Francis Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Francis last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Francis coat of arms for you.
Meaning and origin of the Francis last name
Meaning of the Francis last name: frenchman. Francis is an English surname from the first name Francis, which simply meant "Frenchman". It became popular in England through devotion to Saint Francis of Assisi and the friars who followed him. The last name is found all over England and is especially common in south Wales and the West Country. A curious detail of this surname origin: in America it sometimes stands for French François or Portuguese Francisco.
Arms associated with the Francis name
In England younger sons added small heraldic marks to their father's coat of arms, so relatives named Francis could each carry a slightly different shield.
Get your full Francis family history
This is only a glimpse of the Francis story. The full Francis history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Francis coat of arms. Get the full Francis report.
Francis name FAQ
What does the Francis name mean?
Frenchman. Common variants include Frances, Franses, Frauncis.
Where does the Francis surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Wales and Jamaica.
Is there a Francis coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Francis coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).