Franciscus is a Latin given name, originally an epithet meaning "the

Frank Frank or Franks may refer to: People * Frank (given name) * Frank (surname) * Franks (surname) * Franks, a medieval Germanic people * Frank, a term in the Muslim world for all western Europeans, particularly during the Crusades - see Farang Curr ...

, the

Frenchman The French people (french: Français) are an ethnic group and nation primarily located in Western Europe that share a common French culture, history, and language, identified with the country of France. The French people, especially th ...

". It was applied to Saint

Francis of Assisi Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, better known as Saint Francis of Assisi ( it, Francesco d'Assisi; – 3 October 1226), was a mystic Italian Catholic friar, founder of the Franciscans, and one of the most venerated figures in Christianit ...

(1181/82–1226). Francis had been baptized Giovanni (John); his father was

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

and his mother Provençale ( at the time not considered French); his father was on business in France when he was born, and when he returned to Assisi, he began to call his son by the nickname ''Francesco'', in the opinion of G. K. Chesterton possibly because out of a general enthusiasm for all things French, or because of his commercial success in France.Chesterton, Gilbert Keith (1924). "St. Francis of Assisi" (14 ed.). Garden City, New York: Image Books. p. 158. After the canonization of

Saint Francis of Assisi Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, better known as Saint Francis of Assisi ( it, Francesco d'Assisi; – 3 October 1226), was a Mysticism, mystic Italian Catholic Church, Catholic friar, founder of the Franciscans, and one of the most vener ...

in 1228, the custom of naming children after saints led to the popularization of ''Franciscus'' as a given name. In the vernaculars of western Europe, the name diversified into the forms

Francesco Francesco, the Italian (and original) version of the personal name " Francis", is the most common given name among males in Italy. Notable persons with that name include: People with the given name Francesco * Francesco I (disambiguation), sev ...

(Italian),

Francisco Francisco is the Spanish and Portuguese form of the masculine given name ''Franciscus''. Nicknames In Spanish, people with the name Francisco are sometimes nicknamed "Paco (name), Paco". Francis of Assisi, San Francisco de Asís was known as '' ...

(Spanish and Portuguese),

Francesc Francesc () is a masculine given name of Catalan origin. It is a cognate of Francis, Francesco, Francisco, François, and Franz. People with the name include: *Cesc Fàbregas (Francesc Fàbregas i Soler) (born 1987), Spanish professional foot ...

(Catalan),

François François () is a French masculine given name and surname, equivalent to the English name Francis. People with the given name * Francis I of France, King of France (), known as "the Father and Restorer of Letters" * Francis II of France, Kin ...

(

Old French Old French (, , ; Modern French: ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France from approximately the 8th to the 14th centuries. Rather than a unified language, Old French was a linkage of Romance dialects, mutually intelligib ...

''Franceis'', whence English

Francis Francis may refer to: People *Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State and Bishop of Rome *Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters *Francis (surname) Places * Rural M ...

Franz Franz may refer to: People * Franz (given name) * Franz (surname) Places * Franz (crater), a lunar crater * Franz, Ontario, a railway junction and unorganized town in Canada * Franz Lake, in the state of Washington, United States – see ...

(German, whence Hungarian

Ferenc Ferenc () is a given name of Hungarian origin. It is a cognate of Francis, Francisco, Francesco, François, Frank and Franz. People with the name include: * Ferenc Batthyány, Hungarian magnate and general * Ferenc Berényi, Hungarian artist * ...

, Scandinavian and Dutch

Frans Frans is an Afrikaans, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Swedish given name, sometimes as a short form of ''François''. One cognate of Frans in English is ''Francis''. Given name * Frans van Aarssens (1572–1641), Dutch diplomat ...

); besides ''Frans'', the Latin form remains commonly given in

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

. ''Franciscus'' may serve as the latinization of any of these given names; conversely, ''Francis'' may serve as the anglicization of anyone called ''Franciscus''. People called Franciscus include:

As a chosen name

Pope Franciscus Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church, the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State. Francis is the first pope to be ...

(papal name chosen in 2013 by Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born 1936)

As a Latinized name

Franciscus Assisiensis Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, better known as Saint Francis of Assisi ( it, Francesco d'Assisi; – 3 October 1226), was a mystic Italian Catholic friar, founder of the Franciscans, and one of the most venerated figures in Christianit ...

(1181/2–1226), Saint Francis of Assisi *

Franciscus Accursius Franciscus Accursius ( it, Francesco d'Accorso) (1225–1293) was an Italian lawyer, the son of the celebrated jurist and glossator Accursius. The two are often confused. Born in Bologna, Franciscus was more distinguished for his tact than for ...

(''Francesco d'Accorso''; 1225–1293), Italian lawyer *

Franciscus de Mayronis Francis of Mayrone (also Franciscus de Mayronis; c. 1280–1328) was a French scholastic philosopher. He was a distinguished pupil of Duns Scotus, whose teaching ( Scotism) he usually followed. He acquired a great reputation for ability in discu ...

(''François de Meyronnes''; c.1280–1328), French scholastic philosopher *

Franciscus de Marchia Francis of Marchia (c. 1290 - after 1344) was an Italian Franciscan theologian and philosopher. He was an ally of William of Ockham and Michael of Cesena, and opponent of Pope John XXII, in the struggles of the Franciscan Spirituals, leading to his ...

(''Francesco della Marca''; c.1290–c.1344), Italian Franciscan theologian and philosopher *

Franciscus de Florentia Francesco Landini ( or 1335 – 2 September 1397; also known by many names) was an Italian composer, poet, organist, singer and instrument maker who was a central figure of the Trecento style in late Medieval music. One of the most revered ...

(''Francesco Landini''; c.1330–1397), Italian composer, organist, singer, poet and instrument maker *

Franciscus Monachus Franciscus Monachus, (c. 1490 – 1565) was born Frans Smunck in Mechelen (or Malines) in the Duchy of Brabant (in modern-day Belgium). His Latinised name, adopted when he matriculated at the University of Louvain, is translated as simply ''Franc ...

(''Frans Smunck''; c.1490–1565), Brabantian cartographer *

Franciscus Irenicus Franciscus Irenicus, byname of Franz Friedlieb (1494/1495 – 1553) was a German humanist, Protestant reformer and historian. He was born in Ettlingen and died in Gemmingen. He studied at the famous Latin school in Pforzheim, where Philipp Melanc ...

(''Franz Friedlieb''; 1494–1553), German humanist and historian *

Franciscus Bossinensis Franciscus Bossinensis (''fl.'' 1509 – 1511) (Francis the Bosnian) was a lutenist-composer active in Italy in the 16th century. Bojan Bujić, "Navigating through the Past": Issues Facing an Historian of Music in Bosnia, ''International Review of t ...

(fl. 1509–1511), possibly Bosnian lutenist-composer working in Venice * Franciscus Stancarus (''Francesco Stancaro''; 1501–1574), Italian Catholic priest, theologian, and Protestant convert * Franciscus Titelmannus (''Frans Titelmans''; 1502–1537), Flemish Franciscan scholar *

Franciscus Sonnius Franciscus Sonnius (12 August 1506 – 30 June 1576) was a theologian during the time of the Catholic Reformation, the first bishop of 's-Hertogenbosch and later the first bishop of Antwerp. His family name was Van de Velde, but in later years ...

(''Frans van de Velde''; 1507–1576), Dutch theologian and bishop * Franciscus Duarenus (''François Douaren''; 1509–1559), French jurist and professor of law * Franciscus Portus (''Φραγκίσκος Πόρτος''; 1511–1581), Greek-Italian Renaissance humanist and classical scholar. * Franciscus Dryander (''Francisco de Enzinas''; 1518–1552), Spanish classical scholar, translator and Protestant apologist * Franciscus Londariti (''Φραγκίσκος Λεονταρίτης''; 1518–1572), Crete-born Venetian composer * Franciscus Balduinus (''François Baudouin''; 1520–1573), French jurist, Christian controversialist and historian *

Franciscus Patricius Franciscus Patricius ( Croatian: ''Franjo Petriš'' or ''Frane Petrić'', Italian: ''Francesco Patrizi''; 25 April 1529 – 6 February 1597) was a philosopher and scientist from the Republic of Venice, originating from Cres. He was known as a ...

(''Francesco Patrizi''; 1529–1597), Venetian philosopher * Franciscus Costerus (''Frans de Costere''; 1532–1619), Brabantian Jesuit, theologian and author * Franciscus Barocius (''Francesco Barozzi''; 1537–1604), Italian mathematician, astronomer and humanist *

Franciscus Raphelengius Frans van Ravelingen Latinized Franciscus Raphelengius (February 27, 1539 – July 20, 1597), was a Flemish-born scholar, printer and publisher, working in Antwerp and later in Leiden. During the last decade of his life he was professor of He ...

(''Frans van Ravelingen''; 1539–1597), Flemish-born Dutch scholar, printer and bookseller *

Franciscus Vieta Franciscus is a Latin given name, originally an epithet meaning "the Frank, the Frenchman". It was applied to Saint Francis of Assisi (1181/82–1226). Francis had been baptized Giovanni (John); his father was Italian and his mother Proven� ...

(''François Viète''; 1540–1603), French mathematician *

Franciscus Junius (the elder) Franciscus Junius the Elder (born François du Jon, 1 May 1545 – 23 October 1602) was a Reformed tradition, Reformed scholar, Protestant reformer and theologian. Born in Bourges in central France, he initially studied law, but later decided ...

(''François du Jon''; 1545–1602), Huguenot scholar and theologian * Franciscus Haraeus (''Frans Verhaer''; 1555–1631), Netherlandish theologian, historian, and cartographer *

Franciscus Gomarus Franciscus Gomarus (François Gomaer; 30 January 1563 – 11 January 1641) was a Dutch theologian, a strict Calvinist and an opponent of the teaching of Jacobus Arminius (and his followers), whose theological disputes were addressed at the Synod ...

(''François Gomaer''; 1563–1641), Dutch theologian *

Franciscus Aguilonius Franciscus is a Latin given name, originally an epithet meaning "the Frank, the Frenchman". It was applied to Saint Francis of Assisi (1181/82–1226). Francis had been baptized Giovanni (John); his father was Italian and his mother Proven� ...

(''François d'Aguilon''; 1567–1617), Belgian Jesuit mathematician, physicist and architect * Franciscus Dousa (''Frans van der Does''; 1577–1630), Dutch classical scholar *

Franciscus Quaresmius Francisco Quaresmio or Quaresmi (4 April 1583 – 25 October 1650), better known by his Latin name Franciscus Quaresmius, was an Italian writer and Orientalist. Life Quaresmius was born at Lodi. His father was the nobleman Alberto Quare ...

(''Francisco Quaresmio''; 1583–1650), Italian writer and Orientalist * Franciscus Burgersdicius (''Franck Burgersdijk''; 1590–1635), Dutch logician *

Franciscus Junius (the younger) Franciscus Junius (29 January 1591 – 1677), also known as François du Jon, was a pioneer of Germanic languages, Germanic philology. As a collector of ancient manuscripts, he published the first modern editions of a number of important texts. I ...

(1591–1677), Huguenot philologist and art historian * Franciscus Linus (''Francis Line''; 1595–1675), English-born Jesuit priest and scientist * Franciscus Blancus (''Frang Bardhi''; 1606–1643), Albanian bishop and author *

Franciscus Sylvius Franciscus Sylvius (15 March 1614 – 19 November 1672), born Franz de le Boë, was a Dutch physician and scientist (chemist, physiologist and anatomist) who was an early champion of Descartes', Van Helmont's and William Harvey's work and ...

(''Franz de le Boë'' 1614–1672), Dutch physician and scientist * Franciscus Bonae Spei (''François Crespin''; 1617–1677), Belgian Catholic scholastic philosopher *

Franciscus a Mesgnien Meninski Franciscus à Mesgnien Meninski (first name spelled also Francisci, François and Franciszek) (1623–1698) was the author of a multi-volume Turkish-to-Latin dictionary and grammar of the Turkish language, first published in 1680, which was groun ...

(''François Mesgnien''; 1623–1698) French-born Turkologist and Ottoman historian

As a given name

Franciscus van den Enden Franciscus van den Enden, in later life also known as 'Affinius' (Latinized form of 'Van den Enden') ( – 27 November 1674) was a Flemish Jesuit, Neo-Latin poet, physician, art dealer, philosopher, and plotter against Louis XIV of France. Born i ...

(1602–1674), Flemish poet, physician, art dealer, philosopher, and teacher of Spinoza * Franciscus de Neve (I) (1606–1681), Flemish history, landscape and portrait painter *

Franciscus Mercurius van Helmont Franciscus Mercurius van Helmont (baptised 20 October 1614 – December 1698) was a Flemish alchemist and writer, the son of Jan Baptist van Helmont. He is now best known for his publication in the 1640s of his father's pioneer works on chemistry ...

(1614–1698), Flemish alchemist and writer * Franciscus "Frans" van Schooten (1615–1660), Dutch mathematician * Franciscus van der Steen (c.1625–1672), Flemish painter and engraver * Franciscus Carré (c.1630–1669), Dutch painter and draftsman * Franciscus de Neve (II) (1632–aft.1704), Flemish painter and engraver * Franciscus "Frans" Kiggelaer (1648–1722), Dutch botanist and apothecary * Franciscus Gijsbrechts (1649–aft.1677), Flemish Baroque painter * Franciscus Andreas Durlet (1816–1867), Belgian architect, sculptor and printmaker * Franciscus Cornelis "Franz" Donders (1818–1889), Dutch ophthalmologist *

Franciscus Kenninck Franciscus Kenninck served as the eighteenth Archbishop of Utrecht from 1920 to 1937. Early Ministry Before serving as Archbishop of Utrecht, Kenninck served as president of Amersfoort Seminary in the Netherlands. Archbishop of Utrecht Fo ...

(1859–1937), Dutch Old Catholic Archbishop * Franciscus G.J. "Frans" van Lith (1863–1926), Dutch Jesuit missionary on Java * Franciscus Hermanus Bach (1865–1956), Dutch painter * Franciscus Hubertus "Frans" Schraven (1873–1937), Dutch Catholic Bishop who acted as missionary in China * Franciscus C.M. "Frans" Wijffels (1899–1968), Dutch Minister of Social Affairs *

Franciscus Bernardus Jacobus Kuiper Franciscus Bernardus Jacobus Kuiper (July 7, 1907 – November 14, 2003) was a distinguished scholar in Indology, and "one of the last great Indologists of the past century ... His very innovative work covers virtually all the fields of Indo-Irania ...

(1907–2003), Dutch Indologist * Franciscus Xaverius "Frans" Seda (1926–2009), Indonesian finance minister * Franciscus Xaverius Rocharjanta Prajasuta (1931–2015), Indonesian Roman Catholic bishop and composer * Franciscus Jozef "Frans" Brüggen (1934–2014), Dutch conductor, recorder player and baroque flautist * Franciscus J.M. "Frans" Wiertz (born 1942), Dutch Roman Catholic bishop * Franciscus J. "Frans" Luitjes (1944–1965), Dutch sprinter *

Franciscus Wilhelmus Maria Broers Franciscus Wilhelmus Maria Broers (3 September 1944, Tilburg – 9 December 2013, Utrecht) was a Dutch writer, who published using the pseudonym Jacq Firmin Vogelaar. In 1992 he won the Ferdinand Bordewijk Prijs for his novel ''De dood als meisje ...

(1944–2013), Dutch writer using the pseudonym ''Jacq Firmin Vogelaar'' *

Franciscus Henri Franciscus Henricus Antheunis, professionally known as Franciscus Henri (born 7 August 1947, The Hague, The Netherlands), is a musician and children's entertainer. He has dual Dutch and Australian nationality. In 1970 he gained national promine ...

(born 1947), Dutch-Australian musician * Franciscus B.M. "Frans" de Waal (born 1948), Dutch primatologist and ethologist * Franciscus Adrianus "Frans" van Vught (born 1950), Dutch social scientist * Franciscus H.G. "Frank" de Grave (born 1955), Dutch Minister of Defence * Franciscus C.G.M. "Frans" Timmermans (born 1961), Dutch politician and diplomat, Minister of Foreign affairs * Franciscus A.A.J. "Frans" Maasen (born 1965), Dutch cyclist and directeur sportif * Franciscus "Frank" de Boer (born 1970), Dutch football player and manager

As a surname

*Hoke L. Franciscus, electronics

researcher Research is " creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge". It involves the collection, organization and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular attentiveness ...

James Franciscus James Grover Franciscus (January 31, 1934 – July 8, 1991) was an American actor, known for his roles in feature films and in six television series: '' Mr. Novak'', '' The Naked City'', '' The Investigators'', '' Longstreet'', '' Doc Elliot'', ...

(1934–1991), American actor * Steve Franciscus (born 1982), Papua New Guinean rugby player

References

{{Given name, type=both, cat1=Latin masculine given names Dutch masculine given names