Surname Girault - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling Ancestral Tales: The Odyssey of My Surname Girault Through a DNA Lens

A recent thorough examination of my genetic makeup using an iGENEA DNA test has unveiled compelling information about my cultural and historical origins, more specifically regarding my surname, Girault. Originating from Medieval France, the surname Girault is a testament to my strong warrior lineage, derived from the powerful name Gerard, signifying "spear brave". My family's extensive journey, from 14th century France to the shores of America, tells a tale of bravery, resilience and cultural intermingling that has shaped who I am today.

I. Girault

Girault: What does the surname Girault mean?

The last name Girault is a surname with French origins, mostly found in the regions of Poitou-Charentes and Nouvelle-Aquitaine in the western part of the country. The surname is derived from the personal name 'Giraut', a pet form of the name 'Giraldus', which is composed of elements from Germanic words meaning 'spear' and 'rule'. The meaning of the name has thus been interpreted as the 'stout ruler of the spear'.

As a name, Girault has been found in France since the mid 14th century. Notable occurrences include the appointment of Jean Girault as Canon of the Cathedral of Poitiers in 1371, and the marriage of Jean Girault and Catherine Colteau in the city of Vigneux in 1639.

In the modern day, the last name Girault is the 1228th most common last name in France, with approximately 6,606 people with the name. Girault has become a modern French surname as well, with an estimated 15,747 people using the name in 2017. The name is also found in other countries, including Canada, the United States and Australia.

Girault: Where does the name Girault come from?

The Girault surname is most commonly found in France today, where it originated from. The name is widely known throughout the northern region of France throughout Brittany, Normandy, and a few towns in the Ile-de-France region. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, in the town of Pignan (9800 Girault families), 8% of the population still carry the Girault surname. Other regions where the name is mostly found include Corsica, Île-de-France, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Centre-Val de Loire, and Occitanie. The surname is also present in smaller numbers in Algeria, Canada, Cameroon, the United States, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Switzerland, Haiti, and Venezuela.

Today, people of the Girault surname often work in a range of professions, from entrepreneurs to teachers, scientists, and musicians. Many Girault families have a long-time presence in their area and have made their mark on their local community. The family has also contributed to their national identity through distinguished individuals such as the scientist Jean-Baptiste-André Girault, the French resistance fighter Elie Girault, and the photographer H. Girault.

Variations of the surname Girault

The surname Girault has a few variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants, spellings, and surnames are:

Girou - This is the original spelling of the surname dating back to the 17th century. It is particularly common in France.

Girault - This is the French spelling of the surname which was adopted in New France in North America and is mainly found in Quebec, the Maritime provinces, and parts of the United States such as Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

Girouard - This is the French-Canadian spelling of the surname found mainly in Atlantic Canada and parts of New England in the United States.

Giroux - This is the spelling of the surname commonly used in eastern Canada where a number of variants of the Girault name are found, such as Girodid, Girous, Girud, and Girutil.

Girod - This is an uncommon variant of the Girault surname primarily found in France.

Giraud - This is another French spelling of the surname with its main presence in France and Quebec.

All of these variants are believed to have the same origin, from a single Girault family. Although each of these variants likely developed independently, they all ultimately refer to the same family group.

Famous people with the name Girault

• Manon Girault: French Instagram star and fashion vlogger who has earned more than 1.3 million followers by posting fashion hauls, comparison photos, and other style related content to her channel.
• Corentin Girault: French YouTuber also known as Shorty, who has gained more than 500,000 subscribers for posting random videos and reacting to other people's videos.
• Pierre Girault: French chemical engineer, known for pioneering the first electrolytic process for the production of hydrogen in 1839.
• Jean-Claude Girault: French film director, screenwriter, and actor, known for his films The Visitors, Little Indian, Big City, and Ridicule.
• Nicolas Girault: French contemporary artist, whose work has been exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, and the Triennale di Milano.
• Pierre-Oliver Girault: French-Canadian actor, model, and dancer, best known for his lead role in Stephen Hawkings' short film Existence.
• Étienne Girault: French astronomer, physicist, and inventor, credited with creating Girault's Rule, a system used to determine the proper position of a telescope's cross-hairs when viewing astronomical objects.
• Olivier Girault: French writer, historian, and professor, known for works such as The Field of Honor: The History of Chivalry and Warfare and The House of Valois: A History of the French Monarchy.
• Claude Girault: French admiral and politician, who served as Deputy Minister of the Navy from 1903 to 1905.
• Yannick Girault: French composer, conductor, and music arranger, who has composed music for films such as The Great Adversary and Angel Heart.

Other surnames

Giraud