Surname St-Georges - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
St-Georges: What does the surname St-Georges mean?
The surname St-Georges is of French origin and literally translates to "Saint George," referring to the Christian saint, George. Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic Church and is often depicted as a dragon slayer in Western Christianity. The designation of "Saint" in surnames is common in various cultures and often signifies a familial or village devotion to that particular saint. Thus, St-Georges may indicate that the family or the region where the surname originated had strong religious ties to Saint George. Since it is a geographical surname, it could also signify that the family lived near a church dedicated to Saint George. Like most surnames, variations exist based on region and lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisSt-Georges: Where does the name St-Georges come from?
The last name St-Georges originates from eastern France and is still commonly found in Northern Europe. In France itself, the majority of people with the last name St-Georges are concentrated around Lille, with the highest concentration in the city of Lyon. There are also significant populations in Belgium and Switzerland.
In English-speaking countries, St-Georges is primarily found in Canada and the United States. Trace back a few centuries and you will find that most St-Georges’s in North America were actually of French heritage. While the United States does not have a significant population of St-Georges’s per se, the name does occur in some coastal regions such as Maryland and Massachusetts.
The same is true for Canada, where it is found throughout the country but primarily in Quebec and Ontario. In Quebec, it is the third-most common French-origin surname. This reflects France’s early influence in the region.
Today, anyone bearing the St-Georges name is likely to come from an area where the French language has played an important role in the past. Whether they are from France, Canada, or elsewhere in Europe or the United States, these people are a testament to the legacy of Francophone culture that has persisted in both old and new countries.
Variations of the surname St-Georges
Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname St-Georges include:
St. George, Saint-Georges, Saint George, Saint Giorgio, Santiago, San jose, St. Georgius, Sankt georg, Szentgyörgy, Sent Jerzy etc.
The variations in the spelling of St-Georges are quite common. For example, in the French language it is spelled Saint Georges, while the Spanish spelling is Santiago and the Italian version is Saint Giorgio. Similarly, variants exist in other languages such as the German Sankt georg, the Polish Szentgyörgy, and the Czech Sent Jerzy.
Each of these variations reflects the evolution of the surname in the various cultures it has been carried through. Being of French origin, the original spelling was Saint Georges, but its evolution through different countries and languages has seen the surname be spelled and pronounced in a variety of ways.
Many of these variations are specific to certain nationalities or regions. For example, in Germany Sankt georg is commonly used, while Szentgyörgy is the spelling used in Hungary and Sent Jerzy in the Czech Republic.
In general, all of these variants, spellings and surnames stem from the same origin, and any variation is reflective of the particular nation, culture and language in which it is used.
Famous people with the name St-Georges
- François de St-Georges de Bouhebert (1743-1817): Former military officer and one of the Fathers of Confederation in Canada.
- Admiral François Joseph Paul de Grasse, Comte de Grasse-Saint-Georges (1722-1788): French naval officer who was best known for commanding the French fleet during the American Revolutionary War.
- Louis-Joseph de Saint-Georges (1745-1799): Violinist, acclaimed conductor, and a well-known Black composer of the late 18th century.
- Alexandre St-Georges (1919-1993): Canadian lawyer, senator, and political organizer.
- Jean-Baptiste de Saint-Georges (1745-1799): Prolific classical composer and violinist of African descent.
- Charles Honoré Timoléon de Cossé-Brissac (1764-1793): Marquis de Saint-Georges and leading cavalry commander of the French Revolutionary Army.
- Mark St-Georges (1921-2010): Canadian painter and sculptor who was a student of the renowned artist Jean-Paul Riopelle.
- Gibert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette (1757-1834): French military officer and statesman who served in the American and French Revolution.
- François Charles Xavier de Saint-Georges (1818-1878): French diplomat, politician, and businessperson who was the first Black senator elected in France.
- Jacques-François de Saint-Georges (1769-1843): French naval officer and politician who served in the French Navy and participated in seven major engagements during the Napoleonic Wars.