AV and his colleagues
While some 2,000 people with the surname of Sullivan, the most common on the North Atlantic island, gathered in Ireland on Saturday, we wondered which surnames were most widely distributed in France. And according to the specialized site “Genanet” which compiled all the surnames assigned at birth in France, between 1891 and the year 2000, the top 10 is made up as follows: At the head, the Martins, by far, with 235,791 births. Followed by the Bernards (95,298), the Moreaus (81,341), the Petits, the Lefebvres, Durand, Dubois, Leroy, Thomas and Robert (63,428).
So, we also said to ourselves that illustrating all of this with photos of celebrities with these surnames was the most pleasant way to present the information to you. Here is a slideshow between Nolwenn Leroy, Emmanuel Petit and Yolande Moreau.
Star host Jacques Martin singing in the “Number One” mission. He is known, among other things, for having presented the show “L’Ecole des fans”. Martin is the most common surname given in France, by far, with 235,791 births.
Alain Bernard, double Olympic swimming champion (2008 and 2012) at the Tech & Fest festival in Grenoble, France, on February 4, 2026. He shares his last name with 95,298 other Bernards born between 1891 and the year 2000.
French actress Yolande Moreau poses during a photocall for the film “La Fiance du Poète†during the 16th Angoulême Francophone Film Festival in Angoulême, western France, August 25, 2023. She shares her last name with 81,341 other Moreaus born between 1891 and 2000, 3rd most attributed surname over the period.
1998 World Cup in France. Emmanuel Petit celebrates his goal which has just brought the score to 2:1 against Denmark, in the group stage. He then did it again in the final against Brazil. Petit is the 4th most common surname in France, with 80,606 births between 1891 and 2000.
Jean Lefebvre was a French actor and comedian, famous for his comedic roles in cinema and theater, notably in the series “Gendarmes” alongside Louis de FunÂ. He died in 2004. His surname is the 5th most common in France, with 75,014 births between 1891 and 2000.
French goalkeeper Solène Durand after her defeat during the quarter-final match of the Women’s World Cup against Australia on August 12, 2023. The site “Genanet” counted 70,800 births from Durand, in France, in the 20th century.
The Frenchman Thierry Dubois, skipper of the monohull “Solidaires” upon his arrival on May 3, 2003 off the coast of Newport. With 69,120 Dubois born between 1891 and 2000, this surname is the 7th most widely distributed in France.
Nolwenn Leroy, here photographed during the closing ceremony of the 26th edition of the Televie charity event on RTL-TVi television, Saturday April 26, 2014, in Vilvoorde, Belgium. Leroy is the 8th most attributed surname at birth in France in the 20th century, with 69,067 occurrences.
Chantal Thomas, 9th most common surname in France (63,953), poses with her Christmas tree during the 18th edition of “Les Sapins de Noël des Créateurs” at the Salomon de Rothschild hotel on December 3, 2013 in Paris, in France.
The French “spiderman” Alain Robert is famous for having scaled the facades of more than 150 of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers with his bare hands and without safety equipment, including the Eiffel Tower. 10th most common surname.
