The 20 most worn surnames in France

This article explores the origins of the 20 most popular names in France

The 20 most worn surnames in France



Is your last name popular? Do you know its meaning, its origins? Do you know in which departments we find most often? We answer these questions in this Top 20 most worn surnames in France.



  1. Martin (228,857) : This name derives from Latin Martinus and was popularized by Saint-Martin, bishop of Tours, who evangelized Gaul in the 4th century. It is particularly present in the departments of Allier, Vienne and Vosges.
  2. Bernard (120,573) : Bernard is both a baptismal name and a family name, derived from the old Germanic name Bernhard. The root ber means "bear" and hard means "strong", which made it an ancient nickname of warrior who became surname. It is especially widespread in the departments of Loire-Atlantique, Allier and North.
  3. Thomas (108 141) : Thomas is a very common patronym and baptism name, of biblical origin. It derives from the Aramaic Toma, whose Greek translation is Didymos, meaning "twin". This name was made famous by the apostle Saint Thomas and, in the 12th century, by Saint Thomas Becket, bishop of Canterbury. It is particularly present in the Departments of the Vosges, Côtes d'Armor and Meurthe-et-Moselle.
  4. LITTLE (105,463) : This very widespread surname initially designated a small man. He is especially present in the departments of Seine-Maritime, Paris and Pas-de-Calais.
  5. Robert (102,950) : Robert is a person of person of Germanic origin, Hrodberht, composed of Hrod which means "glory" and Berht which means "brilliant" or "illustrious". It is particularly present in the departments of Loire-Atlantique, Ille-et-Vilaine and Meurthe-et-Moselle.
  6. Richard (99,920) : Richard is a person of person of Germanic origin, Richard, composed of Ric which means "powerful" and hard which means "hard" or "strong". It was also a nickname, raised in the 15th century, designating a rich man. It is especially present in the departments of the Vosges, the Loire-Atlantique and the Meurthe-et-Moselle.
  7. Durand (99,614) : Durand is a very common surname, old baptism name Durandus, derived from the verb durare, meaning "Endurant" or "obstinate". It is particularly present in the departments of Loire-Atlantique, Loiret and Vosges.
  8. Dubois (98 951) : This surname is frequent, especially in the North, West and Center of France. It is a topographic name designating a house located near a wood. He is especially present in the departments of the North, Pas-de-Calais and Paris.
  9. Moreau (94 261) : This name is very common, especially in the western, center and northern regions. It represents a nickname designating a man with brown skin, like a Moor. It is particularly present in the departments of Indre, Vienne and Loire-Atlantique.
  10. Laurent (88,803) : Laurent is a very widespread first name and a surname derived from the Latin name Laurus, meaning "bay leaf" or "bay crown". Originally, this name was probably a nickname given to members of athletic companies. He is especially present in the Departments of the Vosges, Côtes d'Armor and Meurthe-et-Moselle.
  11. SIMON (87 941) : Simon is a baptismal name and a very widespread patronym, of biblical origin, from Hebrew Shim'ON, meaning "God heard". It was popularized by the 1st century Apostle and Martyr, Simon Le Zélote. It is particularly present in the departments of Meurthe-et-Moselle, Moselle and Ille-et-Vilaine.
  12. Michel (85,489) : Michel is a baptismal name and a very frequent surname, representing the name of biblical origin Mikael, meaning "which is as God". It is the name of the protective archangel of the people of God. He is especially present in the Departments of the Vosges, Meurthe-et-Moselle and Bouches-du-Rhône.
  13. Lefebvre (82,522) : Lefebvre is a widespread last name in the Lille region. It is a spelling variation of Lefèvre, which designated the blacksmith in ancient French. It is particularly present in the departments of the North, the Seine-Maritime and Pas-de-Calais.
  14. Leroy (79 204) : Leroy is a fairly widespread surname in the north and northwest, representing the nickname given to the winner of the Arc game. It is especially present in the departments of the North, Pas-de-Calais and the Seine-Maritime.
  15. REDHEAD (69,685) : Roux is a widespread family name, especially in the south, designating a person with red hair. It is particularly present in the departments of Var, Finistère and Côtes d'Armor.
  16. David (69 212) : David is a baptismal name and a family name of biblical origin, meaning "beloved". It was popularized by the king of Israel and Judah. It is especially present in the departments of Loire-Atlantique, Jura and Vienne.
  17. Bertrand (66,763) : Bertrand is a baptismal name and a family name derived from the old Germanic name Berhauthramm, from Berhaut meaning "famous", "renamed" and Hramm meaning "Corbeau". It is particularly present in the departments of Meurthe-et-Moselle, La Meuse and Paris.
  18. Morel (66,417) : Morel is a very widespread name, derived from More, a nickname designating a brown man of skin like a Moor. It is especially present in the departments of Ille-et-Vilaine, Ain and Vosges.
  19. Fournier (65,758) : Fournier is a very widespread surname, representing the old name of the baker, a business nickname. It is particularly present in the departments of Allier, Paris and North.
  20. Girard (64,031) : Girard is a very widespread surname, representing the variation in the name of person of Germanic origin Gerhard, from Ger signifying "lance" and hard meaning "strong", "hard", former probable nickname of warrior. He is especially present in the departments of Deux-Sèvres, Maine-et-Loire and Doubs.




💡 To go further, about family names: 



Source : The ranking of surnames

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