fabre

Fabre is a French surname and sometimes a toponym. The name is generally considered to derive from an occupational origin, linked to the Old French word fabre and ultimately from the Latin faber, meaning craftsman or smith. As such, Fabre likely began as a surname for someone who worked as a maker or metalworker and later became a family name carried through generations. It is most common in France but is also found among French-speaking communities around the world.

Notable people with the surname include Jean-Henri Fabre (1823–1915), a French naturalist and essayist renowned for his detailed observations of insect life. His writings, including the Souvenirs Entomologiques, popularized scientific writing about insects and contributed to public interest in natural history.

Another prominent figure is Pierre Fabre (1926–2013), a French pharmacist and entrepreneur who founded the Pierre Fabre Group, a major multinational in cosmetics and dermocosmetics. The company is known for brands such as Avène and Klorane and is headquartered in Castres, France.

Beyond these individuals, Fabre appears in various contexts as a surname across French-speaking regions. Its use as a family name reflects broader patterns of occupational surnames that became hereditary over time.