In England many people's ancestors took their original surnames from the place at which they worked ( as agricultural labourers or servants in the big house).
Thus Joe Downton's ancestors might have worked for the family at Downton Abbey 500 years ago. Or they lived in Downton village nearby.
Is that how some French surnames evolved too? That is, were David Lalande's ancestors Lalande villagers, workers at a Chateau Lalande or were they the Lords?
Families names in France come mainly from the place where the ancestors came from (region, specific places like hedges or trees for abandonned kids) medieval first names etc and/or the work / occupation they had (farmers, soldiers, craftmen etc etc)
Not from their lords' estate name.
"
Lande" means : poor land, moors, acid soil where nothing good can grow (only heathers, broom, gorse, etc etc).
There are many families in France with names coming from "lande" : Deslandes, Lalande, Delalande, Landais etc etc. It's a very common name (nothing aristocratic with it).
The name of chateau de la Lande comes from the stream La Lande which runs nearby (Google maps).
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