The surname French is of English origin. It was an enthic name for someone who was from France, from the Middle English ‘frensche’. In some cases it may originally have been no more than a nickname for someone who adopted French airs. The name thus comes to signify ‘one from France’. Irish bearers of this name are said to be descended from Theophilus de Frensche, a Norman baron who accompanied William the Conqueror, a branch of whose descendants settled in Wexford ( 1300 ). Some of the family settled in Roscommon ( 1620 ) and this was the branch that produced Field Marshal Sir John French ( 1852-1925 ), commander-in-chief of the British Expeditionary Force in the First World War. The name dates back to the twelfth century were a Simon le Frensch is recorded in historical archives. The name has evovled through Frensch, Frenche, Frencisc, Frennsce and Frenche until the modern form of the name was reached. The name was brought to America predominately by English immigrants. One of the first fore fathers to bring this name to America is that of a James French, who emigrated to America aboard the ba…
Coat of arms: Ermine, a chevron sable, a c…