Dufresne

Dufresne is a French-language surname derived from the byname du Fresne, meaning "from the ash tree." The element fresne comes from Old French, referring to ash trees. As a toponymic name, it likely denoted people living near or associated with a place featuring ash trees.

The surname is found throughout France and is common among Francophone communities in Canada, particularly in Quebec, as well as in other countries with French heritage. It has several spellings and variants, including Du Fresne and Dufresne as a merged form.

In culture and usage, the name is perhaps most familiar internationally through Andy Dufresne, a fictional character who plays a central role in Stephen King's novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption and its 1994 film adaptation, The Shawshank Redemption. The name is also borne by numerous real individuals in France, Canada, and elsewhere, spanning fields such as academia, arts, and sports, reflecting its status as a common Francophone surname rather than a marker of a particular occupation or region today.