Thenard

Thenard is a surname of French origin. In popular usage, the name is closely associated with the Thénardier family from Victor Hugo’s novel Les Misérables, where the characters are petty criminals who scheme and profit from others. In the original French, the family name is Thénardier; in many English editions the accent is omitted, yielding Thenard or Thenardier.

In the novel, the Thénardier parents are Thénardier (the father) and Madame Thénardier. They run an inn and engage in various cons, exploiting travelers and vulnerable people. Their children, Éponine and Azelma, assist with their schemes, and Gavroche is their son, a streetwise boy who becomes a notable figure in Paris. The family appears as antagonists for a large portion of the narrative, often clashing with the protagonists, including Jean Valjean and, indirectly, Cosette, whom they use as a source of income until Valjean rescues her.

The Thénardier clan features prominently in adaptations of the novel, including stage productions and films, where their scheming and duplicitous nature are a recurring focus. The name has thus become shorthand in literary contexts for roguish or unscrupulous behavior, particularly in a French setting.

Outside of Les Misérables, Thenard is a rare surname with limited attested usage. The more common spelling in literature and media remains Thénardier, with Thenard representing a diacritic-free variant. The name’s association with the fictional Thénardier family remains the most enduring reference in popular culture.