This list includes 55 French last names that start with B, from “Baillet” to “Bérard”. They reflect regional roots, occupations, nicknames, and historical influences across France and francophone areas. You can use this list for genealogy, character naming, surname research, and classroom reference.
French last names that start with B are family names of French origin beginning with the letter B. Several show regional roots, like Norman, Breton, or Occitan influences, and medieval forms such as “Bérard”.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Meaning/Origin, and Notable people.
Name: The surname as commonly written, including accents and variants, so you can identify exact family forms.
Meaning/Origin: A concise origin or meaning summary showing linguistic roots, region, or occupational background for quick context.
Notable people: One to three well-known individuals who bear the name, helping you link names to historical or cultural figures.
French last names that start with B
| Surname | Estimated bearers in France | National rank | Meaning/Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bernard | 170,000 | Germanic “bear-brave” (Bernhard) | |
| Bernier | 34,000 | Patronymic of Bernard | |
| Bertrand | 64,000 | Germanic “bright raven” (Berht-rand) | |
| Berthier | 8,500 | From Germanic Berht- + -her (army) | |
| Berger | 22,000 | Occupational: shepherd (Old French berger) | |
| Bérard | 6,800 | Germanic “bear-hard” (Bern-hard variant) | |
| Benoît | 15,000 | From Latin Benedictus “blessed” (Benoît) | |
| Bailly | 12,000 | Old French bailiff or town official | |
| Baudin | 9,500 | Diminutive of Baud (Germanic)** | |
| Baudoin | 7,000 | From Germanic Baldwin (bold friend) | |
| Baillet | 4,200 | Diminutive of bail (bailiff) or place-name | |
| Barbier | 31,000 | Occupational barber | |
| Barre | 14,000 | Topographic “bar” ridge or gate | |
| Barreau | 3,800 | Occupational: barrister or barrier keeper | |
| Barthelemy | 2,900 | From given name Barthélemy (Aramaic origin) | |
| Bataille | 5,200 | Nickname “battle” or warrior | |
| Battu | 1,600 | Nickname “beaten” or occupational leatherwork | |
| Bazin | 7,500 | Possibly occupational or from Basinus personal name | |
| Beaufort | 4,800 | beautiful stronghold (from place-name) | |
| Beauregard | 3,600 | beautiful outlook (topographic) | |
| Beauchamp | 3,400 | beautiful field (from place-name) | |
| Beaulieu | 6,200 | beautiful place (locational) | |
| Beauvais | 5,500 | From town Beauvais (attested as surname) | |
| Becquet | 2,300 | Diminutive of bec (beak) or nickname | |
| Bedu | 1,100 | From Old French “bedu” (nickname) | |
| Benoit | 18,000 | From Latin Benedictus “blessed” (no accent) | |
| Bergeron | 4,400 | Diminutive/patronymic of Berger | |
| Besson | 11,000 | Old French for “twin” (besson) | |
| Bialet | 800 | Probably toponymic or diminutive | |
| Biard | 3,200 | From beak/nickname or Germanic “Bihari” | |
| Binet | 9,000 | Diminutive of “Bine” or Benoît | |
| Bischoff | 1,700 | From German “bishop” (Alsace/Moselle) | |
| Blanc | 28,000 | Nickname “white” (hair or complexion) | |
| Blaise | 2,500 | From given name Blaise (Latin Blasius) | |
| Blanchet | 6,600 | Diminutive of blanc (white) | |
| Blin | 2,700 | Old French “blin” (miller’s fee?) or nickname | |
| Bloch | 3,900 | Jewish surname (Yiddish/German origin) | |
| Bodin | 10,500 | From Germanic “Bodo” or diminutive | |
| Boivin | 5,900 | Nickname “drinks wine” or occupational | |
| Bonnard | 8,200 | From Bon (good) + diminutive | |
| Bonnet | 42,000 | Occupational: maker of caps or nickname | |
| Boniface | 3,100 | From Latin Bonifatius “good fate” | |
| Bonnier | 2,900 | Diminutive/variant of Bonnet | |
| Bonnin | 1,400 | Diminutive of Bon (good) | |
| Bonnetier | 1,000 | Occupational: hatter or cap maker | |
| Bordas | 2,600 | Occitan variant from borda (hut) | |
| Bordet | 3,300 | Diminutive of bord (edge) or toponymic | |
| Borie | 2,100 | Occitan “small hut” or topographic | |
| Borrel | 1,900 | Diminutive of “borre” or regional nickname | |
| Bosch | 1,200 | From Occitan/Catalan “bosch” (wood) | |
| Bosse | 4,500 | Nickname “bump” or topographic | |
| Bossuet | 600 | Diminutive of bosse or occupational | |
| Boutet | 5,700 | Diminutive of “boute” (small cask) or tool | |
| Boutin | 13,000 | From Old French bouton (button) or place-name | |
| Boutique names avoided | 0 | Excluded |
Descriptions
Bernard
One of France’s most common names. Famous bearers: Claude Bernard (physiologist), Bernard Pivot (journalist). Variants: Bernhardt. Widespread nationwide.
Bernier
Common in northwestern France and Québec. Notables: Jean Bernier (politician). Variant: Bernière.
Bertrand
Well-attested medieval surname and given name. Notables: Émile Bertrand (economist). Common in eastern France.
Berthier
Historic military family; Marshal Berthier (Napoleonic marshal) notable. Regional: eastern France.
Berger
Widespread occupational surname. Notables: James Berger (various). Also frequent in Alsace and southern France.
Bérard
Old Norman and Occitan attestations. Notable: Jean Bérard (scholar). Variants: Berard, Bérard.
Benoît
Used as surname and given name. Notables: Luc Benoît (artist). Variants: Benoit (no accent), Benôit.
Bailly
Common in northern France. Notable bearers include Georges Bailly. Variants: Baillet.
Baudin
Found in western France; explorer Nicolas Baudin notable. Variants: Baudain.
Baudoin
Medieval personal name turned surname. Regional Occurrence: Normandy, Brittany.
Baillet
Less common; appears in northeastern France. Variants: Bailly.
Barbier
Widespread; famous: César Barbier (artist). Variants: Barbière. Medieval occupational origin.
Barre
Found across France. Notables: Dominique Barre. Variants: La Barre.
Barreau
Seen in western France; legal connotations. Notables include Henri Barre.
Barthelemy
Surname from apostolic personal name. Regional: southern France. Variants: Barthélémy.
Bataille
Literary name; notable: Georges Bataille (writer). Regional: north and central France.
Battu
Less common; regional forms in northwestern France.
Bazin
Found in Lorraine; notable: Hervé Bazin (writer).
Beaufort
Noble and locational surname. Notable historic families named Beaufort.
Beauregard
Aristocratic and locational surname; variants Beauregard, Belle- regard. Found nationwide.
Beauchamp
Aristocratic Norman name. Notables: families of Beauchamp in medieval France.
Beaulieu
Common locational surname; appears across France and Canada. Variants: Beaulieu.
Beauvais
Toponymic; notable: Madeleine Beauvais. Common in northern France.
Becquet
Regional in northwestern France; diminutive form.
Bedu
Rare; regional occurrences in Brittany and Normandy.
Benoit
Frequent variant without accent. Notables vary; also used in francophone countries.
Bergeron
Common in Normandy and Québec. Notable: Patrick Bergeron. Variant: Bergeron.
Besson
Found mainly in Rhône-Alpes. Notable: Élie Besson. Regional concentration southeast.
Bialet
Rare surname, attested in French civil records.
Biard
Found in western France. Notable bearers: Jacques Biard.
Binet
Widespread. Notable: Louis Binet (artist). Variants: Binette.
Bischoff
Alsatian surname of Germanic origin; notable in border regions.
Blanc
Very common. Notables: Jean Blanc. Variants: Leblanc (more common with article).
Blaise
Derived from ancient personal name. Regional Occurrence: various.
Blanchet
Found in eastern and western France. Notables: François Blanchet.
Blin
Regional in northern France; not very common.
Bloch
Found in Alsace and Jewish communities. Notables: Élie Bloch.
Bodin
Widespread across France. Notables: Louis Bodin (meteorologist).
Boivin
Found in Normandy and Québec. Notables: François Boivin.
Bonnard
Well-known surname; Pierre Bonnard (painter) notable. Widespread.
Bonnet
Very common across France. Notables: Robert Bonnet. Variants: Bonnett.
Boniface
Historic given name turned surname. Notable: Saint Boniface (evangelizer).
Bonnier
Found in Paris region and north. Notable: Auguste Bonnier.
Bonnin
Less common; regional Occitan and southern France occurrences.
Bonnetier
Rare occupational variant of Bonnet.
Bordas
Common in southwest France (Occitanie). Notables: Miguel Bordas.
Bordet
Found in northern France and Belgium; notable: Jules Bordet (Nobel laureate).
Borie
Typical of southern France (Occitan-speaking regions). Variant: La Borie.
Borrel
Present in southern France. Notables: Romain Borrel.
Bosch
Common near French-Spanish border and Catalonia-influenced areas.
Bosse
Found in northern France and Belgium. Notables: Dominique Bosse.
Bossuet
Famous historic bearer: Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet (bishop, writer). Rare today.
Boutet
Widespread; artisans historically. Notables: Jacques Boutet.
Boutin
Common in Normandy and Brittany. Notables: Philippe Boutin.
Boutique names avoided
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