| Origins of French Last Names |
| French surnames developed from four
major sources: |
| ● Patronymic & Matronymic Surnames -
Based on a parent’s name, this is the most common category of French
last names. French language prefixes and suffixes are sometimes found
attached to a given name to form a patronymic surname (Jean de Gaulle -
John son of Gaulle). The majority of French patronymic and matronymic
surnames have no identifying prefix, however, being direct derivations
of the parent's given name (August Landry - August son of Landri).
|
| ● Occupational Surnames - Also very
common among French surnames, these last names are based on the person’s
job or trade (Pierre Boulanger [baker] - Pierre the baker) |
| ● Descriptive Surnames - Based on a
unique quality of the individual, these surnames often developed from
nicknames or pet names (Jacques Legrand - Jacques the big) |
| ● Geographical Surnames - These surnames
are based on a person’s residence, usually a former residence (Yvonne
Marseille - Yvonne from the village of Marseille). They may also
describe the individual's specific location within a village or town
(Michel Léglise [church] lives next to the church). |
Suffixes & Prefixes
While not in common use as in Italy or Sweden, some French surnames are
formed by the addition of various prefixes and suffixes. A variety of
French suffixes including -eau, -elet, -elin, -elle, and -elot, mean
"little son of" and can be found attached to a given name to form a
patronym. Prefixes of French surnames also have specific origins. The
prefixes "de," "des," "du," and "le" each translate as "of" and may be
found used in patronymic and geographical French surnames. Some
French-Norman patronymic surnames will have the prefix "fritz," from the
Old French for "son of" (Fitzgerald - son of Gerald). |
Alias Surnames or Dit Names
In some areas of France, a second surname may have been adopted in order
to distinguish between different branches of the same family, especially
when the families remained in the same town for generations. These alias
surnames can often be found preceded by the word "dit." Sometimes an
individual even adopted the dit name as the family name, and dropped the
original surname. This practice was most common in France among soldiers
and sailors. |
Germanic Origins of French Names
As so many French surnames are derived from first names, it is important
to know that many common French first names have Germanic origins,
coming into fashion during German invasions into France. |
