Last Name Moigne

The surname Moigne is of French origin. It comes from a place name or occupational name. The place name Moigne is found in various regions of France and derives from the Gallo-Roman personal name Magnus, meaning great, combined with the suffix -acum to form a locative, indicating a place named with this personal name. As an occupational name, it may have originated from someone who lived near a mill or a person who was a miller, as "moulin" is French for mill. The surname Moigne first appeared in the Hundred Rolls of 1273 and other records from the Middle Ages.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Moigne

The meaning and origin of the last name Moigne

The surname Moigne is of French origin, derived from various places with the same name found throughout France. One such location is in the Mayenne department, which was first recorded as "Mugno" in the 10th century. It's thought that this toponymic name originated from a Gallo-Roman personal name, possibly "Macconius," combined with the suffix "-acus" or "-anum." Over time, the spelling evolved into the modern form of Moigne as people migrated and settled in different regions. The surname Moigne became established in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066, and it has since spread to other English-speaking countries due to migration and colonization.

Geographical distribution of the last name Moigne

The surname Moigne has a predominant presence in France, with a significant concentration in the regions of Brittany and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Within Brittany, the department of Ille-et-Vilaine shows the highest frequency of the name, particularly in the towns of Rennes, Fougères, and Dinan. In Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, it is most common in the departments of Loire, Puy-de-Dôme, and Rhône. The surname Moigne can also be found in smaller numbers in Switzerland, Belgium, and Canada, primarily among French emigrants. Its geographical dispersion reflects historical population movements, particularly from France to other parts of Europe and the New World.

Variants and spellings of the last name Moigne

The surname Moigne has several variants and spellings due to differences in transcription and translation over time. Some common variations include Mogin, Moigen, Moigney, Moignet, and Moigne. These variations may arise from slight alterations in pronunciation or orthography, as well as regional dialects and historical recordkeeping practices. It is important to note that these variants share a common origin, reflecting the patronymic naming system often found in French-speaking cultures, where the surname was derived from the given name of the father.

Famous people with the last name Moigne

Notable individuals with the surname Moigné include:

1. Claude Moigné (born 1943), a French politician who served as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries from 2007 to 2008 in the government of Nicolas Sarkozy.

2. Jean-Claude Moigné (born 1957), a former French footballer who played as a striker for teams like Marseille, Montpellier, and Bordeaux. He was part of the France national team that won the 1984 European Football Championship.

3. Louis Moigné (1852-1907), a French painter known for his landscape paintings and scenes of rural life in Brittany, where he spent most of his career.

4. Paul-Émile Moigné (1869-1953), a French general who served as Chief of the Army General Staff from 1929 to 1931 and was a key figure during the Rif War in Morocco (1925–1926).

5. Théophile Moigné (1840-1897), a French composer, pianist, and organist who wrote numerous compositions for piano, voice, and orchestra, as well as sacred music.

Genealogical research on the last name Moigne

The surname Moigne originates from France and is believed to have derived from various locations with that name. One such location is Moigné-lès-Montaure, in the Orne department, Normandy. It's also found in Moigny, Aube, Champagne-Ardenne region, suggesting a possible dispersal of bearers from these areas during migration periods. The name could be a toponymic surname, meaning "from the swampy or marshy place" in Old French. Notable individuals with the Moigne name include Antoine Moignet (1720-1793), a French architect, and Jacques Moigno (born 1949), a French politician. The Moigne family migrated to North America during the colonial era, with early settlers in Louisiana and Quebec, Canada.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "moigne"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

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 : 29 July 2025

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