France has the most surnames in the world – why? The curious history of patronymics

Smith. Jones. Brown. Williams.

Humanity has used last names – surnames – since the late Middle Ages, originating in aristocratic family traditions and becoming more popular as people moved into cities and passed their possessions (and names) to their children.

Over time, these surnames have modified, disappeared, and reappeared, as people move, languages adapt, and traditions change. Names could be derived from traits (like translations for ‘red-haired’ or ‘deer-like’), nicknames (Henry changing into Harry then Harris), occupations (Archer, Baker), or locations (like Fields, Holmes, Woods, or from regions, like the name Davignon from the French city Avignon).

And while most people have met those who share their last name, that case might be a bit more difficult if you’re from France. Over the last century, it is estimated that there are over one million surnames in France, and over 200,000 surnames have disappeared while 520,000 new surnames have appeared – dominating other European countries like the UK (which has 45,000), and worldwide (China and Korea only have a few hundred).

So by far, France has the largest number of surnames – and the reason why is not as simple as you may think. 

Image of French King Louis XIV: Nicholas / Pexels

Time Magazine reports that “Names have been a matter of high national policy in France since 1539, when King François I decreed that the names of all newborn children had not only to be registered but also submitted to priests for approval, which usually meant that the names had to be chosen from the saints’ hagiography.”

For centuries, the French lived under strict rules that dictated how they should name their children, usually biblical in nature. But because there were a limited number of these names, by the early 19th century, they were running out of ways to distinguish themselves – requiring people to become creative with spelling. 

A study done by the Atlas of Surnames in France revealed the influence of patronymics and immigration in French naming. Patronymics refers to the patrilineal and hierarchical act of transferring surname from father to child. In English, we often use the suffix ‘son’ to designate a patronymic (such as Harris-son turning into Harrison), which is often replicated in other languages – the Scottish use Mc or Mac (McGregor), the Irish use O (O’Brien) or Mc/Mac, and the Greeks add ‘poulos’ (Dimitropoulos meaning ‘son of Dimitrios’).

The French use this tactic as well, but their patronymics are incredibly diverse, as different spellings and dialects were registered as independent names in the census. 

For example, the following names are all derived from ‘Jacques’: Jaquet, Jacquot, Jacotot, Jacotin, Cottet, Cottin, Cotin, Jacquin, Jacquinet, Jacquinot, Jacquart, and Jacquier.

Furthermore, the Institute of Statistics says 50 to 80% of French citizens may bear rare family names (which means fewer than 50 bearers were alive at the time of the census). 

These family names are often preserved, as French women do not legally change their names when they marry – they retain their maiden name on forms of ID, just adopt their husband’s as a “usage name” for daily life.

The authors of the study also say another key cause in France’s surname surplus is immigration – which introduced new names to the melting pot. 

While the most popular surnames are still Martin, Bernard, and Robert, as of 2021, 10.3% of the population of France are immigrants, which increased the popularity of surnames like Silva and Santos (of Portuguese origin), Diallo or Konate (of West African, French-colonial origin), or Fischer or Weiss (of German origin).

Additionally, according to Time, the French courts are open to even more name-changes: 

“French law still explicitly allows and even encourages Frenchmen to change surnames that are considered to reflect poorly on France and the French,” they said, referring to a nom ridicule, or ‘ridiculous name.’

So while you may be able to change your surname if you were unfortunately given the title Monsieur Duck, Cow, Camel, Ass, or Snipe, courts rarely enforce these changes – instead allowing them to exist amongst the rich cultural history of France. 

Header image: Stephen Leonardi / Pexels