French surname
Meaning 'the French', a locational name, for someone
who was an incomer from
Variations, French, Frenchman. This name is of
Anglo-Norman descent spreading to
Examples of such are a Symon le Frensch, Wiltshire,
who was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls',
In Early Scottish records the name occurs chiefly in a
Latinized form such as Franciscus.
The Irish bearers of the name are descended from
Theophilus de Frensche, a Norman Baron, who came with William the Conqueror.
They first settled in 1300, and a branch of these settled in Roscommon in 1620.
That branch produced Sir John French, 1825-1925, who was commander in chief of
a force in the first World War