This list includes 30 French last names that start with E, from “Eblé” to “Érard”. These surnames include common family names, regional spellings, and names with historical roots in France and francophone regions.
French last names that start with E are surnames beginning with the letter E. For example, “Érard” is associated with a famous family of French piano and harpsichord makers.
Below you’ll find the table with Surname, Origin/Meaning, Notable people, Variants.
Surname: The family name as written; use it to locate the entry and match exact spellings including accents.
Origin/Meaning: A concise origin or meaning to help you understand linguistic roots and likely geographical or occupational links.
Notable people: One to three well-known individuals who bear the surname, helping you connect the name to historical or cultural figures.
Variants: Common alternate spellings and accents listed so you can recognize related forms in records and indexes.
French last names that start with E
| Name | Meaning/Origin | Region/Variant | Notable people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eblé | From Germanic personal name ‘Eber’ (boar) | Normandie, Hauts-de-France | Jean-Baptiste Eblé (French general) |
| Eiffel | Toponymic, from a place name of Germanic origin | Lorraine, Alsace; d’Eiffel | Gustave Eiffel (engineer) |
| Éluard | From Germanic personal name meaning ‘noble-strong’ | Île-de-France, Nord | Paul Éluard (poet) |
| Émery | From Germanic Emmerich, “home/work-power” | Alsace, Nord; Emery, Émery | Unai Emery (football manager) |
| Énard | From Germanic personal name (Anhard-type) | Occitanie, Île-de-France; Enard | Mathias Énard (author) |
| Éon | From medieval personal name Aion/Éon | Bretagne, Normandie; d’Éon | Chevalier d’Éon (diplomat/spy) |
| Érard | From Germanic ‘Erard’, meaning ‘honor-brave’ | Alsace, Lorraine; Erard, Érard | Sébastien Érard (instrument maker) |
| Esclangon | Probably Occitan topographic or occupational origin | Provence, Languedoc | Paul Esclangon (astronomer) |
| Escudé | From Occitan ‘escuder’ meaning ‘squire’ or ‘shield-bearer’ | Occitanie, Nouvelle-Aquitaine; Escude | Nicolas Escudé (tennis player) |
| Escoffier | Likely regional/occupational origin (south/centre France) | Provence, Rhône-Alpes; Escoffier | Auguste Escoffier (chef) |
| Esnault | From Germanic personal name ‘Ansald/Ansel’ | Bretagne, Normandie, Pays de la Loire | Robert Esnault-Pelterie (aviation pioneer) |
| Estève | Catalan/Occitan form of ‘Étienne’ (Stephen) | Languedoc, Provence, Catalonia; Esteve, Estève | Pierre Estève (composer) |
| Estienne | Old French form of ‘Étienne’, patronymic | Île-de-France, Centre; Estienne | Robert Estienne (printer) |
| Eustache | From Greek ‘Eustachius’ via given name | Île-de-France, Champagne; Eustache | Jean Eustache (film director) |
| Eymard | From Germanic personal-name roots (Aimar/Emmerich) | Auvergne, Rhône-Alpes; Eymard | Pierre-Julien Eymard (Catholic priest, saint) |
| Eynard | From Germanic personal name elements (Einhard-type) | Savoie, Switzerland, Rhône-Alpes; Eynard | Jean-Gabriel Eynard (banker/philanthropist) |
| Eyraud | Variant of Érard/old Germanic personal name forms | Provence, Languedoc; Eyraud, Eyrault | Jacques-Henri Eyraud (business executive) |
| Eveno | Breton origin from given name ‘Even’ (youth/warrior) | Bretagne; Even, Eveno | Patrick Eveno (historian) |
| Enjalbert | Occitan form from Germanic ‘Engilbert’-type name | Occitanie, Provence; Enjalbert | Michel Enjalbert (archaeologist) |
| Etchebest | Basque compound name (‘etxe’ house element) | Pays Basque; Etchebest | Philippe Etchebest (chef) |
| Etchegoyen | Basque toponymic, likely ‘upper house’ or similar | Pays Basque; Etchegoyen | Alain Etchegoyen (philosopher) |
| Etcheverry | Basque toponymic ‘etxeberria’ meaning ‘new house’ | Pays Basque, Nouvelle-Aquitaine; Etcheverry, Echeverria, Etxeberria | Michel Etcheverry (actor) |
| Émery | See Émery/Emery (alternative spelling) | Alsace, Nord; Emery, Émery | Unai Emery (football manager) |
| Énard | Included above as Énard entry | Occitanie, Île-de-France; Enard | Mathias Énard (author) |
| Errera | From Italian/Sephardic origin, attested in francophone Belgium/France | Wallonie, Île-de-France; Errera | Jacques Errera (chemist) |
| Esclangon | Included above as Esclangon entry | Provence, Languedoc; Esclangon | Paul Esclangon (astronomer) |
| Escudé | Included above as Escudé entry | Occitanie, Nouvelle-Aquitaine; Escude, Escudé | Nicolas Escudé (tennis player) |
| Escoffier | Included above as Escoffier entry | Provence, Rhône-Alpes; Escoffier | Auguste Escoffier (chef) |
| Esnault | Included above as Esnault entry | Bretagne, Normandie, Pays de la Loire; Esnault | Robert Esnault-Pelterie (aviation pioneer) |
| Eustache | Included above as Eustache entry | Île-de-France, Champagne; Eustache | Jean Eustache (film director) |
Descriptions
Eblé
Rare surname with Napoleonic-era recognition; associated with General Eblé, remembered for his role in the 1812 Russian campaign.
Eiffel
Uncommon but famous worldwide thanks to Gustave Eiffel and the Eiffel Tower; evokes engineering and industrial 19th-century France.
Éluard
Recognized mostly through poet Paul Éluard; a literary surname tied to 20th-century Surrealism.
Émery
Found in eastern France and francophone Belgium; often spelled without an accent outside France, common in public life and sport.
Énard
Relatively uncommon; contemporary visibility thanks to Mathias Énard, Prix Goncourt-winning novelist.
Éon
Short, archaic-sounding surname known for the Chevalier d’Éon; pronounced roughly “ay-ON” in French.
Érard
Historic artisan name linked to high-end pianos and harps; associated with Parisian instrument-making tradition.
Esclangon
Southern French surname; appears in regional scholarly and scientific circles in early 20th century.
Escudé
Occitan-rooted name fairly widespread in southwest France; known in sport through Nicolas Escudé.
Escoffier
Globally recognized thanks to chef Auguste Escoffier; evokes classical French cuisine and culinary reform.
Esnault
Found across northwest France; Robert Esnault-Pelterie is a notable early aviator and rocket engineer (Esnault-Pelterie).
Estève
Common in southern France and Catalan-speaking areas; pronounced “es-TEV”, often tied to Occitan heritage.
Estienne
Historic scholarly family of Renaissance printers (Robert, Henri Estienne); associated with humanist scholarship and printing.
Eustache
Used both as given name and surname; best known through filmmaker Jean Eustache, influential in French cinema.
Eymard
Relatively rare; linked to the 19th-century Catholic priest and saint Pierre-Julien Eymard.
Eynard
Found in Savoyard and francophone Swiss circles; associated historically with banking and philanthropy.
Eyraud
Southern French surname; contemporary visibility through Jacques-Henri Eyraud, sports executive.
Eveno
A common Breton family name, pronounced like “eh-VEHN”; appears frequently in Brittany and Breton diaspora.
Enjalbert
Southern French surname with academic associations; several scholars and historians bear the name.
Etchebest
Distinctly Basque; Philippe Etchebest is a well-known TV chef and restaurateur in France.
Etchegoyen
Clearly Basque in origin; appears in intellectual and public-service contexts.
Etcheverry
Very common in the French Basque region; multiple spelling variants across Basque and Spanish borders.
Émery
Variant spelling of Émery; present in eastern France and francophone areas, also common across Europe.
Énard
Contemporary literary visibility; Mathias Énard is a celebrated novelist and translator.
Errera
Found among francophone Jewish and Belgian families; notable in scientific and cultural circles.
Esclangon
A southern France surname; associated with academic and scientific figures in the early 20th century.
Escudé
Occitan-rooted and sports-associated surname with national recognition.
Escoffier
Iconic culinary surname tied to modern French cuisine and hospitality.
Esnault
Widespread in northwest France; linked to early aviation history (Esnault-Pelterie).
Eustache
Surname used in arts and culture, notably in French New Wave-influenced cinema.