Blanchard
A surname from the Old French word for “white” or “whitish,” originally a nickname for a fair-haired, pale, or fair-complexioned person.
The #920 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 8,191 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Blanchard comes from Old French blanchard, meaning “whitish” or “pale,” ultimately related to blanc, “white.” It began as a nickname, most likely describing complexion, hair color, or a generally fair appearance. Some early writers also suggest it could sometimes have been used as a byname for someone associated with white clothing or a white horse, but the core sense is still “white/fair.”
History
The name is well attested in medieval England, with examples in 13th- and 14th-century records. It is part of a larger family of surnames built from blanc/blanch-, including Blanch, Blanche, Blanchet, and related forms found in both English and French records. In modern times it is especially familiar in France and the French-speaking world, but it also established itself in England and later in North America.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Old surname books sometimes compare Blanchard with Bayard, another nickname surname originally tied to a horse’s color.
From the historical record
“complexion. Blanche. H.R. BLANCHARD. BLANSIIARD. Cot- grave says, "an order of Friers, who goe ordinarily in white sheets." It had most likely a wider application, to any person who aifected white raiment. See Jamie- son. BLANCHETT. Perliaps a diminutive of Blanch, white. BL.iNcilFLOWER. Blanch fleur, Fr. white…”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom