The French family, sometimes written Ffrench in the old manner, are one of the most distinguished of the Tribes of Galway.

The originally accompanied William the Conqueror to England, and were amongst the first wave of Anglo-Norman settlers in Ireland.

This family is descended from Sir Maximilian Ffrench, the first of the name, whose descendants accompanied their kinsman, William the Conqueror, into England.  Their original place of settlement in Ireland, together with many other English and Anglo-Norman adventurers, was County Wexford; From there, over time, they gradually spread throughout the other parts of Ireland.

Two families of the name settled at different periods in Galway, the first, with Walter French, in the reign of Henry VI. about the year 1425. The other, with Henry Begg Ffrench, in the reign of Elizabeth; since which time, they have ranked amongst the most considerable in the Province.

The family of Castle Ffrench, near Ahascragh in County Galway, was raised to the dignity of the Peerage, in the year 1798. The Right Honorable Charles Baron Ffrench, of Castle Ffrench is the present Lord.

The other branches of the French name, are those of Ballinahalla, now of Beagh, Carrorea, Elmhill, Ffrenchgrove, Monivea, Portcarn, Rahasane and Tyrone in  County Galway, Ballykeneave and Culliane in County Mayo, and Foxborough, Frenchpark, Port, Rocksavage and Snipehill, in County Roscommon.