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Ffrench or ffrench is a relatively rare surname found in Ireland, a variant of the name
French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...
. The name originated in France and was brought by the
Normans The Normans (Norman language, Norman: ''Normaunds''; ; ) were a population arising in the medieval Duchy of Normandy from the intermingling between Norsemen, Norse Viking settlers and locals of West Francia. The Norse settlements in West Franc ...
, who landed in
Bannow Bay Bannow () is a village and civil parish lying east of Bannow Bay on the southwest coast of County Wexford, Ireland. In modern times the main settlement is the village of Carrig-on-Bannow (or ''Carrig''). In Norman times there was a borough ...
,
County Wexford County Wexford () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster and is part of the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. Named after the town of Wexford, it was ba ...
, Ireland in 1169. According to Surname DB the original name is of Early Medieval English and Norman origin. It is a topographical name for someone who lived near an
ash tree ''Fraxinus'' (), commonly called ash, is a genus of plants in the olive and lilac family, Oleaceae, and comprises 45–65 species of usually medium-to-large trees, most of which are deciduous trees, although some subtropical species are evergr ...
or ash wood, being derived from the Old French "''fraisne'', ''fresne''", ash tree.


Variations

In some rarer cases, the name does not start with an initial capital, but with a lower-case f; see
Word-initial ff The digraph at the beginning of a word is an anomalous feature, in lower case, of a few proper names in English. In that setting it has no phonetic difference from , and has been explained as a misunderstanding of palaeography. In other words, , w ...
.


Notable people

Part of the family branch is considered to be one of the "
Tribes of Galway The Tribes of Galway () were 14 merchant families who dominated the political, commercial and social life of the city of Galway in western Ireland between the mid-13th and late 19th centuries. They were the families of Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Brown ...
", having been there since the 13th century. Notable people named Ffrench or ffrench include: *
Alexis Ffrench Alexis Ffrench (born 1970) is a pioneering British Classical-Soul musician, composer, producer, and pianist. Ffrench's music has more than a billion streams and his albums ''Evolution'' (2018), ''Dreamland'' (2020) and ''Classical Soul Vol. 1'' ...
(born 1970), British pianist and composer *
Alfred Kirke Ffrench Alfred Kirke Ffrench VC (25 February 1835 – 29 December 1872) was a 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. Ffr ...
(1835–1872), British soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross *
Baron ffrench file:Coa irl ffrench.svg, Arms of ffrench Baron ffrench, of Monivea Castle, Castle ffrench in the County Galway, County of Galway, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland created on 14 February 1798 for Rose, Lady ffrench. She was the widow of Char ...
, a title in the peerage of Ireland: **
Rose ffrench, 1st Baroness ffrench Rose ffrench, 1st Baroness ffrench (died 8 December 1805), was an Irish peeress. The eldest daughter of Patrick Dillon of Roscommon, she married on 25 June 1761 Sir Charles ffrench, 1st Baronet (cr.1779), who was later Mayor of Galway. He died i ...
(d. 1805) *
Charles ffrench-Constant Charles Kenvyn ffrench-Constant FRCP FMedSci FRSE is a neurology researcher, specialising in multiple sclerosis. He has been recognised for his "fundamental and sustained contributions that underpin much contemporary research in developmental a ...
(born 1954), neurology researcher *
Conrad O'Brien-ffrench Conrad Fulke Thomond O'Brien-ffrench, 2nd Marquis de Castelthomond (19 November 1893 – 23 October 1986) was a distinguished British Secret Intelligence officer, captain in the Tipperary Rangers of the Royal Irish Regiment and 16th The Queen' ...
(1893–1986), British Secret Intelligence officer *
Di ffrench Di ffrench (9 November 1946 – 25 May 1999) was a New Zealand photographic and performance artist and sculptor. Her work is in the collection of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and the Hocken Collectio ...
(1946–1999), New Zealand photographic and performance artist and sculptor *
Edmund Ffrench Edmund Ffrench, O.P. (1775–1852) was the Roman Catholic Warden of Galway and Bishop of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora. Ffrench was a descendant of the Tribes of Galway, though by the 18th century, his family had become Protestant. His father, Ed ...
(1775–1852), Irish clergyman *
Gonville ffrench-Beytagh The Very Revd Gonville Aubie ffrench-Beytagh (26 January 1913 – 10 May 1991) was an Anglican priest who served as the Dean of Johannesburg. He was also an anti-apartheid activist and was held in solitary confinement before going on trial for ...
(1913–1991), Anglican priest *
Isamaya Ffrench Isamaya Ffrench (born 9 April 1989) is a British make-up artist and creator of wearable art. She has worked on fashion editorials for several major publications, including ''Vogue'', ''Dazed'', '' W'' magazine and ''Love''. Her subjects have incl ...
(born 1989), British make-up artist *
Leonardo Ffrench Leonardo Ffrench Iduarte died May 1st, 2024 in Cuernavaca, Morelos. He was a retired career Mexican Ambassador who served in variety of posts. He was the Foreign Press spokesperson for President Carlos Salinas and the first full-time spokesman at t ...
, Mexican diplomat *
Madeleine ffrench-Mullen Madeleine ffrench-Mullen (30 December 1880 – 26 May 1944) was an Irish revolutionary and labour activist who took part in the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916. Ffrench-Mullen was a member of the radical nationalist women's organisation . In 19 ...
(1880–1944), Irish revolutionary and labour activist *
Maurice Ffrench Maurice Lamont Ffrench (born January 1, 1999) is an American professional football wide receiver. He was most recently a member of the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for Pittsburgh and was origi ...
(born 1998), American football player *
Michael ffrench-O'Carroll Michael ffrench-O'Carroll (15 September 1919 – 5 May 2007) was an Irish politician and medical doctor. He was an independent Teachta Dála (TD) and Senator. He served one term in each house of the Oireachtas in the 1950s. Born in Dublin, he q ...
(1919–2007), Irish doctor and politician *
Mostyn Ffrench-Williams Mostyn Yanto Ffrench-Williams (12 October 1914 – 11 November 1963) was an English competition swimmer and backstroke swimmer who represented Great Britain at the Olympics, and swam for England at the British Empire Games, during the 1930s. Ff ...
(1914–1963), British swimmer *
Peter Ffrench Peter Ffrench (c. 1844 – 1 November 1929) was an Irish politician. Born in Bannow in County Wexford, Ffrench followed his father into farming. He served as a magistrate and a coroner, and was selected as the anti- Parnellite Irish Natio ...
(1844–1929), Irish politician * Ricardo Ffrench-Davis (born 1936), Chilean economist *
Richard ffrench-Constant Richard ffrench-Constant FRS is professor of molecular natural history at the University of Exeter The University of Exeter is a research university in the West Country of England, with its main campus in Exeter, Devon. Its predecessor insti ...
, professor of molecular natural history *
Robert Ffrench Robert Ffrench (born 1962) is a Jamaican reggae singer and record producer. Biography Robert Ffrench grew up in central Kingston and attended Kingston College. He recorded his first singles in 1979, at the age of 17.McDonald, Kandré (2007)Robe ...
(born c. 1962), Jamaican reggae singer and record producer *
Royston Ffrench Royston Ffrench (born 5 September 1975) is a professional flat jockey. He was the 1997 British Champion Apprentice Jockey and has won multiple Grade 1 races in Europe and the Middle East. Early life Ffrench was bought up in Telford, and is the ...
(born 1975), British jockey *
Val ffrench Blake Robert Lifford Valentine ffrench Blake (3 March 1913 – 11 March 2011) was a lieutenant-colonel in the British Army, cattle and horse breeder, and author. Biography Early life Robert Lifford Valentine ffrench Blake was born on 3 March 1913 in Ra ...
(1913–2011), English army officer, animal breeder, and author


See also

*
Cecil Ffrench Salkeld Cecil Ffrench Salkeld (9 July 1904 – 11 May 1969) was an Irish painter, printmaker, critic and writer. Early life and family Cecil Ffrench Salkeld was born in Assam, India on 9 July 1904. His parents were Henry Lyde Salkeld, a member of the I ...
, Irish painter, printmaker, critic and writer * Edward Thomas ffrench Bromhead, British landowner and mathematician *
Jackie French Jacqueline Anne French (née Ffrench, born 29 November 1953), known professionally as Jackie French, is an Australian author who has written across several genres for both adults and children. Her most notable works include '' Rain Stones, ...
, born Ffrench, Australian author * Peter Ffrench Loughlin, Australian politician


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ffrench Surnames