deGrasse

deGrasse is a toponymic element of French origin used in personal names. It denotes origin from Grasse, a town in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. The element can appear in different spellings, including deGrasse, de Grasse, or as part of a longer surname, depending on historical and linguistic context.

In contemporary English-language usage, the best-known bearer is Neil deGrasse Tyson (born 1958), an American astrophysicist, author, and science communicator. In his case, deGrasse is a middle name rather than a family surname. Historically, the name also appears as de Grasse in the name of François Joseph Paul de Grasse (1700s–1788), a French admiral notable for his role in the American Revolutionary War.

Because deGrasse is linked to the town of Grasse, the name carries French geographic associations and has become part of a broader pattern of toponymic names in the Francophone world.