Surname Germaine - Meaning and Origin

Germaine: What does the surname Germaine mean?

The surname Germaine originated from the Germanic personal name "Germanus," which means "brother" in Medieval Latin. Unlike many surnames, it doesn't reference a family's geographic location or occupation. Instead, it reflects a relatedness or brotherhood, either literally, as in the case of siblings, or figuratively, as with close-knit communities or religious followers. This surname became popular among early Christians in honor of a saint who went by the name Germaine. The spelling of the surname has variations including Germain, Jarman, Jarmain, and Jermyn, depending on regions and countries. Besides being a popular surname, Germaine is used as a given name, gaining particular popularity in the 20th century. For instance, the famous feminist writer Germaine Greer. It's also a unisex name, although more commonly associated with females in the modern day.

Germaine: Where does the name Germaine come from?

The last name Germaine is most commonly found today in France, specifically in the southern and western regions. It is thought to be derived from the old Germanic forename Germanus, meaning "brother". Additionally, its popularity is attributed to the French martyr Saint Germaine, whose shrine at nearby Pibrac remains a significant place of pilgrimage.

Elsewhere, Germaine is found with some regularity in French Canada, specifically in the province of Quebec. French Canadians often name their children after saints, and the legacy of Saint Germaine remains strong in the area. In the United States, the name can be found in Louisiana, as French speaking settlers moved south following the Louisiana Purchase, and in other parts of the country too, as pockets of French-American population grow.

Outside of France and French-speaking countries, some bearers of the name are found in Italy and other parts of Europe, and increasingly throughout Latin America. The name has also been Anglicised to Jermaine, allowing the family name to grow in some of the many English-speaking countries around the world.

Variations of the surname Germaine

The surname Germaine originated from the Latin personal name Germanus meaning “brother”. The variants spellings, surnames and variations of Germaine include Germain, German, Germano, Germen, Germene, Germanes, Germaines, Germani, Germenes, Germinal, Geronimo, Germann, Germanos, Germino, Germont, Germaneau, Jermaine, Jermain, Jermyn, Jurmain, Germayne, Germaines and Jurmaine.

The origin of the surname is found in France, England and Germany. In England the surname was popularized by the Normans, who introduced it to the island in the 12th century. In France, the name was recorded in the Languedoc region in 1260. The variants are found disproportionately in the North of France, while the surnames are more widespread in the south. In Germany, the surnames appear to have gained prominence from migrants from France.

The records of the surname Germaine appear in Germany during the 12th century and it was the name of a high-ranking official in the army of King Otto IV in 1210. The variant forms of Germaine are also found in butler, historian, philosopher, author, mathematician, politician and military leaders. The variants appear widely in the records of the French andGerman revolutionary movement in the 18th century, as well as in emigration records in the 19th century.

Some prominent bearers of the name are Francisco Germain, a Spanish composer, Catherine Germain, an American teacher, Yakov Germain, a Russian mathematician, Joseph Germaine, an American Jesuit, Jenni Germaine, an American journalist, Jim Germaine, an Australian cyclist, and Frédéric Germain, a French businessman.

Famous people with the name Germaine

• Greer Germaine: British-Australian writer, academic, and public intellectual
• Lola Germaine: American drag queen, makeup artist, and singer
• Dominic Germaine: American actor and musician
• Louis Germaine: Canadian figure skater
• Dan Germaine: former New Zealand rugby union player
• Yannick Germaine: Canadian children's animated television show creator
• Melissa Germaine: American entrepreneur and public speaker
• Sabine Germaine: French actress
• Genna Germaine: American artist, chef, and cookbook author
• Lydie Germaine: French film actress

Other surnames

GermaierGermain