This list includes 16 French last names that start with Q, from “Queffélec” to “Quéré”. Many come from regional dialects and maritime trade, reflecting France’s geographic and cultural diversity.
French last names that start with Q are surnames found in France and francophone regions beginning with the letter Q. Some, like “Queffélec,” show clear regional origins, such as Breton roots and literary notability.
Below you’ll find the table with Surname, Meaning/Origin, Notable people, Variants.
Surname: Use this column to see the exact family name, including accents and punctuation as commonly written in French records.
Meaning/Origin: You find a concise origin or meaning here, helping place the name geographically or linguistically.
Notable people: This lists one to three notable bearers so you can recognize cultural, literary, or historical connections quickly.
Variants: See common alternative spellings and regional forms to broaden your search in records and indexes.
French last names that start with Q
| Surname | Meaning | Variant spellings | Notable people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queffélec | From Breton place-name Kerfelec, “house of Felec” | Queffelec, Queffélec | Henri Queffélec — writer; Yann Queffélec — novelist; Anne Queffélec — pianist |
| Queneau | Possibly from Old French “quenet” or regional nickname | Queneau | Raymond Queneau — novelist and poet |
| Quenneville | Topographic/place name (likely Norman origin) | Quenneville, Quenevile | Joel Quenneville — ice hockey coach (Canada); John Quenneville — hockey player |
| Quesnel | Derived from Old French “quesne” (oak) meaning “place of oaks” | Qusnel, Quesnel(le) | François Quesnel — painter (16th–17th c.) |
| Quesnay | From Old French “quesne” (oak) — “place of the oak” | Quesnai, de Quesnay | François Quesnay — economist (physiocrat) |
| Quéré | Breton surname, from personal name or place (exact origin debated) | Quere, Quéré | |
| Quéguiner | Breton patronymic or toponymic origin, likely connected to a personal name | Queguiner, Quéguiner | |
| Quéméneur | Breton occupational or patronymic name | Quemeneur, Quémeneur | |
| Quillivic | Breton place-name or nickname origin | Quillivic | René Quillivic — sculptor |
| Quiles | Catalan/Occitan origin (from “Quiles”, variant of Guiles) | Quilès, Quiles | |
| Quilfen | Probably Breton or northern French regional name | Quilfen | Bernard Quilfen — professional cyclist |
| Quilici | Corsican/Italianate surname, likely from personal name or toponym | Quilici, Quilichi | |
| Quintal | From Old French “quintal” (weight) or toponymic origin | Quintall, Quintal | |
| Quintin | From Latin “quintinus” (fifth) or place name (Quintin, Brittany) | Quintin, Quintin | |
| Quintard | Derived from Latin “quintarius” or regional adaptation | Quintart, Quintard | |
| Quentin | From Latin “Quintinus” meaning “fifth” (used as surname) | Quentin, Quentain |
Descriptions
Queffélec
Breton-origin name common in Finistère, modest frequency in France and francophone Canada; strongly associated with the Queffélec literary family.
Queneau
Literary surname best known from Raymond Queneau; Parisian and northern France distribution, relatively rare but culturally prominent due to 20th-century literature.
Quenneville
Surname attested in Normandy and francophone Canada; more common in Quebec, linked to families who emigrated to Canada in 17th–18th centuries.
Quesnel
Widespread in France and especially frequent in Quebec; originally topographic (“oak grove”), moderate frequency in francophone records.
Quesnay
Historic Norman name tied to landed families; notable from 18th-century economist François Quesnay; present in France and historically in Normandy.
Quéré
Common in Brittany (Finistère), typical Breton surname; relatively frequent locally, rare elsewhere in France; often associated with fishing and coastal communities.
Quéguiner
Characteristically Breton, concentrated in north-west Brittany; medium local frequency, reflecting regional linguistic forms and historic Breton naming.
Quéméneur
Strongly Breton (Finistère, Côtes-d’Armor); moderately rare nationally but common regionally; reflects Breton morphology and medieval naming patterns.
Quillivic
Distinctly Breton, most frequent in Finistère; modest national frequency but notable cultural presence thanks to sculptor René Quillivic.
Quiles
Common in southern France, especially Languedoc and Roussillon; Catalan roots, moderate frequency locally and in francophone Spain-border regions.
Quilfen
Attested in Brittany and northern France; relatively rare nationally but known in sporting circles through Bernard Quilfen.
Quilici
Corsican origin, present on the island and in metropolitan France; reflects island’s Italianate onomastic heritage, generally uncommon outside Corsica.
Quintal
Found in Savoy, Rhône-Alpes and overseas (Réunion); moderate rarity, sometimes connected to occupational or local toponymic roots.
Quintin
Attested in Brittany and northwest France; both patronymic and toponymic uses; relatively uncommon but historically rooted in Breton and Norman areas.
Quintard
Regional surname found in southeastern and central France; scarce nationally but attested in civil records and regional genealogies.
Quentin
Used as both given name and surname, present across France; more common as a forename but also appears as a family name in various regions.