Franciscus is a Latin given name, originally an epithet meaning "the Frank, the Frenchman". 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 and his mother

Provençale Provence (, , , , ; oc, Provença or ''Prouvènço'' , ) is a geographical region and historical province of southeastern France, which extends from the left bank of the lower Rhône to the west to the Italian border to the east; it is bor ...

( at the time not considered

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

); 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 Gilbert Keith Chesterton (29 May 1874 – 14 June 1936) was an English writer, philosopher, Christian apologist, and literary and art critic. He has been referred to as the "prince of paradox". Of his writing style, ''Time'' observed: "Wh ...

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 (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 football p ...

(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 * F ...

, 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. ''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 (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 h ...

(''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 discus ...

(''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 c ...

(''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 (1 November 1518? – 30 December 1552), also known by the humanist name Francis Dryander (from the Greek ''drus'', which can be translated ''encina'' in Spanish), was a classical scholar, translator, author, Protestant reforme ...

(''Francisco de Enzinas''; 1518–1552), Spanish classical scholar, translator and Protestant apologist *

Franciscus Londariti Francisco Leontaritis or Francesco Londarit or Francesco Londarit, Franciscus Londariti, Leondaryti, Londaretus, Londaratus or Londaritus (1518-1572) was a Greek composer, singer and hymnographer from today's Heraklion of the Venetian-ruled Crete ( ...

(''Φραγκίσκος Λεονταρίτης''; 1518–1572), Crete-born Venetian composer * Franciscus Balduinus (''François Baudouin''; 1520–1573), French jurist, Christian controversialist and historian * Franciscus Patricius (''Francesco Patrizi''; 1529–1597), Venetian philosopher *

Franciscus Costerus Francis Coster (or Frans de Costere, la, Franciscus Costerus) (Mechelen, 16 June 1532 (1531) - Brussels, 16 December 1619) was a Flemish Jesuit, theologian and author. Life Frans de Costere was received into the Society of Jesus by St. Ignatiu ...

(''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 Heb ...

(''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 scholar, Protestant reformer and theologian. Born in Bourges in central France, he initially studied law, but later decided to study theology in ...

(''François du Jon''; 1545–1602), Huguenot scholar and theologian *

Franciscus Haraeus Franciscus Haraeus (Latinised form of Franciscus Verhaer; also known as Frans Verhaer), (Utrecht 1555? - Leuven, 11 January 1631), was a theologian, historian, and cartographer from the Low Countries. He is best known for his history of the origins ...

(''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 (''François d'Aguilon''; 1567–1617), Belgian Jesuit mathematician, physicist and architect *

Franciscus Dousa Franciscus Dousa (Latinized from Frans van der Does; 5 March 1577, Leiden – 11 December 1630, Leiden) was a Dutch classical scholar at Leiden University. He was a younger son of Janus Dousa, a pupil of Justus Lipsius, and a friend of Joseph Justu ...

(''Frans van der Does''; 1577–1630), Dutch classical scholar * Franciscus Quaresmius (''Francisco Quaresmio''; 1583–1650), Italian writer and Orientalist *

Franciscus Burgersdicius Franco Petri Burgersdijk or Franciscus Burgersdicius (born Franck Pieterszoon Burgersdijk; 3 May 1590 – 19 February 1635) was a Dutch logician. Life Franco Burgersdijk was born in De Lier, Defland in the year 1590 was a Dutch logician who ...

(''Franck Burgersdijk''; 1590–1635), Dutch logician * Franciscus Junius (the younger) (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 (''Franz de le Boë'' 1614–1672), Dutch physician and scientist *

Franciscus Bonae Spei Franciscus Bonae Spei (20 June 1617 — 5 January 1677) was a Catholic scholastic theologian and philosopher. He was born in Lille under the name of François Crespin, and entered the Carmelite order (Ancient Observance) in 1635 under the relig ...

(''François Crespin''; 1617–1677), Belgian Catholic scholastic philosopher * Franciscus a Mesgnien Meninski (''François Mesgnien''; 1623–1698) French-born Turkologist and Ottoman historian

As a given name

* Franciscus van den Enden (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 Franciscus van der Steen (Antwerp, c. 1625 – Vienna, 1672) was a Flemish painter and engraver who was active in Vienna. He is now mainly known for his reproductive prints after master paintings and various publications containing portraits of p ...

(c.1625–1672), Flemish painter and engraver *

Franciscus Carré Franciscus Carree or Frans Carré (ca. 1630 - 1669) was a Dutch painter. He was either born in Leeuwarden or Antwerp. In 1649 he married Janneke Padtbrugge in The Hague where he became a member of the guild, and spent most of his career. Between ...

(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 Franciscus Gijsbrechts (1649, Antwerp – after 1677), was a Flemish painter of still lifes specialised in vanitas still lifes and trompe-l'œil paintings. He worked in the second half of the seventeenth century in the Spanish Netherlands, Denma ...

(1649–aft.1677), Flemish Baroque painter *

Franciscus Andreas Durlet Frans-Andries aka François André or Franciscus Andreas Durlet, (11 July 1816 – 2 March 1867) was a Belgian architect, sculptor and printmaker. Durlet was born and died in Antwerp. He taught at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp and was ...

(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 Franciscus Hermanus Bach, officially Bachg, (May 28, 1865 – January 22, 1956) was a Dutch painter. Bach was born in the city of Groningen in the Netherlands as the son of the smith Johann Caspar Bachg, who had migrated to the Netherlands from Ha ...

(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 Franciscus Xaverius Rocharjanta Prajasuta (November 3, 1931 – July 28, 2015) was an Indonesias Roman Catholic bishop and composer. He served as the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan from 1983 to 200 ...

(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 prominen ...

(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 * James Franciscus (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