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Frances History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Sources

Frances History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Scotland
Spain

Etymology of Frances

What does the name Frances mean?

From the historical and enchanting region of France emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Frances family. Originally, the people of this region went by one (personal) name. Surnames evolved during the Middle Ages when people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. These names then began to be "fixed" or hereditary. One of the types of names adopted as surnames, were habitational names; those derived from place names. The Frances surname was likely first used by someone who held lands belonging to the French king, or perhaps for someone from the Île de France. A habitational name was often used for someone who had moved away from the place after which they were named. This name was sometimes used by soldiers in the feudal period. In French Canada, it was used as secondary "dit" name.

Early Origins of the Frances family

The surname Frances was first found in Picardy (French: Picardie) in northern France, where this celebrated family held a family seat since ancient times.

One of the noble branches of the family originates from Jehan La France and a distinctive member of this branch was the Attorney of the King at the Bailliage (district government) of Orléans in 1378. The family remained at Montech during the 1400's and Pierre of Montech is recorded as staying at Montauban around 1500. In 1570, Pierre was a Consul and then in 1596 he was promoted to 1st consul. Jean, Attorney for the King in the Chamber of Edicts of Castres in 1640, was the remaining member of the branch of the France Mandoul family and in 1651, he was granted the title of Lord of Mandoul.

By 1721, this noble family had branched to Béarn, Gascogne, Périgord and Comtat. As a result of their prominent position in society, the family formed many alliances with other powerful families of the times and in this way, the family acquired several titles and lands as dowries. The Béarn family of France possessed the seigniory of Benejac and of Incamps. However, this branch took the name of Vignau after an alliance with the Vignau family of Biaznos.

Jacques Lafrance, born in 1678, son of Jacques and Marie, travelled from France to Canada in the 17th century. After arriving in the Canadian province of Quebec he married Marie-Louise Alary, born in 1686, daughter of René and Louise, on 21st November 1712. They remained together in Quebec until Jacques passed away on 24th December 1750. Marie-Louise passed away on 18th July 1754. 1

Early History of the Frances family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Frances research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1223, 1291, 1297, 1300, 1354, 1357 and 1363 are included under the topic Early Frances History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Frances Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lafrance, Lafrence, Lafrense, Lafrensse, Lafronce, Lafransse, Lafranse, Lafronse, Lafronsse, France, Francès, Frence, Frenche, Lefrance, Lefranche, Le France, La Franse, French, Frances, Lafrence, Lafrench and many more.

Early Notables of the Frances family

More information is included under the topic Early Frances Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Frances Ranking

In the United States, the name Frances is the 7,411^st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2 However, in France, the name Frances is ranked the 1,488^th most popular surname with an estimated 3,922 people with that name. 3

Frances migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Frances Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Frances, who landed in Maryland in 1663 4
John Frances, who landed in Maryland in 1676 4

Frances Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Michell Frances, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1727 board the ship "Molley John Hodgeson" 4

Frances Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Robert Frances, aged 30, who landed in New Castle, Del in 1804 4
Robert Frances, aged 30, who arrived in New Castle, Del in 1804 4
Jane Frances, aged 28, who landed in New Castle, Del in 1804 4
Mary Frances, aged 2, who landed in New Castle, Del in 1804 4
William Frances, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Frances migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Frances Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Frances, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on September 21, 1826, settling in New South Wales, Australia 5
Mr. William Frances, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Captain Cook" on 2nd May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Mr. Nicholas Frances, (b. 1821), aged 19, Cornish shoe maker departing from Plymouth aboard the ship "Orient" arriving in Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia on 13th December 1840 7
William Frances, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "David Malcolm" in 1849 8
James Frances, aged 38, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince Regent" in 1849 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Frances migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Frances Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Frances, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Pekin" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 29th November 1863 10
Miss Sarah Frances, (b. 1844), aged 22, British dairymaid travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 18th August 1866 11

Contemporary Notables of the name Frances (post 1700) +

Cornelia Frances (1941-2018), stage name of Cornelia Frances Zulver, an English-born, Australian actress
José Francés, Spanish novelist and art critic
Sir Philip Frances (1740-1818), English statesman
Emilio Sala Francés, Spanish painter
Helen Frances Rollason MBE (1956-1999), née Grindley, a British sports journalist and television presenter, the first female presenter of the BBC's sports programme Grandstand
Shelley Frances Archer (b. 1958), former Australian politician
Lucille Frances Shirley (1916-2012), née Butler, American private in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
Lauren Frances Book (b. 1984), American politician and former educator
Dola Frances Dunsmuir Cavendish (1903-1966), Canadian socialite, the youngest daughter of James Dunsmuir, thought to have been Tallulah Bankhead's long lasting companion
Edith Frances Claflin (1875-1953), American linguist, a noted scholar of Latin and Greek

Sources +

Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1826 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1826
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/captain-cook
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) DAVID MALCOLM 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849DavidMalcolm.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) "PRINCE REGENT" 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849PrinceRegent.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html