Family names derived from first names

(Here is just an overview list)

Originally, the nicknames derived from first names were written down in the forms based on speech contexts: Martin le fils (the son) Guillaume, Marie la fille (the daughter) au Bossu, Marie la femme (the woman) de Bernard or Jean le Martin. These forms were shortened over time and preserved in different ways in the family names:

(1) Preposition + first name: Aubossu, Debernard, Dauger, Daubert, Auberthier, Deguy, Dejean;

(2) First name + explanation: Jeanfils, Petitjean (small);

(3) First name: Bernard, Auger, Aubert, Guy, Jean, Guillaume, Martin, Paul.

As in German, the group of patronymics is characterized by numerous variants that are based on the addition of diminutive endings such as -et, -ot, -in, -on, -aud or -ard. On the one hand, these endings may have been used to form the underlying first name. On the other hand, they can be used to express affiliation in the sense of ‘the little one or the son of …’.

the names: Denis – Deniset, Denisot, Guillaume – Guillot, Martin – Martinaud, Martinet, Martinon, Jehan – Jehannet, Jehannin, Michel – Michelin, Michard, Michet, Michaud, Etienne – Tenon, Tenot, Etiennot, Etiennet or Robert – Robin

Family names according to origin

(Here is just an overview list)

The names according to origin from places are preceded by the preposition de ‘from’ when recorded in writing:

de Beauvais, de Besançon, de Caen.

The names of origin did not remain in this form, however. Over time, the preposition was eliminated for names with two or more syllables. Beauvais or Besançon was thus established. In the case of one-syllable family names, the preposition could be omitted, but could also merge with the name: Caen, Decaen or Metz, Demetz are attested.

To indicate origin from regions and countries, the corresponding ethnic name is chosen: Picard (Picardie), Lelorrain (Lorraine), Lebreton (Brittany) or Lallemand (Germany).

Like the names of origin from places, the names of residential places were also recorded in writing according to the context of the speech. The following variants have been established:

(1) Article + preposition + location: Delaforest (forest), Delaroche (rock), Delaporte (gate), Delaplace (square).

The frequently prefixed Du- combines the preposition de and the masculine article le: Duval (valley), Dubois (forest), Dulac (lake);

(2) Preposition + location: Depont (bridge), Devallée (valley), Desfontaines (spring), Desroches (rock);

(3) Article + location: Lafontaine (spring), Laforêst (forest), Lavallée (valley), Lecru (cave), Lehec (gate);

(4) The end point of the weakening process is the naming of the location without any further additions: Forest, Lac, Bois, Roche.

Occupational names

(Here is just an overview list)

Occupational names can arise directly from a job title, whereby formations with and without articles are possible:

(1) Without article: Meunier (miller), Fèvre (blacksmith), Pêcheur (fisherman), Tondeur (sheep shearer), Gachet (guardian);

(2) With article: Lefèvre, (blacksmith), Lhuillier (oil producer, dealer), Lethuillier (brickmaker), Leveneur (hunter), Levandier (dealer).

On the other hand, indirect occupational names were formed in French by referring to the work tool, material or product. Examples of this are the names Roty (rosti ‘roast meat, roast’), Caulet (caulet ‘cabbage’), Marteau (marteau ‘hammer’) or Carbon (carbon ‘coal’).

Nicknames

(Here is just an overview list)

As in German, nicknames in French also reveal a wide variety of naming motives. However, here too they primarily refer to peculiarities in the character and external appearance of the first name bearer.

On the one hand, there are names through direct designation: Blanc (white), Lefort (strong), Petit (small), Jeune (young), Brunet (brown), Joli (beautiful), Barbet (beard), Jambe, (leg), Pocquet (leaf, smallpox), Lebossé (hump), Lefils (son).

On the other hand, there are names that refer to the naming motive in a figurative sense: Bourdon (bumblebee, humping fly), Rossignol (nightingale), Leloup (wolf), Lutun (goblin), Comte (count), Ombre (shadow), Pellet (hair), Trichot (deception).

Nicknames often preserve regional vocabulary, the names that refer to the less flattering features of the person named first, sometimes the street and rogue language of the Middle Ages: Baube (stuttering), Hérissé (shaggy), Hingre (skinny), Clopin (limping).

Suffixes such as -art, -aut, -ier, -on, -et can have not only diminutive but also pejorative meanings in a nickname: Chauvet (chauve ‘bald’), Froissard (froissier ‘destroy, dismember’), Goiset (gosier ‘throat, gullet’), Pecquet (pecque ‘stupid’), Petitot, Pinget (pingue ‘fat, fat’).

Examples based on origin and modification

(Here is just an overview list)

Germain: Schermeng

Hubin: Hubing

Jeandin: Chanding, Schandin, Schandein

Jourdain: Schording

Saint-Marc: Sémar

Saint-Paul: Sentpol, Senktpaul

Toussaint: Dussing, Tussing

Vincent: Weisang

Allmand: Allmang, Alman

Clément: Klemang

Croissant: Grassan, Grassant

Detemple: teilweise Detampel

Grojean, Grosjean: Grosan, Großan

Jourdain: Schordan

Laurent: Lorang, Lohrang, Lohreng, Lorent

Marchand: Marschand

Paysan: Baysang, Beysang, Paysang

Baudeson: Botzong, Botzung, Bozung

Berlion: Berlejung

Boutemont: Buttmann

Carbon: Karbung

Collon: Collong, Gollong

Dumont: Dumong

Housson: Hussong, Hussung, Houssong

Legron: Leckron, Legrom, Ligrum

Maçon: Masson, Massong, Massohn

Perron: Perong, Perrung, Berrang

Person: Persang

Garrigues: Jariges

Germain: Schermeng

Gillot: Schillo

Girard: Schirra

Grojean, Grosjean: Grosan, Großan

Jacquet: Schacke

Jeandin: Chanding, Schandin, Schandein

Jeanne: Schahn, Tschan

Joli, Joly: Jouly, Schuly

Micheaud, Migeot: Mischo

Vinçon: Vinson

Maçon: Masson, Massong, Massohn

Clément: Klemang

Dacqué: Dackee

Héritier: Ehritt

Lavalée: Laval

Lamarché: Lamarche

Baudeson: Botzong, Botzung, Bozung

Caulaincourt: Collingro, Kollingkro

Laurent: Lorang, Lohrang, Lohreng, Lorent

Micheaud, Migeot: Mischo

Bouquet: Buque

Jourdain: Schording

Louis: Luy, Lui

Housson: Hussong, Hussung, Houssong

Boutemont: Buttmann

Radoux: Radu

Toussaint: Dussing, Tussing

Dumont: Dumong

Dupont: selten Düpont

Dupré: Düpré, Düpre

Leduc: Ledück

Charrier: Scharrier

Chevalier: Schwalie, Schwalge

Hochard: Hoschar

Marchand: Marschand

Lavalée: Lawall

Vilotte: Wiloth, Willot, Wilot

Bouquet: Buque

Breford: Brefort, Brehforth

Deprez: Depré, Debre

Gillot: Schillo

Hochard: Hoschar

Jacquet: Schacke

Micheaud, Migeot: Mischo

Radoux: Radu

Perrot: Berroth, Berrodt

Picard: Bickar, Bigar, Pickert

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Source

Margit Hartig und Judith Schwanke französische Familiennamen im deutschen Sprachgebiet, 458 ff.