Guénons

Guénons is a French surname. The name is most closely associated with René Guénon (1886–1951), a French metaphysical philosopher and esotericist who became a central figure in the Traditionalist School. Guénon’s work argues that authentic spirituality is anchored in perennial metaphysical truths shared across the world’s religious traditions, and that modern Western civilization has severed itself from these foundations. His best-known books include The Crisis of the Modern World (1927) and Theosophy: The History of a Pseudo-Religion (1921). His writings drew on Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic sources and helped shape a network of thinkers who emphasized tradition, initiation, and critique of secular modernity. Guénon’s influence extends to later traditionalists such as Frithjof Schuon, Julius Evola, and Seyyed Hossein Nasr, who expanded the idea of a universal sacred tradition beyond national or religious boundaries.

Beyond René Guénon, the surname Guénon remains relatively uncommon, and few other individuals with the name have achieved comparable public recognition. In encyclopedic references, the plural Guénons is typically used to indicate more than one person bearing the surname, or to refer collectively to the family associated with René Guénon in biographical contexts.