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Francis

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Francis
GenderMale/Female
Origin
Word/nameLatin
Other names
Related namesFranciscus

Francis is a French, English and Scottish first name and a surname most likely of Latin origin.

Francis is a name that has many derivatives in most European languages. The female version of the name in English is Frances, with emphasis on the letter e, and (less commonly) Francine. The name Fran is a common diminutive for Francis, Frances and Francine. In Italian and Spanish, the form Fran is mostly used for boys and men, while Franci is more common for girls and women.

Related names are common in other Western European languages, in countries that are (or were before the Reformation) Catholic. These names include:

Derivation

Francesco was the name given to Saint Francis of Assisi (baptized Giovanni) by his francophile father, celebrating his trade with French merchants, though possibly in memory of the boy's mother, a Frenchwoman, who died when the boy was still in his early years.[citation needed] It means 'Little Frenchman'. The name of France itself comes from the Germanic people known as the Franks; the origin of their name is unclear but is thought to mean "free". The characteristic national weapon of the Franks was the francisca, throwing axe.

People with the surname Francis

Monarchs named Francis

Other uses

See also


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