French is an anglicised version of Defreine which has a Norman Irish origin.
The DeFreines, the ffrenches, and the Frenches, who were of noble blood, came to Ireland with Strongbow during the Norman invasion of Ireland from 1169 to 1172 AD. There were and still are two or three families of Irish peers who carry the names DeFréine, ffrench, and French. As Anglo-Normans the French family became one of the 14 Tribes of Galway, helping to found the town in 1425 AD, fortifying it to keep the locals out.
French is or was the surname of the following individuals (alphabetized by first name):
Adrienne French (born 1987), fine art photographerAnne French (born 1956), New Zealand poetAlexander French (born 1980), Hong Kong cricketerAlice Masak French (1930–2013), Canadian Inuit writerAnnie French (1873–1965), Scottish artistAnthony French (born 1920), English professor of physics at Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyBob French (jazz musician) (contemporary), American drummerBrett French (contemporary), Australian rugby league footballerBruce French (actor) (born 1945), American actorBruce French (cricketer) (born 1959), English cricketerCharles K. French (1860–1952), American actorCharlie French (1883–1962), American baseball playerChristopher French, Irish theologianSir Christopher French, a British judgeDaniel French (inventor) (1770–1853), American inventor and steamboat pioneerDaniel Chester French (1850–1931), American sculptorDavid H. French (1918–1994), American anthropologist and linguist; expert on Native AmericansDavid French (playwright) (born 1939), Canadian playwright best known for Leaving Home (1971) and other plays about the Mercer familyDavid French (charity administrator) (born 1947), English administrator of Westminster FoundationDawn French (born 1957), Welsh-English actress, writer and comedy performerDomingo French (1774–1825), Argentine leader of May Revolution and War of IndependenceEdward French (bishop), Bishop of Elphin from 1787 to 1810Elizabeth French (contemporary), English archaeologistEmma Lee French (1836–1897), English immigrant to Southwestern United States who became known as a caregiverFreddie French (1911–1989), New Zealand rugby union and professional rugby league footballerFrederick Fillmore French (1883–1936), American real estate entrepreneurGary French (contemporary), Australian rugby league footballerGeorge French (1841–1921), Canadian law-enforcement officerHeather French (born 1974), American beauty pageant winnerHollis French (born 1958), member of the Alaska SenateIan French (born 1960), Australian rugby league footballerJackie French (born 29 November 1953), Australian authorJames French (murderer) (1936–1966), American criminal; became sole prisoner executed in 1966James R. French (contemporary), American aerospace engineerJay Jay French (born 1952), American guitaristJennifer French (disambiguation), multiple peopleJim French (cowboy) (before 1865–after 1879), American frontier figure who became known as an outlawJim French (photographer) (born 1932), American artist and photographer of homoerotica who has used pseudonym Rip ColtJim French (baseball) (born 1941), American catcher active during the 1960s and 1970sJim French (radio) (contemporary), American voice actor and producerJoe French (footballer), English footballer with Southampton and New Brompton in 1890s/1900sJohn French (physician) (1616–1657), English doctor and chemistJohn R. French (1819–1890), American publisher, editor and political figureJohn French, 1st Earl of Ypres (1852–1925), English military leader, Commander of British Expeditionary Force in World War IJohn French, 2nd Earl of Ypres (1881–1958), English army officer and artist; son of 1st EarlJohn William French (1888–1970), Canadian political figureJohn Alexander French (1914–1942), Australian soldier; posthumous recipient of Victoria Cross for valor in World War IIJohn French (racing driver) (born 1930), Australian champion racer of the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980sJoe French (born 1948), British Air Chief Marshal, Royal Air Force commanderJohn French (musician) (born 1949), American drummerJohn French (ice hockey) (born 1950), Canadian ice hockey playerJoseph Lewis French (1858–1936), American novelist, editor, and poetJoseph Nathaniel French (1888–1975), architectKate French (born 1984), American actressKaty French (1983–2007), Irish socialite and modelKenneth French (born 1954), American economistKristen French (1976–1992), Canadian murder victimMarilyn French (born 1929), American authorMary Billings French, American heiressMelinda Ann French (born 1964), American philanthropist married to Bill Gates; best known as Melinda GatesMichael French (born 1962), English actor best known for his TV roles of David Wicks on EastEnders and Nick Jordan on Casualty and Holby CityMicky French (born 1955), English footballerNicki French (born 1964), English singerPatrick French (bishop), Bishop of Elphin from 1731 to 1748Percy French (1854–1920), Irish songwriter, performer and painterRay French (baseball) (1895–1978), American Major League shortstop of the 1920s; later Minor League manager and umpireRay H. French (1919–2000), American artist and print makerRay French (contemporary), English rugby radio commentator and former playerRobert French (born 1947), Chief Justice of the High Court of AustraliaRufus French (born 1978), American football playerSamuel French (1821–1898), American entrepreneur and theatrical publisherSamuel Gibbs French (1818–1910), American Army officer who served as Confederate major general during Civil WarSarah French, American beauty contest winner who subsequently became TV news reporterSeán French (1890-1937), Irish Fianna Fáil political figure who served in Dáil and as Lord Mayor of Cork (1924–29 and 1932–37)Seán French (1931–2011), Irish Fianna Fáil political figure who served in Dáil and as Lord Mayor of Cork (1976–77)Susan French (1912–2003), American television, film and stage actressTana French (1973-), Irish novelist and theatrical actressValerie French (actress) (1928–1990), English-American performer who played leads in six 1956–57 filmsValerie French (wrestling) (born 1962), American wrestling personality best known under ring name "Sunshine"Victor French (1934–1989), American actor best known for playing in support of Michael Landon on TV series Highway to HeavenWalter French (baseball) (1899–1984), American outfielder for Philadelphia Athletics who played in 1929 World SeriesWalter French (cricket umpire) (before 1905–1961), Australian cricket figure who umpired 1931 Test matchesWarren French (born 1963), Founder of the Victorian Geocaching ClubWilliam H. French (1815–1881), American Union Army general in Civil War