About this surname list
This expanded collection contains 5,158 entries. Its original 1,000-name selection used the most frequently recorded surnames in the national INSEE surname file after counts from each birth decade were combined. The source covers names recorded at least 30 times in France from 1891 to 2000.
Source for the original selection: INSEE, Fichier des noms, published May 22, 2018. The generator preserves spaces, apostrophes, and hyphens found in the selected source names.
Understanding the historical coverage
The expanded list also includes entries supplied in a separate surname file whose original publisher and collection method have not been verified. The INSEE coverage applies only to the original selection. INSEE totals describe people born during the source period, not the current population of France. The file excludes people born before 1946 who died before 1972 and applies a shorter 1900 to 2000 range to the covered overseas departments and territory. It also groups names below the publication threshold rather than listing them individually.
Frequently asked questions
Does this include every surname used in France?
No. The current 5,158-entry collection combines the original 1,000-name INSEE selection with additional supplied spellings. It is not a complete register of surnames used in France.
Are these current surname rankings?
No. The original selection used historical birth records covering 1891 to 2000, while the additional list has no verified frequency data. Results are random, not a ranking of current residents.
How does the generator choose surnames?
It randomly selects 1, 10, or 50 unique results at a time. If enough unused names remain, the next batch avoids immediately repeating names from the previous batch.
Can a surname prove French background?
No. A surname alone cannot establish a real person's nationality, citizenship, ancestry, ethnicity, or family history.