All Surnames

usage
Calderón Spanish
Occupational name for a person who made, repaired or sold cauldrons or kettles, from Spanish calderón "cauldron", from Late Latin caldaria.
Caldwell English
From various English place names derived from Old English ceald "cold" and wille "spring, stream, well".
Callahan Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Ceallacháin meaning "descendant of Cellachán".
Callan Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Cathaláin meaning "descendant of Cathalán".
Calligaris Italian
From Late Latin caligarius meaning "shoemaker".
Calvin French (Latinized)
Latinized form of Chauvin, used to refer to the French theologian Jean Cauvin (1509-1564).
Calvo Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
Means "bald" in Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, from Latin calvus.
Camacho Spanish, Portuguese
Meaning unknown, possibly related to the Celtic root *kambos meaning "crooked, twisted".
Cameron Scottish
Means "crooked nose" from Gaelic cam "crooked" and sròn "nose".
Campana Italian, Spanish
Occupational name from Late Latin campana meaning "bell", ultimately derived from the Italian region of Campania, where bells were produced.
Campbell Scottish
From a Gaelic nickname cam beul meaning "wry or crooked mouth". The surname was later represented in Latin documents as de bello campo meaning "of the fair field".
Campo Spanish, Italian
Means "field" in Spanish and Italian.
Campos Portuguese, Spanish
Portuguese and Spanish variant of Campo.
Cannon English
From the ecclesiastical usage of canon, referring to a church official or servant who worked in a clergy house.
Cano Spanish
Means "white-haired, old" in Spanish, from Latin canus.
Cantrell English
Originally a name for someone from Cantrell in Devon, from an unknown first element and Old English hyll meaning "hill".
Cantú Spanish (Mexican)
Variant of Cantù, common in Mexico.
Cantù Italian
From Cantù, an Italian town located in Lombardy, itself of uncertain origin.
Cao Chinese
From Chinese (cáo) referring to the ancient state of Cao, which existed during the Zhou dynasty in what is now Shandong province.
Caomhánach Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Kavanagh.
Capela Portuguese
Portuguese form of Kappel.
Capella Catalan
Catalan form of Kappel.
Capello 1 Italian
From Late Latin cappa meaning "cloak, cape, hood". This was a name for one who made or wore cloaks.
Capello 2 Italian
Nickname for a thin person, from Italian capello meaning "a hair", ultimately derived from Latin capillus.
Capilla Spanish
Spanish form of Kappel.
Capitani Italian
Occupational name meaning "captain" in Italian, ultimately from Latin caput "head".
Carbone Italian
From a nickname for a person with dark features, from Italian carbone meaning "coal".
Cárdenas Spanish
From the name of towns in the Spanish provinces of Almería and La Rioja. They are derived from Spanish cárdeno "blue, purple".
Cardona Catalan
From the name of a town in Catalonia, of uncertain meaning.
Cardoso Portuguese, Spanish
From a place name meaning "thorny" in Portuguese and Spanish, ultimately from Latin carduus.
Carey Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Ciardha meaning "descendant of Ciardha".
Carideo Italian
Originally denoted someone from San Pietro di Caridà, a town in Calabria. The town's name may be derived from Greek χάρις (charis) meaning "grace, kindness".
Carl English, German
From the given name Carl.
Carlevaro Italian
Northern Italian variant of Carnevale.
Carlisle English
From the name of a city in northern England. The city was originally called by the Romans Luguvalium meaning "stronghold of Lugus". Later the Brythonic element ker "fort" was appended to the name of the city.
Carlsen Danish, Norwegian
Means "son of Carl".
Carlson Swedish
Means "son of Carl".
Carlsson Swedish
Means "son of Carl".
Carman 1 English
Occupational name for a carter, from Middle English carre "cart" (of Latin origin) and man "man".
Carman 2 English
From an Old Norse byname derived from karlmann meaning "male, man".
Carmody Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Cearmada meaning "descendant of Cearmaid", a Gaelic given name.
Carmona Spanish
From the name of the city of Carmona in Andalusia, Spain. It is possibly derived from Phoenician 𐤒𐤓𐤕 𐤇𐤌𐤍 (Qart Ḥamun) meaning "city of Hammon" (the name of a Carthaginian god, see Ba'al Hammon).
Carnevale Italian
From an Italian nickname meaning "carnival", perhaps given to a festive person.
Caro Spanish, Italian
From Spanish and Italian caro meaning "beloved".
Caron French
Variant of Charron.
Carpenter English
From the occupation, derived from Middle English carpentier (ultimately from Latin carpentarius meaning "carriage maker").
Carpentier French
French form of Carpenter.
Carr Scottish
Variant of Kerr.
Carran Irish
Variant of Curran.
Carrara Italian
From the name of a city in Tuscany famous for its marble quarries. It is probably derived from Late Latin quadreria meaning "quarry".
Carrasco Spanish
Topographic name derived from Spanish carrasca meaning "holm oak" (species Quercus ilex).
Carrillo Spanish
Means "cheek, jaw" in Spanish, originally a nickname for a person with a distinctive cheek or jaw.
Carroll Irish
From the given name Cearbhall. A famous bearer was Lewis Carroll (1832-1898), whose real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, the author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Carson Scottish
Meaning uncertain, possibly from the town of Courson in Normandy.
Carstensen Danish
Means "son of Carsten".
Carter English
Occupational name for a person who operated a cart to transport goods, from Norman French caretier. A famous bearer is the former American president Jimmy Carter (1924-).
Cartwright English
Occupational name indicating one who made carts.
Caruso Italian
Means "close-cropped hair" in Italian, also having the secondary sense "boy, young man".
Carvalho Portuguese
Means "oak" in Portuguese, perhaps originally referring to a person who lived near such a tree.
Carver English
Occupational surname for a carver, from Middle English kerve "cut".
Cary Irish
Variant of Carey.
Casal Spanish
From the Spanish word casal meaning "house", ultimately from Late Late casalis and Latin casa.
Casale Italian
Italian cognate of Casal.
Casales Spanish
Variant of Casal.
Case English
From Norman French casse meaning "box, case", ultimately from Latin capsa. This was an occupational name for a box maker.
Casey Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Cathasaigh meaning "descendant of Cathassach".
Cash English
Variant of Case.
Cason English
From the English place name Cawston, derived from the Old Norse given name Kálfr combined with Old English tun meaning "enclosure, yard, town".
Cassano Italian
Indicated a person from any of the various towns named Cassano in Italy.
Cassidy Irish
From Irish Ó Caiside meaning "descendant of Caiside". Caiside is a given name meaning "curly haired".
Castell Catalan
Catalan cognate of Castle.
Castelo Portuguese
Portuguese cognate of Castle.
Castilla Spanish
Originally indicated a person from Castile, a region (and medieval kingdom) in Spain. The name of the region is derived from Late Latin castellum meaning "castle".
Castillo Spanish
Spanish cognate of Castle.
Castle English
From Middle English castel meaning "castle", from Late Latin castellum, originally indicating a person who lived near a castle.
Castro Spanish, Portuguese
Means "castle" in Spanish and Portuguese, referring to one who lived near a castle. A famous bearer was Fidel Castro (1926-2016), revolutionary and president of Cuba.
Catalán Spanish
Originally indicated a person who came from Catalonia, a region of eastern Spain.
Catalano Italian
Italian form of Catalán.
Cattaneo Italian
Variant of Capitani used in Lombardy.
Caulfield English
From a place name meaning "cold field", from Old English ceald "cold" and feld "pasture, field".
Causer English
Occupational name for one who made leggings, derived from Old French chausse "leggings".
Causey English
Indicated a person who lived near a causeway, from Old French caucie.
Cavalcante Italian
Derived from Italian cavalcare "to ride".
Cavallo Italian
Means "horse" in Italian, an occupational name for a horseman.
Cavan Irish
Anglicized form of the Irish Ó Caoimháin meaning "descendant of Caomhán".
Cavey Irish
Possibly an Anglicized form of Mac Daibhéid.
Čech Czech
Means "Czech". The name was used to differentiate a native of Bohemia from the natives of Silesia, Moravia and other regions that are now part of the Czech Republic.
Cecil Welsh
From the Welsh given name Seisyll, which was derived from the Roman name Sextilius, a derivative of Sextus.
Ceelen Dutch
Derived from the given name Ceel.
Çelik Turkish
Occupational name for a metalworker, meaning "steel" in Turkish.
Čermák Czech
Means "redstart (bird)" in Czech.
Cermak Czech
Anglicized form of Čermák.
Černý Czech
Means "black" in Czech.
Cervantes Spanish
Possibly from Old Spanish servanto meaning "servant" or ciervo meaning "stag". A famous bearer was the Spanish novelist Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616).
Červeny Czech
Means "red" in Czech.
Chadwick English
From the name of English towns meaning "settlement belonging to Chad" in Old English.
Chai Chinese
From Chinese (chái) meaning "firewood".
Chaikin Yiddish
From a diminutive of the given name Chaya.
Chalupa Czech
Means "cottage" in Czech.
Chalupník Czech
Derived from Czech chalupa meaning "cottage". The name referred to a peasant farmer who owned a very small piece of land.
Chamberlain English
Occupational name for one who looked after the inner rooms of a mansion, from Norman French chambrelain.
Chambers English
From Old French chambre meaning "chamber, room", an occupational name for a person who worked in the inner rooms of a mansion.
Chan Chinese (Cantonese)
Cantonese romanization of Chen.
Chance English
From a nickname for a lucky person or a gambler.
Chancellor English
Occupational name for an administrator, a chancellor, from Norman French chancelier.
Chandler English
Occupational name meaning "candle seller" or "candle maker" in Middle English, ultimately derived from Old French.
Chang Chinese
Alternate transcription of Chinese (see Zhang).
Chaplin English, French
Occupational name for a chaplin, or perhaps for the servant of one, from Middle English, Old French chapelain. A famous bearer was the British comic actor Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977).
Chapman English
Occupational name derived from Old English ceapmann meaning "merchant, trader".
Chaput French
From a diminutive of the Old French word chape meaning "cloak, hood". The name referred to a person who made, sold or often wore cloaks.
Charbonneau French
Derived from a diminutive form of French charbon "charcoal", a nickname for a person with black hair or a dark complexion.
Charles French
From the given name Charles.
Charmchi Persian
Means "leather worker" in Persian, from چرم (charm) meaning "leather" combined with چی (chi), denoting an occupation.
Charpentier French
French cognate of Carpenter, derived from Old French charpentier.
Charron French
Means "cart" in Old French, used to denote a carter or a cartwright.
Chase English
Occupational name for a hunter, from Middle English chase "hunt".
Chastain French
From Old French castan "chestnut tree" (Latin castanea), a name for someone who lived near a particular chestnut tree, or possibly a nickname for someone with chestnut-coloured hair.
Chaudhari Indian, Marathi, Gujarati
Alternate transcription of Marathi चौधरी or Gujarati ચૌધરી (see Chaudhary).
Chaudhary Indian, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Nepali
From a title meaning "holder of four", from Sanskrit चतुर् (chatur) meaning "four" and धुरीय (dhuriya) meaning "bearing a burden".
Chaudhri Indian, Hindi
Alternate transcription of Hindi चौधरी (see Chaudhary).
Chaudhuri Bengali
Alternate transcription of Bengali চৌধুরী (see Chowdhury).
Chauvin French
From a diminutive of French chauve "bald".
Chavdarov Bulgarian
Means "son of Chavdar".
Chaves Portuguese, Spanish
From the name of a Portuguese city, derived from the Roman name Flavius (being named for the emperor Vespasian, whose family name was Flavius).
Chávez Spanish
Variant of Chaves. A famous bearer was the labour leader César Chávez (1927-1993).
Chayka Ukrainian
Means "seagull" in Ukrainian.
Chaykovsky Russian
Russian form of Chayka. A famous bearer was the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Chaykovsky (1840-1893), with the surname commonly Romanized as Tchaikovsky.
Chen Chinese
From Chinese (chén) meaning "exhibit, display, old, ancient" and also referring to the former state of Chen, which existed in what is now Henan province from the 11th to 5th centuries BC.
Cheng 1 Chinese
From Chinese (chéng) meaning "rule, order, regulations", also referring to the territory of Cheng (in present-day Henan province) that existed during the Zhou dynasty.
Cheng 2 Chinese (Cantonese)
Cantonese romanization of Zheng.
Cheshire English
Originally indicated a person from the county of Cheshire in England. Cheshire is named for its city Chester.
Chester English
From the name of a city in England, derived from Latin castrum "camp, fortress".
Cheung Chinese (Cantonese)
Cantonese romanization of Zhang.
Chevalier French
From a nickname derived from French chevalier meaning "knight", from Late Latin caballarius "horseman", Latin caballus "horse".
Chevrolet French
From a diminutive of chèvre meaning "goat", indicating a person who cultivated goats.
Chey Khmer
Means "victory" in Khmer, from Sanskrit जय (jaya).
Chia Chinese (Hokkien)
Hokkien romanization of Xie.
Chiba Japanese
From Japanese (chi) meaning "thousand" and (ha) meaning "leaf".
Chilikov Bulgarian
Patronymic derived from Bulgarian челик (chelik) meaning "steel" (of Turkish origin).
Chiu Chinese (Cantonese)
Cantonese romanization of Zhao.
Chlebek Polish
From Polish chleb "bread", used to denote a baker.
Chmela Czech
Derived from Czech chmel "hops", referring to a person who grew hops, a plant used in brewing beer.
Chmiel Polish
Polish cognate of Chmela, from Polish chmiel.
Cho Korean
Korean form of Zhao, from Sino-Korean (jo).
Choe Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul (see Choi).
Choi Korean
From Sino-Korean (choe) meaning "high, lofty, towering".
Chong Chinese (Cantonese)
Cantonese romanization of Zhang.
Chou Chinese
Alternate transcription of Chinese (see Zhou).
Choudhary Indian, Hindi, Marathi
Alternate transcription of Hindi/Marathi चौधरी (see Chaudhary).
Choudhury Bengali
Alternate transcription of Bengali চৌধুরী (see Chowdhury).
Chow Chinese
Alternate transcription of Chinese (see Zhou).
Chowdhury Bengali
Bengali form of Chaudhary.
Christian English, French, German
Derived from the given name Christian.
Christians English
Derived from the given name Christian.
Christopher English
Derived from the given name Christopher.
Christophers English
Derived from the given name Christopher.
Chu Chinese
Alternate transcription of Chinese (see Zhu).
Chung Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul (see Jeong).
Church English
From the English word, derived from Old English cirice, ultimately from Greek κυριακόν (kyriakon) meaning "(house) of the lord". It probably referred to a person who lived close to a church.
Chvátal Czech
Derived from chvátat meaning "to hurry".
Čiernik Slovak
Slovak cognate of Černý.
Cinege Hungarian
Means "titmouse bird" in Hungarian.
Cingolani Italian
From Cingoli, a town in the Marche region of Italy. It is derived from Latin cingo "surround, ring".
Cino Italian
From the given name Cino, a short form of names ending in cino.
Ciobanu Romanian
From Romanian cioban meaning "shepherd".
Cipriani Italian
From the given name Cipriano.
Cisternino Italian
From the name of the town of Cisternino, near the city of Bari in southern Italy.
Čížek Czech
Means "siskin" in Czech, referring to a type of bird in the finch family.
Čížik Slovak
Slovak cognate of Čížek.
Claasen Dutch
Means "son of Klaas".
Clacher Scottish
From Scottish Gaelic clachair meaning "stonemason".
Claes Flemish
From the given name Klaus.
Claesson Swedish
Means "son of Claes".
Clancy Irish
From Irish Mac Fhlannchaidh meaning "descendant of Flannchadh". The given name Flannchadh means "red warrior".
Clark English
Means "cleric" or "scribe", from Old English clerec meaning "priest", ultimately from Latin clericus. A famous bearer was William Clark (1770-1838), an explorer of the west of North America.
Clarke English
Variant of Clark.
Clarkson English
Patronymic form of Clark.
Clausen Danish
Means "son of Claus".
Clay English
Means simply "clay", originally referring to a person who lived near or worked with of clay.
Clayton English
From the name of various places meaning "clay settlement" in Old English.
Cleary Irish
From Irish cléireach meaning "clerk" (see Clark).
Clemens English
Derived from the given name Clement. This was the surname of the author Samuel Clemens (1835-1910), also known as Mark Twain.
Clemensen Danish
Means "son of Clemens".
Clément French
Derived from the given name Clément.
Clement English
Derived from the given name Clement.
Clery Irish
Variant of Cleary.
Cleveland English
Derived from a place name meaning "cliff land" in Old English.
Clifford English
Derived from various place names that meant "ford by a cliff" in Old English.
Clifton English
Derived from various place names meaning "settlement by a cliff" in Old English.
Cline German, Jewish
Anglicized spelling of Klein.
Clinton English
Derived from the English place name Glinton, of uncertain meaning, or Glympton, meaning "settlement on the River Glyme". This surname is borne by former American president Bill Clinton (1946-).
Cloet Dutch
Variant of Kloet.
Close English
From Middle English clos meaning "enclosure", a topographic name for someone who lived near a courtyard or farmyard.
Cloutier French
Derived from French clou meaning "nail", referring to someone who made or sold nails.
Cobb English
From a medieval English byname meaning "lump".
Cochrane Scottish
From the name of a place in Renfrewshire, Scotland. Its origin is uncertain.
Cock English
Derived from the medieval nickname cok meaning "rooster, cock". The nickname was commonly added to given names to create diminutives such as Hancock or Alcock.
Cockburn Scottish, English
Originally indicated someone who came from Cockburn, a place in Berwickshire. The place name is derived from Old English cocc "rooster" and burna "stream".
Cocks English
Patronymic form of Cock.
Cody Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Cuidighthigh or Mac Óda. A famous bearer was the American frontiersman and showman Buffalo Bill Cody (1846-1917).
Coelho Portuguese
From the Portuguese word for "rabbit", either a nickname or an occupational name referring to a hunter or seller of rabbits.
Coello Galician
Galician cognate of Coelho.
Coeman Dutch
Variant of Koopman.
Coemans Dutch
Variant of Koopman.
Coenen Dutch
Derived from the given name Coenraad.
Coghlan Irish
Anglicized form of Ó Cochláin.
Cohen Jewish
Means "priest" from Hebrew כֹּהֵן (kohen). It originally denoted one of the priestly tribe of Levi.
Coiro Italian
From Italian cuoio meaning "leather", ultimately from Latin corium. This was an occupational surname for a leather worker or tanner.
Cojocaru Romanian
From Romanian cojoc meaning "sheepskin coat". This was an occupational name for a maker of these coats.
Coke English
Variant of Cook.
Cokes English
Variant of Cook.
Cola Italian
From the given name Nicola 1.
Colbert English, French
Derived from the given name Colobert.
Colby English
From various English place names, which were derived from the Old Norse nickname Koli (meaning "coal, dark") and býr "town".
Cole English
From a medieval short form of Nicholas or from the byname Cola.
Coleman Irish, English
From the given name Colmán.
Colijn Dutch
From a diminutive of the given name Nicolaas.
Colin French
From a diminutive of given name Nicolas.
Collingwood English
From a place name, itself derived from Old French chalenge meaning "disputed" and Middle English wode meaning "woods".
Collins 1 Irish
Anglicized form of Ó Coileáin. A famous bearer was Michael Collins, an Irish nationalist leader who was assassinated in 1922.
Collins 2 English
Means "son of Colin 2".
Colombera Italian
From a derivative of Italian colomba "dove" indicating a house where doves were held.
Colombo Italian
Either from Italian colomba "dove" indicating a dove keeper, or from the given name Colombo, which is derived from the same word. This was the Italian surname of the 15th-century explorer Christopher Columbus.
Colón Spanish
Spanish form of Colombo.
Colquhoun Scottish
From a place name meaning "narrow corner" or "narrow wood" in Gaelic.
Colson English
Means "son of Col".
Colt English
Occupational name for a keeper of horses, derived from Middle English colt.
Colter English
Variant of Colt using an agent suffix.
Colton English
From a place name meaning "Cola's town".
Combs English
Variant of Coombs.
Como 1 Italian
From the given name Giacomo.
Como 2 Italian
From the name of the city of Como in Lombardy, the rival city of Milan during the Middle Ages. Its name may come from a Celtic root meaning "valley".
Comstock English
Possibly from the name of the River Culm in Devon, England. This name is seen in the Domesday book as Culmstoke or Colmstoke.
Comtois French
Indicated a person from Franche-Comté, a province in eastern France, which translates to "free county".
Confortola Italian
From the old Italian given name Conforto meaning "comfort".
Connell Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Conaill meaning "descendant of Conall".
Conner English
From Middle English connere meaning "inspector", an occupational name for an inspector of weights and measures.
Connery Irish
Variant of Conroy.
Connolly Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Conghalaigh, which means "descendant of Conghalach". Conghalach is a nickname meaning "valiant".
Connor Irish
Variant of O'Connor.
Conroy Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Conaire, which means "descendant of Conaire". Conaire is a nickname meaning "hound keeper".
Constable English
From Old French conestable, ultimately from Latin comes stabuli meaning "officer of the stable".
Constantin Romanian, French
From the given name Constantin.
Constantino Portuguese
From the given name Constantino.
Conti Italian
From the Italian noble title conte meaning "count", derived from Latin comes. It denoted a person who worked for a count or, in rare cases, was a count.
Contreras Spanish
From the name of a town in Burgos, Spain, derived from Late Latin contraria meaning "area opposite".
Cook English
Derived from Old English coc meaning "cook", ultimately from Latin coquus. It was an occupational name for a cook, a man who sold cooked meats, or a keeper of an eating house.
Cooke English
Variant of Cook.
Cookson English
Patronymic form of Cook.
Coolen Dutch
From the given name Nicolaas.
Coombs English
From Old English cumb meaning "valley", the name of several places in England.
Cooney Irish
From Irish Ó Cuana meaning "descendant of Cuana". Cuana probably means "handsome, elegant". The Cooney sept originated in County Tyrone.
Cooper English
Means "barrel maker", from Middle English couper.
Copperfield Literature
Created from the English words copper and field by the author Charles Dickens, who used it for the title character in his novel David Copperfield (1850).
Coppola Italian
From the name of a type of hat characteristic of Sicily and southern Italy. This surname indicated a person who wore or made these hats.
Corcoran Irish
From Irish Ó Corcráin meaning "descendant of Corcrán", a given name derived from the Gaelic word corcair "purple".
Corey English
Derived from the Old Norse given name Kóri, of unknown meaning.
Corleone Sicilian, Literature
From the name of the town of Corleone in Sicily, which is of uncertain meaning. This surname is well known from the novel The Godfather (1969) by Mario Puzo, as well as the films based on his characters. The story tells how Vito Andolini comes to America from Sicily, receiving the new surname Corleone at Ellis Island, and starts a criminal empire based in New York.
Corna Italian
Derived from the names of places in northern Italy, especially Lombardy, from a word that means "crag, cliff" in the Lombard dialect.
Cornell English
Derived from the given name Cornelius.
Cornett English
Derived from Old French cornet meaning "horn", referring to one who worked as a horn blower.
Corrà Italian
From a short form of the given name Corrado.
Correa Spanish
Spanish form of Correia.
Correia Portuguese
Means "leather strap, belt" in Portuguese, denoting a person who worked with leather products.
Cortés Spanish
Means "polite, courteous" in Spanish.
Corti Italian
From Italian corte meaning "court, yard".
Corvi Italian
Nickname derived from Italian corvo meaning "crow".
Corwin English
Derived from Old French cordoan "leather", ultimately from the name of the Spanish city of Cordova.
Cory English
Variant of Corey.
Ćosić Croatian, Serbian
From Croatian and Serbian ćosav "beardless", ultimately from Persian کوسه (koseh) meaning "shark".
Costa Portuguese, Italian, Catalan
Means "riverbank, slope, coast" in Portuguese, Italian and Catalan, ultimately from Latin meaning "side, edge".
Costantini Italian
From the given name Costantino.
Costanzo Italian
From the given name Costanzo.
Coste French
French form of Costa.