The surname Napoleon does not have a direct English origin but is associated with the French Empire and its most famous leader, Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821). The name Bonaparte is derived from the town of Ajaccio on the island of Corsica, where Napoleon was born. The original Corsican form of the name was probably Bonaparti or Bona Parte, meaning "good part" or "handsome part." Over time, it evolved into its current French and English forms. It gained widespread popularity due to Napoleon's military and political accomplishments during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Learn more about the origin of the last name Napoleon
The meaning and origin of the last name Napoleon
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Geographical distribution of the last name Napoleon
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Variants and spellings of the last name Napoleon
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Famous people with the last name Napoleon
Notable individuals bearing the surname Napoleon include:
1. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution, became Emperor of France as Napoleon I, and whose conquests expanded the borders of France until his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
2. Napoléon Joseph Charles Paul Bonaparte (1768-1832), Napoleon Bonaparte's older brother and a general under Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars. After Napoleon's fall, he became King of Holland.
3. Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte (1808-1873), also known as Louis Napoleon or Napoleon III, nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte. He served as President of France and later Emperor of the French from 1852 to 1870, a period known as the Second Empire.
4. Napoléon Eugène Louis Jean Joseph Bonaparte (1856-1879), son of Napoleon III, was Prince Imperial of France and heir apparent to the French throne until his death at age 23 during the Anglo-Zulu War in Africa.
5. Charles Napoléon Bonaparte (1803-1857), a nephew of Napoleon I who served as a general in the Russian Imperial Guard and later moved to the United States, where he became a prominent lawyer and genealogist.
6. Jules Napoléon Joseph Ceiner de Cumont (1840-1913), a Belgian archaeologist and philanthropist who conducted excavations in Babylon and dedicated the Villa Aurelia, now the French Academy in Rome, to the memory of his great-uncle Napoleon.
Genealogical research on the last name Napoleon
The surname Napoleon originated from the Italian city of Napoli, modern-day Naples, and is associated with the famous French dynasty that ruled France during the Napoleonic Era. The most notable member of this family is Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), who rose to power as a general in the French Army before becoming Emperor of the French. His family name was originally Bonaparte, but he adopted the surname Napoleon in honor of his place of birth. The Napoléon family lineage can be traced back to the 16th century, with various branches spreading across Europe and maintaining significant political influence throughout history. Some notable descendants include Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte (1808-1873), who proclaimed himself Emperor of the French after Napoleon I's exile, and Jerome Napoléon Bonaparte (1882-1960), an American diplomat.
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.
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