#1Famous people · Saint-Étienne, Loire
Saint-Étienne leads Loire with 355 famous people
Most widely known is Willy Sagnol, the French football manager, with articles in 46 languages. Between 1914 and 1969, 156 were born, the most of any period. Per head, the list is long: 20.5 for every 10,000 residents, where the typical town in Loire has 1.5. 80 of them were born since 1970.
Born here
355
confirmed by Wikipedia
Best known
Willy Sagnol
46 Wikipedia and sister-site articles
First
1723
Jean-Louis Alléon-Dulac
Youngest
2006
Saïmon Bouabré
Most common field
Writing & Arts
91 people
What stands out about Saint-Étienne’s famous people
★ What stands out · The best known
Born in Saint-Étienne
Willy Sagnol leads with articles in 46 languages, ahead of Aravane Rezaï (31) and Loïc Perrin (30).
#1
#2Sports
Aravane Rezaï
born 1987French-Iranian tennis player
31 Wikipedia and sister-site articlesWikipedia ↗
#3Sports
Loïc Perrin
born 1985French association football player
30 Wikipedia and sister-site articlesWikipedia ↗
Through the years
When Saint-Étienne’s famous people were born
The 1960s top the chart, with 40 births in the decade.
Writing & ArtsPolitics & LawSportsFilm, TV & StageScience & MedicineNotableMusicFaithMilitaryBusiness
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Known for
What Saint-Étienne is known for
No other field is as far above the usual share as performers, at 1.3 times.
The usual town: the share across everyone listed in French towns. Tap a field to see its people.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Saint-Étienne
352 more; the 197 best known are listed here.
Claude Fauriel
1772–1844French historian, philologist and critic (1772-1844)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Georges Didi-Huberman
born 1953French philosopher and art historian (born 1953)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Jules Garnier
1839–1904French mining engineer (1839-1904) and discoverer of New Caledonian nickel
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Alice Vansteenberghe
1908–1991Member of the French Resistance (1908–1991)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Lucie Grange
1839–1908French medium, feminist prophet, newspaper founder/editor (1839-1908)
BusinessWikipedia ↗
Camille Germain de Montauzan
1862–1942French teacher (1862-1942)
Science & MedicineWikipedia (French) ↗
Victor Thiollière
1801–1859French civil engineer, geologist and paleontologist (1801–1859)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Bruno Gaccio
born 1958French screenwriter and television producer
Film, TV & StageWikipedia (French) ↗
Cécile Delphine Gaudez- Chennevière
1850–1939Born 20 December 1850, in St-Étienne. French, Painter
Writing & ArtsWikipedia (French) ↗
Louis Gentil
1896–1945French artillery officer and resistance fighter (1896–1945)
MilitaryWikipedia (French) ↗
Roger Rémondon
1923–1971Historian, papyrologist, university teacher (1923-1971)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia (French) ↗
Jean Joseph Carrier de Montieu
1735–1799Arms manufacturer, shipowner and slave trader (1735-1799)
BusinessWikipedia (French) ↗
No one matches both filters.
Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
The best known from each town within 12 mi of Saint-Étienne, with how many people each has.
Firminy · 6 miBlandine Dancette & 28 more
Saint-Priest-en-Jarez · 3 miFaouzi Ghoulam & 15 more
La Ricamarie · 3 miAdel Chedli & 5 moreGPRoche-la-Molière · 4 miGeorges Peyroche & 5 more
Le Chambon-Feugerolles · 4 miJean Boudoint & 1 moreJSSorbiers · 5 miJean Selic & 1 moreRFSaint-Jean-Bonnefonds · 3 miRégis ForissierBNSaint-Genest-Lerpt · 3 miBlaise NeyretQuestions about famous people from Saint-Étienne
Who is the most famous person from Saint-Étienne?
Willy Sagnol (French football manager) is the best known by our measure: 46 Wikipedia and sister-site articles in different languages. Next come Aravane Rezaï and Loïc Perrin.
How many famous people were born in Saint-Étienne?
355 people born in Saint-Étienne have a French Wikipedia article that confirms the town as their birthplace (and an English one that agrees, when there is one). Wikidata places 514 people here; the rest aren’t listed because an article names somewhere else or no town, or a check couldn’t be completed.
What is Saint-Étienne known for?
Among its famous people, writers and artists: 91 of the 355. That is 26% of the town’s list, against 25% across French towns.
Who is the earliest-born famous person from Saint-Étienne?
Jean-Louis Alléon-Dulac, born in 1723. The youngest on the list was born in 2006.
Who counts as from Saint-Étienne?
People whose Wikidata birthplace is Saint-Étienne itself, matched by its INSEE code (a commune merged into it counts when the dates allow), whose French Wikipedia article agrees, and their English article too when they have one. A hospital or neighbourhood recorded without its commune isn’t matched. People who only lived here, adult performers and people known mainly for crimes aren’t listed.
Why is someone missing?
Their Wikidata birthplace may be a hospital, a neighbourhood or a wider area, another commune, or missing, or their articles may not name a birthplace. We only list people the sources agree on; editing Wikidata or Wikipedia changes this page at the next refresh.
From Wikidata (CC0: birthplaces, descriptions, years, occupations, how many Wikipedia and sister-site articles cover each person) and French and English Wikipedia (each person’s articles confirm the birthplace; linked, not quoted). Birthplaces are matched to the commune by INSEE code and its history of mergers (INSEE COG 2026). Ranked by the number of articles. Fields are read from Wikidata’s description and occupations. “The usual town”: everyone listed across French towns. Portraits: each person’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the license below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (99)
- Willy Sagnol: Christophe95, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Aravane Rezaï: me ( user:pfctdayelise ), CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
- Loïc Perrin: KevFB, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Francis Garnier: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Sylvain Armand: S. Plaine, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alexis Ajinça: TonyTheTiger, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Georges Bereta: Mickaël Roure : Altrensa, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
- Louis Hostin: Agence de presse Meurisse, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- ORLAN: ORLAN, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Olivier Sorlin: Yannick Bouvard, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Gilles Delion: Eric HOUDAS, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Georges Didi-Huberman: Librairie Mollat, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- André Marcon: André Marcon, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Brahim Ferradj: S. Plaine, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Charles Exbrayat: Photo X, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Huguette Bouchardeau: André Cros, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Paul Desfarges: Fabrice Blaudin de Thé, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Philippe Grandrieux: Smdl - Stephane Mace de Lepinay, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Loris Néry: KevFB, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tiffany Gauthier: Rodriguemeriaux, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Émilie Charmy: Pierre Paul Girieud, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Alexis Guendouz: Algeria Press Service, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jules Roche: Agence de presse Meurisse, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Paul Fournel: Garitan, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Gaston Vidal: Agence de presse Meurisse, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jean Cardot: Miss Marple and consorts, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jules Garnier: Garnierdelapierre, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lucien Neuwirth: Fritz Cohen, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Romain Reynaud: Emmanuel Arnaud, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Monique Pinçon-Charlot: Anthony Morel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Nesryne El Chad: Marouane Hamousse, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Pierre Adolphe Valette: Pierre Adolphe Valette, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Pierre Boutang: Keystone, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- René Ballet: Cat27mic, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Christophe Épalle: Chell Hill, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Fabien Libiszewski: Wolfgang Jekel, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jacques-Victor-Marius Rouchouse: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Janis Sahraoui: Original uploader was Hugues Mitton ( hugovoyages ) at fr.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Michel Thiollière: Gagouou, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Marine Gauthier: Rodriguemeriaux, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bernard Fournier: C.lattka, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Gérard Bapt: François Damerval, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jean-Louis Gagnaire: JLG42, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Julie Leclerc: Bapti, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Serge Teyssot-Gay: Zita beretta, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Henry Chabert: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Hélène Luc: Jmenj, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Maurice Vincent: Jybor, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Abraham Schrameck: Agence de presse Meurisse, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Alexandre Bompard: Groupe Carrefour, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Daniel Mandon: EMDN, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jean Francisque Coignet: 663highland, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
- Louis Huvey: Scissa Véronique, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lucie Grange: Julien Malgras, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Peter Pouly: Peterpouly, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Vincent Cali: Eric HOUDAS, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Camille Germain de Montauzan: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Cédric Robert: Kärjens Slædebjørg, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- José Frappa: José Frappa, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Nicolas Mayer: Lutz H, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Pica: Joan221, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Sabri Louatah: librairie mollat, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- André Delorme: Encyclo567, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Arthur Mourgue: Hullian111, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jean Bonfils: Eglisak, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jean-Michel Mis: Festivallyly, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jean-Sébastien Vialatte: Tutoy83, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- André Erulin: Arnaud09, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bernard Pouderon: photo de Bernard Pouderon, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Charles Charras: Sdeliens, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Charles Dorian: Maurice Dulac, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- David Denave: Clément Bucco-Lechat, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Emma Thiollier: Félix Thiollier (1842-1914), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Florence Quentin: Michel Chenard, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Gaëtane Abrial: Gaetaneabrial, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Gilles Artigues: Gilles Artigues, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Henry Bolo: Robert Vaucher, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jean Galmiche: Eric Koch for Anefo, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jean-Baptiste Galley: Crozet et Antoine Roule, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Paul Cabotte: Unknown author Unknown author , via G. Raoul, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Pauline Thizy: Hegor, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Émile Javelle: Inconnu, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jean Baptiste Chaleyé: Jean-Baptiste Rolland, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- André Chabot: Pantalaskas, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Barthélemy Montagnon: Agence de presse Mondial Photo-Presse, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Claude Le Bris: Schmid, Renate, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Fabien Planet: Mark, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Fleury Montagny: Elie-Honoré Montagny, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Henri Jacquier: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Hobopok: Thierry Caro, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Irène Dubœuf: Irène Duboeuf, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jean Besson: GalHTC, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jean Garonnaire: Jean Garonnaire, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jean-Daniel Bouvard: Roy sfeir, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jean-Marc Ghitti: Silviabosco43, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Blandine Dancette: Pierre-Yves Beaudouin, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Faouzi Ghoulam: KevFB, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Adel Chedli: محمد أمين الطرابلسي, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jean Boudoint: Fablur, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Contains public sector information under the Licence Ouverte / Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab): INSEE, DGFiP, the Interior Ministry’s statistics service (SSMSI), the Ministry of Education (DEPP), the Health Ministry’s statistics service (DREES) and the Housing Ministry (Carte des loyers). Commune boundaries: IGN Admin Express.