Here you’ll find 28 French last names that start with N that begin with N, organized from “Nadal” to “Néron”. Many reflect regional origins, given names, or descriptive nicknames used historically in France.
French last names that start with N are family names borne across France and francophone regions. They often derive from personal names, places, or old occupations, and sometimes show regional accents.
Below you’ll find the table with Surname, Origin/Meaning, Notable people, and Variants.
Surname: The family name as written; use it to match records, citations, and genealogical searches accurately.
Origin/Meaning: Brief explanation of the linguistic root, original meaning, or place association; helps you understand name background.
Notable people: One to three noteworthy bearers, with brief identifiers, so you can connect names to historical or cultural figures.
Variants/Notes: Spelled variants, accents, and short usage notes to help you recognize alternate forms in records.
French last names that start with N
| Surname | Variant spellings | Meaning/Origin | Notable bearers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nadal | Nadau | Catalan/Occitan; “Christmas” or personal name | Rafael Nadal — tennis player |
| Nadeau | Nadot, Nadaux | Patronymic/diminutive, common in Quebec | Pierre Nadeau — Canadian journalist |
| Nadon | Nadon (Quebec variant of Nadeau) | Quebec variant of Nadeau; patronymic/diminutive | Guy Nadon — actor |
| Naudin | Naudin, Naudín | Diminutive of “Naud”, pet form of Arnaud | Charles Victor Naudin — botanist |
| Nahon | Nahon, Nahum | Sephardic Jewish (Judeo‑Spanish) origin | Alice Nahon — poet (Belgium) |
| Nansouty | de Nansouty, Nansouthy | Toponymic noble name from Gascony region | Étienne‑Marie de Nansouty — cavalry general |
| Nattier | Nattier | Likely occupational/regional family name | Jean‑Marc Nattier — painter |
| Necker | Necker | Swiss‑French; from Germanic personal name | Jacques Necker — statesman |
| Neveu | Neveu | French word “nephew” — familial nickname | Jacques Neveu — mathematician |
| Niel | Niel, Niell | From given name “Niel/Neil” (Gaelic/Germanic origins) | Adolphe Niel — Marshal of France |
| Néron | Neron, Néron | From Latinized personal name (Nero) or family line | André Néron — mathematician |
| Nicolet | Nicolet | Diminutive of Nicolas, “little Nicolas” | Jean Nicolet — explorer |
| Nicot | Nicot | Pet form of Nicolas | Jean Nicot — diplomat |
| Nicolas | Nicolas | From Greek Nikolaos, “victory of the people” | Jean Nicolas — footballer |
| Nicolle | Nicolle | Feminine/diminutive form of Nicolas | Charles Nicolle — bacteriologist (Nobel laureate) |
| Nizan | Nizan | Provincial surname; literary family name | Paul Nizan — writer |
| Nivelle | Nivelle | Toponymic, from the Nivelle river/region | Robert Nivelle — general |
| Nogaret | Nogaret | Toponymic from a place-name “Nogaret” | Guillaume de Nogaret — royal councillor |
| Noguès | Noguès, Nogué | Occitan, from “noguer” meaning “walnut tree” | Henri Noguès — general |
| Nohain | Nohain | Toponymic/pseudonym from river Nohain | Jean Nohain — writer and presenter |
| Noël | Noël, Noel | French “Christmas”, for those born at Christmas | Christian Noël — Olympic fencer |
| Noiret | Noiret | Diminutive of “Noir”, “little dark/black-haired” | Philippe Noiret — actor |
| Nollet | Nollet | From Old French; occupational or regional name | Jean‑Antoine Nollet — physicist |
| Nougaro | Nougaro | Occitan, from “nogar” meaning “walnut grove” | Claude Nougaro — singer‑songwriter |
| Nouvel | Nouvel | From French “nouvel”, meaning “new” | Jean Nouvel — architect |
| Ney | Ney | From Germanic given name or nickname meaning “new” | Michel Ney — Marshal of France |
| Noyer | Noyer, Le Noyer | From French “noyer” — walnut tree or grove | — |
| Normand | Normand | Ethnic name meaning “from Normandy” | — |
Descriptions
Nadal
Common in Catalonia and in southern France; Occitan roots and often found among francophone communities with Catalan heritage.
Nadeau
Very frequent in Quebec and present in France; a common family name among French-Canadian genealogies and migratory histories.
Nadon
Widely attested in Quebec and among francophone Canadians; often treated as a regional spelling of Nadeau.
Naudin
Found across France; medieval personal-name origin, recorded in provincial and scholarly families.
Nahon
Attested among Sephardic families in France, North Africa, and Belgium; common in Mediterranean francophone circles.
Nansouty
Historic aristocratic surname tied to Napoleonic cavalry; appears in military and noble genealogies.
Nattier
Associated with Parisian artistic circles of the 18th century; known from notable artists and craftsmen.
Necker
Prominent banker and statesman of the 18th century; name is well known in French political and financial history.
Neveu
A common French surname across regions, originally a kinship nickname that became hereditary.
Niel
Found in northern and central France; borne by military and civic figures.
Néron
Recorded in scholarly and provincial families; known in mathematics via the Néron model and in regional registers.
Nicolet
Common in France and historic in New France (Canada); borne by explorers and colonial families.
Nicot
Famous from Jean Nicot, who introduced tobacco to France; surname appears in northern and Parisian records.
Nicolas
Both a frequent given name and an established surname across France and francophone countries.
Nicolle
Found in Normandy and northern France; notable scientific and colonial associations.
Nizan
Known for the writer Paul Nizan; appears in 20th‑century literary and intellectual circles.
Nivelle
A surname tied to geographic features in the France‑Spain borderlands; borne by military leaders.
Nogaret
Medieval and early modern presence; associated with royal administration and legal history.
Noguès
Common in southern Occitan regions; agricultural and toponymic roots in walnut cultivation.
Nohain
Used as a literary name and family name; connected to cultural figures in 20th‑century France.
Noël
Very common surname and given name in France; retains diacritic and seasonal naming history.
Noiret
Well known from the acclaimed actor Philippe Noiret; widespread in northern and central France.
Nollet
Recorded among clergy and scientific families; associated with 18th‑century intellectual life.
Nougaro
Strongly tied to southern France (Occitania); family names with Occitan morphology and cultural presence.
Nouvel
Modern surname borne by renowned contemporary figures; appears in urban and cultural registers.
Ney
Historic military surname famous from Marshal Ney; common in northeastern France and military history.
Noyer
Toponymic and occupational surname across rural France; linked to walnut orchards and village names.
Normand
Very common in France and francophone Canada; marks ancestral origin from Normandy and appears often in genealogies.