This list includes 52 French last names that start with D, from “D’Alembert” to “Duvivier”. It highlights common patterns like particles (D’, De, Du), regional spellings, and accent variations. Use it for genealogy, writing, classroom research, or general name curiosity.
French last names that start with D are family names beginning with D in France and francophone regions. Many reflect places, occupations, or noble particles, with notable examples like D’Alembert.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Meaning/Origin, and Notable people.
Name: The surname as recorded; you use it to find exact spellings, particles, and common variants quickly.
Meaning/Origin: A concise origin or translation; you use it to understand where the name comes from historically.
Notable people: One to three well-known bearers of the name; you use them to gauge cultural or historical significance.
French last names that start with D
| Surname | Meaning/Origin (max 15 words) | Variants | Estimated bearers (France) |
|---|---|---|---|
| D‘Alembert | Toponymic, from Alembert place-name | d’Alembert | |
| D‘Aubigné | Toponymic, from Aubigné locality | d’Aubigné | |
| D‘Artagnan | Toponymic, from Artagnan (Gascony) | d’Artagnan | |
| D‘Arcy | Norman toponymic (Arcy) adapted in France | d’Arcy, Darcy | |
| D‘Arc | Toponymic, “of Arc” locality | d’Arc | |
| D‘Estaing | Toponymic, from Estaing (Aveyron) | d’Estaing | |
| Daubigny | Toponymic, from Aubigny/Laubigny | Daubigny | |
| Daum | Artisans/merchant family name from Lorraine | Daum | |
| De Beauvoir | Aristocratic particle + toponymic | de Beauvoir, Beauvoir | |
| De Gaulle | Aristocratic particle + family name | de Gaulle, DeGaulle | |
| De La Fontaine | Aristocratic particle + toponymic | de La Fontaine, La Fontaine | |
| De Sade | Aristocratic toponymic from Sade locality | de Sade, Sade | |
| Debré | Toponymic/family name from northwestern France | Debre, Debré | |
| Debussy | Toponymic/occupational origin uncertain | Debussy | |
| Decaux | Likely toponymic from small place-name | Decaux | |
| Delacroix | Toponymic “of the cross” | Delacroix | |
| Delage | Toponymic/occupational; Delâge variant exists | Delâge, Delage | |
| Delannoy | Toponymic (from a locale or family branch) | Delannoy | |
| Delaroche | Toponymic “of the rock” | Delaroche | |
| Delavigne | Toponymic “of the vine/vineyard” | Delavigne, de Lavigne | |
| Deligny | Toponymic, small-place origin | Deligny | |
| Delisle | Toponymic “of the island” | Delisle, De Lisle | |
| Delaunay | Toponymic, from Launay placename | Delaunay | |
| Denfert-Rochereau | Compound toponymic family name | Denfert-Rochereau | |
| Descartes | Patronymic/toponymic derivation | Descartes | |
| Deschamps | Toponymic “of the fields” | Deschamps | |
| Desmoulins | Toponymic/occupational variant | Desmoulins | |
| Desnos | Possibly toponymic or regional variant | Desnos | |
| Desportes | Toponymic/occupational | Desportes | |
| Desmarais | Toponymic “of the marshes” | Desmarais | |
| Diderot | Patronymic derived from Denis variant | Diderot | |
| Dumas | Patronymic, from “du mas” (farmstead) | Dumas | |
| Duchamp | Toponymic “of the field/champ” | Duchamp | |
| Duclos | Toponymic “of the enclosure/close” | Duclos | |
| Ducreux | Toponymic/family name from place or trade | Ducreux | |
| Dufour | Toponymic “of the oven/four” or regional variant | Dufour | |
| Dufresne | Toponymic “of the ash trees/wood” | Dufresne, Desfresnes | |
| Duhamel | Toponymic “of the hamlet” (hameau) | Duhamel | |
| Duhem | Patronymic/toponymic; regional Picardy roots | Duhem | |
| Dumas (see above) | Patronymic, from “du mas” (farmstead) | Dumas | |
| Dumont | Toponymic “of the mountain” | Dumont | |
| Dumoulin | Toponymic “of the mill” | Dumoulin | |
| Dupont | Toponymic “of the bridge” | Dupont | |
| Dupuis | Toponymic “of the well” (du puits) | Dupuis | |
| Dupuy | Toponymic from “puy” (hill) | Dupuy | |
| Duquesne | Toponymic “of the oak/du Quesne” | Duquesne | |
| Duval | Toponymic “of the valley” (du val) | Duval | |
| Duvalier | Derived from Duval; francophone Creole usage | Duvalier | |
| Durand | Patronymic, from Durant/Durantus | Durand | |
| Duret | Diminutive of Dur/derivative of Durand | Duret | |
| Dutilleux | Toponymic/occupational variant; from Tilleul? | Dutilleux | |
| Duvivier | Toponymic, “from the Vivier” (fish pond) | Duvivier |
Descriptions
D‘Alembert
Toponymic noble name from France; associated with Enlightenment science. Notable: Jean le Rond d’Alembert — mathematician and Encyclopédist.
D‘Aubigné
Old noble toponymic surname from western France. Notable: Agrippa d’Aubigné — poet, Huguenot chronicler.
D‘Artagnan
Famous Gascon noble name, romanticized by Dumas. Notable: Charles de Batz d’Artagnan — 17th‑century musketeer/officer.
D‘Arcy
Norman-origin family name found in northwestern France and England; medieval noble connections.
D‘Arc
Historic toponymic surname best known from medieval France. Notable: Jeanne d’Arc — national heroine.
D‘Estaing
Aristocratic southwestern French name tied to naval and political history. Notable: Charles Henri d’Estaing — admiral.
Daubigny
Rural toponymic surname; common in northern France. Notable: Charles‑François Daubigny — Barbizon school painter.
Daum
Well-known family name from Nancy; famous for Daum glassworks and Art Nouveau production.
De Beauvoir
Noble/formal particle surname; literary and intellectual associations. Notable: Simone de Beauvoir — writer/philosopher.
De Gaulle
Prominent 20th‑century political family. Notable: Charles de Gaulle — general and president.
De La Fontaine
Classic aristocratic-to‑toponym surname; central to French letters. Notable: Jean de La Fontaine — fabulist.
De Sade
Aristocratic name infamous for controversial writings. Notable: Marquis de Sade — writer/nobleman.
Debré
Political family name of the Fifth Republic; regional roots in western France. Notable: Michel Debré — statesman, PM.
Debussy
Associated with Brittany and northern France; strong cultural resonance. Notable: Claude Debussy — composer.
Decaux
Northern French surname with several public figures in arts and history. Notable: Alain Decaux — historian/TV presenter.
Delacroix
Widely recognized romantic-era name. Notable: Eugène Delacroix — leading Romantic painter.
Delage
Regional name found in several French regions; industrial link. Notable: Louis Delâge — automobile manufacturer.
Delannoy
Common in northern France and Belgium; arts and cinema links. Notable: Jean Delannoy — film director.
Delaroche
Associated with 19th‑century academic painting. Notable: Paul Delaroche — painter.
Delavigne
Literary surname with roots in northern France. Notable: Casimir Delavigne — poet and dramatist.
Deligny
Used in central France; known in social and literary circles. Notable: Fernand Deligny — writer and child educator.
Delisle
Historic cartographers and administrators. Notable: Guillaume Delisle — cartographer.
Delaunay
Artistic and scientific associations; seen across France. Notable: Robert Delaunay — modernist painter.
Denfert-Rochereau
Aristocratic/military family name strongly tied to 19th‑century France. Notable: Pierre Denfert‑Rochereau — defender of Belfort.
Descartes
Philosophical and scientific resonance. Notable: René Descartes — philosopher/mathematician.
Deschamps
Common in northern France; rural origins. Notable: Didier Deschamps — footballer and coach.
Desmoulins
Historic revolutionary-era surname with Parisian ties. Notable: Camille Desmoulins — journalist/revolutionary.
Desnos
20th‑century literary associations. Notable: Robert Desnos — surrealist poet.
Desportes
Renaissance and Baroque literary ties. Notable: Philippe Desportes — 16th‑century poet.
Desmarais
Common in France and Québec with merchant and political bearers. Notable: Paul Desmarais — Canadian businessman.
Diderot
Enlightenment cultural name. Notable: Denis Diderot — philosopher/Encyclopédiste.
Dumas
Very well-known literary name from southern France. Notable: Alexandre Dumas — novelist; Alexandre Dumas fils — writer.
Duchamp
Artistically resonant name from northern France. Notable: Marcel Duchamp — avant‑garde artist.
Duclos
Political and cultural family name. Notable: Jacques Duclos — Communist politician.
Ducreux
18th–19th‑century artistic connections. Notable: Joseph Ducreux — portrait painter.
Dufour
Widespread francophone surname; prominent in France and Switzerland. Notable: Guillaume‑Henri Dufour — Swiss general/cartographer.
Dufresne
Common in northern France and Québec with many bearers in arts and public life.
Duhamel
Northern French surname common in media and politics. Notable: Alain Duhamel — political journalist.
Duhem
Academic and scientific associations. Notable: Pierre Duhem — physicist and historian of science.
Dumas (see above)
Literary dynasty from the 19th century; see Alexandre Dumas.
Dumont
Widespread across France and francophone world. Notable: Jules Dumont d’Urville — explorer.
Dumoulin
Found in northern France and Belgium; sporting and cultural bearers. Notable: Tom Dumoulin — professional cyclist (Dutch, surname French origin).
Dupont
One of France’s most common surnames; symbolic “everyman” name. Notable: Pierre Dupont — 19th‑century songwriter/poet.
Dupuis
Common in northern France and Québec; many cultural and sporting figures carry the name.
Dupuy
Typical of southern France; numerous regional notables across politics and culture.
Duquesne
Historic maritime and noble associations. Notable: Abraham Duquesne — 17th‑century admiral.
Duval
Very common French surname seen across regions; many public figures and artists bear it.
Duvalier
Famous in francophone Caribbean political history. Notable: François Duvalier — President of Haiti.
Durand
One of France’s most frequent surnames; widespread regionally and historically notable families.
Duret
Used across France; known among craftsmen and artists historically.
Dutilleux
20th‑century musical associations. Notable: Henri Dutilleux — composer.
Duvivier
Historically present in northern France; literary and administrative bearers across centuries.