This list includes 57 French last names that start with J, from “Jabouille” to “Jézéquel”. Many reflect regional origins, especially Breton and Occitan, and include occupational or descriptive roots.
French last names that start with J are family names beginning with J used across France and francophone regions. They include Breton forms like “Jézéquel” and notable names such as “Jaurès.”
Below you’ll find the table with Surname, Meaning/Origin, Variants, and Notable people.
Surname: The family name as listed, so you can quickly locate spellings and alphabetical placement.
Meaning/Origin: A concise origin or meaning that explains geographic, occupational, or descriptive roots for the name.
Variants: Common alternate spellings and accent forms to help you match records across regions and time.
Notable people: One to three well-known individuals with the surname, giving cultural or historical context you can follow up.
French last names that start with J
| Surname | Variant spellings | Meaning/Origin | Estimated bearers in France | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacques | Jaques, Jack, Jakques | From given name Jacques (French James) | 18,000 | Widespread patronymic; found nationwide. Notables: Jean-François Jacques (writer), Françoise Jacques (politician). Common since Middle Ages, often a family name from the personal name. |
| Jacquet | Jacquetot, Jacquett | Diminutive of Jacques (little Jacques) | 6,500 | Regional concentrations in northern France. Notables: Jean-Baptiste Jacquet (musician), Marcel Jacquet (sculptor). Medieval diminutive turned surname. |
| Jacquemin | Jacqueminot, Jacqueminon | Diminutive of Jacques, French-Belgian origin | 4,000 | Seen in northeast France and Belgium border. Notables: Pierre Jacquemin (historian). Common in Picardy and Nord regions. |
| Jacquin | Jacquineau, Jacquien | Derived from Jacques, diminutive/formal variant | 3,500 | Attested since Renaissance. Notables: François Jacquin (composer), Nicolas Jacquin (writer). Widespread in Île-de-France and Rhône. |
| Jacot | Jacottet, Jacotte | Diminutive of Jacques, regional pet form | 2,000 | More frequent in eastern France. Notables: Théophile Jacot (engineer). Often indicates “son of Jacques” origin. |
| Jacquelin | Jaquelin, Jacqueline | Diminutive of Jacques; also medieval personal name | 1,800 | Normandy and northern France presence. Notables: Bertrand Jacquelin (politician). Historically both surname and medieval given name. |
| Jardin | Jardins, Jardinet | Occupational: gardener, from jardin (garden) | 2,200 | Rural and urban distribution, notably Brittany and Centre. Notables: Pierre Jardin (botanist). Topographic/occupational origin. |
| Jarre | Jarré, Jarret | Possibly topographic or occupational | 1,500 | Famous family includes Maurice Jarre (composer) and Jean-Michel Jarre (musician). Concentrated in southeastern France. |
| Jarry | Jarri, Jari | From Old French personal name or place | 1,700 | Notable: Alfred Jarry (playwright). Found in northern and western regions; literary resonance due to Alfred Jarry. |
| Jabouille | Jabouill, Jabouillet | Unknown; regional family name | 800 | Notable: Jean-Pierre Jabouille (racing driver). Origin mainly France; 20th-century prominence in motorsport. |
| Jaboulet | Jaboulet-Aîné, Jaboulette | Possibly from personal name Jacob/James | 600 | Rhône valley winemaking family (Maison Jaboulet). Regional Rhône-Alpes presence. |
| Jaubert | Jauberteau, Jaubart | From Germanic personal name Gauthbert variant | 1,200 | Found in southwestern France. Notables: François Jaubert (local politician). Medieval Germanic heritage. |
| Jauffret | Jaufret, Jaufrette | Diminutive/variant of Jaques or Geoffroy roots | 900 | Notable: François Jauffret (tennis player). Southern French clusters, Occitan links. |
| Jauzion | Jauciom, Jauzión | Likely Gascon/Béarnais origin, local family name | 700 | Notable: Yannick Jauzion (rugby) — strong regional Occitan identity in southwest France. |
| Jamin | Jamain, Jamainet | From Old French given name (Germaine roots) | 2,500 | Notables: Léon Jamin (writer). Present across France; variant forms in north and central regions. |
| Jamet | Jamett, Jametier | Diminutive of Jacques or James root | 3,000 | Historical records in Normandy and Loire. Notables: Claude Jamet (actor). Common small-family name. |
| Jamot | Jamault, Jamaultier | Possibly occupational or dialectal derivative | 1,400 | Notable: Emile Jamot (medical doctor). Seen in central-southern France; 19th-century attestations. |
| Janin | Janinot, Janinet | From given name Jean/Jan (diminutive) | 3,200 | Notables: Jules Janin (critic). Frequent in Burgundy and eastern France; literary associations. |
| Janvier | Janviero, Januar | From month name January, personal name origin | 2,800 | Regional presence in northern France. Notable: Claude Janvier (historian). Often given-name derived surname. |
| Janot | Janotte, Janotet | Diminutive of Jean/Jan | 1,000 | Localized occurrences in north-central France. Simple patronymic diminutive. |
| Jean | Jeannot, Jehan | From given name Jean (John) | 11,000 | Very common patronymic surname across France. Notables: Pierre Jean (composer), André Jean (politician). Nationwide distribution. |
| Jeanson | Jeansson, Jeansonn | Son of Jean (patronymic) | 1,600 | Notable: Paul Jeanson (writer). Northern and Parisian concentrations; patronymic formation. |
| Jeantet | Jeante, Jeantet-Lambert | From diminutive Jean/Jeanne forms | 700 | Notables: Philippe Jeantet (executive). Regional in Rhône-Alpes and Jura. |
| Jeanneret | Jeanneret-Gris, Jeanneret-Vin | From French-speaking Swiss origins (Jean) | 900 | Notable: Charles-Edouard Jeanneret (Le Corbusier) (architect). Present in eastern France and Swiss border areas. |
| Jézéquel | Jezéquel, Jezequel | Breton: “son of Gézé” or local family name | 1,100 | Breton surname concentrated in Finistère. Notables: Yann Jézéquel (artist). Strong Breton linguistic heritage. |
| Jolivet | Jolivette, Jolivaux | From joli (pretty) + diminutive, nickname origin | 2,300 | Notable: André Jolivet (composer). Common in Normandy and Loire; medieval nickname origin. |
| Joly | Jolliet, Jolley | From Old French joli (pleasant), nickname | 8,000 | Widespread; notables include Luc Joly (athlete). Popular across France, esp. north and Paris region. |
| Jolliet | Jolley, Jolliette | Variant of Joly or regional family name | 400 | Historical explorer Louis Jolliet (New France). Strong Canadian ties but French origin. |
| Joffre | Jofre, Jofré | Occitan form of Geoffrey/medieval personal name | 1,100 | Notable: Joseph Joffre (Marshal, WWI). Southern France origins (Occitan). |
| Joubert | Jouber, Jouberts | From Old Germanic “Gaubert” or topographic | 16,000 | Very common; notable: François Joubert (various), Eugène Joubert (actor). Nationwide distribution; historic medieval roots. |
| Joubin | Joubins, Joubertin | Possibly from Joubert or regional form | 500 | Notable: Louis Joubin (zoologist). Coastal and maritime associations, Breton presence. |
| Jouvenel | Jouvenelle, Jouvenaux | From vieux français for “youth” or place names | 700 | Notable: Bertrand de Jouvenel (political philosopher). Upper-class historic family in Paris region. |
| Jouvet | Jouvette, Jouveton | Diminutive/variant of Jouve/Jouvent | 1,200 | Notable: Louis Jouvet (actor). Strong theatrical association; Parisian cultural presence. |
| Jouve | Jouvé, Jouvier | From Latin juvenis “young” or place-based | 2,000 | Notable: Pierre Jouve (poet). Common in southern France and Languedoc. |
| Jouin | Jouyn, Jouinot | Regional surname, Norman/Breton traces | 1,300 | Architects and artisans with this name; regional in Brittany and Normandy. |
| Jousselin | Jousselinot, Jousselinier | Possibly diminutive of Josse or local origin | 900 | Notable: Paul Jousselin (engineer). Found in Centre and Loire valleys. |
| Jousseaume | Jousseaum, Jousseaumes | From Old French personal name Gosselin variant | 600 | Notable: Félix Jousseaume (malacologist). Maritime and coastal connections. |
| Jousset | Jousseaud, Joussin | Diminutive of Josse or regional derivative | 500 | Small-family name, localized in northwest France. |
| Juge | Jugé, Jugeret | Occupational: judge (from French juge) | 1,100 | Notables: Émile Juge (jurist). Often occupational surname, present nationwide. |
| Julien | Jullien, Julienot | From given name Julien (Julian) | 9,000 | Common patronymic surname. Notables: Marie-Julien Julien (artist), Paul Julien (politician). Widespread across France. |
| Jullien | Julliens, Julienne | Variant of Julien | 700 | Notable: Joseph Jullien (composer). Northern and Rhône regions. |
| Julliard | Julliarde, Jullard | Possibly diminutive of Jules/Julien | 800 | Notable: Claude Julliard (publisher). Cultural presence; publishing family name. |
| Junot | Dunois, Junotet | From given name Juneau/Junot family | 1,000 | Notable: Jean-Andoche Junot (general). Napoleonic-era prominence; western France occurrences. |
| Jourdan | Jordan, Jourdain | From given name Jordan or river Jordan | 3,500 | Notables: Pierre Jourdan (actor). Widespread; medieval pilgrim-name origin. |
| Jourdain | Jourdainot, Jourdainne | Variant of Jourdan, Frankish origin | 4,000 | Notable: Colette Jourdain (artist). Found nationwide; literary associations. |
| Journet | Journe, Journeau | Regional form of Jourdan/Jourdain | 600 | Notable: Marcel Journet (opera singer). Small but established family name. |
| Joyeux | Joye, Joyeuxet | From Old French “joyeux” (joyful), nickname | 400 | Notable: Louis Joyeux (philosopher). Often southern France, nickname-based origin. |
| Jaurès | Jaures, Jauresse | Occitan/local surname, unclear root | 300 | Notable: Jean Jaurès (socialist leader). Strongly associated with southwestern France. |
| Jospin | Jospinot, Jospinet | From medieval given name variant Joseph? | 1,200 | Notable: Lionel Jospin (former Prime Minister). Concentrated in southwest and Parisian circles. |
| Jeunet | Jeune, Jeunetier | From jeune “young”, nickname origin | 400 | Notable: Jean-Pierre Jeunet (film director). Modern cultural recognition. |
| Jouffroy | Jouffre, Jouffroi | From Old French personal name or nickname | 700 | Notable: François Jouffroy (sculptor). Northern and eastern France distribution. |
| Jouanneau | Jouanneaux, Jouanot | Breton/Norman variant of Jean/Joan family names | 500 | Regional: Brittany and Vendée. Maritime family presence. |
| Joannis | Joannes, Ioannis | From Greek/Latin John; Corsican/Provençal use | 300 | Regional in Corsica and Provence. Notable: Charles Joannis (clergy). |
| Juste | Just, Justet | From Latin justus “just, fair”, nickname | 900 | Notable: Simone Juste (educator). Found in Paris and southern France; moral/character nickname origin. |
| Jouët | Jouet, Jouette | Variant of Jouet; Champagne family name | 200 | Notable: Pierre-Nicolas Perrier-Jouët (winemaker). Champagne region prominence. |
| Jouan | Jouannet, Jouanot | Breton variant of Jean/John | 1,100 | Regional Brittany and Loire-Atlantique. Maritime and fishing associations. |
| Jeannot | Jeanot, Jeannotte | Diminutive of Jean used as surname | 600 | Present in overseas départements and France; notable local politicians. Patronymic diminutive. |
Descriptions
Jacques
Jacquet
Jacquemin
Jacquin
Jacot
Jacquelin
Jardin
Jarre
Jarry
Jabouille
Jaboulet
Jaubert
Jauffret
Jauzion
Jamin
Jamet
Jamot
Janin
Janvier
Janot
Jean
Jeanson
Jeantet
Jeanneret
Jézéquel
Jolivet
Joly
Jolliet
Joffre
Joubert
Joubin
Jouvenel
Jouvet
Jouve
Jouin
Jousselin
Jousseaume
Jousset
Juge
Julien
Jullien
Julliard
Junot
Jourdan
Jourdain
Journet
Joyeux
Jaurès
Jospin
Jeunet
Jouffroy
Jouanneau
Joannis
Juste
Jouët
Jouan
Jeannot