Surnames from Occupations

Given Name   Occupation   Location   Nickname   Ornamental   Other
usage
source
Aarden Dutch
From Dutch aarden meaning "earthen, clay". It denoted a person who worked with clay.
Abadjiev Bulgarian
Patronymic name derived from the Turkish word aba "coat". It may have originally denoted the children of a tailor.
Abarca Spanish
From the name of a type of leather-soled shoe or sandal made on the Balearic Islands. It originally indicated a person who made or sold this item.
Abatangelo Italian
From Italian abate meaning "abbot, priest" combined with the given name Angelo.
Abatantuono Italian
From Italian abate meaning "abbot, priest" combined with the given name Antonio.
Abate Italian
From Italian abate meaning "abbot, priest", derived via Latin and Greek from an Aramaic word meaning "father". This was used either as a nickname or an occupational name for a worker in a priest's house.
Abategiovanni Italian
From Italian abate meaning "abbot, priest" combined with the given name Giovanni.
Abatescianni Italian
From Italian abate meaning "abbot, priest" combined with the given name Gianni.
Abbà Italian
Variant of Abate.
Abbadelli Italian
Means "little abbot" from Italian abate and the diminutive suffix -elli.
Abbascia Italian
Aphetic form of Abatescianni.
Abbate Italian
Variant of Abate.
Abbaticchio Italian
Means "little abbot" from Italian abate and the diminutive suffix -icchio, from Latin -iculus.
Abbey English
Indicated a person who lived near an abbey or worked in an abbey, from Middle English abbeye.
Abbott English
English cognate of Abate.
Abt German
German cognate of Abate.
Acciai Italian
Derived from medieval Italian accia meaning "axe", ultimately from Latin ascia.
Ackerman English
Means "ploughman", derived from Middle English aker "field" and man.
Acqua Italian
Means "water" in Italian, indicating one who dwelt by or transported water.
Acquarone Italian
Meaning uncertain, possibly from a place name or an occupation derived from Italian acqua "water".
Admiraal Dutch
Means "admiral" in Dutch.
Agricola Italian
From Latin agricola meaning "farmer".
Agua Spanish
Means "water" in Spanish, indicating a person who lived near water or worked with water.
Aguado Spanish
Derived from Spanish agua "water", indicating a person who lived near water or worked with water.
Albero Italian
From Italian albero meaning "tree", ultimately from Latin arbor, referring to someone who lived in the woods or worked as a woodcutter.
Al-Mufti Arabic
Refers to a mufti, a Muslim legal advisor consulted in applying a religious law.
Alunni Italian
From Italian alunno meaning "student".
Anker Dutch, Danish, Norwegian
Metonymic surname for a sailor, meaning "anchor" in Dutch, Danish and Norwegian.
Arbeid Dutch
From Dutch arbeid meaning "work".
Arbeider Dutch
From Dutch arbeider meaning "worker".
Arbeit German
From German arbeit meaning "work".
Archer English
Occupational name for one who practiced archery, from Latin arcus "bow" (via Old French).
Arkwright English
Occupational name meaning "chest maker", from Middle English arc meaning "chest, coffer" and wyrhta meaning "maker, craftsman".
Armbruster German
Means "crossbow maker" from German armbrust "crossbow". The word armbrust was originally from Latin arcuballista meaning "bow ballista", but was modified under the influence of German arm "arm" and brust "breast".
Arts 2 Dutch
Dutch cognate of Arzt.
Arzt Dutch
Means "doctor, physician" in German, ultimately from Latin archiater.
Attar Persian
From Persian عطر ('atr) meaning "fragrance, perfume", ultimately from Arabic. It probably denoted a seller of perfume.
Avcı Turkish
Means "hunter" in Turkish.
Azzarà Italian
Sicilian name, derived from Greek dialects of southern Italy. It is from Greek ψαράς (psaras) meaning "fisherman".
Baanders Dutch
Dutch cognate of Banner.
Baas Dutch
Means "boss, overseer" in Dutch.
Baasch Low German
From Middle Low German bas meaning "boss".
Bachmeier German
Originally referred to a farmer whose farm was beside a stream, from Middle High German bach "stream" and meier "steward, tenant farmer".
Bachvarov Bulgarian
Patronymic from Bulgarian бъчвар (bachvar) meaning "cooper, barrel maker".
Bäcker German
Variant of Becker, mostly found in northern Germany.
Backus English
Means "bakery", an occupational name for a baker, from Old English bæchus literally "bake house".
Badem Turkish
Derived from a Turkish word meaning "almond".
Bader German
Derived from Old High German bad "bath", most likely referring to a bath attendant.
Bager Danish
Danish cognate of Baker.
Baglio Italian
Italian cognate of Bailey.
Bagni Italian
From Latin balnea "bath", referring to a person who worked as a bath house attendant.
Bagnoli Italian
Diminutive form of Bagni.
Bailey English
From Middle English baili meaning "bailiff", which comes via Old French from Latin baiulus "porter".
Baird Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac an Baird.
Bakalov Bulgarian
Patronymic derived from Bulgarian bakalin meaning "grocer".
Baker English
Occupational name meaning "baker", derived from Middle English bakere.
Bakhuizen Dutch
Means "bakery" from Dutch bak "bake" and huis "house", an occupational name for a baker.
Bakker Dutch
Dutch cognate of Baker, from Middle Dutch backere.
Bakó Hungarian
Means "axeman" in Hungarian.
Ballerini Italian
From Italian ballerino meaning "dancer", an occupational name or nickname for someone who liked to dance.
Banderas Spanish
Spanish cognate of Banner.
Bandoni Italian
From Italian bandone meaning "sheet of iron".
Bandyopadhyay Bengali
From the name of the village of Bandoghat combined with upadhaya "instructor, priest".
Baník Slovak
Means "miner" in Slovak.
Banner English
Occupational name for a flag carrier, derived from Old French baniere meaning "banner", ultimately of Germanic origin.
Bannister English
From Norman French banastre meaning "basket". This was originally a name for a maker of baskets.
Barber English, Scottish
Indicated a barber, one who cut hair for a living.
Barbier French
French cognate of Barber.
Barbieri Italian
Italian cognate of Barber.
Bardakçı Turkish
Means "glassmaker" from Turkish bardak "glass".
Barker English
From Middle English bark meaning "to tan". This was an occupational name for a leather tanner.
Barone Italian
From the title barone "baron", derived via Latin from Frankish baro "man, warrior, servant".
Barros Portuguese, Spanish
From the Portuguese and Spanish word barro meaning "clay, mud". This could either be an occupational name for a person who worked with clay or mud such as a builder or artisan, or a topographic name for someone living near clay or mud.
Bašić Croatian, Serbian
Means "son of the chief", derived from Serbo-Croatian baša meaning "chief, boss" (of Turkish origin).
Bauer German
From Old High German bur meaning "peasant, farmer".
Bauers German
Variant of Bauer.
Baumann German, Jewish
From Middle High German bumann meaning "farmer, builder".
Baumgartner German
Occupational name for a person who worked or lived at an orchard, from German Baumgarten "orchard" (derived from Baum "tree" and Garten "garden").
Baumhauer German
Occupational name meaning "woodcutter", derived from German Baum "tree" and hauen "to chop".
Baxter English
Variant (in origin a feminine form) of Baker.
Baylor German (Anglicized)
Possibly an Americanized form of Beiler.
Bean English
English cognate of Bohn.
Beck 2 German
Variant of Becker, from southern German beck.
Beck 4 English
From Old English becca meaning "pickaxe", an occupational surname.
Becke German
Variant of Beck 1 or Beck 2.
Beckenbauer German
Means "farmer living by a stream" in German.
Becker German
Derived from Middle High German becker meaning "baker".
Beckert German
Variant of Becker.
Beiler German
Derived from Middle High German beile meaning "measuring stick".
Beitel German
Variant of Beutel.
Bell 1 English
From Middle English belle meaning "bell". It originated as a nickname for a person who lived near the town bell, or who had a job as a bell-ringer.
Beltz German
Occupational name for a tanner of hides, derived from Middle High German belz meaning "fur".
Benbow English
From a nickname "bend the bow" given to an archer.
Berger 1 French
Occupational name meaning "shepherd", from Old French bergier.
Beridze Georgian
Means "son of the monk", from Georgian ბერი (beri) meaning "monk".
Best 1 English
Derived from Middle English beste meaning "beast", an occupational name for a keeper of animals or a nickname for someone who acted like a beast. A famous bearer of this surname was soccer legend George Best (1946-2005).
Beutel German
From Middle High German biutel meaning "bag", originally belonging to a person who made or sold bags.
Bhattacharya Bengali
From a Bengali title composed of the Sanskrit words भट्ट (bhatta) meaning "scholar, lord" and आचार्य (acharya) meaning "teacher".
Bicchieri Italian
Means "drinking glasses" in Italian, referring originally to a person who made or sold them.
Biermann German
Derived from German bier "beer" and mann "man". The name may have referred to a brewer or a tavern owner.
Binici Turkish
From the Turkish word binici meaning "rider, horseman".
Bird English
Occupational name for a person who raised or hunted birds.
Bíró Hungarian
Derived from bíró meaning "judge" in Hungarian.
Bischoffs German
German cognate of Bishop.
Bishop English
Means simply "bishop", ultimately from Greek ἐπίσκοπος (episkopos) meaning "overseer". It probably originally referred to a person who served a bishop.
Biskup Czech, Slovak
Czech and Slovak cognate of Bishop.
Blecher German
Occupational name for someone who worked with tin or sheet metal, from German blech "tin".
Bleier German
Occupational name for a worker of lead, derived from German blei "lead".
Boatwright English
Occupational name meaning "maker of boats".
Bobal Czech
Derived from Czech bob meaning "bean".
Bodnár Hungarian
Means "cooper, barrel maker" in Hungarian.
Boer Dutch
Dutch cognate of Bauer.
Boerefijn Dutch
Possibly an adaptation of French beurre fin meaning "good butter".
Boerio Italian
From Italian boaro meaning "cowherd".
Bognár Hungarian
Hungarian form of Wagner.
Bohn German
Occupational name for a bean grower, derived from Middle High German bone "bean".
Bond English
Occupational name for a peasant farmer, from Middle English bonde. A famous bearer is the fictional spy James Bond, created by Ian Flemming in 1953.
Bondarenko Ukrainian
Derived from Ukrainian бондар (bondar) meaning "cooper, barrel maker".
Boon 3 Dutch
Dutch cognate of Bohn.
Bootsma Frisian
Occupational name meaning "boatman", derived from Dutch boot "boat".
Borbély Hungarian
Hungarian cognate of Barber.
Boros Hungarian
Derived from Hungarian bor "wine". Originally it could have indicated someone who made or sold wine.
Botello Galician
Occupational name for a maker of bottles, from Galician bottela meaning "bottle".
Böttcher German
Occupational name meaning "cooper, barrel maker" in German.
Boucher French
Means "butcher" in French.
Bouvier French
Means "cowherd" in French, from Latin boviarus, a derivative of bos "cow".
Bouwmeester Dutch
Means "architect, builder" in Dutch.
Bowman English
Occupational name for an archer, derived from Middle English bowe, Old English boga meaning "bow".
Boyadjiev Bulgarian
Alternate transcription of Bulgarian Бояджиев (see Boyadzhiev).
Boyadzhiev Bulgarian
Patronymic from Bulgarian бояджия (boyadzhiya) meaning "dyer".
Boyer Occitan
Occitan cognate of Bouvier.
Brasher English
Means "brass worker", derived from Old English bræs "brass".
Brauer Low German
Derived from Middle Low German bruwer meaning "brewer".
Breiner German, Swedish
Occupational name derived from Middle High German brie "porridge".
Brewer English
Occupational name for a maker of ale or beer.
Brewster English
Variant of Brewer, originally a feminine form of the occupational term.
Bridges English
Originally denoted a person who lived near a bridge, or who worked as a bridgekeeper, derived from Middle English brigge, Old English brycg.
Brisbois French
Referred to a person who cleared land, from Old French briser "to cut" and bois "forest".
Brodbeck German
Means "bread baker" from Middle High German brot "bread" and becke "baker".
Brodeur French
Means "embroiderer" in French.
Brogan Irish
Occupational name derived from Irish bróg meaning "shoe".
Brouwer Dutch
Occupational name for a brewer of beer or ale, Middle Dutch brouwer.
Buchvarov Bulgarian
Alternate transcription of Bulgarian Бъчваров (see Bachvarov).
Buhr Low German
Low German form of Bauer.
Bureau French
From Old French burel, diminutive of bure, a type of woolen cloth. It may have originated as a nickname for a person who dressed in the material or as an occupational name for someone who worked with it.
Burrell English
English form of Bureau.
Butcher English
Occupational name for a butcher, derived from Old French bouchier.
Butler English, Irish
Occupational name derived from Norman French butiller "wine steward", ultimately from Late Latin butticula "bottle". A famous bearer of this surname is the fictional character Rhett Butler, created by Margaret Mitchell for her novel Gone with the Wind (1936).
Byrd English
Variant of Bird.
Caito Italian
Occupational name from Sicilian càjitu meaning "official, leader", ultimately from Arabic قاضي (qadi) meaning "judge".
Calderón Spanish
Occupational name for a person who made, repaired or sold cauldrons or kettles, from Spanish calderón "cauldron", from Late Latin caldaria.
Calligaris Italian
From Late Latin caligarius meaning "shoemaker".
Campana Italian, Spanish
Occupational name from Late Latin campana meaning "bell", ultimately derived from the Italian region of Campania, where bells were produced.
Cannon English
From the ecclesiastical usage of canon, referring to a church official or servant who worked in a clergy house.
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.
Capilla Spanish
Spanish form of Kappel.
Capitani Italian
Occupational name meaning "captain" in Italian, ultimately from Latin caput "head".
Carman 1 English
Occupational name for a carter, from Middle English carre "cart" (of Latin origin) and man "man".
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.
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.
Carver English
Occupational surname for a carver, from Middle English kerve "cut".
Case English
From Norman French casse meaning "box, case", ultimately from Latin capsa. This was an occupational name for a box maker.
Cash English
Variant of Case.
Cattaneo Italian
Variant of Capitani used in Lombardy.
Causer English
Occupational name for one who made leggings, derived from Old French chausse "leggings".
Cavalcante Italian
Derived from Italian cavalcare "to ride".
Cavallo Italian
Means "horse" in Italian, an occupational name for a horseman.
Çelik Turkish
Occupational name for a metalworker, meaning "steel" in Turkish.
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).
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.
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.
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".
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).
Cheung Chinese (Cantonese)
Cantonese romanization of Zhang.
Chevrolet French
From a diminutive of chèvre meaning "goat", indicating a person who cultivated goats.
Chilikov Bulgarian
Patronymic derived from Bulgarian челик (chelik) meaning "steel" (of Turkish origin).
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.
Chong Chinese (Cantonese)
Cantonese romanization of Zhang.
Choudhary Indian, Hindi, Marathi
Alternate transcription of Hindi/Marathi चौधरी (see Chaudhary).
Choudhury Bengali
Alternate transcription of Bengali চৌধুরী (see Chowdhury).
Chowdhury Bengali
Bengali form of Chaudhary.
Ciobanu Romanian
From Romanian cioban meaning "shepherd".
Clacher Scottish
From Scottish Gaelic clachair meaning "stonemason".
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.
Clay English
Means simply "clay", originally referring to a person who lived near or worked with of clay.
Cleary Irish
From Irish cléireach meaning "clerk" (see Clark).
Clery Irish
Variant of Cleary.
Cloutier French
Derived from French clou meaning "nail", referring to someone who made or sold nails.
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.
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.
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.
Colt English
Occupational name for a keeper of horses, derived from Middle English colt.
Colter English
Variant of Colt using an agent suffix.
Conner English
From Middle English connere meaning "inspector", an occupational name for an inspector of weights and measures.
Constable English
From Old French conestable, ultimately from Latin comes stabuli meaning "officer of the stable".
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.
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.
Cooper English
Means "barrel maker", from Middle English couper.
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.
Cornett English
Derived from Old French cornet meaning "horn", referring to one who worked as a horn blower.
Correa Spanish
Spanish form of Correia.
Correia Portuguese
Means "leather strap, belt" in Portuguese, denoting a person who worked with leather products.
Corwin English
Derived from Old French cordoan "leather", ultimately from the name of the Spanish city of Cordova.
Cotterill English
Derived from Middle English cotter meaning "cottager", referring to a small tenant farmer.
Coumans Dutch
Variant of Koopman.
Coupe English
From Middle English coupe meaning "barrel", a name for a barrel maker or cooper.
Couture French
Means "tailor" in Old French.
Cropper English
Occupational name derived from Middle English croppe "crop", referring to a fruit picker or a crop reaper.
Csizmadia Hungarian
Means "bootmaker" in Hungarian.
Čtvrtník Czech
Derived from Czech čtvrtlán meaning "one quarter of a lán", where a lán is a medieval Czech measure of land (approximately 18 hectares). The name denoted someone who owned this much land.
Cucinotta Italian
Derived from a diminutive of Italian cucina meaning "kitchen".
Cuijper Dutch
Variant of Kuiper.
Cuijpers Dutch
Variant of Kuiper.
Cuocco Italian
Italian cognate of Cook.
Cuoco Italian
Italian cognate of Cook.
Cuyper Dutch
Variant of Kuiper.
Cuypers Dutch
Variant of Kuiper.
Dane 1 English
Variant of Dean 1 or Dean 2.
Darbinian Armenian
Alternate transcription of Armenian Դարբինյան (see Darbinyan).
Darbinyan Armenian
From Armenian դարբին (darbin) meaning "blacksmith".
Darzi Persian
Means "tailor" in Persian.
Das Bengali, Indian, Assamese, Odia, Hindi, Marathi
Means "servant, devotee" in Sanskrit.
Daskalov Bulgarian
Patronymic derived from даскал (daskal) meaning "teacher".
Deacon English
Means "deacon", ultimately from Greek διάκονος (diakonos) meaning "servant".
Deák Hungarian
Possibly a Hungarian form of Deacon.
Dean 2 English
Occupational surname meaning "dean", referring to a person who either was a dean or worked for one. It is from Middle English deen (ultimately from Latin decanus meaning "chief of ten").
De Boer Dutch
Dutch cognate of Bauer.
De Cock Flemish
Flemish cognate of Cook.
Değirmenci Turkish
From a Turkish word meaning "miller".
De Graaf Dutch
Dutch cognate of Graf.
Dekker Dutch
Means "roofer, thatcher" in Dutch.
De Klerk Dutch
From Dutch klerk meaning "clerk", making this a cognate of Clark.
De Kock Dutch
Dutch cognate of Cook.
Demir Turkish
Means "iron" in Turkish, originally referring to an ironworker.
Demirci Turkish
Means "blacksmith" in Turkish.
Denzel German
Variant of Tanzer.
De Smet Flemish
Flemish variant of Smit.
De Snaijer Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snyder.
Dexter English
Occupational name meaning "dyer" in Old English (originally this was a feminine word, but it was later applied to men as well).
Dickman English
From Old English dic "ditch" combined with man "person, man". It was originally a name for a ditch digger or someone who lived near a ditch.
Dobos Hungarian
Derived from Hungarian dob meaning "drum". Originally the name was given to someone who played drums or made them.
Doctor English
Originally denoted someone who was a doctor, ultimately from Latin doctor meaning "teacher".
Draper English
Occupational name for a maker or seller of woolen cloth, from Anglo-Norman French draper (Old French drapier, an agent derivative of drap "cloth").
Dreher German
Means "turner" from Middle High German drehen "to turn". A turner was a person who used a lathe to create small objects from wood or bone.
Dreier German
Variant of Dreher.
Dreschner German
Derived from Middle High German dreschen "to thresh". A thresher was a person who separated the grains from a cereal plant by beating it.