Francis

Francis is an English language first name and a surname ultimately descended from the Italian language name Francesco, the name Saint Francis of Assisi.

Francis is a name that has many derivatives, the most common being Frank. The female version of the name in English is Frances, with emphasis on the letter e, and (less commonly) Francine. The name Fran is a common diminutive for Francis, Frances and Francine.

Related names in other languages

Related names are common in other Western European languages, in countries that are (or were before the Protestant Reformation) Roman Catholic. These names include:
- Italian language: Francesco, Franco, Francesca (female version)
- Latin language: Franciscus
- Spanish language: Francisco, Paco, Fran, Quico, Pancho, Cisco, Chisco...
- Portuguese language: Francisco
- French language: François, Frank, Franck
- German language: Franziskus, Franz
- Greek language: Frangiskos
- Hungarian language: Ferenc
- Irish language: Pronsious
- Croatian language: Franjo, Frano, Frane

Derivation

Francesco was the name given to Francis of Assisi by his father in memory of the boy's mother, a Frenchwoman, who died when the child was still in his early years. It means 'Little Frenchman'. The name of France itself comes from the Germanic peoples people known as the Franks; the origin of their name is unclear but perhaps meaning "free".

People with the surname Francis

- Anne Francis (born 1930), American actress
- Arlene Francis (1907-2001), American actress
- Connie Francis (born 1938), American pop singer
- David Rowland Francis (1850–1927) American politician, Mayor of Saint Louis, Governor of Missouri, U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
- Freddie Francis (1917-2007), English cinematographer and film director
- Jane Francis, Winner of Polar Medal, 2002
- Genie Francis (born 1962), Actress
- Gerry Francis (born 1951), English footballer and manager
- James Francis (1819-1884), Australian colonial politician
- Joe Francis (born 1973), Founder of Mantra Films
- Kay Francis (1905-1968), American actress
- Missy Francis (born 1972), American child actress
- Norman Francis (born 1931), President of Xavier University of Louisiana
- Ranganathan Francis (born 1920), Indian hockey player
- Ron Francis (born 1963), Canadian professional ice hockey centerman
- Sage Francis (born 1977), Hip-hop artist
- Sam Francis, (1923-1994), American painter and printmaker
- Sam Francis (American football), Professional American football player
- Samuel Kensinger Francis, Fitness trainer
- Samuel Francis, Columnist
- Steve Francis (born 1977), American professional basketball player
- Thomas Francis, Jr] (1900-1969), American physician, virologist, and epidemiologist
- Trevor Francis (born 1954), English footballer

Rulers named Francis

- Francis I, Duke of Brittany (1414-1450)
- Francis I, Duke of Lorraine (1517-1545)
- Francis I of France (1494-1547)
- Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor (1708-1765)
- Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor (1768-1835)
- Francis I of the Two Sicilies (1777-1830)
- Francis II, Duke of Brittany (1433–1488)
- Francis II of France (1544–1560)
- Francis II, Duke of Lorraine (1572–1632)
- Francis II Rákóczi, Duke of Transylvania (1676–1735)
- Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor (1768–1835)
- Francis II of the Two Sicilies (1836–1894)
- Franz, Duke of Bavaria (born 1933), called "Francis II" by Jacobitism supporters
- Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor and Holy Roman Emperor (1708–1765)
- Francesco III d'Este, Duke of Modena (1737–1780)
- Francis IV, Duke of Modena (1779- 1846)
- Francis V, Duke of Modena (1819-1875)

People known as Saints Francis

- Francis Borgia (1510-1572)
- Francis Caracciolo (1563-1608)
- Francis de Geronimo (1642-1716)
- Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
- Francis Ferdinand de Capillas (1607-1648)
- Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)
- Francis of Paola (1416-1507)
- Francis Solanus (1549-1610)
- Francis Xavier (1506-1552)
- Vietnamese Martyrs

Other uses

- In Saskatchewan, Canada
- - Francis (village)
- - Francis (electoral district)
- Francis the Talking Mule, a series of seven comedies made in the 1950s
- - Francis (1950 film), first movie in the Francis the Talking Mule series

See also

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