Francisca

Francisca is the Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch feminine form of Franciscus, the Latinized form of the Italian name Francesco, itself derived from the Medieval Latin word franciscus meaning Frankish, referring to the Germanic people known as the Franks. The name gained widespread use across Catholic Europe largely through the enormous influence of Saint Francis of Assisi, the thirteenth-century Italian friar who founded the Franciscan order. Francisca has been borne by several historical figures of the Iberian world, including members of the Spanish and Portuguese royal houses. Related forms include Françoise in French, Francesca in Italian, and Franziska in German.