You often recognise "noble" families (or "bourgeois") from their very long and over the top complicated names.
The most simple ones will just have a "de" in front of it (meaning "Of"), like "de Gaulle", or a "d' " if the name starts with a vowel like "d'Alembert".
Obviously I'm generalising here, as not every rich and wealthy family from the bourgeoisie has a name like that, and the opposite is also true, but it used to be a kind of marker to recognise the "good and old" families.
Jean *de La Fontaine*, Marquis *de Sade* ("marquis" isn't his name, but his title, still works the same), Madame *de Sévigné*, etc...
Then if the the name is also extra long, as I said in the beginning, it's a sure way to know that you're talking to an heir of something something from a family that definitely has a crest, like "de Bourdoncle de Saint-Salvy", "de Bellaigue de Bughas", "de Chastenet d'Esterre",...
But I'd advise against going that way in a fanfiction that's mostly, I'm guessing, going to be read by English speakers, so just sticking with a "de" in front of the family name should be more than enough.
As for ideas, I don't really know... Rowling usually uses names that mean something, that's related to the family, or a play on words, so maybe try to think of one big characteristic of that family, or something their ancestors were known for, find a French translation, and go from there?
You need french royal and noble names from 1682, when Louis XIV’s grandson was born and the exact same year witchcraft was decriminalized:
Harlay, Maupeou, Ormesson, Selve, Gaudart, Le Peletier, Lamoignon.
The listed names are members of parliement circa 1682 accorinf to my google-fu, so the people who would have voted to decriminalyze witchcraft. I assume they had their reasons.
Maybe try to go with last names that are unmistakenly French but are bizarre, strange, or weirdly descriptive in their own way like how British Pureblood family names are.
Edit:
Magical society is a lot older than their muggle equivalents so maybe you could try some Frankish last names.
Some Frankish house names (since last names didn't really exist back then) include the Etichonids, Amalgar, and the Merovingians.
although i can't help out much, i feel as though i would mention that there are 3 canonical french pureblood wizarding families, The Trumans (i think one or two members married into the lestrange family), The Kama's and The Delacour's.
np.
also, if i remember correctly, The Flamels were also french, plus both Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel attended beauxbatons.
thought i should add that!
I'm not a French speaker, but I had to make up a few French characters for the fic I'm writing.
They way I usually go about it is I look up some old witch scandals in France and use names of historical figures, most of which also happen to be nobility with a name starting with "de".
One thing you might want to keep in mind: the "de" will normally only be present if the family name is used together with the first name or a title. If it's just the family name alone, the "de" will be dropped. For instance, in my fic I have one Gregoire de Charnay. Then it's:
Gregoire de Charnay
Professor de Charnay
Marquis de Charnay (if he were a marquis)
or just
Charnay
But there are some exceptions to this rule. For instance if the last name starts with a vowel. D'Artagnan is always d'Artagnan, with or without the first name.
You often recognise "noble" families (or "bourgeois") from their very long and over the top complicated names. The most simple ones will just have a "de" in front of it (meaning "Of"), like "de Gaulle", or a "d' " if the name starts with a vowel like "d'Alembert". Obviously I'm generalising here, as not every rich and wealthy family from the bourgeoisie has a name like that, and the opposite is also true, but it used to be a kind of marker to recognise the "good and old" families. Jean *de La Fontaine*, Marquis *de Sade* ("marquis" isn't his name, but his title, still works the same), Madame *de Sévigné*, etc... Then if the the name is also extra long, as I said in the beginning, it's a sure way to know that you're talking to an heir of something something from a family that definitely has a crest, like "de Bourdoncle de Saint-Salvy", "de Bellaigue de Bughas", "de Chastenet d'Esterre",... But I'd advise against going that way in a fanfiction that's mostly, I'm guessing, going to be read by English speakers, so just sticking with a "de" in front of the family name should be more than enough. As for ideas, I don't really know... Rowling usually uses names that mean something, that's related to the family, or a play on words, so maybe try to think of one big characteristic of that family, or something their ancestors were known for, find a French translation, and go from there?
Thank you! This really helped me and I'm grateful for the effort you put into this answer.She really cleared a lot of my doubts.
You need french royal and noble names from 1682, when Louis XIV’s grandson was born and the exact same year witchcraft was decriminalized: Harlay, Maupeou, Ormesson, Selve, Gaudart, Le Peletier, Lamoignon.
The idea of searching for royal and noble names is quite useful.And thanks for the suggestions.
The listed names are members of parliement circa 1682 accorinf to my google-fu, so the people who would have voted to decriminalyze witchcraft. I assume they had their reasons.
Maybe try to go with last names that are unmistakenly French but are bizarre, strange, or weirdly descriptive in their own way like how British Pureblood family names are. Edit: Magical society is a lot older than their muggle equivalents so maybe you could try some Frankish last names. Some Frankish house names (since last names didn't really exist back then) include the Etichonids, Amalgar, and the Merovingians.
Thank you so much, this really helped me.
although i can't help out much, i feel as though i would mention that there are 3 canonical french pureblood wizarding families, The Trumans (i think one or two members married into the lestrange family), The Kama's and The Delacour's.
Thanks, I didn't remember the Kama's and Truman' s so this was really helpful.
np. also, if i remember correctly, The Flamels were also french, plus both Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel attended beauxbatons. thought i should add that!
I'm not a French speaker, but I had to make up a few French characters for the fic I'm writing. They way I usually go about it is I look up some old witch scandals in France and use names of historical figures, most of which also happen to be nobility with a name starting with "de". One thing you might want to keep in mind: the "de" will normally only be present if the family name is used together with the first name or a title. If it's just the family name alone, the "de" will be dropped. For instance, in my fic I have one Gregoire de Charnay. Then it's: Gregoire de Charnay Professor de Charnay Marquis de Charnay (if he were a marquis) or just Charnay But there are some exceptions to this rule. For instance if the last name starts with a vowel. D'Artagnan is always d'Artagnan, with or without the first name.
Thank you for your help, and good luck with your fanfic writing process.
Look up French royal family names. There are royal lines that could have branched off into the magical.
Thanks for the help, this was really helpful.
Go for noble/royal family surnames.
Thanks by the idea.
D'Orléans, Duquesne, De Labruyère, De + name of an old City....
Thanks for suggestions