LaFrance
A surname meaning “the France one” or “from France,” usually marking a French connection or identity.
The #6,148 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 55,390 Americans shares it.
Etymology
LaFrance is a French-style surname built from the article la, meaning “the,” and France, the country name. In practice, it most often functioned as an ethnic or regional byname for someone associated with France or with French ancestry. In some cases it may also have been used as a habitational or identity-based name rather than a literal place-of-origin label.
History
The surname is most common in North America, especially in communities with French or French-Canadian background. In records, the form is often written as one word, LaFrance, though it reflects a French phrase. American and Canadian bearers may descend from families whose original name was used to signal French origin or affiliation.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because it reads like a phrase, LaFrance is sometimes mistaken for a place name, but it is usually a family name pointing to French identity.