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French Family History
French Genealogy & Family TreeFrench is an Irish name from Devon, England, where the earliest known ancestor--Theophilus de France--accompanied Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke, in conquering Ireland. It referred to those who were French/Franks. Alternately, it comes from the Old French word Fraxinus which means "Ash tree." The family motto is Malo mori quam foedari which means "I would rather die than be disgraced."
Other spellings include "Frenche." Notable people with the surname include Irish novelist Tana French (In the Woods, The Likeness, Faithful Place), American baseball player Charlie French (Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox), and British actress Dawn French (Coraline, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Vicar of Dibley). The first French to come to America was Alice French in Massachusetts in 1630.
French Birth Records
- Name Birth Date Death Date Location
- Rebecca French -- --, 1673 November 8, 1710 Massachusetts Bay Colony
- Mary French -- --, 1684 November 17, 1766 Massachusetts Bay Colony
- Samuel French -- --, 1653 November 4, 1727 Massachusetts Bay Colony
- Micah French -- --, 1765 January 6, 1821 Massachusetts Bay Colony
- Thomas French -- --, 1723 February 2, 1792 Massachusetts Bay Colony
French Death Records
- Name Birth Date Death Date Location
- Grace French -- --, 1691 December 0, 1762 Massachusetts
- John French -- --, 1632 May 4, 1706 Massachusetts Bay Colony
- Edmund P French -- --, 1803 December 12, 1888 England
- Ephraim P. French -- --, 1834 March 7, 1910
- Ellice French -- --, 1615 December 0, 1678
