giant or manly.”
- Baudelaire - Means “small sword or dagger.”
- Beaumont - Means “beautiful mountain.”
- Bertrand - Means “bright raven or famous raven.”
- Blanc - Means “white.”
- Boucher - Means “butcher or executioner,” from “blanc,” which is French for “white.”
- Brun - Reference to someone with brown hair or a brown complexion.
- David - Means “beloved.”
- Deschamps - Means “of the fields or countryside, or of the champions.”
- Donadieu - Means “given to God;” may have been the name of a child given to a priest or monastery, or because they were orphaned.
- Dupont - Means “from the bridge.”
- Fournier - Means “baker or oven.”
- Garnier - Means “elements of war.”
- Girard - Means “spear or brave.”
- Guillaume - Means “will or protector.”
- Lambert - Means “bright or landowner.”
- Lavigne - Means “vine or vineyard” in Old French.
- Leblanc - Means “the blonde one.”
- Lefebvre - Means “blacksmith.”
- Legrand - Means “the big one.”
- Matisse - Means “gift of God.”
- Monet - Means “to be heard,” also a variant of “Simon.”
- Moulin - Means “miller or mill worker.”
- Rousseau - Derived from the Old French term for someone with red hair.
- Roux - Means “one with red hair.”
- Toussaint - Means “all saints.”
- Tremblay - Means “aspen tree.”
- Vincent - Means “conquering.”
- Visage - Means “face.”

Section 3 of 9:

Rare & Unique French Last Names

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Auclair, Bobar, and Escoffier are some of the rarest French surnames. Although these surnames are relatively uncommon, you might come across them from time to time. Some hold strange meanings, while others are simply outdated. Here’s a quick list of rare and unique options:^{[3]
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- Abadie - Means “abbey.”
- Abreo - Means “wise counselor.”
- Anouilh - From the Catalan word “anull,” which means “slow worm.”
- Auclair - Means “from the clear place.”
- Bain - Means “bath.”
- Beauchêne - Means “beautiful oak.”
- Beaufoy - Means “fair or good faith.”
- Beauséjour - Means “beautiful sojourn.”
- Benefiel - Means “bean field.”
- Bobar - A derivative of the Old French word for “deceit.”
- Bonneville - Means “good settlement.”
- Cellier - Means “storeroom.”
- Escoffier - Means “to dress or to prepare.”
- Floquet - Means “little flower or flowering.”
- Relish - Means “taste.”

Section 4 of 9:

Royal French Last Names

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These surnames have historical ties to the French monarchy. The following surnames indicate a connection to the French aristocracy, with some families holding titles like Count, Baron, or Duke. Here are some notable royal surnames, along with some brief historical context:^{[4]
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- Beaufort - A name associated with a French noble family and the title of Duke of Beaufort.
- de Bourbon - The dynasty that ruled France from 1589 to 1792, and again from 1814 to 1830.
- de Guise - A powerful noble family during the Renaissance and early modern eras.
- de La Rochefoucauld - An important family in French history, especially in politics, military affairs, and literature.
- de Lorraine - A prominent family in the Middle Ages that intermarried strategically with powerful families throughout Europe, including the Holy Roman Emperors.
- de Montmorency - A prestigious family during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance that held positions as military leaders, diplomats, and trusted advisors to the French crown.
- de Rohan - An influential family during the Middle Ages, becoming one of France’s most distinguished noble houses.
- de Valois - The family that ruled France from 1328 to 1589.
- d’Orléans - The branch of the Bourbon family that ruled France from 1830 to 1848.
- Lafayette - A name tied with French aristocracy and military service.
- Leroy - Means “the king,” a title historically tied to family prominence.

Section 5 of 9:

Luxury & Upper-Class French Last Names

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These surnames are associated with the wealthiest families in France. While you might not come across these surnames frequently, they’re widely known and respected. Here are some prestigious surnames tied to the wealthiest individuals and families in the country:^{[5]
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- Arnault - The family behind LVMH, a global luxury conglomerate with a portfolio that includes Louis Vuitton, Dior, Sephora, Tiffany & Co, Moët & Chandon, Bulgari, and more.
- Besnier - A name associated with French billionaire Emmanuel Besnier, the CEO and controlling shareholder of Lactalis, Europe’s largest dairy producer.
- Bettencourt - The family with a controlling stake in L’Oréal.
- Bolloré - A name tied to Vincent Bolloré, who controls a stake in Financière de l’Odet, the holding company that controls Bolloré Group (a French conglomerate).
- Condé - Associated with a powerful branch of the French royal family.
- Dassault - A family with a fortune in defense and aviation.
- de Lacharrière - A name tied to Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière, a French billionaire known for his role as CEO and chairman of FIMALAC, an investment group with interests in digital media and real estate.
- Leclercq - A family known for their involvement in Decathlon, a large sporting goods retailer.
- Mérieux - The family behind Institut Mérieux, a conglomerate with significant holdings in companies like bioMérieux, Sanofi Pasteur, and Transgene.
- Meyers - A name tied to Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, the richest woman in France and the second-richest woman in the world; also the heiress to the L’Oréal fortune.
- Niel - A prominent name associated with the telecommunications and technology industries.
- Perrodo - The family that owns the oil and gas company Perenco, with an estimated net worth of about $10 billion.
- Peugeot - A name associated with the well-known automobile manufacturer.
- Pinault - The family behind the Kering luxury group.
- Rothschild - A name synonymous with international finance and banking.
- Wertheimer - Owners of the Chanel fashion house.

Section 6 of 9:

Occupational French Last Names

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Many French surnames come from ancestral occupations and trades. Occupational surnames emerged during the Middle Ages as a way to differentiate people with the same given name. For example, a barber named Jean would be called “Jean Barbier.” Here are other French surnames that tell a story of professions and societal roles:^{[6]
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- Arsenault - Means “gunmaker.”
- Barbeau - Means “fisherman.”
- Barbier - Means “barber.”
- Barreau - May stem from “jailkeeper or doorkeeper.”
- Berger - Means “shepherd.”
- Bisset - Means “weaver.”
- Bonnet - Means “bonnet maker.”
- Boucher - Means “butcher.”
- Boulanger - Means “baker.”
- Brodeur - Means “embroiderer.”
- Camus - Means “shirtmaker.”
- Caron - Means “cartwright.”
- Cartier - Means “transporter of goods.”
- Charpentier - Means “carpenter.”
- Charron - Means “cartwright.”
- Chevrolet - Means “goat farmer.”
- Couture - Means “tailor.”
- Fabron - Means “blacksmith.”
- Faucheux - Means “mower.”
- Favereau - Means “grower and seller of beans.”
- Fournier - Means “baker.”
- Gagne - Means “farmer.”
- Gagneux - Means “farm bailiff.”
- Granger - Means “farm bailiff.”
- Lefebvre - Means “craftsman,” usually a blacksmith.
- Lemaire - Means “the mayor.”
- Maçon - Means “mason.”
- Marchand - Means “merchant.”
- Mercier - Means “trader.”
- Moulin - Means “miller.”
- Mullins - Means “miller.”
- Page - Means “servant or page.”
- Paquet - Means “gatherer or seller of firewood.”
- Pelletier - Means “fur trader.”
- Porcher - Means “swine herder.”
- Sartre - Means “tailor.”
- Segal - Means “grower or seller of rye.”
- Tavernier - Means “innkeeper.”
- Vachon - Means “cow herder.”
- Webster - Means “one who weaves.”

Section 7 of 9:

Geographical French Last Names

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Some surnames indicate where a person or family originates from. These surnames are based on a person’s residence, usually a former residence, or may describe their specific location within a town or village. It’s common to see the prefixes “de,” “du,” and “le” attached to these surnames, since they translate to “of.” Here are some popular examples and their meanings:^{[7]
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- Beaulieu - Means “beautiful place.”
- Beaumont - Means “beautiful hill.”
- Chastain - Means “near chestnut trees.”
- Comtois - Means “from Franche-Comte,” a province in eastern France.
- Descoteaux - Means “small hill.”
- Desjardins - Means “from the garden.”
- Desmarais - Means “by the marsh.”
- Desroches - Means “people near the rocks.”
- Desrosiers - Means “people who live near the roses.”
- Dupuis - Means “by the well.”
- Duval - Means “of the valley.”
- Fontaine - Means “well or fountain.”
- Fraise - Means “someone who lived by the ash tree.”
- Laval - Means “of the valley.”
- Linville - Means “from Linivilla,” which is now Ninville, France.
- Lyon - Refers to someone who lived in Lyon.
- Marseille - Means “from the village of Marseille.”
- Montagne - Means “mountains.”
- Paris - Means “from Paris.”
- Picard - Refers to someone from Picardy, a region in northern France.
- Plamondon - Means “one who lives near a flat-topped mountain.”
- Poirot - Means “near a pear tree.”
- St. Martin - Means “from St. Martin.”
- Travers - Means “near a bridge or ford.”
- Vaillancourt - Means “low-lying farm.”

Section 8 of 9:

The Origin of French Surnames

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French surnames first emerged during the Middle Ages. During the 11th century, French surnames were introduced to differentiate between individuals with the same given first name. Surnames were often categorized into 4 types: occupational, geographical, patronymic (based on the name of a person’s father), and descriptive. It was easy to choose (and change) your surname until 1474, when the king decreed that all name changes had to be recorded for record-keeping.^{[8]
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Section 9 of 9:

Frequently Asked Questions

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Why do so many French surnames have Germanic origins? Throughout history, many people moved between France and Germany due to shifting borders in Europe. Germanic-sounding surnames also became part of French culture as a result of German invasions, so even if your last name sounds German, it doesn’t mean your ancestors necessarily were.^{[9]
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What do some French families have dit names? In some areas of France, a dit name, or secondary surname, may have been adopted to distinguish between different branches of the same family. A dit name basically acted as a nickname or alias, and it was especially common in French Canada.^{[10]
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What are the most common French Canadian surnames? These surnames originate in the province of Quebec, Canada. Most residents of this region speak French and can trace their heritage back to European French ancestors. Here are common surnames you might hear:^{[11]
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- Belanger
- Bouchard
- Cote
- Gagne
- Gagnon
- Gauthier
- Morin
- Pelletier
- Roy
- Tremblay