There are a total of 1,084 French last names compiled in this comprehensive list. The selection includes established surnames from France and francophone regions, common and historically significant names, variant spellings and accents verified against official and academic sources.

French last names are hereditary family names used to identify individuals and lineages across France and francophone regions. They include patronymics, occupational names, nicknames, and toponymic surnames tied to places. They vary widely by region, dialect, and historical spelling, and often preserve accents and particles such as de or du. They are essential for genealogy, historical research, and cultural or literary work.

Interesting and little-known facts about French last names:
– Martin is the single most common surname in France, appearing in national records more than 200,000 times.
– France’s national statistics institute (INSEE) and civil registries track surname frequency; many surnames occur fewer than 10 times nationwide.
– Large groups of surnames derive from first names, trades, nicknames, or places; toponymic names like Dupont and Dubois are especially widespread.
– Particles such as de, du, des, and le often indicate geographic origin or historic social status and survive in many regional variants.
– Genetic and genealogical studies show a measurable correlation between patrilineal surnames and Y‑chromosome lineages, a useful tool in historical population research.

The alphabetical index links each initial to a dedicated list that shows every established surname beginning with that letter. Each entry shows the name, a concise origin or meaning, common variants and accents, frequency or notes, and up to three notable people; data columns: [COLUMN_NAMES].