Surnames, Family Names
 
[ Suggest a Name for this page ]

[ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ]

1. AARON: English surname derived from the personal name Aaron, a form of Greek Aarōn (Hebrew Aharon), meaning "light-bringer." 
2. ABBOT: Variant spelling of the English surname Abbott, meaning "abbot, father, priest."
3. ABBOTT: English occupational surname meaning "abbot, father, priest," from Latin abbas "priest," from Greek abbas, from Aramaic aba "father." Also spelled Abbot.
4. ABDALLAH: Turkish surname meaning "servant of God." 

5. ABEL: English surname derived from the personal name Abel, meaning "vanity" or "breath."

6. ABELLA: Spanish surname, of uncertain etymology. It was originally a Catalan byname for a bee-keeper or small and active (as a bee) person. It may, therefore, have been derived from Latin apicula, meaning "bee." 
7. ABENDROTH: German surname composed of the elements abend "evening" and roth "red," hence "red evening." 
8. ABERCROMBIE: This surname comes from the name of a parish in Fife, Scotland on the shore of the Frith of Forth, composed of the Gaelic elements aber "the mouth of a river," "marshy ground," or "place where streams meet," and cruime/crombie "bend, crook."
9. ABERDEEN: English surname derived from the name of a city in Aberdeenshire, composed of the Gaelic elements aber "the mouth of a river," "marshy ground," or "place where streams meet," and the name of the river Don, hence "from the mouth of the river Don.
10. ABERDENE: Variant spelling of the English surname Aberdeen, meaning "from the mouth of the river Don."
11. ABERNETHY: Gaelic name derived from the name of a town in Strathern, Scotland, composed of the Gaelic elements aber "the mouth of a river," "marshy ground," or "place where streams meet," and nethy "dangerous," hence perhaps "dangerous confluence (of two or more rivers)."
12. ABERNITHY: Variant spelling of Gaelic Abernethy, perhaps meaning "dangerous confluence (of two or more rivers)."
13. ABNEY: English surname derived from the Norman French city name Aubigny, from Latin Albinius, meaning "like Albus," i.e. "white."
14. ABRAHAM: This surname comes from the Hebrew personal name Abraham, meaning "father of a multitude." 
15. ACHESON: Variant form of English Atkinson, meaning "son of Adam." William Arthur gives it a Cornish British origin, and the meaning "inscription or memorial."
16. ACKART: Old English surname composed of the elements ack "oak" and ard "disposition, nature," hence "oak-like," i.e. firm-hearted, unyielding.
17. ACKERMAN: Old English surname composed of the elements acker "made of oak; oaken," and man "man," hence "oaken man," i.e. a hard, unyielding man.
18. ACKERLEY: English surname meaning "oak meadow." 
19. ACKERS: Old English surname of uncertain etymology. The first element is from Old English ack "oak." The termination -er in many nouns has the same signification as Latin vir "man." The name probably means either "place of oaks" or "oak-man." 
20. ACKLAND: Old English surname derived from the name of a place in North Devonshire England, composed of the elements ack "oak" and land "land," hence "oak land."
21. ACKMAN: Old English name composed of the elements ack "oak" and man "man," hence "oak man."
22. ACKSHEUGH: Old English surname meaning "hilly land covered with oaks."
23. ACTON: Old English surname derived from the name of a town in Middlesex England, meaning "oak tree settlement." 
24. ADAIR: Variant spelling of the Scottish surname Adaire, of Irish origin, meaning "the ford of the oaks."
25. ADAIRE: Scottish surname derived from the Irish place name Athdare, composed of the elements ath "a ford" and dare (from darach), hence "the ford of the oaks." There is a tradition concerning the origin of this name recorded in William Arthur's Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names, 1857; it reads: "Thomas, the sixth Earl of Desmond, while on a hunting excursion was benighted, and lost his way, between Tralee and Newcastle, in the county of Limerick, where he was received and hospitably entertained by one William McCormic, whose daughter he subsequently married. At this alliance, the family and clan took umbrage. Resigning his title and estate to his youngest brother, he fled to France in 1418, and died of grief at Rouen, two years afterward. The King of England attended his funeral. He had issue, Maurice and John; Robert, the son of Maurice, returning to Ireland, with the hope of regaining the estates and title of Thomas, his ancestor, slew Gerald, the White Knight, in single combat at Athdare, the ford of the oaks, whence he received the name of Adaire. He embarked for Scotland, where he married Arabella, daughter of John Campbell, Lord of Argyle." 
26. ADAMS: Scottish surname of Hebrew origin, meaning "son of Adam ("red earth")." This name is of great antiquity in Scotland. "Duncan Adam, son of Alexander Adam, lived in the reign of King Robert Bruce, and had four sons, from whom all the Adams, Adamsons, and Adies in Scotland are descended." -- William Arthur, M.A., An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names, 1857.
27. ADAMSON: Scottish surname meaning "son of Adam."
28. ADCOCK: Scottish surname meaning "little Ad (Adam)."
29. ADDISON: 
    1. Old English surname, meaning "son of Adam." 
    2. Scottish surname meaning "son of Adam." In Lowland-Scotch, Adie or Adee is a corruption of Adam.
30. ADEE: English surname derived from a form of Hebrew Adam, meaning "earth" or "red" or "red earth."
31. ADKINS: English surname composed of Ad (Adam) and kins from German kind "child," hence "child of Adam."
32. ADLAM: Old English surname composed of the elements adel "noble" and ham "castle, village," hence "noble village."
33. ADLAR: Dutch surname derived from the word adelaar, meaning "eagle."
34. ADNET: Originally a medieval French form of Hebrew Adam, meaning "earth" or "red."
35. ADNOT: Originally a medieval French form of Hebrew Adam, meaning "earth" or "red."
36. ADRIAN: English surname derived from Latin Adrianus, meaning "from Hadria." Also spelled Hadrian.
37. AFFLECK: English altered form of the Scottish surname Auchinleck, meaning "hill stone," once born by the proprietors of the lands and barony of Auchinleck, in Angusshire, Scotland.
38. AFTON: Old English surname, derived from the name of the River Afton in Ayrshire, Scotland, made famous in Burns' poem "Sweet Afton." 
39. AGAN: Scottish surname derived from Gaelic eigin, meaning "force, violence," hence "strong-handed." Also spelled Egan.
40. AGAR: Scottish surname derived from Gaelic aighear, meaning "gladness, joy."
41. AGLIONBY: English surname derived from the name of a village in Cumbria, England, which is of Norman French origin, composed of the elements aglion "eaglet" and by "habitation, residence," hence "eagle's nest."
42. AGNEW: English surname of Norman French origin, derived from the name of the town Agneau in Normandy, meaning "lamb."
43. AHERN: Irish Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Ó hEachthighearna "descendant of Eachthighearna," hence "lord of horses."
44. AIKEN: Anglo-Saxon surname meaning "made of oak."
45. AINSLEY: Scottish habitational surname, composed of the Old English elements ansetl "hermitage" and leah "meadow, pasture," hence "hermitage meadow."
46. AINSWORTH: British and Welsh surname, composed of the elements ains "spring, river" and gwerth "court, place, possession," hence "place or possession on the river."
47. AITKIN: Perhaps a variant form of the English surname Atkins, meaning either "son of Adam" or "son of Arthur."
48. AITON: Variant form of the Old English surname Eaton, meaning "water town." 
49. AKEMAN: Variant spelling of the Old English surname Ackman, meaning "oak man."
50. AKERS: Variant spelling of the Old English surname Ackers, probably meaning either "place of oaks" or "oak-man." 
51. AKIN: Variant spelling of the Anglo-Saxon surname Aiken, meaning "made of oak."
52. ALAN: English surname derived from the Old Celtic name Alan, which may have the same origin as Irish Gaelic Ailín, from ailín, a diminutive of ail "rock," hence "little rock." Other possibilities include 1) from Slavonic aland "wolf-dog," 2) from a corruption of Latin Ælianus "sun," or "sun-bright," or 3) from Gaelic aluinn "handsome." Other forms of the name include Allan, Allen, Allin, Alleyne.
53. ALANSON: Scottish surname meaning "son of Alan."

54. ALBERT: English surname derived from the Middle English personal name Albert, from Anglo-Saxon Æthelbert, meaning "bright nobility."

55. ALCOCK: English surname composed of Al (in this case a pet form of Henry) and the diminutive suffix -cock, hence "little Al (Henry)."

56. ALDAINE: Variant form of the Old English surname Alden, meaning "high castle" or "high town."

57. ALDEN: Old English surname composed of the elements ald "old" and den "hill," hence "old hill." Or from alt "high" and dun "castle, town," hence "high castle" or "high town." Also spelled Aldaine.

58. ALDERSEY: Old English surname meaning "isle of alders."

59. ALDIS: Modern form of the Old English surname Aldous, possibly meaning "from the old house."

60. ALDJOY: English surname meaning either "old joy" or "all joy."

61. ALDOUS: From a surname common in the Middle Ages, thought to be of Anglo-Saxon origin, probably a contraction of Old English ald-house, hence "from the old house." 

62. ALDRED: Middle English form of Anglo-Saxon Ealdred, meaning "old counsel." William Arthur gives this surname the meaning "all-dread."

63. ALDRIDGE: English surname of disputed derivation. It may come from the personal name Aldrich, meaning "noble ruler," or it may be an altered form of the surname Aldred, meaning "old counsel" or "all-dread."

64. ALEXANDER: English surname derived from the personal name Alexander, meaning "defender of mankind." 

65. ALFIERI: Italian surname, derived from Spanish alférez, meaning "standard bearer." The Spanish word, alférez, was borrowed from Arabic al-fris, meaning "mounted fighter" or "knight," but the original meaning was not retained.
66. ALFORD: Old English habitational surname, derived from the name of various places most of which were composed of the Old English elements eald "old" and ford "ford," hence "old river-ford." 
67. ALFORT: English surname derived from the name of a village in France near Paris.
68. ALFRED: English surname derived from the personal name Alfred, meaning "elf counsel."
69. ALGAR: English surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "noble."
70. ALLENDORF: English surname derived from the name of a town in Hesse, Germany, meaning "old town."
71. ALLGOOD: Old English surname meaning "all good."
72. ALSOP: English surname derived from then name of a town in the county of Derby, England. It probably comes from the occupational name Ale-shop, a name given to the keeper of an ale-shop.
73. ALTON: Old English surname, derived from the name of many places most of which meant either "old town" or "settlement at the (river) source."
74. ALVERSTON: Variant spelling of the English surname Alverton, meaning "high green hill."
75. ALVERTON: English surname composed of the elements al "high," ver "green" and ton "hill," hence "high green hill."
76. ALVIN: English surname derived from the Middle English and Norman French personal name Alvin, meaning "elf friend." 
77. ALVISIO: Italian surname, derived ultimately from Germanic Hlodovic, thus sharing the same etymology as French Louis, meaning "famous warrior."
78. ALVORD: Variant spelling of the English surname Alford, meaning "old river-ford."

79. ALWIN: Variant spelling of the English surname Alvin, meaning "elf friend."

80. AMAKER: English surname derived from the name of a Danish island Amager, located east of Copenhagen.

81. AMBLER: English form of the French occupational surname Amblour, from Ambleur, the name for an officer of the king's stables.

82. AMBLOUR: French occupational surname derived from Ambleur, the name for an officer of the king's stables. Ambler is the Anglicized form.

83. AMBROSE: English surname derived from the personal name Ambrose, meaning "immortal."

84. AMERY: Variant spelling of the English surname Amory, meaning "home-ruler." 

85. AMES: English surname of uncertain derivation, possibly a contracted form of Ambrose, meaning "immortal," or from Amos, meaning "strong."

86. AMHERST: Old English surname composed of the elements ham "town, village" and hurst/herst "wood," hence "town in the wood."

87. AMMADON: English surname derived from Gaelic amadan, meaning "numskull, simpleton."

88. AMORY: English surname, derived from the Norman French personal name Aimeri, meaning "home-ruler." 
89. AMPTE: Dutch surname derived from Ampt, an official situation; the house in which an officer transacts his business; a lordship of the Netherlands.
90. ANDARTON: English habitational surname composed of the elements an "the," dar "oak" and ton "hill," hence "the oak hill."
91. ANDERSON: English patronymic surname meaning "son of Andrew."
92. ANDREW: English surname derived from the personal name Andrew, meaning "man; warrior." 
93. ANGEVINE: French surname derived from the ethnic byname Angevine, denoting a person coming originally "from Anjou" in France.
94. ANGUS: English surname derived from the name of a county of Scotland, which took its name from Gaelic Aonghus (supposedly from Aongus Fer), meaning "excellent valor." 
95. ANNAKIN: Low German surname derived from Hebrew Channah (English Hannah), meaning "favor; grace." 
96. ANNAN: English surname derived from Annon, the name of a river of Scotland, perhaps from Gaelic an-oun, meaning "slow running water" or "gentle river."
97. ANNESLEY: English name derived from the name of a town in Nottinghamshire, England, possibly named after Anclo, a city in Norway, by free-booters or conquerors of Briton. 
98. ANSCOM: English surname meaning "stone-enclosed valley." 
99. ANSELL: French surname, derived from the personal name Ansel, meaning "divine helmet."
100. ANSELM: German surname derived from the personal name Anselm, meaning "divine helmet."
101. ANSON: English patronymic surname which may have been based on any of a number of Middle English names, i.e. "son of Ansel" or "son Agnes."
102. ANSTRUTHER: English surname of Celtic origin, derived from Gaelic Anstruth, composed of the elements aon "excellent" and sruth "discerning, knowing," and -er from fear "man," hence "excellent discerning man." Anstruth is the name of an ancient Celtic order of bards next in rank to the Allamh, or chief doctor of the seven degrees in all the sciences.
103. ANTHON: Contracted form of the English surname Anthony, possibly meaning "invaluable." 
104. ANTHONY: English surname derived from the personal name Anthony, possibly meaning "invaluable." 
105. APPLEBY: English surname derived from the name of a town in Westmoreland, England, meaning "apple town."
106. APPLEGARTH: English surname meaning "apple orchard" or "apple garden."
107. APPLETON: English surname meaning "apple town."
108. ARBLASTER: English surname derived from Latin Balistarius, meaning "cross-bowman."
109. ARBUTHNOT: English surname derived from the name of city in Mearns, Scotland, originally written Aberbuthnoth, composed of the elements aber "the mouth of a river," "marshy ground," or "place where streams meet," both "dwelling," and neth, a descending stream, or low stream," hence "dwelling near the confluence of the river with the sea."
110. ARCHER: English occupational surname transferred to forename use, of Old French archier, from Latin arcuarius "bow," hence "bowman" or "maker of bows."

111. ARCHIBALD: English surname of derived from German Archimbald, via Norman French Archimbaud, meaning "genuine courage." The Scottish Gaelic form is Gilleasbaig, Anglicized as Gillespie, and means "bishop's servant."

112. ARDAL: English surname derived from an Anglicized form of Irish Gaelic Árdghal, meaning "high valor."

113. ARDEN: English habitational surname, derived from Celtic ard, meaning "high," hence "from the high place." 
114. ARDGALL: English surname derived from an Anglicized form of Irish Gaelic Árdghal, meaning "high valor."
115. ARGYLE: Scottish surname derived from Gaelic Earra Ghaidheal, meaning "country of the western Gael" or "breeding-place of the Gael."
116. ARLINGTON: English surname derived from the name of a village in Sussex, England.
117. ARLON: English surname derived from the name of a town in the Netherlands, thirteen miles east of Luxemburg.
118. ARMISTEAD: Old English surname meaning "place of arms."
119. ARMITAGE: English surname derived from the word hermitage, the cell or habitation of a hermit, formerly a wilderness or solitary place.
120. ARMOUR: English surname derived from the occupational name armorer, meaning "maker of armor."
121. ARMSTED: Contracted form of the Old English surname Armistead, meaning "place of arms."
122. ARMSTRONG: Old English surname meaning "strong arm." The following tradition exists concerning this name: "This family was anciently settled on the Scottish border; their original name was Fairbairn, which was changed to Armstrong on the following occasion: An ancient king of Scotland having had his horse killed under him in battle, was immediately re-mounted by Fairbairn, his armor-bearer, on his own horse. For this timely assistance he amply rewarded him with lands on the borders, and to perpetuate the memory of so important a service, as well as the manner in which it was performed (for Fairbairn took the king by the thigh, and set him on the saddle), his royal master gave him the appellation of Armstrong. The chief seat of Johnnie Armstrong was Gilnockie, in Eskdale, a place of exquisite beauty. Johnnie was executed by order of James V., in 1529, as a "Border Freebooter." Andrew Armstrong sold his patrimony to one of his kinsmen, and emigrated to the north of Ireland in the commencement of the seventeenth century. The Armstrongs were always noted for their courage and daring. In the "Lay of the Last Minstrel," when the chief was about to assemble his clans, he says to his heralds: Ye need not go to Liddisdale, / For when they see the blazing bale / Elliots and Armstrongs never fail."
123. ARNOLD: English surname derived from French Arnaud, meaning "eagle power." 
124. ARTHUR: English surname of uncertain etymology, perhaps composed of Welsh art/arth "bear" and Brittonic gur "man," hence "bear-man." In early Welsh works the word art was used as a figurative synonym for "warrior." William Arthur has the following to say about this name: "ARTHUR (British) A strong man; from Ar (Lat. vir), a man, and thor, strong. In the Gaelic, Air is the same as Fear, a man; and the ancient Scythians called a man Aior. Thor was the Jupiter of the Teutonic races, their god of thunder. In Welsh, Arth is a bear, an emblem of strength and courage, and ur a noun termination, a man. Arthur, a bear-man, a hero, a man of strength; the name of a British prince."
125. ARTOIR: English surname derived from the name of a province in the Netherlands.
126. ARUNDEL: English surname derived from Arundale, the name of a town in Sussex, England, meaning "the dale on the Arun."
127. ASCALL: Variant spelling of the English surname Hascall, possibly meaning "a covert, a sheltered place."
128. ASGALL: Variant spelling of the English surname Ascall, possibly meaning "a covert, a sheltered place."
129. ASHBURTON: English surname derived from the name of a town in Devonshire, England, meaning "town on the hill covered with ash trees."
130. ASHBY: Old English surname meaning "place by the ash."
131. ASHFORD: Old English surname derived from the name of a town in Kent, England, meaning "on the river Ash (or Esh)."
132. ASHLEY: English habitational surname, composed of the Old English elements æsc "ash" and lēah "wood," hence "ash-tree grove."
133. ASHTON: English habitational surname, derived from the name of various places composed of the Old English elements æsc "ash tree" and tun "settlement," hence "ash tree settlement."
134. ASKEW: Contracted form of the Old English surname Acksheugh, meaning "hilly land covered with oaks."
135. ASPINWALL: Old English surname meaning "aspen vale."
136. ASTLEY: Contracted form of the Old English surname Eastley, meaning "the east meadow."
137. ASTON: English habitational surname, derived from the name of various places composed of the Old English elements east "east" and tun "settlement," hence "east settlement."
138. ASTOR: English surname, perhaps derived from the personal name Astor, or cognate with it, meaning "hawk." It was originally a derogatory term for men with hawk-like, predatory characteristics.
139. ATHERTON: Old English surname derived from a contracted form of Atherstone, the name of a town in Warwickshire, England, named after the family of Athelstan, meaning "noble stone."
140. ATHILL: Anglicized form of the Norman French surname De la Hou ("of the hill"), meaning "at (the) hill."
141. ATHOL: Scottish surname derived from the name of a district of Perthshire, Scotland, composed of the Gaelic elements ath "ford" and al "rock, stone," hence "ford of the rock; rock-ford." 
142. ATHOW: Scottish surname composed of the Gaelic elements ath "ford" and how/hoo "high place," hence "high ford."
143. ATKINS: English patronymic surname, meaning "son of Adam," though some take the prefix At- to be a short form of Arthur, hence "son of Arthur."
144. ATKINSON: English and Scottish patronymic surname, meaning "son of Atkins."
145. ATTREE: English surname meaning "at (the) tree."
146. ATWATER: English surname meaning "at (the) water."
147. ATWELL: English surname meaning "at (the) well."
148. ATWOOD: English surname meaning "at (the) wood."
149. AUBREY: English surname derived from the personal name Aubrey, derived from German Alberich via Norman French Alberi, meaning "elf ruler."
150. AUCHINLECK: Scottish surname derived from a place of the same name, composed of the Gaelic elements ach "elevation, hill, mound" and leac "flat stone," hence "hill stone." Auchinleck may have originally been one of those places where Celts and Druids held festivals and performed acts of worship.

[ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ]