150+ Most Popular French Last Names

Like most countries around the world, French last names follow a similar pattern in how they come about and what they mean. There are typically 4 types of French surnames and almost all French last names will fall into one of these categories. They are as follows:

Patronymic/Matronymic

The most common type of French surname, are the ones that are passed down from either the mother or father. They can be simply taken from the first name of either parent. When passed down, a prefix is added to the child’s name to state their given name, and then followed by “son of”. Mothers names were usually only used when the fathers name was unknown.

Occupational Surnames

Occupational surnames are very self-explanatory. They are a family name that describe the occupation of the individual or the families occupational history. This is quite common across the globe and can be found in British last names, Italian last names, German last names and many others. Examples of French occupational surnames are Couture, meaning tailor, or Fabron meaning blacksmith.

Descriptive Surnames/Trait

Descriptive surnames are given when an individual has a specific quality or trait that describes them well. Often times, these surnames come from a nickname. For example, Leblanc, meaning the blonde one/fair one.

Geographical Surnames

Geographical surnames give an indication as to where the person is from. That can be a name place such as a town or city, or the description of a location. Examples are; Deschamps, meaning they are from the fields, or Paris indicating the individual is from Paris.