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France History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

France History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France

From the historical and enchanting region of France emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished France family. Originally, the people of this region went by one (personal) name. Surnames evolved during the Middle Ages when people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. These names then began to be "fixed" or hereditary. One of the types of names adopted as surnames, were habitational names; those derived from place names. The France surname was likely first used by someone who held lands belonging to the French king, or perhaps for someone from the Île de France. A habitational name was often used for someone who had moved away from the place after which they were named. This name was sometimes used by soldiers in the feudal period. In French Canada, it was used as secondary "dit" name.

Early Origins of the France family

The surname France was first found in Picardy (French: Picardie) in northern France, where this celebrated family held a family seat since ancient times.

One of the noble branches of the family originates from Jehan La France and a distinctive member of this branch was the Attorney of the King at the Bailliage (district government) of Orléans in 1378. The family remained at Montech during the 1400's and Pierre of Montech is recorded as staying at Montauban around 1500. In 1570, Pierre was a Consul and then in 1596 he was promoted to 1st consul. Jean, Attorney for the King in the Chamber of Edicts of Castres in 1640, was the remaining member of the branch of the France Mandoul family and in 1651, he was granted the title of Lord of Mandoul.

By 1721, this noble family had branched to Béarn, Gascogne, Périgord and Comtat. As a result of their prominent position in society, the family formed many alliances with other powerful families of the times and in this way, the family acquired several titles and lands as dowries. The Béarn family of France possessed the seigniory of Benejac and of Incamps. However, this branch took the name of Vignau after an alliance with the Vignau family of Biaznos.

Jacques Lafrance, born in 1678, son of Jacques and Marie, travelled from France to Canada in the 17th century. After arriving in the Canadian province of Quebec he married Marie-Louise Alary, born in 1686, daughter of René and Louise, on 21st November 1712. They remained together in Quebec until Jacques passed away on 24th December 1750. Marie-Louise passed away on 18th July 1754. 1

Early History of the France family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our France research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1223, 1291, 1297, 1300, 1354, 1357 and 1363 are included under the topic Early France History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

France Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lafrance, Lafrence, Lafrense, Lafrensse, Lafronce, Lafransse, Lafranse, Lafronse, Lafronsse, France, Francès, Frence, Frenche, Lefrance, Lefranche, Le France, La Franse, French, Frances, Lafrence, Lafrench and many more.

Early Notables of the France family

Notable amongst the family name at this period was

Jehan La France, a lawyer to the King during the 1300's

France Ranking

In the United States, the name France is the 2,209^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 2 However, in France, the name France is ranked the 2,810^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 3

France migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

France Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Jon France, who landed in Virginia in 1637 4
John France, who settled in Virginia in 1651
William France, who arrived in Virginia in 1654 4
Thomas France, who arrived in Maryland in 1680 4
Robert France, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1682
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

France Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Assmes France, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1739 4
Assmes. France, who settled in Philadelphia in 1739
Erasmus France, who arrived at Philadelphia in 1739
Hanes France, who arrived at Philadelphia in 1739
Edward France who settled in Boston in 1767
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

France Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joseph France, aged 20, who arrived in Rhode Island in 1812 4
John France, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1826 4
Jacob France, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 4
William France, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 4
A M France, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

France migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

France Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Richard France, British Convict who was convicted in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Caledonia" on 5th July 1820, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
Joseph France, English convict from Worcester, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on July 29th, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 6
Mr. William France, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 27th May 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
Mr. William France, English convict who was convicted in Kingston Upon Hull, Yorkshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 30th September 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 8

France migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

France Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

F J France, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Lady Nugent
Ruth France, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Lady Nugent
Frederick John France, aged 35, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" in 1841
Ruth France, aged 31, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" in 1841
Frederick France, aged 5, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" in 1841
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name France (post 1700) +

Frederick Douglas "Doug" France Jr. (1953-2016), American National Football League offensive lineman
Alfred E. France (1927-2015), American businessman and politician, Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives (1963-1970)
Michael France (1962-2013), American screenwriter, best remembered for writing screenplays for Cliffhanger (1993), GoldenEye (1995), Hulk (2003), and Fantastic Four (2005)
Todd France, American professional football player
Anatole France (1844-1924), French author
Sir Arnold France, Chairman of Board of Church of England
Simon Peter France (1958-2023), New Zealand lawyer and jurist from Whangarei, Judge of the High Court of New Zealand (2005–2022) and Court of Appeal of New Zealand (2022–2023)
Sir Arnold William France, British Chairman Central Board of Finance
Robbie France (b. 1959), English drummer, producer, arranger, journalist, music educator, and broadcaster
Stuart France O'Connell (1935-2019), New Zealand prelate, 5th Catholic Bishop of Rarotonga (1996–2011)

Citations +

Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caledonia
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1823 with 151 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1823
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th November 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden