NomOrigine Background

Last Name Gregoire

What is the origin of the last name Gregoire?

The surname "Gregoire" is of French origin. It derives from the given name Grégoire, which comes from the Latin name Gregorius. The name Gregorius was derived from the Greek word γρηγορία (grēgoría) meaning "watchfulness, vigilance". In Christian contexts, the name was particularly associated with Saint Gregory of Nazianzus and Pope Gregory I. The surname Gregoire is found predominantly among French-speaking populations, but it can also be found in other countries where French influence has been significant.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Gregoire

The meaning and origin of the last name Gregoire

The surname Gregoire is of French origin, derived from the given name Gregory, which comes from the Greek name Gregorios. It means "watchful" or "vigilant." The surname was originally a baptismal name borne by the children of Gregory, in reference to their godfather who shared the same name. As people migrated and settled in different regions, variations of the surname emerged, such as Gregoire, Grégoire, and Gregorius among others. Today, the surname Gregoire is predominantly found in French-speaking countries, but it has also been adopted by individuals of other nationalities with connections to France or its diaspora.

Geographical distribution of the last name Gregoire

The surname Gregoire has its origins in France, with a significant concentration in regions such as Brittany and Normandy, where it is one of the most common surnames. Over time, it has also been carried by French settlers to various parts of the world. In North America, Gregoires can be found across Canada, particularly in Quebec, where the name is among the top 100 most common last names. In the United States, there are significant numbers of Gregoires in Louisiana and other areas with a strong French influence. The surname is also prevalent in various countries in Africa, including Senegal and Gabon, which have historical ties to France. Beyond Europe and North America, Gregoire can be found in South America (most notably Brazil), as well as in parts of the Caribbean and Oceania. It's important to note that surnames can evolve over time due to factors such as migration and assimilation, so variations like Gregori, Gregor, Gregoriou, and others may also be found globally.

Variants and spellings of the last name Gregoire

The surname Gregoire, also spelled as Gregoire, Gregor, Gregorie, and Gregori (with various pronunciations depending on regional origin), is derived from the Latin word "Gregorius" which means 'watchman' or 'guard'. This name has been passed down through generations with slight variations in spelling due to transliteration and assimilation over time. Other less common variants include Gregur, Gregoriev, Gregorius, Gregoriu, and Gregorio (in some Spanish-speaking countries). All these versions share a common root, originating from the venerable St. Gregory, patron saint of students and teachers, whose name has been popular in Christian communities for centuries.

Famous people with the last name Gregoire

Notable individuals with the surname Gregoire include:

1. André-Marie Ampère Gregoire (1768-1832), a French physicist and mathematician, known for his work on electromagnetism, which led to Ampere's Law.

2. Pierre-Simon Gregoire de Rousseau (1741-1828), a Swiss soldier, who fought in the American Revolutionary War and was a close friend of Thomas Jefferson.

3. Claude Jules Henri Victor Grégory (1853-1950), born as Claude Jules Henri Victor Gregoire, was a French mathematician best known for his work on continued fractions and Fibonacci sequences.

4. Yvette Mimieux Gregoire (born 1942), an American actress who gained fame in the 1960s for roles in films like "Where the Boys Are" and "The Time Travelers."

5. Michel Gregoire (born 1938), a French computer scientist, known for his contributions to programming languages and software engineering, particularly in the development of ALGOL W and Ada.

Genealogical research on the last name Gregoire

The surname Gregoire is of French origin, derived from the given name Grégoire, which means "watchful" in Latin. It was originally a Christian name popularized by St. Gregory, one of the four great Latin Fathers of the early Church. Historically, the name Gregoire can be traced back to medieval France. Notable individuals with this surname include Louis Gregoire, a Belgian composer and conductor; Paul Gregoire, an American journalist and radio broadcaster; and Gregoire de Rostuan, a French baron and politician from the 13th century. The name has since spread globally due to French colonization and immigration waves. In genealogical records, variations of the surname include Grégoire, Greigore, Grecour, Griegor, and more.

Last name distribution maps

Chargement de la carte...

Sources & References

About the author :
NomOrigine Team
NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 13 June 2025

Share the origin of your last name with your friends

Search the origin of a family name

Enter the surname you are looking for below:

Similar Last Names

Greatness (Last name)

surnames > greatness

Please wait, data loading. It may take 1 minute or 2...

Greaves (Last name)

surnames > greaves

The last name "Greaves" is primarily of English origin. It is derived from the Middle English word "greve" (later "greave") which means "a piece of armor for protecting the leg." ...

Grebonval (Last name)

surnames > grebonval

The surname "Grebonval" does not have a well-documented origin. It appears to be quite rare and is not commonly found in historical records or genealogical databases. It is possibl...

Greby (Last name)

surnames > greby

The surname Greby is of French origin. It is derived from a place name that originally referred to a dwelling near a grove or thicket. In Old French, "gris" means gray and "bey" me...

Greci (Last name)

surnames > greci

The surname Greci is of Italian origin and means "Greek." It is believed to be an ethnic or regional name for someone who came from Greece or had Greek ancestry. The name may have ...

Grecic (Last name)

surnames > grecic

The last name Grecic is of Croatian origin. It is derived from the word "hrvatski," which means "Croatian" in Croatian. It likely originally referred to people who were of Croatian...

Greck (Last name)

surnames > greck

The surname Greck is primarily associated with individuals who originate from Greece or have Greek ancestry. The term "Greck" itself does not appear to be a traditional surname; ho...

Greco (Last name)

surnames > greco

The last name "Greco" is of Italian origin. It is derived from the word "greco" in Italian, which means "Greek." The surname likely originated as an ethnic or regional descriptor f...

Greece (Last name)

surnames > greece

The surname Greece is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "grece," meaning a small stream or a ravine. It is likely that the name was originally a topographic nam...

Green eye (Last name)

surnames > green-eye

The surname "Green Eye" is of English origin. It is a nickname-based surname derived from Old English word "grene," meaning "green," and "ēage," meaning "eye." It is likely that t...

Green villa (Last name)

surnames > green-villa

The last name "Green Villa" is likely a combination of the English word "green," which historically referred to someone who lived near a village green, and the Spanish word "villa,...

Greenberg (Last name)

surnames > greenberg

The surname Greenberg is of Jewish origin, specifically Ashkenazic (Eastern European). It is an occupational name for a green grocer or gardener. The word "green" refers to the col...

Greenblatt (Last name)

surnames > greenblatt

The surname "Greenblatt" is of Jewish Ashkenazic origin, specifically German and Central European Jewish. It is a metonymic occupational name for a peddler of green goods such as c...

Greenco (Last name)

surnames > greenco

The last name "Greenco" is of English origin and is most likely derived from a topographical or locational surname. It may refer to someone who lived near a green field or land cov...

Greener (Last name)

surnames > greener

The surname "Greener" is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "grener," which means "green-grower" or "keeper of the green or grassy areas." It was given to indiv...