150+ French Last Names

A colorful French surname that could appeal to English speakers.

Dapper-sounding choice with old American roots (Dabney Cosby was a 19th century Virginian architect who worked with Thomas Jefferson on some of that state's most iconic buildings). Dabney Montgomery was Martin Luther King Jr's bodyguard, giving this name yet more American history depth. Dab is a sweet nickname option for this name.

If you're seeking a French artist name that goes beyond Monet and Manet, Daumier -- known for his revealing caricatures -- makes a rich, sophisticated choice.

Linked to the early days of feminism via Germaine Greer, this saint's name feels neither French nor German enough.

Chaplin carries two very distinctive images: the beloved Little Tramp and a minister, often to the military. It was the baby-name choice of Ever Carridine in 2010.

The fashionable occupational last name category gets some French flair with this, Tennessee Williams's middle name.

Pleasant-sounding French surname.

How to spruce up Fisher or Beau? This French surname-name might be an option for a parent unafraid of the unusual. The name derives from Barbel, a type of fish, which is how it became a surname for some fishermen.

The Disney surname is derived from the French d'Isigny, referring to someone from the Norman town of Isigny. Isigny may be etymologically related to the Germanic name Iso.

Surname of a fifteenth-century saint and a twenty-first-century quarterback, Brett Favre.

Durant's meaning signifies staying power, a good quality to impart to your child. Notables with the surname Durant include Pulitzer Prize-winning authors Will and Ariel Durant, most famous for their eleven-volume The Story of Civilization, and William Crappo Durant, co-founder of General Motors and Chevrolet.

Rhythmic and energetic, Drury is of French origin, with the wonderful meaning of "dear one, sweetheart."

Luxury baby name associated with Jacques Cartier's eponymous jewelry company.

This name's all-male occupational roots help it break the Barbara bonds, but still not the most inspiring surname choice.

Probably derived from the Breton name Judoc, meaning "lord". As a first name, it's predominantly found in French-speaking African countries. As a surname, it famously belonged to former French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin (in office 1997-2002).

Old-timey surname that's been very rarely used.

This could be a fresh way to honor an ancestral Walter.

This French last name is often written as Dupont, but can also be rendered as Du Pont, DuPont, duPont, or du Pont. In the US, it's commonly associated with the du Pont family — one of the wealthiest old money American families whose fortune arose from manufacturing gunpowder.

Associated with comedian Stephen Colbert, who uses the French pronunciation of his name as a bit (the rest of his family of origin use the English pronunciation).