pasquier

Pasquier is a French surname and, less commonly, a given name. It derives from the Old French pasquier, an occupational term for a baker or bread seller, reflecting the medieval practice of naming people by their trade. As a result, Pasquier belongs to a broad class of French surnames formed from professions.

Historically, the name appears in France from the Middle Ages and later spread to other Francophone regions through migration and colonization. Today it is found throughout France and in Francophone communities abroad, including Canada and parts of Africa, with regional concentrations varying over time.

Notable individuals with the surname include Étienne Pasquier (1529–1615), a prominent French jurist, magistrate and antiquarian who contributed to early modern French scholarship and humanism. In the centuries since, bearers of the name have been active across law, literature, science and sport, reflecting the surname’s broad geographic and social distribution.

Beyond people, Pasquier appears in place names, institutions, and genealogical references within Francophone regions, underscoring its long-standing presence in French-speaking culture. While primarily identified as a surname of French origin, Pasquier has become a recognizable element in non-French contexts through historical figures and contemporary bearers.