What does your last name actually mean, and where does it come from? Search or browse hundreds of surnames from around the world.
English
Metalworker
English
Tailor
English
Baker
English
Barrel maker
English
Cart driver
English
Lathe worker
English
Stoneworker
English
Cloth fuller
English
Fisherman
English
Sheep herder
English
Pottery maker
English
Craftsman/maker
English
Arrow maker
English
Bowman
English
Hunter
English
Mill operator
English
Cloth weaver
English
Scholar/clerk
English
Cook
English
Brown-haired or brown-complexioned
English
Fair-haired or fair-complexioned
English
The younger
English
Lived near a wood or forest
English
Lived near a hill
English
Lived near a notable stone or stony ground
English
Lived on the moor
English
Son of John
English
Son of William
English
Son of Robin
English
Son of Jack
English
Son of Thomas
English
Son of Will
English
Son of Harry
English
Son of Andrew
English
Son of Edward
English
Son of Robert
English
Son of Simon
Irish
Descendant of Brian
Irish
Descendant of Conchobhar
Irish
Descendant of Suileabhain
Irish
Descendant of Murchadh
Irish
Descendant of Ceallach
Irish
Descendant of Rian
Irish
The Welshman
Irish
Descendant of Bran
Irish
Son of Carthach
Irish
Descendant of a dark foreigner
Irish
Descendant of Cinneide
Irish
Descendant of Dubhthach
Irish
Son of Gerald
Scottish
Crooked mouth
Scottish
Steward
Scottish
Uncertain, possibly from the strawberry flower
Scottish
The Welshman or foreigner
Scottish
Son of Domhnall
Scottish
Son of Coinneach
German
Miller
German
Smith
German
Tailor
German
Fisherman
German
Weaver
German
Steward or tenant farmer
German
Wagon maker
German
Baker
German
Farmstead owner
German
Cook
German
Farmer
German
Small
German
Carpenter
French
Devotee of Saint Martin
French
Brave as a bear
French
Of the woods
French
Small
French
Red-haired
French
Lived near a spring
French
Baker
French
Spear-brave
French
Dark-haired or dark-complexioned
French
Land-bright
Italian
Red-haired
Italian
Red-haired
Italian
Blacksmith
Italian
Foundling
Italian
From Rome
Italian
Dove
Italian
Curly-haired
Italian
Of the sea
Italian
The Greek
Italian
Brown/dark
Italian
Count
Italian
Curly-haired
Spanish
Uncertain, possibly "young" or "bear"
Spanish
Son of Martin
Spanish
Son of Rodrigo
Spanish
Son of Lope
Spanish
Son of Gonzalo
Spanish
Son of Hernando
Spanish
Son of Pero
Spanish
Son of Sancho
Spanish
Towers
Spanish
Flowers
Spanish
Meadow
Spanish
Castle
Portuguese
Forest/woods
Portuguese
Saints
Portuguese
Blacksmith
Portuguese
Pear tree
Portuguese
Olive tree
Portuguese
Coast
Portuguese
Oak tree
Dutch
Son of Jan
Dutch
The Frisian
Dutch
Baker
Dutch
Fisherman
Dutch
The young one
Dutch
Miller
Dutch
The farmer
Scandinavian
Son of Anders
Scandinavian
Son of Niels
Scandinavian
Son of Hans
Scandinavian
Son of Lars
Scandinavian
Son of Ole
Scandinavian
Son of Erik
Scandinavian
Mountain
Scandinavian
Linden twig
Jewish
Priest
Jewish
Levite
Jewish
Righteous priest
Jewish
Rose mountain
Jewish
Gold mountain
Jewish
Man of peace
Polish
Newcomer
Polish
Blacksmith
Polish
From the cherry-orchard place
Polish
Village administrator's assistant
Polish
From the stony place
Russian
Son of Ivan
Russian
Quiet/meek one
Russian
Son of Peter
Russian
Blacksmith
Russian
Of the wolf
Indian
Protector/comforter
Indian
Armor/shield
Indian
Protected
Indian
Village headman/landowner
Indian
Village chief/lord
Indian
Leader
Indian
Elder/teacher
Indian
Eloquent orator
Indian
From the village of Bandyaghati
Indian
From the village of Mukhati
Indian
Lion
Indian
King/ruler
Indian
Leader
Indian
Clan of the Chahamana dynasty
Indian
Descendant of Yadu
Indian
From Agroha
Indian
Punjabi Khatri clan name
Indian
Punjabi Khatri clan name
Indian
Chief/great one
Indian
Astrologer
Indian
Knower of three Vedas
Indian
Child/honorific title
Indian
Learned one/scholar
Indian
District administrator
Chinese
King
Chinese
Plum tree
Chinese
Archer/bow-maker
Chinese
Axe/battle-axe
Chinese
To display/exhibit
Chinese
Poplar tree
Chinese
Yellow
Chinese
Name of an ancient state
Chinese
Name of the Zhou dynasty
Chinese
Grandson/descendant
Chinese
Vermilion/red
Chinese
Horse
Japanese
Assist + wisteria
Japanese
Bell tree
Japanese
Tall bridge
Japanese
Middle of the rice field
Japanese
To cross the water's edge
Japanese
Base of the mountain
Japanese
Middle village
Japanese
Small forest
Korean
Gold
Korean
Plum tree
Korean
Gourd
Korean
Clan name of ancient Korean nobility
Arabic
Ruler/leader
Arabic
Most praiseworthy
Arabic
Good/handsome
Arabic
Good/handsome (diminutive)
Arabic
The Merciful
African
Born on Afor market day
African
Born on Nkwo market day
African
Third-born son
African
Fulani clan name
African
Mandinka clan name
African
Chief/king
African
Kikuyu patronymic name
Filipino
Cross
Filipino
Saints
Filipino
Kings
Filipino
Baptist
Vietnamese
Name of the Nguyen dynasty
Vietnamese
Name of the Tran dynasty
Vietnamese
Name of the Le dynasty
Vietnamese
Traditional Vietnamese clan name
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Search or browse by origin below to find a surname's most commonly cited meaning, etymology, and the language or culture it comes from.
Many surnames were adopted independently by unrelated families in different regions, and some etymologies are genuinely disputed among historians - where that's the case, it's noted rather than stated as a single settled fact.
This is a growing reference. More surnames are added over time, prioritized by how often they're searched for.
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