Surname Ffrench - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'F'
Ffrench: What does the surname Ffrench mean?
The last name Ffrench is of Anglo-Norman origin and is associated with those who trace their lineage back to the Norman invaders of Ireland. The double "f" in the beginning of Ffrench signifies the original pronunciation of the name in the Norman language, and it also highlights the family's status as invaders or foreigners. The name literally means 'of French origin' or 'the Frenchman'. This naming convention was likely used to differentiate Norman migrants from native Irish or British peoples. Even though the Ffrench family was originally from Normandy, over centuries they have been recognized as one of the oldest, and most noble families in Ireland, specifically associated with Galway. The family has a long history with several notable members including military officers, politicians, and archaeologists. The Ffrench family's Coat of Arms signifies their noble status and their motto is "Malo mori quam foedari", which translates to 'it is better to die than be disgraced'.
Order DNA origin analysisFfrench: Where does the name Ffrench come from?
The last name Ffrench is of Anglo-Norman Irish origin. Specifically, it originates from the Norman family name De Freynes, meaning "Ash." The family name was established in Ireland as early as 1300 after the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169. The family initially settled in County Wexford, and later, their descendants spread across various parts of Ireland, establishing significant branches in counties Roscommon and Galway. The double "f" in the name Ffrench is an archaic method of capitalizing the "f," and over time, it has remained that way, leading to the current spelling.
Today, Ffrench is still relatively common in Ireland, specifically in the regions where their lineage had been established: Galway and Roscommon. However, like many Irish surnames, Ffrench can also be found in areas where Irish diaspora settled, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. Still, it remains much less frequent than other Irish surnames such as Murphy or Kelly.
Variations of the surname Ffrench
The surname Ffrench is primarily associated with Irish and British heritage. The double initial 'F' is often used to signify a Welsh background, but it's not exclusive to this origin.
The surname Ffrench can also be commonly found as French without the extra 'f'. This spelling could be due to Anglicization over the years and is common in English-speaking countries.
In terms of variants, the surname Ffrench may have evolved or been adapted into different forms like Ffrench-Beytagh, Ffrench-Blake, Ffrench-Mullen, or Ffrench-Davies, through marriage or blending of families.
The surname French also has many variants including ffrench, Ffrench, ffrench-Blake, ffrench-Davis, and Frenchman. There's also a possibility of the name being spelled as 'France' due to similarity in pronunciation and historical documentation errors, although this surname usually derives from a different origin.
The addition of prefixes or suffixes can be common in names too, allowing for additional variations, such as Le Ffrench or Ffrenchville, indicating a possible location-based surname.
The Ffrench and French surnames are now dispersed globally, due to emigration, and are prominent in America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand in addition to their original places of Britain and Ireland.
Famous people with the name Ffrench
- Nellie Ffrench: Model, human-rights activist and the founder of the sustainable and ethical fashion-brand Fforrester.
- Johnny Ffrench: Actor and Comedian, known for his roles in the BBC's Absolutely Fabulous, Live at the Apollo, and The Lily Savage Show.
- Sir Patrick Ffrench: One of the last UK Prime Ministers known as the 'Legal Lord' who had a long standing involvement in the political turmoil of his time.
- Martin Ffrench: Musician and songwriter. Best known for his work in the folk and rock genres.
- Helen Ffrench: Creator of the comic book The Chickening and the illustrator behind the Peter Rabbit series graphic novels.
- Dr. Emmeline Ffrench: Veterinarian and one of the first female scientists to be elected honourary fellow of the Royal Veterinary College, London in 1925.
- Tom Ffrench: Legendary actor who starred in classic films such as The Goonies, 16 Candles, and The Breakfast Club.
- Claude Ffrench: Architect and urban planner most famous for his collaborations with French-Bauhaus architects Le Corbusier and André Lurçat during the Second World War.
- Alois Ffrench: Physicist and Engineer and chairman of the Institute of Data Processing, consultant in the International Atomic Energy Agency.
- Lady Hazel Ffrench: Environmentalist and activist heiress, who has been decorated twice by Queen Elizabeth II for her eminence service to promote human and animal rights.