French (surname)
Encyclopedia
The name Defreine is of Norman Irish origin. There are many anglicised versions of the name - Frayne, Frenes, DeFrayne, Franey, Freaney, Freeney, Frain, ffrench, Ffrench, French and possibly some more. All these names are the same and have been used, changed and interchanged over the years. All are derivatives of the same name “ DeFreine”. Theophilus de Freyne, third cousin to William the Conqueror rode beside his cousin at the Battle of Hastings 1066.
The DeFreines, the ffrenches, and the Frenches, who were of noble blood, came to Ireland with Strongbow during the Norman Invasion of Ireland from 1169 to 1172AD. There were and still are two or three families of Irish peers who carry the names DeFréine, ffrench, and French. As Anglo-Normans the French family became one of the 14 Tribes of Galway, helping to found the town in 1425AD, fortifying it to keep the locals out.
In Wexford the name Franey is common, In Wicklow Freeney / Freney is common and in the Connaught area (Sligo/Galway) Frain, Freine are common. The name is from the French word Frêne which means a wooded place with ash trees indicating that ancestors of that family came from an area noted for its forests. Some sources can even trace the name back to Roman times.
French is or was the family name
of the following individuals (alphabetized by first name):
The DeFreines, the ffrenches, and the Frenches, who were of noble blood, came to Ireland with Strongbow during the Norman Invasion of Ireland from 1169 to 1172AD. There were and still are two or three families of Irish peers who carry the names DeFréine, ffrench, and French. As Anglo-Normans the French family became one of the 14 Tribes of Galway, helping to found the town in 1425AD, fortifying it to keep the locals out.
In Wexford the name Franey is common, In Wicklow Freeney / Freney is common and in the Connaught area (Sligo/Galway) Frain, Freine are common. The name is from the French word Frêne which means a wooded place with ash trees indicating that ancestors of that family came from an area noted for its forests. Some sources can even trace the name back to Roman times.
French is or was the family name
Family name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
of the following individuals (alphabetized by first name):
- Alexander FrenchAlexander FrenchAlexander Niall French is a Hong Kong cricketer who has played two One Day Internationals and nine ICC Trophy matches for Hong Kong. French made his debut aged 16 at the 1997 ICC Trophy in Malaysia, and played four matches, scoring 22 runs with a highest score of 13 in the debut match against Italy...
(born 1980), Hong Kong cricketer - Anthony FrenchAnthony FrenchAnthony Philip French is an emeritus professor of physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was born in Brighton, England....
(born 1920), English professor of physics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Bob FrenchBob FrenchRobert "Bob" French is a United States jazz drummer and a former radio show host at WWOZ, from New Orleans, Louisiana.French has led The Tuxedo Jazz Band since 1977. -Career:As a child French took drumming lessons from Louis Barbarin...
(contemporary), American drummer - Brett FrenchBrett FrenchBrett French is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s. A Queensland State of Origin representative, he played club football in Brisbane, Sydney and the Gold Coast...
(contemporary), Australian rugby league footballer - Bruce French (actor)Bruce French (actor)Bruce French is an American actor who has more than 30 years of acting credits to his name.French attended the University of Iowa and majored in speech and theatre...
(born 1945), American actor - Bruce French (cricketer) (born 1959), English cricketer
- Charles K. FrenchCharles K. FrenchCharles K. French was an American motion picture actor who appeared in more than 240 movies between 1909 and 1945.-Selected filmography:...
(1860–1952), American actor - Charlie FrenchCharlie FrenchCharles Calvin French, born in October 1883, started into baseball at the age of 25 with the Boston Red Sox. He played in 105 games with 377 at bats. He had 78 hits, 20 RBIs with no home runs.-References:* *...
(1883–1962), American baseball player - Daniel French (inventor)Daniel French (inventor)Daniel French , a "Yankee" inventor, was born in Berlin, Connecticut. From an early age French strove to become a "mechanician," an artisan trained in the theory of mechanics and skilled in the working of metals at increasing levels of precision...
(1770–1853), American inventor and steamboat pioneer - Daniel Chester FrenchDaniel Chester FrenchDaniel Chester French was an American sculptor. His best-known work is the sculpture of a seated Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.-Life and career:...
(1850–1931), American sculptor - David H. FrenchDavid H. FrenchDavid Heath French was an American anthropologist and linguist from Bend, Oregon. During his lifetime he was considered the foremost academic authority on the Chinookan people of the middle Columbia River, especially the Wasco-Wishram Chinooks of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in Oregon...
(1918–1994), American anthropologist and linguist; expert on Native Americans - David French (playwright) (born 1939), Canadian playwright best known for Leaving Home (1971) and other plays about the Mercer family
- David French (charity administrator) (born 1947), English administrator of Westminster Foundation
- David Maxwell French (born 1960), Canadian political figure on the far fringe of ideological thought
- Dawn French (born 1957), Welsh-English actress, writer and comedy performer
- Domingo FrenchDomingo FrenchDomingo French was an Argentine revolutionary who took part in the May Revolution and the Argentine War of Independence.- Biography :...
(1774–1825), Argentine leader of May Revolution and War of Independence - Edward French (bishop)Edward French (bishop)The Most Reverend Edward French was an Irish Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the Bishop of Elphin from 1787 to 1810.-References:...
, Bishop of Elphin from 1787 to 1810 - Elizabeth French (contemporary), English archaeologist
- Emma Lee FrenchEmma Lee FrenchEmma Louise Batchelor Lee French , better known as Emma Lee French, was a British woman, born in Uckfield, East Sussex who travelled to Utah and Arizona, in the United States, where she became well known as a carer for the sick.- Trek :After being converted by the Mormons, Emma Lee arrived in...
(1836–1897), English immigrant to Southwestern United States who became known as a caregiver - Frederick Fillmore French (1883–1936), American real estate entrepreneur
- Gary FrenchGary FrenchGary French is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s. He was a half for the Brisbane Broncos in the late 1980s and, whilst at the club, regularly understudied for both Allan Langer and Wally Lewis. He also had stints at British clubs Springfield Borough and Castleford . French...
(contemporary), Australian rugby league footballer - George French (1841–1921), Canadian law-enforcement officer
- Heather FrenchHeather FrenchHeather Renee French Henry is a Miss America title holder, personality and fashion designer.Raised in Maysville, Kentucky, Heather French Henry graduated from The University of Cincinnati School of Design, Art, and Architecture & Planning. She competed in pageants through her teens, including the...
(born 1974), American beauty pageant winner - Hollis FrenchHollis FrenchHollis S. French II is a Democratic member of the Alaska Senate, representing the M district since 2003. The district covers the East Spenard and Turnagain/Inlet View areas of Anchorage. He is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee....
(born 1958), member of the Alaska Senate - Ian FrenchIan FrenchIan French is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s. He's the brother of fellow Queensland State of Origin player Brett French. While playing in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership in 1985, French won the Rothmans Medal as player of the season...
(born 1960), Australian rugby league footballer - James French (murderer)James French (murderer)James D. French was an American criminal who was the last person executed under Oklahoma's death penalty laws prior to Furman v. Georgia. He was also the only prisoner executed in the United States that year...
(1936–1966), American criminal; became sole prisoner executed in 1966 - James R. FrenchJames R. FrenchJames R. French is a prominent U.S. aerospace engineer. While working for different NASA contractors during the 1960s, he helped design, develop and test the rocket engines for the Apollo/Saturn launch vehicles and the Apollo Lunar Module that enabled humans to walk on the Moon...
(contemporary), American aerospace engineer - Jay Jay FrenchJay Jay FrenchJohn French Segall , better known by his stage name Jay Jay French or J.J. French, is a founding member and one of the two guitarists of the American heavy metal band, Twisted Sister....
(born 1952), American guitarist - Jim French (cowboy)Jim French (cowboy)Jim French was a New Mexican cowboy.Out of all Regulators, French remains the most mysterious. Not much is known about him, such as where he came from or how he came to work for John Tunstall. He was known to be a large, powerful man, variously reported to be either half-Indian or half-black...
(before 1865–after 1879), American frontier figure who became known as an outlaw - Jim French (photographer)Jim French (photographer)Jim French is an American photographer who under the pseudonym Rip Colt created Colt Studio to publish, what were to become, his iconic homoerotic images in the books, magazines and calendars that presented French's work exclusively and set a new standard for idealized masculinity in...
(born 1932), American artist and photographer of homoerotica who has used pseudonym Rip Colt - Jim French (baseball)Jim French (baseball)Richard James French is an American former catcher in Major League Baseball who played between and for the Washington Senators. Listed at 5' 7", 182 lb., French batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
(born 1941), American catcher active during the 1960s and 1970s - Jim French (radio)Jim French (radio)James R. "Jim" French is an American radio personality and producer who has written and produced, as of 2011, over 803 radio shows, including The Adventures of Harry Nile and The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series.-Life and career:...
(contemporary), American voice actor and producer - Joe French (footballer)Joe French (footballer)Joseph "Joe" French was an English professional footballer who played at centre-half for Southampton and New Brompton in the 1900s.-Football career:...
, English footballer with Southampton and New Brompton in 1890s/1900s - John French (physician) (1616–1657), English doctor and chemist
- John R. FrenchJohn R. FrenchJohn Robert French was an American Congressional Representative from North Carolina.Born in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, French received an academic education in Gilmanton and Concord, New Hampshire. He learned the printer’s trade, and worked as publisher and associate editor of the New Hampshire...
(1819–1890), American publisher, editor and political figure - John French, 1st Earl of YpresJohn French, 1st Earl of YpresField Marshal John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, KP, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCMG, ADC, PC , known as The Viscount French between 1916 and 1922, was a British and Anglo-Irish officer...
(1852–1925), English military leader, Commander of British Expeditionary Force in World War I - John French, 2nd Earl of YpresJohn French, 2nd Earl of YpresJohn Richard Lowndes French, 2nd Earl of Ypres was the son of the British field marshal and the first commander of the British Expeditionary Force in World War I Sir John French....
(1881–1958), English army officer and artist; son of 1st Earl - John William FrenchJohn William FrenchJohn William French was a Canadian politician and a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec.-Background:...
(1888–1970), Canadian political figure - John Alexander FrenchJohn Alexander FrenchJohn Alexander "Jack" French VC was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
(1914–1942), Australian soldier; posthumous recipient of Victoria Cross for valor in World War II - John French (racing driver)John French (racing driver)John French is a retired Australian racing driver.French had a long career throughout the 60s and 70s and the early 80s. He won the 1962 Australian GT Championship driving a Centaur-Waggott and in 1969 French paired with Allan Moffat to win the Sandown Three Hour race in a Ford Falcon GTHO...
(born 1930), Australian champion racer of the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s - Joe French (born 1948), British Air Chief Marshal, Royal Air Force commander
- John French (musician)John French (musician)John "Drumbo" French is an American drummer and musician. He played on Captain Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica and on various other Beefheart recordings: Beefheart dubbed him "Drumbo"...
(born 1949), American drummer - John French (ice hockey)John French (ice hockey)John French is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 420 games in the World Hockey Association.Born in Orillia, Ontario, he played with the New England Whalers, San Diego Mariners, and Indianapolis Racers....
(born 1950), Canadian ice hockey player - Joseph Lewis FrenchJoseph Lewis FrenchJoseph Lewis French was a novelist, editor, poet and newspaper man.-References:...
(1858–1936), American novelist, editor, and poet - Joseph Nathaniel FrenchJoseph Nathaniel FrenchJoseph Nathaniel French, Sr. was an architect with Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. from 1914 to 1967. He was the chief architect for the Fisher Building in Detroit, Michigan.-Biography:...
(1888–1975), architect - Kate FrenchKate FrenchKate Lauren French is an American television and film actress and model. She is perhaps best known for her role as Niki Stevens on The L Word.-Early life:...
(born 1984), American actress - Katy FrenchKaty FrenchKaty Ellen French was an Irish socialite, model, writer, television personality and charity worker. According to the BBC, "in the space of less than two years, she had become one of Ireland's best-known models and socialites." She collapsed at a friend's house on 2 December 2007 and died on 6...
(1983–2007), Irish socialite and model - Kenneth FrenchKenneth FrenchKenneth Ronald "Ken" French is the Carl E. and Catherine M. Heidt Professor of Finance at the Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College. He has previously been a faculty member at MIT, the Yale School of Management, and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business...
(born 1954), American economist - Kristen FrenchKristen FrenchKristen Dawn French was a Canadian Catholic school girl and the victim of a gruesome and much-publicized murder.-Biography:...
(1976–1992), Canadian crime victim - Marilyn French (born 1929), American author
- Melinda Ann French (born 1964), American philanthropist married to Bill Gates; best known as Melinda Gates
- Michael French (born 1962), English actor best known for his TV roles of David Wicks on EastEnders and Nick Jordan on Casualty and Holby City
- Nicki FrenchNicki FrenchNicola S. French is a female English singer and dancer. She is best known for her 1995 dance cover version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart", and for representing the United Kingdom in 2000 at Eurovision in Stockholm.-Career:French provided backing vocals on Rose-Marie's 1992 album, Emotional Exposure...
(born 1964), English singer - Patrick French (bishop)Patrick French (bishop)The Most Reverend Patrick French was an Irish Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the Bishop of Elphin from 1731 to 1748.-References:...
, Bishop of Elphin from 1731 to 1748 - Percy French (1854–1920), Irish songwriter, performer and painter
- Ray French (baseball)Ray French (baseball)Raymond Edward French , is a former professional baseball player who played shortstop from 1920-1924.He was later a manager in Minor League Baseball from 1939–1941 and an umpire from 1946-1950....
(1895–1978), American Major League shortstop of the 1920s; later Minor League manager and umpire - Ray H. FrenchRay H. FrenchRay H. French , artist and print maker, was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, USA. He attended the John Herron School of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana, and the University of Iowa...
(1919–2000), American artist and print maker - Ray FrenchRay FrenchRaymond James French MBE is a former rugby union and rugby league player who achieved the rare honour of representing his country at international level in both codes of the game. French won his four caps for the England national rugby union team in 1961 as a lock forward, playing in all four...
(contemporary), English rugby radio commentator and former player - Samuel FrenchSamuel FrenchSamuel French was a U.S. entrepreneur who, together with British actor, playwright and theatrical manager Thomas Hailes Lacy, pioneered in the field of theatrical publishing and the licensing of plays....
(1821–1898), American entrepreneur and theatrical publisher - Samuel Gibbs FrenchSamuel Gibbs FrenchHistory of Salem County by Joseph S. Sickler, pub 1937 pp-243, 276-277...
(1818–1910), American Army officer who served as Confederate major general during Civil War - Sarah FrenchSarah FrenchSarah French joined the in October 2008, as an Anchor/Reporter. Prior to Fox 61 WTIC-TV, Sarah worked for the Olympic News Service in Beijing, China, covering women’s artistic gymnastics for the 2008 Olympic Games, interviewing athletes such as Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin.French was a beauty...
, American beauty contest winner who subsequently became TV news reporter - Seán French (1890-1937)Seán French (1890-1937)Seán French was a Fianna Fáil politician from Cork in Ireland. He was a Teachta Dála from 1927 to 1932....
, Irish Fianna Fáil political figure who served in Dáil and as Lord Mayor of Cork (1924–29 and 1932–37) - Seán French (born 1931)Seán French (born 1931)Seán French was a Fianna Fáil politician from Cork in Ireland. He was a Teachta Dála from 1967 to 1982.French was elected to Dáil Éireann on his first attempt, at a by-election in 1967 for the Cork Borough constituency which was caused by the death of the Labour Party TD Seán Casey...
, Irish Fianna Fáil political figure who served in Dáil and as Lord Mayor of Cork (1976–77) - Susan FrenchSusan FrenchSusan French was an American stage, television and film actress.French appeared in the TV movie People Like Us . She also played the role of Mrs. Shaw in the TV movie Captain America and its sequel, Captain America II: Death Too Soon. French acted in the soap opera Bare Essence...
(1912–2003), American television, film and stage actress - Valerie French (actress)Valerie French (actress)Valerie French was a British film actress and later stage actress beginning in the 1950s.-Career:Born Valerie Harrison in London, England, French entered into film acting in her early 20s, with her first film appearance being in the 1954 film Maddalena...
(1928–1990), English-American performer who played leads in six 1956–57 films - Valerie French (wrestling) (born 1962), American wrestling personality best known under ring name "Sunshine"
- Victor FrenchVictor FrenchVictor Edwin French was an American actor and director.-Early career:Born in Santa Barbara, California,...
(1934–1989), American actor best known for playing in support of Michael Landon on TV series Highway to Heaven - Walter French (baseball)Walter French (baseball)Walter Edward French Walter Edward French Walter Edward French (born July 12, 1899 – May 13, 1984 , was a professional baseball player who played outfielder in the Major Leagues from to . He played for the Philadelphia Athletics. In 1925 he batted .370 in 67 games for the Athletics and was...
(1899–1984), American outfielder for Philadelphia Athletics who played in 1929 World series - Walter French (cricket umpire) (before 1905–1961), Australian cricket figure who umpired 1931 Test matches
- Warren FrenchWarren FrenchWarren French is a New Zealand darts player. He lives in Ashburton and uses the nickname Frog for his matches.French reached the final of the 2006 New Zealand Open, losing to former world champion Tony David. He played in the 2007 PDC World Darts Championship, losing 3-1 in the first round to James...
(born 1963), Founder of the Victorian Geocaching Club - William H. FrenchWilliam H. FrenchWilliam Henry French was a career United States Army officer and a Union Army General in the American Civil War. He rose to temporarily command a corps within the Army of the Potomac, but was relieved of active field duty following poor performance during the Mine Run Campaign in late 1863.-Early...
(1815–1881), American Union Army general in Civil War
See also
- Joseph French, detective who appears in several novels by Irish-English author Freeman Wills CroftsFreeman Wills CroftsFreeman Wills Crofts was an Irish mystery author, one of the 'Big Four' of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction.-Birth and education:Crofts was born at 26 Waterloo Road, Dublin, Ireland...
(1879–1957) - Giles French, English butler "Mr. French", portrayed by actor Sebastian Cabot on 1966–71 U.S. television series Family AffairFamily AffairFamily Affair is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from September 12, 1966 to September 9, 1971. The series explored the trials of well-to-do civil engineer and bachelor Bill Davis as he attempted to raise his brother's orphaned children in his luxury New York City apartment. Davis' traditional...
- Paul French, pseudonym used by American author Isaac AsimovIsaac AsimovIsaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
(1920–1992) for his juvenile book series Lucky Starr - Nicci FrenchNicci FrenchNicci French is the pseudonym of English husband-and-wife team Nicci Gerrard and Sean French, who write psychological thrillers together.-Personal life:...
, pseudonym of a married duo of British journalists and authors, Nicci Gerrard and Sean French - Jim French (horse)Jim French (horse)Jim French , was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred by Ralph Wilson, owner of the National Football League Buffalo Bills. He was by Graustark and out of Dinner Partner. Despite his first-rate pedigree, Jim French was small and dull brown.Trained by John P...
(1968–1992), American thoroughbred racehorse - People named FfrenchFfrenchFfrench or ffrench is a surname, a variant of the name French.The originality of the name arrived from France, in the form of the Normans who landed in Bannow Bay, Co. Wexford, Ireland in 1169. The main areas apart from Co. Wexford where they settled, were Galway, Roscommon and Dublin.In some...
- the Lords de FreyneBaron de FreyneBaron de Freyne is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.-Two baronies:Baron de Freyne, of Coolavin in the County of Sligo, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created 1851 for Arthur French, 1st Baron de Freyne, with remainder to his younger brothers John, Charles and...
(1786- )