Surname Lepelletier - Meaning and Origin
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Lepelletier: What does the surname Lepelletier mean?
The last name Lepelletier is of French origin and denotes a person of the French lower nobility. In Old French, the term "le pelletier" is derived from the word "pellet" which was a type of pellet or pea-sized piece of lead used for ammunition. Thus, the surname Lepelletier suggests a person who made and sold the lead pellets.
The Lepelletier family was originally from the Poitou-Charentes region of western France. The surname is quite rare and often reported to have been borne by a limited number of families from the region.
Lepelletier families have a rich history in France and are said to have served as courtiers and administrators in the French Court during the reigns of Napoleon I and Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte I. The family received several honors and grants throughout the centuries for their services at court.
The French surname also has a long-standing link to the horse racing industry and was most likely adopted by a family of racers. The term “pelletier” was also used to denote a horse-draught weight in the Middle Ages.
The Lepelletier legacy continues in France and elsewhere in the world to this day. The surname is still considered to be an honor and an indication of noble heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisLepelletier: Where does the name Lepelletier come from?
The surname Lepelletier is primarily associated with France, where it is one of the more common surnames, ranking around 700th in terms of prevalence. The origin of the name remains somewhat of a mystery. It is believed to come from the Latin phrase "Pelleretus," which means small stone, and may be related to the French word pelletier, which refers to a small stone or pebble.
Today, the surname is most commonly found in the French region of Normandy, especially in the department of Seine-Maritime. It is also quite common in the area around Paris and in the east of France. There are also a number of prominent members of this family who are found in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
The Lepelletier surname is found in the records of numerous French nobility, including the Beauvau family, the Noailles family, and the La Rochefoucauld family. The surname is also found in the records of lesser-known French families, such as the Genet family and the Bresson family. In addition, there have been several prominent scientists who have carried this surname, including the chemists Antoine and André-Hippolyte Lepelletier, and the researcher and historian Charles Lepelletier.
Today, the surname is still quite common in France. It is also found in French-speaking countries such as Belgium, Switzerland, Haiti, and parts of North America.
Variations of the surname Lepelletier
The variants of the surname Lepelletier are Le Pelletier, Le Pelletiau, Le Pelletreau and Pelletier. The possible spellings include Lepelleter, L'Pelleter, L'Pelletier, Le Pelletie, La Pellette, and Lepelletyer. Other surnames of the same origin include Pelletreau, Pelletier, Pellier, Peletier, Pelletreau, Pellotier and Pellatier.
Le Pelletier is derived from the Latin word "pallidus," which means "pale," referring to a pale colored stone, and it was commonly used in Medieval France to describe a mason who worked with stone. Over time, it became the name of an occupational surname for people who were in that type of trade.
Le Pelletiau is a variant of Le Pelletier and it was a name used to describe someone who worked with a cobbler, that is someone who made and repaired shoes.
Le Pelletreau is a variant of Le Pelletier and is derived from French terms meaning “pebbles” or “flint” and was a name used to describe someone who worked in a quarry.
Pelletier is the most common variant of Lepelletier used today and this was a name used to describe a boilermaker who tended to construct boilers and related machinery.
Pellier is also derived from the same Latin word, ‘Pallidus,’ as Lepelletier and it was used to describe someone who worked in the stonemasonry trade.
Peletier has origins in a similar Latin word, ‘Pallia,’ which means leather, and this variant is believed to have been used to describe someone who worked with leather.
Pelletreau is an alternative variant of Lepelletier and is again believed to have been a name used to describe a stonemason by trade.
Pellotier is a variant of Lepelletier and is thought to have been derived from the Old French word ‘pelloteur’ which refers to an armor maker.
Pellatier is an alternative version of the surname Lepelletier and is derived from the Old French word ‘pellette’, which is thought to be derived from the Latin word ‘pallidus’. It is believed to have originally been a job-related name for someone who worked in the armoring or metalworking profession.
Famous people with the name Lepelletier
- Auguste Lepelletier (1770-1845): French politician and writer, known for his advocacy of the French Revolution and during the period of the French First Republic.
- Adolphe Emile Lepelletier de Saint-Germain (1801-1856): French politician who served as Minister of the Interior in 1848-1850.
- Augustin Lepelletier des Longchamps (1803-1870): French historian, known for his works on religious history and the History of the French Revolution.
- Jean-Baptiste Lepelletier (1744-1802): French politician and writer who was one of the original Electors of the French Constitution.
- Joseph Lepelletier de Saint-Fargeau (1771-1793): French nobleman who was an active participant in the French Revolution and was guillotined in 1793.
- Ludovic Lepelletier (1768-1813): French politician and writer, involved in the Thermidorian Reaction and later in the politics of the French First Empire.
- Louis-Bernard Lepelletier (1783-1844): French politician and journalist who was a strong advocate of the French Republic.
- Elie Lepelletier (1738-1793): French politician who was a leading figure of the French Revolution and who played a role in the suppression of the Jacobins.
- Auguste-Théodore Lepelletier (1780-1850): French politician who served in the French National Assembly and was a supporter of Emperor Napoleon.
- Charles Lepelletier (1760-1834): French politician and diplomat who was a prominent figure in the politics of the French First Republic and the French Empire.