French is a distinguished name long counted among the great merchant families of Galway.
Where does the French name come from?
French is, in origin, a name describing a Frenchman or someone with French connections — carried to these islands by Norman and French settlers. In Ireland it is also written Ffrench, an old spelling in which the doubled letter stands for a capital F. The name arrived with the Norman settlement and put down deep roots.
The French family and the Tribes of Galway
The Frenches became one of the celebrated “Tribes of Galway” — the fourteen merchant families who ruled the life and trade of the city for centuries. They were prominent in commerce, government and the church, and held lands across the west. As a documented Hiberno-Norman family, French is found today across Ireland and among the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain.
Did you know?
- French describes a Frenchman or one with French connections.
- It is also written Ffrench, where the doubled letter stands for a capital F.
- The Frenches were one of the fourteen Tribes of Galway.
- They were prominent in commerce, government and the church.
- The name survives today in Ireland and across the diaspora.
Related Irish family names
You may also like Fitzmaurice, Flaherty, and Barry.
Carry the French name with you
We craft heritage gifts for thousands of Irish and Scottish family names — mugs, woven blankets, ornaments and more. To find yours, type it into the search bar at the top of the page, or browse the French collection here.
Frequently asked questions
Is French an Irish surname?
French is of Norman-French origin and became a distinguished Hiberno-Norman family, one of the Tribes of Galway.
What does French mean?
It describes a Frenchman or one with French connections; the Ffrench spelling uses a doubled letter for a capital F.
Is there a French family crest?
Families of the name have heraldic traditions; the crest and tartan artwork on our French products is created as decorative heritage artwork to celebrate the name.