Royal French last names evoke images of luxury, prestige and nobility. They often have ancient origins and storied histories intertwined with kings, nobles and royal dynasties that ruled France for centuries. Royal French last names have an air of elegance and sophistication, conjuring up grand palaces like Versailles and images of bejeweled crowns and flowing gowns. While France does not have an official monarchy today, noble French surnames, many with aristocratic roots, still endure and remain an important part of French culture and heritage.
Bourbon: The illustrious House of Bourbon ruled France for over two centuries until the French Revolution. Their surname comes from a place name in France and remains most famously associated with the royal dynasty.
Capet: The House of Capet ruled France from 987 to 1328 CE. Their name comes from the nickname "cape" given to Hugh, Count of Paris who became King Hugh Capet and founder of the dynasty.
Valois: This prominent royal house ruled France from 1328 to 1589 and included famous monarchs like Charles VII and Henry III. Their name comes from the region of Valois, France where their ancestral castle was located.
Orléans: This noble surname belongs to a royal dynasty descended from the Valois kings. Philippe II, Duke of Orléans was the brother of Louis XIV. His descendants included the House of Orléans which ruled France after the fall of Napoleon. The name comes from the city of Orléans, France.
Bourbon-Busset: A cadet branch of the House of Bourbon, named after the seigneurie of Busset in France.
Bourbon-Parma: A cadet branch of the House of Bourbon that ruled as Dukes of Parma in Italy.
Bourbon-Two Sicilies: A cadet line that descended from the Capetian dynasty and ruled Sicily and Naples. Their name comes from the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
Orléans-Braganza: This house descended from the Orléans royal family and the Braganza dynasty that ruled Portugal.
Orléans-Galliera: A cadet branch of the House of Orléans whose title originated from the seigneury of Galliera in Italy.
Valois-Alençon: A noble house descended from the Valois kings. It takes its name from the town of Alençon in France.
Valois-Anjou: A royal dynasty spawned by the House of Valois that ruled Anjou and other counties in France.
Valois-Orléans: The Orléans cadet branch of the Valois dynasty that gave rise to royalty like Louis XII and François I.
Bar: An aristocratic house from the Holy Roman Empire that married into French royalty in the 13th century. Their name comes from the County of Bar in France.
Blois: A French noble house that descended from the ancient House of Châtillon. It takes its name from the fief of Blois near Orléans.
Évreux: This family descended from the Norman dukes and ruled the county of Évreux in Normandy, France.
La Marche: A prominent French noble family descended from Charlemagne’s grandson. It was named for the region of La Marche in France.
Angoulême: A noble French house that ruled the county of Angoulême in southwestern France.
Anjou: This house descended from French and Italian royalty and bore the name of the historical county of Anjou in France.
Armagnac: A powerful family that ruled the county of Armagnac. Their name came from the region in Gascony.
Aumale: A dynasty derived from French royalty that ruled Aumale in Normandy.
Auvergne: This prominent house took its name from the historical county of Auvergne in central France.
Bellegarde: An old noble family from Burgundy named for the town of Bellegarde in eastern France.
Bourbon-Busset: A cadet branch of the Bourbons named after Busset in central France.
Chambord: A junior branch of the Valois-Orléans line that bore the name of their fief of Chambord.
Clermont: A noble house descended from French royalty named for the town of Clermont in Auvergne.
La Tour d'Auvergne: An aristocratic family derived from ancient French nobility linked to the town of Auvergne.
Lorraine: A prominent royal house with German origins that ruled the region of Lorraine in France.
Louville: A French noble family named after the town of Louville close to Evreux.
Mailly: A French house of old nobility named for the village of Mailly in northern France.
Montpensier: A French family of the old nobility that was named after Montpensier in southern France.
Nevers: This royal house descended from the Capetian dynasty and held the title of Count of Nevers.
Noailles: One of the oldest noble families in France, named for a village close to Toulose.
Parthenay: An aristocratic family named after the town of Parthenay in western France where they originated.
Penthièvre: Descended from French royalty, named after Penthièvre located in Brittany.
Poitiers: An ancient noble house named for the city of Poitiers which they ruled as Counts.
Polignac: An illustrious French family descended from nobility named for the county of Polignac.
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