The Top 100 Most Popular French Last Names and Their Meanings

Discover the 100 most common French surnames, their origin, and meaning. Is your name on the list?

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French last names tell a rich and varied story, reflecting the diverse origins of the French population.

They often come from 4 distinct origins: first names, physical characteristics, places of residence, or professions.

Why should we care about the origin of last names?

• Understanding where your name comes from can connect you to your ancestors and cultural heritage.

• Last names also reflect population movements, old professions, and linguistic influences that have shaped the country.

• Researching the origins of your name can be the starting point for a fascinating genealogical journey.

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Here is the list of the 100 most common last names in France, along with their origin and meaning for some of them. This data comes from INSEE's name register.

1. MARTIN: Derived from the Roman god Mars, evoking war and strength.

2. BERNARD: Of Germanic origin, means "courageous bear" or "strong as a bear".

3. THOMAS: Of Aramaic origin, means "twin".

4. PETIT: Surname for a person of small stature.

5. ROBERT: Of Germanic origin, means "bright glory".

6. RICHARD: Of Germanic origin, means "strong king" or "powerful ruler".

7. DUBOIS: Indicates a person living near a wood or forest.

8. DURAND: Of Latin origin, means "enduring" or "constant".

9. MOREAU: Designates a person with dark hair or complexion.

10. LAURENT: From the Latin "laurus", meaning "crowned with laurels", a symbol of victory and glory.

11. SIMON: Of Hebrew origin, means "he who listens" or "God has heard".

12. MICHEL: Of Hebrew origin, means "Who is like God?".

13. LEFEBVRE: Variant of "Fèvre" (blacksmith), designating a craftsman working with iron.

14. LEROY: Means "the king", probably a nickname given to someone with a royal demeanor or behavior.

15. DAVID: Of Hebrew origin, means "beloved".

16. ROUX: Designates a person with red hair.

17. MOREL: Variant of Moreau, designating a person with dark skin or hair.

18. BERTRAND: Of Germanic origin, means "bright shield" or "illustrious raven".

19. FOURNIER: Designates a baker, one who bakes bread in an oven.

20. GIRARD: Of Germanic origin, means "brave lance" or "strong with a lance".

21. FONTAINE: Indicates a person living near a spring or fountain.

22. LAMBERT: Of Germanic origin, means "bright country" or "illustrious in his territory".

23. DUPONT: Designates a person living near a bridge.

24. BONNET: May designate a hat maker or seller, or a nickname for someone often wearing a hat.

25. ROUSSEAU: Diminutive of Roux, designating a person with red hair.

26. VINCENT: Of Latin origin, means "conquering" or "victorious".

27. MULLER: Of German origin, means "miller", one who works in a mill.

28. LEFEVRE: Variant of Lefebvre, designating a blacksmith or goldsmith.

29. FAURE: Occitan variant of "Fèvre" (blacksmith).

30. ANDRE: Of Greek origin, means "manly" or "courageous".

31. MERCIER: Designates a merchant, especially a seller of fabrics and haberdashery.

32. GUERIN: Of Germanic origin, related to the word "war".

33. GARCIA: Of Basque origin, meaning uncertain, possibly "young" or "bear".

34. BOYER: Designates an oxherd, one who guards oxen.

35. BLANC: Designates a person with fair hair or complexion.

36. GARNIER: Of Germanic origin, means "guardian" or "protector".

37. CHEVALIER: Designates a man of noble rank, a knight.

38. FRANCOIS: Designates a person from France.

39. LEGRAND: Designates a tall person.

40. GAUTHIER: Of Germanic origin, means "army governor" or "warrior leader".

41. PERRIN: Diminutive of Pierre.

42. ROBIN: Diminutive of Robert.

43. CLEMENT: Of Latin origin, means "gentle" or "indulgent".

44. MORIN: Variant of Moreau, designating a person with dark skin or hair.

45. HENRY: Of Germanic origin, means "house ruler" or "head of household".

46. NICOLAS: Of Greek origin, means "victory of the people".

47. ROUSSEL: Diminutive of Roux.

48. GAUTIER: Variant of Gauthier.

49. MATHIEU: Of Hebrew origin, means "gift of God".

50. MASSON: Designates a stonemason, a worker who works with stone.

51. DUVAL: Designates a person living near a valley or a valley.

52. MARCHAND: Designates a trader, a person who sells goods.

53. DENIS: Of Greek origin, related to the god Dionysus.

54. LEMAIRE: Designates a mayor, a local administrator.

55. DUMONT: Designates a person living near a mountain or hill.

56. MARIE: Feminine baptismal name of Hebrew origin, meaning uncertain (possibly "beloved" or "princess").

57. NOEL: Designates a person born on Christmas Day.

58. MEYER: Of German origin, means "farmer" or "tenant".

59. DUFOUR: Designates a person living near an oven (for bread, tiles, etc.).

60. MEUNIER: Designates a miller, one who works in a flour mill.

61. MARTINEZ: Spanish origin name, means "son of Martin".

62. BLANCHARD: Designates a person with white hair or fair complexion.

63. BRUN: Designates a person with brown hair.

64. RIVIERE: Designates a person living near a river.

65. LUCAS: Of Latin origin, means "light".

66. JOLY: Designates a cheerful, pleasant person.

67. GIRAUD: Of Germanic origin, means "powerful lance".

68. BRUNET: Diminutive of Brun, designating a person with brown hair.

69. GAILLARD: Designates a lively, energetic person.

70. BARBIER: Designates a barber, one who cuts hair and beards.

71. GERARD: Of Germanic origin, means "strong lance".

72. ARNAUD: Of Germanic origin, means "strong eagle".

73. RENARD: Surname for a cunning or skillful person.

74. ROCHE: Designates a person living near a rock or cliff.

75. SCHMITT: Of German origin, means "blacksmith".

76. ROY: Means "king", probably an honorific nickname.

77. LEROUX: Variant of Roux.

78. CARON: Meaning uncertain, possibly related to a stony place.

79. COLIN: Diminutive of Nicolas.

80. VIDAL: Of Latin origin, means "life".

81. PICARD: Designates a person from Picardy.

82. ROGER: Of Germanic origin, means "famous lance".

83. FABRE: Occitan variant of "Fèvre" (blacksmith).

84. AUBERT: Of Germanic origin, means "noble brilliant".

85. LEMOINE: Designates a monk.

86. RENAUD: Of Germanic origin, means "strong counsel".

87. DUMAS: Designates a person living near a farm.

88. PAYET: Diminutive of Payen, designating a paid worker or a tax collector.

89. OLIVIER: Designates a person cultivating or selling olives.

90. LACROIX: Designates a person living near a cross.

91. PHILIPPE: Of Greek origin, means "horse lover".

92. PIERRE: Of Greek origin, means "rock" or "stone".

93. BOURGEOIS: Designates an inhabitant of a borough, a small town.

94. LOPEZ: Spanish origin name, means "son of Lope".

95. BENOIT: Of Latin origin, means "blessed".

96. LECLERC: Designates a clerk, an educated person.

97. REY: Means "king" in Spanish.

98. LECLERCQ: Variant of Leclerc.

99. SANCHEZ: Spanish origin name, means "son of Sancho".

100. LECOMTE: Title used as a nickname.

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