Lefèvre

Lefèvre is a French surname of occupational origin meaning "the smith." It comes from the Old French fevre or fèvre, referring to a craftsman who worked as a blacksmith or metalworker. The surname typically appears with the definite article le, effectively meaning "the smith." Over time, spelling variants emerged through regional dialects and transliteration, including Lefebvre, Lefevre, Le Fevre, Le Fèvre, and LeFebvre. The form Lefebvre is especially common in Belgium and northern France, while Lefèvre remains widely used in other regions of France; the two variants are often interchangeable in historical records.

Distribution and usage: Lefèvre remains a common French surname and is found in Francophone communities around the world, notably in Belgium, Canada (particularly Quebec), the United States, and parts of Africa and the Caribbean due to migration and historical ties. It commonly appears in genealogical records dating back to the Middle Ages.

Notable bearers: Numerous individuals bearing Lefèvre have been documented in politics, arts, sciences, and sport, reflecting the surname’s long-standing presence in French-speaking societies. In historical documents, the name appears across medieval charters and letters.

See also: Lefebvre, LeFevre, LeFebvre.