Category: French History
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French Surnames of the Pyrénées: Origins, Meanings and Family Heritage
Discover the origins of French surnames from the Pyrénées — from Béarn and Bigorre to Ariège and Roussillon. Gascon, Catalan and medieval roots revealed for heritage seekers and genealogy researchers.
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French Surnames of Poitou-Charentes: Origins, Meanings and Family Heritage
Discover the French surnames of Poitou-Charentes — the western region that sent generations of settlers to New France, Acadia, and Louisiana.
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The Gauls: France Before the Romans
Before France was France, there were the Gauls. Long before Julius Caesar marched his legions across the Alps, a proud people lived across the land we now call France. They built towns, forged iron, traded wine, and worshipped in sacred groves. The Romans called them Galli. The Gauls called themselves something closer to Celtae. This…
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French Surnames of Corsica: Origins, Meanings and Family Heritage
Discover the most common French surnames from Corsica, their Italian and Genoese origins, and how to trace your Corsican ancestry through French and Italian records.
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French Surnames of Île-de-France: Origins, Meanings and Family Heritage
Discover the most common French surnames from Île-de-France, their origins, meanings and how they spread from Paris to Québec, Louisiana and beyond.
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What Really Happens in France on Bastille Day
What France really does on 14 July — from firemen’s balls to village feasts and 30,000 fireworks — plus get free France stories in our newsletter.
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French Surnames of the Basque Country: Origins, Meanings and Family Heritage
Discover French Basque surnames — their Euskara origins, meanings, and migration history. A heritage guide for those tracing Basque roots from France to the Americas.
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Alsace: The Region That Was French, Then German, Then French Again
Alsace changed nationality four times in 74 years. Discover the history of France’s most contested region — and why its identity remains uniquely its own.
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French Work Culture vs American Work Culture: Why the French Work to Live
From the 35-hour working week to five weeks of paid leave and the sacred lunch break, French work culture vs American reveals two very different ideas about what work is for — and who it serves.
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The Normans Who Changed the World: From France to England to Sicily
How Viking settlers in Normandy became the Normans — and conquered England in 1066 before building a kingdom in Sicily. France's most ambitious story.