This list includes 49 French last names that start with F, from “Fabre” to “Fèvre”. These surnames range from occupational and geographic names to patronymics, useful for genealogy, writing, and cultural research.
French last names that start with F are family names of French or francophone origin beginning with the letter F. They often preserve occupations or place names; for example, “Fabre” and “Fèvre” both trace to the word for “smith”.
Below you’ll find the table with Surname, Meaning / Origin, Variants, and Notable people.
Surname: Primary family name listed; use it to search records, index entries, or confirm spelling in your research.
Meaning / Origin: Concise etymology or origin note that helps you understand historical roots and regional connections of each surname.
Variants: Common alternative spellings or accented forms so you can broaden searches and recognize related family lines.
Notable people: One to three prominent bearers per name, giving you cultural or historical context for further reading or citation.
French last names that start with F
| Surname | Meaning | Approx. bearers in France | Variants | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fabre | Smith (Occitan) | 14,000 | Fabré, Fabret | Occitan origin (south France), common in Languedoc. Notable: Jean‑Henri Fabre, entomologist. Traditional artisan/family name, frequent in historical records. |
| Faure | Shepherd or smith (Occitan) | 22,000 | Fauré, Faura | Widespread in southern France (Occitanie). Rural origin. Bearers include politicians and regional figures; variant Fauré for composer Gabriel Fauré (see separate entry). |
| Fauré | Variant of Faure; famous composer | 3,500 | Faure, Fauré | Southern/central France origin; strongly associated with Gabriel Fauré, composer. Used by families in Occitanie and Île‑de‑France. |
| Faivre | Ironworker (Franco‑Provencal) | 4,000 | Faivres, Favre | Typical of Franche‑Comté/Burgundy area. Occupational name related to smithing. Appears in regional archives and contemporary phonebooks. |
| Favre | Smith (Arpitan/Savoie) | 12,000 | Favret, Favreux | Very common in Savoie and Alpine regions. Notable bearers: Brett Favre (American athlete of French descent). Patrilineal ties to mountain communities. |
| Favreau | Diminutive of Favre/Fabri | 4,000 | Favreau, Favreaux | Southwestern and Parisian presence; also well represented in North America. Notable: Jon Favreau (US filmmaker) of French‑Canadian roots. |
| Favier | From ‘fier/iron’ family name | 3,200 | Favière, Favier | Central France and Rhône valley. Occupational/surnom origin. Present in civil registries since Ancien Régime. |
| Fontaine | Spring, fountain | 21,000 | Lafontaine, Fontainet | Widespread; toponymic from a natural spring. Found across France, especially northern/central. Variants include La Fontaine (poetial form). |
| Fontan | From small spring; place‑name | 1,800 | Fontanx, Fonten | Southeastern and Occitan areas. Shorter toponymic surname; families recorded since medieval times. |
| Fontenay | From ‘field of fountains’ (place) | 1,200 | Fontenai, de Fontenay | Toponymic; linked to multiple places named Fontenay. Used by landed or locational families. |
| Forest | Woodland, forest | 6,000 | Leforest, La Forest | Northern and eastern France; occupational/toponymic. Bearers historically tied to forestry professions. |
| Forestier | Forester | 3,200 | Foresty, Forêtier | Occupational surname from forest management, seen in rural/north‑east regions. Notable: actor/director surnames occasionally appear. |
| Fournier | Baker or ovenkeeper / fuller | 56,000 | Fournier, Fournié | One of France’s most common surnames; widespread nationwide. Notable: Alain‑Fournier (author). Occupational origin (baker/oven). |
| Fourcade | Maker of ovens or from Fourcade place | 4,500 | Fourcades, Fourcat | Common in southwest (Pyrénées). Notable: Martin Fourcade, Olympic biathlete. Strong Gascon/Béarn roots. |
| Fournet | Small oven, local toponym | 5,000 | Fournet, Fournié | Widespread in central/southern France; local topographic/occupational origins. |
| Fourier | Baker or ‘one who makes ovens’ | 2,200 | Forier, Fourrier | Notable: Charles Fourier, utopian socialist philosopher. Found in central France; occupational origin. |
| Fourrier | Quartermaster or baker (variant) | 4,000 | Fourier, Fournier | Military/household quartermaster origin; also regional occupational form. |
| Fouché | From Old French ‘fou’ (beech) or place | 2,500 | Fouche, Fouchet | Western France and Paris region. Notable: Joseph Fouché, Napoleonic minister. Historical political importance. |
| Foucher | Diminutive or variant of Fouché | 4,500 | Fouché, Foucheret | Normandy and Brittany presence; local variants common in civil records. |
| Foucault | From ‘fou’ (beech) + ‘cald’ (hard) | 3,500 | Foucaut, Foucault | Widespread; notable bearer Michel Foucault, philosopher. Also occupational/topographic roots. |
| Fouquet | Small beech or occupational nickname | 2,800 | Fouquey, Fouquett | Old Norman/central France lineage. Notable: Nicolas Fouquet, superintendent of finances under Louis XIV. |
| Faucher | Mower, reaper (from ‘faucher’) | 5,500 | Fauchard, Faucheur | Agricultural occupational name; common in northwest and central France. |
| Faucon | Falcon (nickname/occupation) | 2,400 | Fauconet, Fauconnier | Medieval falconry origin; toponymic and nickname usage. Found across France. |
| Fauconnier | Falconer (occupational) | 2,000 | Faucon, Fauconnier | Regional in Normandy and Île‑de‑France; occupational surname for bird handlers. |
| Fauvel | Little fox or tawny; nickname | 1,600 | Fauvel, Fauvelle | Nickname origin (colour/character); seen in northern and central France historically. |
| Fauchon | From ‘faucher’ or family business | 1,500 | Fauchon, Faucheau | Known today as gourmet food house (founder Auguste Fauchon). Surname with artisan/merchant history. |
| Ferrand | Iron worker or ‘son of Ferran’ | 5,500 | Ferrant, Ferrandz | Central/eastern France; notable: Richard Ferrand, politician. From Latin ‘ferrum’ (iron). |
| Ferré | From iron / ‘ironed’ (nickname) | 3,700 | Ferre, Ferrée | Southwest and coastal regions; notable bearers in arts and music (Léo Ferré, singer). |
| Ferrier | Farrier, smith | 4,000 | Ferrié, Ferrier | Occupational (horseshoer) found across France; also present in Normandy. |
| Ferron | Ironworker, blacksmith | 3,200 | Ferron, Ferronnier | Common artisan surname, especially in the Loire valley and Auvergne. |
| Ferreira | Portuguese ‘ironworks’ / toponym | 15,000 | Ferreria, Ferreira | Portuguese origin but widely present in France, especially in urban areas and immigrant communities. |
| Fernandez | Son of Fernando; Spanish origin | 25,000 | Fernández, Fernandes | Spanish patronymic common in France via immigration; many bearers in southern and urban France. |
| Ferry | Iron worker or boatman; patronymic | 8,500 | Ferri, Ferrée | Historic political family (Jules Ferry, statesman). Found nationwide, notably Normandy. |
| Fèvre | Smith (variant of Lefèvre) | 2,800 | Fèvre, Fevre | Northern and northeastern France; archaic form of Lefèvre, meaning blacksmith. |
| Flaubert | Habitational or nickname | 300 | Flaubert | Very rare; notable: Gustave Flaubert, novelist from Normandy. Mostly literary association. |
| Fleury | From ash-tree or place named Fleury | 7,000 | Fleurey, Fleurie | Widespread; many communes named Fleury. Notable: several politicians and artists. |
| Flamand | ‘Flemish’ (ethnic/toponymic) | 3,300 | Flamant, Flamand | Origin refers to Flanders; common in northern France. Often denotes Flemish ancestry. |
| Flandin | From Flanders or ‘Flandre’ | 1,200 | Flandrin, Flandin | Northern origins; notable: Pierre‑Étienne Flandin, interwar politician. Regional concentration in Nord. |
| Flament | From ‘flamme’ or old personal name | 2,000 | Flamant, Flaman | Northern France and Picardy; recorded since medieval times. |
| Florent | From Latin ‘Florentius’ (blooming) | 6,000 | Florens, Florentin | Originally a given name, also a surname; found across France, esp. Ile‑de‑France. |
| Flores | ‘Flowers’ (Spanish/Portuguese) | 6,500 | Flôres, Florès | Iberian origin widely present in France due to migration; common in southern and urban areas. |
| Fort | Strong, fort | 12,000 | Lefort, Forte | Nationwide; descriptive nickname meaning ‘strong’. Many regional families and notable local figures. |
| Fortin | Small fort or diminutive of Fort | 9,000 | Fortin, Le Fortin | Northern and Normandy distribution; also common in French Canada. Diminutive/locational origin. |
| Fortier | Guardian of a fort or steward | 6,000 | Fortié, Fortier | Northern France and Canada; occupational/locational roots. Present in civil and military records. |
| Fournel | Diminutive of Fournier / regional form | 1,400 | Fournell, Fournel | Southwestern and central presence; variant of Fournier with regional spelling. |
| Frémaux | From ‘frem’ (loud) or Germanic root | 900 | Fremaux, Frémau | Northern France (Nord, Picardy). Less common; families recorded since 18th century. |
| Frère | Brother (religious/Nickname) | 1,600 | Frere, Frères | Could denote a monk or fraternal nickname; found in several regions, often in older documents. |
| Frossard | From a local topographic or personal name | 1,700 | Frossart, Frossard | Eastern and central France; recorded in trade and municipal archives. |
| Frison | From ‘Frisian’ (ethnic) | 1,200 | Frisson, Frison | Denotes Frisian origin or nickname; appears in northern coastal registries. |
Descriptions
Fabre
Faure
Fauré
Faivre
Favre
Favreau
Favier
Fontaine
Fontan
Fontenay
Forest
Forestier
Fournier
Fourcade
Fournet
Fourier
Fourrier
Fouché
Foucher
Foucault
Fouquet
Faucher
Faucon
Fauconnier
Fauvel
Fauchon
Ferrand
Ferré
Ferrier
Ferron
Ferreira
Fernandez
Ferry
Fèvre
Flaubert
Fleury
Flamand
Flandin
Flament
Florent
Flores
Fort
Fortin
Fortier
Fournel
Frémaux
Frère
Frossard
Frison