Surname Gregoir - Meaning and Origin

Gregoir: What does the surname Gregoir mean?

The last name Gregoir is derived from the Latin masculine personal name Gregorius, which includes the elements “grex,” meaning “flock,” and “greg” meaning “to watch.” This suggests that the original bearer of the surname was likely an overseer of some type, likely in position of authority among a group.

Originally, the name was found mainly in a variety of French versions, such as Grégoire, Grégoir, Grégwar, or Grégorel, before being eventually Anglicized to Gregoire, Gregoir, Gregorie, and more. Over the centuries, it has been adopted by people from many areas of the world.

This surname can be found most prominently in places that were historically part of the French Empire, such as North America, Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia. In some cases, the surname could have been adopted directly from French colonists, while others may have obtained it through intermarriage with French nationals, or changed it from a French version to the Anglicized version over the years.

In some cases, the surname has also been used with other iterations, such as Gregoire, Gregório, or Greggy. Although the exact origin and translation of the name may vary slightly from place to place, the universal meaning is a clear indicator of the authority and technical skills of the original bearers of the name.

Gregoir: Where does the name Gregoir come from?

The last name Gregoir is most commonly found in Europe, particularly in France and Belgium. In 2019, it was the 441st most popular surname in France, and the 154th most common surname in Belgium.

In France, the name is especially common in the region of Brittany, where it was the 14th most popular surname in 2015, according to a study by the French Institute of Statistics and Economic Research. It is also a relatively common surname in the French departments of Loire-Atlantique and Finistère.

In Belgium, the name is concentrated mostly in the Flemish region, particularly in East and West Flanders, although it is also found in pockets in the Brussels-Capital and Walloon regions as well.

Today, the name is also found throughout the world, including in Canada, the US, Brazil, Australia, and the UK. This likely reflects the fact that many people with the last name Gregoir have emigrated from France and Belgium in search of better opportunities.

Variations of the surname Gregoir

The surname Gregoir is of French origin and has multiple spelling variations and surnames of the same origin. Some of those include Gregor, Gregore, Gregori, Gregorie, Gregory and Gregorieux. Gregoir is a common French variant of the name Gregory (Grégoire in French). The original Latin form of the name was Gregorius, which means “vigilant”, “watchful” or “alert”.

Gregoir is also a popular surname in Canada, where it is often found among French-Canadian families. Other French variants of the surname include Gegoire, Gregois, Grégoire and Gricaudeau.

In Scotland, Gregoir is often found as Gregor or Gregorson. This version of the name can be found in the Scottish border counties of Selkirk, Roxburgh and Berwick. It is also found in the genealogies of the Clan Gregor as early as 1390.

In Germany, Gregoir is often rendered as Gregor or Gregoritsch. This form of the name can be found mainly in the southeastern parts of the country, particularly in Bavaria.

In Poland, Gregoir is found mainly in west-central Poland in the Podlaskie province. This version of the name is rendered as Gregor or Gregorski.

In Hungary, Gregoir is often found as Gregor or Gregorváry. This version of the name can be found all over the country, with the majority of families located in Budapest and the surrounding areas.

For those with Greek heritage, Gregoir is often found as Gregorios or Grigorios. This version of the name is mainly found in northern Greece, particularly in the Thessaloniki region.

In Italy, Gregoir is often found as Grigorio or Guglielmo. This version of the name is mainly found in the south of the country, particularly in regions such as Naples, Sicily, and Campania.

Finally, in Scandinavia, Gregoir is often rendered as Gregersen or Gregorsen. This form of the name is mainly found in Denmark and Norway.

Famous people with the name Gregoir

• Philippe Gregoir: Belgian hockey player and coach, made 713 appearances and scored 203 goals in the Belgian Hockey League and was a member of the Belgium men’s national hockey team at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
• Philippe Gregoire: French water polo player who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics and holds the longest international career (33 years).
• Darren Gregoire: Canadian football player who was the second overall draft pick in the 1998 CFL Draft and played 11 seasons in the CFL.
• Mylène Gregoire: Canadian volleyball player who represented Canada at the 2012 Summer Olympics and won the FIVB World Grand Prix and Pan-American Cup in 2015 and 2016.
• Alain Gregoire: Canadian photographer who is known for documenting life in French-Canadian communities throughout Canada.
• Marc Gregoire: Belgian cyclist and member of the An Post–Cronite team who won the UCI Europe Tour in 2009.
• Guy Gregoire: Canadian swimmer who represented Canada at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics and won the gold medal at the Pan-American Games in 1999.
• Juliette Gregoire: Canadian biathlete who won a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics and silver medals in 1998 and 2002.
• Fabien Gregoire: French musician and composer who is considered one of the pioneers of Punk and New Wave in France.
• Paul Gregoire: French-Canadian politician who served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 2004-2012.

Other surnames

GregoGregoireGregorGregorcykGregorczikGregorczykGregoreckGregorekGregoriGregoricGregorichGregoricsGregoritschGregoriusGregorsGregorsenGregortschykGregoryGregorzGregorzekGregorzikGregorzukGregorzykGregoschGregoschek