Surname Vienne - Meaning and Origin

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P. Vienne

Vienne: What does the surname Vienne mean?

The last name Vienne refers to the city of Vienne, which is located in southwestern France. The name Vienne is believed to have derived from the Latin word "Vandobriga," which means "White Fortress." The city itself was established by the Romans in 47 BCE and played a significant role during the Roman Empire.

Vienne is an important historical city, having seen the presence of powerful figures such as Julius Caesar, Attila the Hun, and Charlemagne. It was also home to one of the most powerful duchies of the Middle Ages, the Duchy of Aquitaine. During the Renaissance, the city was an important cultural centre and a major centre of the Protestant Reformation in Europe.

The surname Vienne is believed to have been derived from this historic city, the original inhabitants of which would have been referred to as Vienne. Today, the surname is most common in France, Belgium, and the United States, as well as in countries where French and Belgian immigrants have settled.

The surname Vienne likely has multiple meanings, but the origin lies in the French city - one that has many centuries of rich cultural and religious history behind it.

Vienne: Where does the name Vienne come from?

The last name Vienne is most commonly found in France, particularly around the Rhone-Alpes region in the East. It is also present in small numbers in other parts of Europe, such as the United Kingdom, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal.

The surname is thought to have originated in the village of Vienne, in the South of France. The Vienne family is believed to have first come to prominence in Vienne during the Middle Ages, when members of the family were important figures in the Catholic Church. Since then, the family has spread far and wide.

In recent years, people with the name Vienne have been found in all corners of the world, especially in parts of the United States and Canada, where the name is gaining popularity. In particular, French-speaking Canadians in Quebec and the Maritime provinces have adopted the name more often than other places.

Vienne is also increasingly common in places heavily populated by French immigration, such as French Guiana and French Polynesia. This suggests that as French people have left for other countries, they have taken their name with them.

Today the last name Vienne can be found in a variety of places, some closer to home than others. Although the surname is still connected to its origins in Vienne in the French Alps, it has also made itself a home elsewhere across the world.

Variations of the surname Vienne

The surname Vienne is derived from the Latin word ‘villa’, meaning ‘home’. Over the centuries this name has seen many variant spellings and associated surnames.

The more popular variants of Vienne are: Vian, Vienneau, Vean, Vianna, Viane, Viennot, Vien, Viannet, Viannay, Vianney, Vieau, Vieney, Viennet, Vianne, Viennes, Vienes, Vians and Viennes.

France has seen many different spellings of Vienne particularly in the south of the country. Vienneau was a commonly used spelling and is likely derived from Old French. Vian was also a popular spelling used historically, and is thought to be a combination of both Vie's (home) and Andrew.

The Anglophone variants of Vienne, include Vean, Veante, Vianne, Vianney and Viennet. These surnames can be traced back to the Norman Conquest of Europe, with particular evidence of them in England, Scotland and Ireland.

A list of surnames common to French, Irish and Scottish ancestry are: Vians, Veants, Vienes, Vienneaus, Viennes, Viannets, Vianneys, Vienneaus, Viannas and Vieons.

Overall, the surname Vienne is still in use today and, with its various forms, can be found in countries across Europe. It has, however, endured many changes since it was first established and continues to be used in the forms of original and variations all over the world.

Famous people with the name Vienne

• René Vienne (French poet).
• Pierre Vienne (French engineer and mathematican).
• Patrice Vienne (French poet and novelist).
• David Vienne (French entrepreneur).
• Arnaud Vienne (French singer-songwriter).
• Charles Vienne (French painter).
• Paul Vienne (French doctor and entomologist).
• Anne Vienne (French ceramics artist).
• Julien Vienne (French photographer).
• Olivier Vienne (French film director).
• Philippe Vienne (French wireless engineer).
• François Vienne (French financial advisor).
• Mathieu Vienne (French director and editor).
• Jacques-Louis Vienne (French composer).
• Léon Vienne (French composer and singer).
• Jean-Jacques Vienne (French business researcher).
• Jean Vienne (French lawyer and politician).
• Guy Vienne (French professional footballer).
• Liliane Vienne (Italian actress).
• Michel Vienne (French actor and film director).

Other surnames

VienneauViennesViennois