Francis

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Francis
Given Name

Gender Male/Female
Meaning French, Free, Light Bringer
Origin Latin
Related names Franciscus
Wikipedia articles All pages beginning with Francis
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Francis is an English and Scottish first name and a surname ultimately descended from the Latin name Franciscus, the name of Francis of Assisi.

Francis is a name that has many derivatives in most European languages, the most common in English 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. In Italian and Spanish, the form Fran is mostly used for boys and men, while Franci is more common for girls and women.

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[edit] Related names in other languages

Related names are common in other Western European languages, in countries that are (or were before the Reformation) Catholic. These names include:

[edit] Derivation

Francesco was the name given to Saint 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 people known as the Franks; the origin of their name is unclear but is thought to refer to the word "free".

[edit] People with the surname Francis

[edit] Rulers named Francis

Francis Yeung - mongol emperor

[edit] People known as Saints Francis

[edit] Other uses

[edit] See also