Lefébure

Lefébure is a French surname commonly regarded as a variant of Lefebvre. It is derived from the Old French fèvre, meaning craftsman or smith, with the definite article le- attached to the occupational name. As with many occupational surnames, Lefébure originally identified a person by trade and later became hereditary.

Variants of the name include Lefèbure and Lefebvre, as well as orthographic forms such as LeFebvre or Lefevre, reflecting regional pronunciation differences and historical spelling practices. The form Lefébure preserves the acute accent on the e and may differ from more ubiquitous spellings in its use of the final -e.

Geographic distribution: The surname is of French origin and is most commonly found in France, particularly in the northern regions. It is also present in other Francophone areas, including Belgium and Canada (notably Quebec), as well as in other countries due to emigration.

Historical records: Lefébure appears in parish and civil records from the early modern period onward. Spelling variations were common before standardization in the 19th and 20th centuries, which means different branches of the same family might bear closely related surnames.

Notable bearers: Individuals bearing the surname have been active in various fields, including academia, industry, and the arts within France and other francophone regions. The form Lefebvre remains more common in contemporary usage and often constitutes a distinct surname in modern contexts.