Camus
/ˈkæm.uː/noun
A French surname, most famously associated with the novelist and philosopher Albert Camus.
Did you know?The surname likely began as a descriptive nickname, showing how medieval Europeans often transformed bodily features into hereditary family names.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Celtic or Gaulish period
Celtic
*cam-
“Possibly related to an ancient root describing something bent or flattened; the precise origin is uncertain.”
13th Century
Old French
camus
“Flat-nosed or having a short, flattened nose.”
Middle Ages
Old French
Camus
“A nickname or surname based on a person’s distinctive facial appearance.”
14th–15th Century
Middle English
camus
“A rare borrowed adjective meaning flat-nosed.”
16th–19th Century
French
Camus
“An established French family name.”
20th Century
Modern English
Camus
“A proper name chiefly referring to Albert Camus, the French-Algerian writer and philosopher.”