Behind the Name
the etymology and history of surnames
Search
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Saab
Usage: Muslim
Extra: Statistics
From the Muslim first name Sabah which means "morning" in Arabic.

Saari
Usage: Finnish
Extra: Statistics
Means "(dweller on) an island" from the Finnish saari.

Sabbadin
Usage: Italian
From sabbato "Saturday", a name for one born on that day of the week.

Sacco
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Means "sack-maker".

Sachs
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
From Old German sachs, which means "Saxon." The Saxons were a Germanic tribe, their name ultimately deriving from the Old Germanic word sahs meaning "knife". Famous bearers of this surname include Hans Sachs (1494-1576), a German poet, and Nelly Sachs (1891-1970), a Swedish dramatist and poet, who was awarded in 1966 with the Nobel prize for literature, poetry and plays about the Jewish people.

Sackville
Usage: English
From the latin de sicca villa meaning "from the dry town".

Sadik
Usage: Turkish
Extra: Statistics
From the Turkish word sadik meaning "pious, devout".

Sadler
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "saddle-maker" from the Old English sadol.

Sadowski
Usage: Polish
Extra: Statistics
A name for someone who lived in Sadowo, Sadowice or other place whose name began with sad- "garden".

Saito
Usage: Japanese
Extra: Statistics
From sai meaning "correct" and to meaning "wisteria", the latter syllable indicating a connection to the Fujiwara ("wisteria field") clan.

Sala
Usage: Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Romanian
Extra: Statistics
Means "worker at a manor house" from the Old French salle.

Salamanca
Usage: Spanish
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Salamanca, Western Spain".

Salazar
Usage: Spanish, Portuguese
Extra: Statistics
Means "dweller in the old hall" from the Romance word sala meaning "hall" and the Basque zahar meaning "old". Can also refer to Salazar in Burgos, Spain.

Salcedo
Usage: Spanish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the Latin word salix meaning "willow tree". The name was originally given to one who lived near a willow tree.

Salinas
Usage: Spanish
Extra: Statistics
Means "(dweller by or worker at) a saltworks" from the Spanish salinas.

Saller (1)
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Sallern, Bavaria".

Saller (2)
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "(dweller by) a sallow tree" from the Middle High German salhe.

Salomon
Usage: English, French, Venetian, German, Danish, Norwegian, Polish, Jewish, Hungarian
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the first name Salomon.

Salucci
Usage: Italian
Means "salt".

Salvage
Usage: English, French
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Savage.

Salvaggi
Usage: Italian
Italian form of Savage.

Salvai
Usage: Italian
Means "to save" from the Italian salvai.

Salvail
Usage: Italian
Variant of Salvai.

Salvatici
Usage: Italian
Italian form of Savage.

Salvay
Usage: Italian
Variant of Salvai.

Salzwedel
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Salzwedel, Germany".

Samara
Usage: Muslim
Extra: Statistics
Means "benefit, gain" from the Arabic tharama.

Sampson
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Samson.

Sams
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Samuel.

Samsa
Usage: Hungarian
Derived from a pet form of the first name Sámuel.

Samson
Usage: English, French, German, Jewish, Dutch
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the name Samson.

Samuel
Usage: English, French, German, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Samuel.

Samuels
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Samuel.

Samuelson
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Samuel".

Sanchez
Usage: Spanish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Sancho" in Spanish.

Sander
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Alexander.

Sanders
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
A Patronymic of the given name Sander, a medieval form of Alexander.

Sanderson
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Alexander".

Sandford
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Sandford, England".

Sándor
Usage: Hungarian
Extra: Statistics
Derives from the given name Sándor.

Sandoval
Usage: Spanish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the name of a town in Spain, ultimately from Latin meaning "new forest".

Sands
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
From the English word, meaning the person lived near or on a beach.

Sangster
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
An occupational surname meaning "song-maker or singer" from Old English.

Sanna (1)
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Means "one with a big protruding tooth".

Sanna (2)
Usage: Dutch
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Susanna".

Sanna (3)
Usage: Greek
Extra: Statistics
Means "hay seller" from the Greek sano meaning "hay".

San Nicolas
Usage: Spanish
Extra: Statistics
Means "Saint Nicholas" in Spanish.

Sansone
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Italian form of Samson.

Santana
Usage: Spanish, Portuguese
Extra: Statistics
From any of the numerous places named Santa Ana.

Santiago
Usage: Portuguese, Spanish
Extra: Statistics
Spanish and Portuguese place name that described the man who emigrated from any of the several locations so-named, which got their names from the dedication of their church to St. James, the patron saint of Spain.

Santillian
Usage: Spanish
Meaning unknown, presumably a derivative of santos "saint". There are Santillians in Mexico and the Caribbean.

Santini
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Means "little Santo".

Santoro
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Means "all saint's day" in Italian, a nickname for one born on that day.

Santos
Usage: Spanish, Portuguese
Extra: Statistics
Means "little saint" from the Latin sanctus.

Sapienti
Usage: Italian
Means "wise" in Latin or Italian, most likely given to someone who was wise or behaved wisely.

Sappington
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
From the city of Sapperton, England, from Old English sapere meaning "soap maker" and ton meaning "town, farm, or settlement".

Saqqaf
Usage: Arabic
Means "roof" from the Arabic saqaf.

Sargent
Usage: English, French
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Sergeant.

Sarka (1)
Usage: Czech
Extra: Statistics
Means "dweller by a bend in a river" from the Old Czech šárový meaning "curved".

Sarka (2)
Usage: Czech
Extra: Statistics
Means "grey" from the Old Czech šarý.

Sarka (3)
Usage: Hungarian
Extra: Statistics
Americanized form of Szarka.

Sarkisian
Usage: Armenian
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Sarkis" in Armenian. The Armenian given name Sarkis is equivalent to Sergius.

Sárközi
Usage: Hungarian
Someone from Sárköz, Sárköz being a region of Hungary.

Sarkozi
Usage: French
French form of Sárközi.

Sárközy
Usage: Hungarian
Spelling variant of Sárközi.

Sarkozy
Usage: French
French form of Sárközy.

Sarno
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Sarno, Italy".

Sarti
Usage: Italian
Variant of Sarto.

Sartini
Usage: Italian
Diminutive form of Sarto.

Sarto
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Occupational surname meaning "tailor" in Italian, from Latin sartus "to mend".

Sartre
Usage: French
Cognate of Sarto.

Sas
Usage: Hungarian
Extra: Statistics
Means "eagle" in Hungarian.

Sasha
Usage: Czech
Derived from the given name Sasha.

Sass
Usage: Hungarian
Extra: Statistics
Spelling variant of Sas.

Sastre
Usage: Spanish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Sartre.

Sato (1)
Usage: Japanese
Extra: Statistics
From sa meaning "help" and to meaning "wisteria", the latter syllable indicating a connection to the Fujiwara ("wisteria field") clan.

Sato (2)
Usage: Japanese
Refers to a village or road marker.

Sauber
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "clean" in German. Saüßer is the German spelling, Anglicized to Sauber.

Saunders
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Sanders.

Sauvage
Usage: English, French
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Savage.

Sauvageau
Usage: French
Extra: Statistics
French form of Savage.

Sauvageon
Usage: French
French form of Savage.

Sauvageot
Usage: French
French form of Savage.

Sauveterre
Usage: French
Named after one of the towns in France derived from sauve "safe" and terre "land": therefore "safe haven".

Savage
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
English nickname for a "wild or uncouth person", derived from a Middle English version of Old French salvage or sauvage, which means "untamed".

Savege
Usage: English
Variant of Savage.

Savidge
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Savage.

Savona
Usage: Italian
From the name of the city of Savona, near Genoa.

Sawyer
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
An occupational surname meaning "sawer of wood" in Old English. It was used by Mark Twain for a character in his novel 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'.

Sayer
Usage: Welsh
Means "carpenter" from the Welsh saer.

Saylor
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Occupational name for a leaper, acrobat, or dancer, from Old French sailleor.

Scarpa
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Means "shoemaker" from the Italian scarpa meaning "shoe".

Scarsi
Usage: Italian
A nickname for a poor or miserly person from the Italian scarso "scarse, scant".

Scavo
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Means "serf, slave" from the Old Sicilian scavu.

Schäfer
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
From Middle High German schæfære meaning "shepherd".

Scheer
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
From a word meaning "shearer" or "cutter". The word was used both for barbers, who cut hair, and tailors, who cut cloth to make garments.

Scheinberg
Usage: German, Jewish
Means "lovely, beautiful mountain" from the German schön "fine, beautiful" and berg meaning "mountain".

Schenck
Usage: German, Dutch, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
From Middle High German, Middle Dutch schenke meaning "wine server" (from Old High German scenken "to pour out"). As a German name it also denotes a tavernkeeper.

Schermer
Usage: Dutch, Low German
Extra: Statistics
Occupational name for a fencer or swordsman, akin to Old High German skirmen "to defend".

Schindler
Usage: German, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Means "shingler, roof tiler". A famous bearer is Oskar Schindler, who saved over 1,000 Polish Jews during WWII.

Schirmer
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "fencer, fencing master" from the Old High German skirmen meaning "to defend".

Schlender
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "to dawdle" from the Middle High German slinderen or "to swallow, eat" from the Middle Low German slinden.

Schlimme
Usage: German
Means "bad" from the German schlimme.

Schlusser
Usage: German
Means "keeper of the keys" or "jailer" in German.

Schmeling
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "small, slender".

Schmid
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Schmidt.

Schmidt
Usage: German, Hungarian
Extra: Statistics
From the occupation of schmied, which is "smith" or "metalworker" in English.

Schmitt
Usage: German, Hungarian
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Schmidt.

Schmitz
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Schmidt. This variant comes from the Rhine area in western Germany.

Schneider (1)
Usage: Dutch
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Snyder.

Schneider (2)
Usage: German, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Means "tailor" from the German schneider or Yiddish shnayder. A famous bearer of the surname is Austrian actress Romy Schneider, remembered for her performance as Sissi.

Schneiders
Usage: Dutch
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Snyder.

Schneijder
Usage: Dutch
Variant of Snyder.

Schneijders
Usage: Dutch
Variant of Snyder.

Schnoor
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Schnur.

Schnur
Usage: German, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Means "rope maker" from the German schnur or Yiddish shnur.

Schoettmer
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Schötmar, Germany".

School
Usage: Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
Derived from either the Old Norse personal name Skúli, the Old Danish Skuli or the Old Swedish Skule which probably all mean "to protect".

Schoonenburg
Usage: Dutch
Perhaps German in origin, meaning "beautiful mountain".

Schoonraad
Usage: Dutch
Means "refined counsel" from the Low German schoon "refined, beautiful" and raad "counsel, advice".

Schoorel
Usage: Dutch
Variant of Van Schoorl.

Schoorl
Usage: Dutch
Variant of Van Schoorl.

Schorel
Usage: Dutch
Variant of Van Schoorl.

Schovajsa
Usage: Czech
Means "hide yourself". It is of Moravian origin.

Schräder
Usage: Low German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Schrader.

Schrader
Usage: Low German
Extra: Statistics
From Middle Low German schrader or schroder meaning "tailor".

Schreck
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "to frighten, jump" from the Middle High German schrecken.

Schreier
Usage: German, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
German/Yiddish word that means "screamer" or "shrieker" or "crier", perhaps an occupational name for a town crier. There are two main branches of people with the name: Lutherans from Bavaria, and Ashkenazic Jews from the area of the Austro-Hungarian Empire formerly known as Galicia, which is today in southwestern Ukraine.

Schrijnemakers
Usage: Dutch
From the Dutch occupation of schrijnwerker, which means "cabinetmaker" in English.

Schröder (1)
Usage: Low German
Extra: Statistics
In northern Germany: Variant of Schrader.

Schröder (2)
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
In southern Germany: Variant of Schröter.

Schroeder
Usage: German, Low German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Schröder (1) and Schröder (2).

Schroeter
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Schröter.

Schröter
Usage: German
From Middle High German schrotaere meaning "a carrier of wine or beer barrels".

Schubert
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Schuchard.

Schuchard
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
From Middle High German schuochwürhte, schuochworhte, or schuchwarte meaning "shoemaker".

Schuchardt
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Schuchard.

Schuchert
Usage: German
Variant of Schuchard.

Schuhmacher
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
From the Middle High German occupational name schuochmacher meaning "shoemaker".

Schuler
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "scholar, student priest" from the German Schule meaning "school".

Schult
Usage: Low German
Extra: Statistics
Low German variant of Schultheiß.

Schulte
Usage: Low German
Extra: Statistics
Low German variant of Schultheiß.

Schultes
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Early New High German variant of Schultheiß.

Schultheis
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Schultheiß.

Schultheiss
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Schultheiß.

Schultheiß
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Occupational surname derived from Middle High German schultheiße meaning "mayor, judge".

Schultz
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Schultheiß.

Schultze
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Schultheiß.

Schulz
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Schultheiß.

Schulze
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Schultheiß.

Schumacher
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Schuhmacher.

Schuster
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
From the Middle High German occupational name schuoster meaning "shoemaker".

Schuttmann
Usage: German
Means "watchman, guard" from the Middle High German schützen.

Schuyler
Usage: Dutch
Extra: Statistics
From the Dutch meaning "scholar".

Schwangau
Usage: German
From a town in Germany that means "swan land".

Schwartz
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Schwarz.

Schwarz
Usage: German, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
From Middle High German swarz meaning "black". Originally described a person with black hair or a black complexion.

Schwarzenberg
Usage: Dutch
Extra: Statistics
Means "black, dark mountain".

Schwarzenegger
Usage: German
Means "harrower of the dark fields" or "dark harrower of the fields" from the German schwarz meaning "dark, black" and egge meaning "harrow". A well known bearer of this name is actor and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Schwenke
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the Middle High German word swenke which means "to swing". This was probably a hint at the gait of the person. Alternatively, it can also be be derived from the given name Sweneke, a Low German form of the name Swanhild. One last theory states that it is derived from the town of Schwenke (situated in Nordrhein-Westfalen).

Schwinghammer
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
From German words for "swing" and "hammer." This was originally a nickname for a blacksmith.

Sciacca
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Sciacca, Italy".

Sciacchitano
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Sciacca.

Sciarra
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
From Sicilian sciarra meaning "quarrel, dispute", originally a nickname for a quarrelsome person.

Scordato
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Means "forgotten, left behind".

Scott
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Originally given to a person from Scotland or a person who spoke Scottish Gaelic.

Scotti
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Comes from the pet name Francescotto, from Francesco.

Scriven
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
It came to England with the Normans, and means "writer, clerk" in Old French.

Scrivener
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Scriven.

Scrivenor
Usage: English
Variant of Scriven.

Scrivens
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Scriven.

Scully
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of Ó Scolaidhe.

Scutese
Usage: Italian
Possibly means "Scottish" from the Italian scozzeze.

Seabrooke
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Seabrook (Bucks), England".

Seaver
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
From the given name Severus (see Severo).

Sebastiani
Usage: Italian
Derived from the name Sebastiano.

Sebastino
Usage: Italian
A diminutive form of Sebastian.

Sedláček
Usage: Czech
A diminutive form of Sedlak.

Sedlak
Usage: Czech
Extra: Statistics
Means farmer in Czech (from the Slavic root sed, set, "to sit, stay"). A Sedlak had more land than a Zahradnik, a Chalupnik or a Baracnik, but less land than a Dvorak.

Seeger
Usage: Dutch
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Segher.

Seegers
Usage: Dutch
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Segher.

Seelen
Usage: Dutch
Variant of Ceelen.

Seelenfreund
Usage: German, Jewish
Middle High German vriunt, modern German freund, meaning "friend" and modern German seele, meaning "soul".

Segal (1)
Usage: Jewish
Extra: Statistics
An acronym of the Hebrew phrase SeGan Levia meaning "second rank Levite".

Segal (2)
Usage: French
Extra: Statistics
Means "grower, seller of rye" from the Old French segal.

Segers
Usage: Dutch
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Segher.

Segher
Usage: Dutch
Derived from the given name Seger, which comes from Sieger, which meant "victory army" in Old Norse.

Seghers
Usage: Dutch
Variant of Segher.

Segreti
Usage: Italian
Means "confidant" from the Old Italian segreto.

Seidel
Usage: German, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
From the German word seidel meaning "beer mug".

Selmone
Usage: Italian
Means "from Selmone (Sulmona), Italy".

Selvaggio
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Italian form of Savage.

Sempers
Usage: English
From Saint Pierre, the name of a city in France.

Senft (1)
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "mustard seller" from the German Senf(t).

Senft (2)
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
A nickname for a helpful, kind person from the Middle High German senfte meaning "soft, accomodating".

Senior
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Originally a name for the elder of two brothers.

Seppä
Usage: Finnish
Extra: Statistics
Means "smith" in Finnish.

Seppänen
Usage: Finnish
Extra: Statistics
Means "smith" in Finnish.

Sepúlveda
Usage: Spanish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the name of the Sepulveda valley in the mountains of Segovia, and was originally used to denote people from that region. It is possibly derived from Spanish sepultar "to bury".

Serafim
Usage: Portuguese
Derived from the Latin personal name Seraphinus which is derived from the Hebrew serafim which was the name of a class of angels in the Bible whose name originally was derived from saraf meaning "to burn".

Serafin
Usage: Polish, Italian
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Serafim.

Serafini
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Serafim.

Serban
Usage: Romanian
Extra: Statistics
Means "a Serb" in Romanian.

Seres
Usage: Hungarian
Extra: Statistics
Dialectical variant of Sörös.

Sergeant
Usage: English, French
Extra: Statistics
Occupational name derived from Middle English sergent "servant".

Serpico
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Means "serpent, reptile" from the Italian serpe.

Sessa
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Sessa, Italy".

Sessions
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of Soissons (a city outside of Paris).

Severijns
Usage: Dutch
Derived from the given name Severinus (see Severino).

Séverin
Usage: French
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Séverin.

Severins
Usage: Dutch
Variant of Severijns.

Sevčik
Usage: Czech
Occupational name for one who made or sold shoes; a shoemaker.

Sevriens
Usage: Dutch
Variant of Severijns.

Seward (1)
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Sigeweard, which means "protector of victory" from the Middle English sige "victory" and weard "protector".

Seward (2)
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "swineherd" from the Old English su "pig" and hierde "herdsman".

Seward (3)
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of Ó Suaird.

Sewick
Usage: Ukrainian
Means "gray (color)" in Ukrainian.

Sexton
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
A sexton (Middle English sexteyn) is a person who is a caretaker for a church or graveyard.

Seymour (1)
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
From Saint Maur, a French place name. For the meaning of the given name Maur, see Maurus.

Seymour (2)
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
From an English place name, derived from Old English "sea" + mere "lake".

Sgro
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Means "curly-haired" from the Greek sgouros.

Shâd
Usage: Turkish
Extra: Statistics
Means "joyful" from the Turkish word shâd.

Shafir
Usage: Jewish
An ornamental surname meaning "sapphire" from the Yiddish shafir.

Shain
Usage: Jewish
Extra: Statistics
An ornamental surname meaning "beautiful, handsome" from the German schön.

Shakesheave
Usage: English
Means "shake shaft" from the Old English shake "shake" and sceaft "shaft".

Shannon
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics
A diminutive of the Gaelic Ó Seanaigh which means "descendent of Seanach". The first name Seanach means "wise".

Shapiro
Usage: Jewish
Extra: Statistics
From Hebrew shapir which means "pretty, lovely".

Sharma
Usage: Indian
Extra: Statistics
Means "joy, shelter" from the Sanskrit šarm?.

Sharman
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Sherman (1).

Sharrow
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Sharrow, England".

Shaw
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Originally given to a person who lived near a sceaga, Old English meaning "thicket".

Sheach
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Variant of Sheehy.

Sheedy
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of Ó Síoda.

Sheehy
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of the Gaelic given name Sítheach meaning "mysterious, eerie".

Sheenan
Usage: Irish
Variant of Shannon.

Sheinfeld
Usage: German, Jewish
Means "lovely, beautiful field" from the German schön "fine, beautiful" and feld meaning "field".

Shelby
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
From the name of a village which meant "willow farm" in Old English.

Shepard
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
From the English shepherd, meaning "sheep-herder".

Sherazi
Usage: Iranian
Name for someone who came from the city of Sheraz, located in southwest Iran.

Sherburne
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Denotes a person hailing from any of the various places called Sherborne or Sherburn in England.

Sheridan
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics
From the Gaelic name Ó Siride´in meaning "descendent of Siridean". The first name Siridean means "searcher".

Sherman (1)
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Literally "shear man", refering to someone who used shears in his line of work, such as a sheep-shearer.

Sherman (2)
Usage: Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Means "tailor" in Yiddish, derived from sher "scissors".

Shine (1)
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "beautiful, attractive" from the Old English sciene.

Shine (2)
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of Ó Seighin.

Shizuka
Usage: Japanese
Derived from the first name Shizuka.

Shriver
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Occupational name referring to an official or public writer, from German schreiben "to write".

Shwetz
Usage: Ukrainian
Means "shoemaker" in Ukrainian.

Siegel (1)
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "maker of seals or signet rings".

Siegel (2)
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Derived from diminutive forms of Germanic names beginning with the element sigi meaning "victory".

Siegel (3)
Usage: Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Segal (1).

Siekert
Usage: German
Derived from the given name Siegbert.

Siemon
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Simon.

Siena
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Siena, Italy".

Sienkiewicz
Usage: Polish
Extra: Statistics
A patronymic from the given name Sienko, a pet form of the archaic name Siemion, a form of Simon. This is the last name of the Polish Nobel Laureate Henryk Sienkiewicz.

Sierra
Usage: Spanish
Extra: Statistics
Means "dweller on a hill range, ridge" from the Old Provençal serre.

Sierzant
Usage: Polish
Means "sergeant" in Polish.

Sigurdsson
Usage: Icelandic
Means "son of Sigurd".

Silje
Usage: Dutch
Derived from the given name Silje.

Silva
Usage: Portuguese, Spanish
Extra: Statistics
From Spanish/Portuguese silva "forest".

Silveira
Usage: Portuguese
Extra: Statistics
Means "forests" in Old Portuguese.

Silverstein
Usage: German, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Means "silver stone" from German Silber + Stein. It was adopted when the Jews in Europe were compelled to take surnames in the early part of the 19th century.

Silvestri
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Silvester.

Šimek
Usage: Czech
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the name Šimek, a pet form of Šimon.

Simen
Usage: German
Variant of Simon.

Simeonov
Usage: Bulgarian
Means "son of Simeon".

Simmon
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Simon.

Simmons
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Simpson.

Simms
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the medieval given name Sim, a short form of Simon.

Simőes
Usage: Portuguese
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Simon" in Potuguese.

Simon
Usage: Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Hungarian, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the Hebrew first name Simon.

Simoneit
Usage: Lithuanian
Means "son of Simon".

Simonides
Usage: Greek
Means "son of Simon".

Simonis
Usage: Dutch, Lithuanian
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Simon".

Simons
Usage: English, German
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Simon.

Simonsen
Usage: Danish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Simon".

Simonson
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Simon".

Simonsson
Usage: Swedish
Variant of Simonson.

Simpkin
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
From a diminutive of the given name Simon. It was first found in the county of Suffolk where the family was established.

Simpson
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Sim", Sim being a medieval short form of Simon.

Sims
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Simms.

Sinagra (1)
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Sinagra, Sicily".

Sinagra (2)
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Xenagoras which means "strange honour" from the Greek xenos "strange" and geras "honour".

Sinasohn
Usage: German, Jewish
Variant of Sinason.

Sinason
Usage: Norwegian, Swedish
Means "son of Sina". Sina is a fairly common female name in Scandinavia.

Singh
Usage: Sikh
Extra: Statistics
In 1699 the Guru Gobind Singh gave all his Sikh male followers the surname Singh and all females Kaur. Singh means "lion" in Sanskrit.

Sipos
Usage: Hungarian
Extra: Statistics
Means "fife player, piper" from the Hungarian síp.

Siskin
Usage: German, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Means "sweet child" from the words suess meaning "sweet" and kind meaning "child".

Siskind
Usage: German, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Siskin.

Sitko
Usage: Polish
Extra: Statistics
Means "a small sieve" from Polish sito "sieve".

Sitz (1)
Usage: German, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from a given name beginning with the Germanic element sigi meaning "victory".

Sitz (2)
Usage: German, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Means "house owner" from the Middle High German siz "seat, domicile".

Skala
Usage: Polish, Czech
Extra: Statistics
Means "rock" in the Slavic languages.

Skalicky
Usage: Czech, Slovak
Extra: Statistics
Drived from the Slavic word skala "rock". The name refers to someone who either climbed rocks, or was from a place called Skalice.

Skeates
Usage: Scottish
An ancient Scottish surname, first found in Ayrshire, taken from the village of Skeoch, near Mauchline.

Skinner
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "skinner" from the Old Norse skinn.

Skjeggestad
Usage: Norwegian
Means "Skjegge's place" or "the bearded one's place" from the Norwegian skjegge "beard" and stad "town, place".

Skovgaard
Usage: Danish
Means "dweller in a farm near the woods" from the Danish skov "wood" and gĺrd "farm".

Slane
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Slane (County Meath), Ireland".

Slaski
Usage: Polish
A cognate of Slazak.

Slater
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
An occupational surname indicating that an early member worked as a person who covered roofs with slate.

Slavik
Usage: Czech, Slovak
Extra: Statistics
Means "nightingale" in Czech.

Slavkov
Usage: Bulgarian
Means "son of Slavko".

Slazak
Usage: Polish
A Polish cognate of Slezak.

Slezak
Usage: Czech
Extra: Statistics
Means "a person from Silesia". Silesia is a historical region which is nowadays split between Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic.

Sloan
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics
Patronymic name derived from the early Irish given name Sluaghadh meaning "raid, expedition".

Sloane
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Sloan.

Slootmaekers
Usage: Dutch, Flemmish
Means "the maker of locks" in Dutch, an occupational name for a locksmith.

Slovaček
Usage: Czech
Originally described one who was of Slovakian descent.

Slovak
Usage: Czech
Extra: Statistics
Means "a person from Slovakia".

Slusarczyk
Usage: Polish
Diminutive form of Slusarski.

Slusarski
Usage: Polish
Extra: Statistics
Means "ironworker" or "locksmith" from the Polish slusarz.

Slusser
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Schlusser.

Smalls
Usage: English
From Old English smael, "small" or "thin".

Smedley
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
From an unidentified place name probably meaning "smooth clearing" in Old English.

Smeets
Usage: Dutch
Variant of Smit.

Smets
Usage: Dutch
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Smit.

Smit
Usage: Dutch
Extra: Statistics
From the Dutch occupation smit, which is "smith" or "metalworker" in English.

Smith
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "metal worker", derived from Old English smið.

Smits
Usage: Dutch
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Smit.

Smolák
Usage: Czech, Polish
Derived from the Slavic word smola "pitch".

Smythe
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Smith.

Snaaijer
Usage: Dutch
Variant of Snyder.

Snaijer
Usage: Dutch
Variant of Snyder.

Sneiders
Usage: Dutch
Variant of Snyder.

Sneijder
Usage: Dutch
Variant of Snyder.

Sneijders
Usage: Dutch
Variant of Snyder.

Sneijer
Usage: Dutch
Variant of Snyder.

Sneijers
Usage: Dutch
Variant of Snyder.

Snell
Usage: Dutch
Extra: Statistics
From the Dutch snel, meaning "agile, swift and nimble".

Snelling
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Snell.

Snider
Usage: Dutch, English
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Snyder.

Sniders
Usage: Dutch, English
Variant of Snyder.

Sniegowski
Usage: Polish
A habitational name for a person from Sniegow, Sniegowo or other place whose name was derived from snieg "snow".

Snijder
Usage: Dutch
Variant of Snyder.

Snijders
Usage: Dutch
Variant of Snyder.

Snyder
Usage: Dutch, English
Extra: Statistics
Means "tailor" in Dutch, an occupational name for a person who stitched coats and clothing.

Snyders
Usage: Dutch, English
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Snyder.

Soares
Usage: Portuguese
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Suero.

Sobol
Usage: Polish, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from either the Polish sobol meaning "marten" or the Old High German zobel meaning "sable".

Sokal
Usage: Polish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Sokol.

Sokol
Usage: Czech, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Means "falcon" from the Slavic sokol. A occupational name for a falconer or as an ornamental name in the Jewish cases.

Sokoll
Usage: Russian, Czech, Jewish
From the Russian word sokol meaning "hawk".

Sokolof
Usage: Russian, Jewish, Polish
Means "son of Sokol".

Sokoloff (1)
Usage: Jewish, Polish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Sokol".

Sokoloff (2)
Usage: Bulgarian, Russian
A variant transcription of Sokolov.

Sokolofsky
Usage: Polish, Jewish
Means "of Sokolof".

Sokolov
Usage: Russian, Bulgarian
Means "son of Sokol".

Sokolowski
Usage: Polish
Extra: Statistics
Usually refers to the city of Sokolow Podlaski, Poland. Sometimes may be derived from the surname Sokol.

Sokolsky
Usage: Polish, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Sokol (the family)".

Solak
Usage: Turkish
Extra: Statistics
From a nickname solak that is "left-handed".

Solberg
Usage: Danish, German, Norwegian, Swedish
Extra: Statistics
From the Germanic elements sol "sun" combined with berg "mountain".

Soldati
Usage: Italian
It comes from the Italian word for "soldier", soldato. It is an occupational surname.

Soler
Usage: Provençal, Catalan
Extra: Statistics
A surname that denotes a person from any of the numerous places in the area whose names derive from the word soler meaning "site, plot".

Solo
Usage: Basque
Extra: Statistics
Means "dweller on a rural estate".

Solomon
Usage: French, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Salomon.

Solos
Usage: Spanish
Possibly a variant of Solo.

Sólyom
Usage: Hungarian
Means "hawk, falcon" in Hungarian.

Somma
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
From names of Italian places like Somma Lombardo or Somma Vesuviana.

Sommer (1)
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
From Middle High German sumer and Middle Low German sommer meaning "summer". Name for farmers who had to deliver their taxes in the summer or who had their fields in the south of the village.

Sommer (2)
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
From Middle High German soumćre, sommer and Middle Low German somer(e) meaning "sumpter, animal driver".

Sommer (3)
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
From Middle High German sumber, sommer meaning "basket, wickerwork or drum".

Sommer (4)
Usage: Low German
Extra: Statistics
From Middle Low German somer meaning "long and slim stake, pile, post".

Somogyi
Usage: Hungarian
Extra: Statistics
Derived from Somogy, which is one of the counties of Hungary. Originally it indicated someone from that region.

Song (1)
Usage: Chinese
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Song, China".

Song (2)
Usage: Korean
Extra: Statistics
Means "descended from the Song clan".

Sonnen
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "sun" from the Middle High German sunne. Probably denoted someone of a cheerful temperament but in some cases could describe a person who lived in a sunny area.

Sordi
Usage: Italian
From a nickname meaning "deaf" (sordo or surdo in dialects).

Sörensen
Usage: Swedish
Extra: Statistics
Swedish form of Sřrensen.

Sřrensen
Usage: Danish, Norwegian
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Sřren".

Sörenson
Usage: Swedish
Extra: Statistics
Swedish form of Sřrensen.

Sorg
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Sorge.

Sorge
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "worry, care, anxiety" from the Middle High German sorge.

Soriano
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
It comes from the place name Soriano. It is typical of southern Italy.

Sörös
Usage: Hungarian
Extra: Statistics
From sör that means "beer" in Hungarian. Originally the name was given to beer brewers, or someone who drank too much beer.

Sorrentino
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the name of a town near Naples: Sorrento.

Soucy
Usage: French
Extra: Statistics
Name for someone who lived in either Aisne or Yonne, from the Latin estate name Suciacum.

Souček
Usage: Czech
Means "a small knot" in Czech. It was probably a nickname for a strong, stubborn man.

Soun
Usage: Cambodian
Extra: Statistics
Means "fast".

Southers
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "from the south".

Southgate
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "dweller by the south gate".

Souza
Usage: Portuguese
Extra: Statistics
Name for someone who lived in a place called Sousa. The name of the place is of unknown pre-Roman origin.

Sovány
Usage: Hungarian
Means "thin, lean" in Hungarian.

Sowards
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Seward (1).

Sówka
Usage: Polish
Means "a small owl" from Polish sowa "owl".

Spada
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Means "armourer, swordsman" from the Late Latin spatha.

Spalding
Usage: English, Scottish
From the place name Spalding in Lincolnshire.

Spannagel
Usage: German
Means "nailsmith" from the Middle High German span-nagel "connecting bolt".

Spanň
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Italian surname usually considered as derived from Greek dialects of Southern Italy. It comes from a nickname that means "without beard".

Sparacello
Usage: Italian
Means "asparagus seller or grower" from the Italian sparaci.

Sparks
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the Old Norse nickname sparkr meaning "vivacious".

Spear
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
From the Middle English spere "spear", possibly an occupational name for a hunter or a maker of spears.

Spearing
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Patronymic of Spear.

Spears
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Patronymic of Spear.

Specht
Usage: German, Dutch
Extra: Statistics
Means "woodpecker" in German and Dutch.

Speight
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
English form of Specht.

Spellmeyer
Usage: German
The second element meyer means "village headman". The first element is possibly from the Germanic spielen meaning "to play, jest". Perhaps it referred to someone who was playing or acting as the village headman.

Spence
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Spencer.

Spencer
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
An occupational surname for the person at the manor who dispensed the Lord's provisions to those who lived on his land and worked at his estate.

Speziale
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
Means "spices seller" from the Late Latin speciarius.

Spijker (1)
Usage: Dutch
Means "dweller by or worker at the granary" from the Dutch spijker.

Spijker (2)
Usage: Dutch
Means "nailsmith" from the Dutch spijker.

Spiker
Usage: Dutch
Extra: Statistics
Americanized form of Spijker (1) or Spijker (2).

Spillum
Usage: Norwegian
Means "from Spillum, Norway".

Spini
Usage: Italian
Means "dweller by the thorn bushes" from the Latin spina.

Spiros
Usage: Greek
From the given name Spiro.

Spitznogle
Usage: German, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Means "sharp nail" in German.

Sponaugle
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Americanized form of Spannagel.

Spooner
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "maker of spoons" from the Middle English spoon or "maker of shingles" from the Old English spon.

Spurling
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "little sparrow" from the Middle English sparewe plus the diminutive suffix -(l)ing.

Stabile
Usage: Italian
Extra: Statistics
From an old given name Stabile that means "stable, firm in his faith".

Stablum
Usage: Italian
This surname comes from the area of Trento, near the Austrian border. It is a locative surname coming from Latin stabulum "stable".

Stack
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "big" from the Middle English stack meaning "haystack".

Stacks
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Stack.

Stafford
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
From the English place name Staffordshire, which was adopted by the man who lived near a river or creek at a crossing point, which was called a ford. The particular crossing point was a "stony ford", or "ford by a landing place".

Stainthorpe
Usage: English
Means "from Staindrop (Durham), England" which means "valley with stony ground" from the Old English stćner meaning "stony ground" and hop meaning "valley".

Stamp
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Etampes (Seine-et-Oise), France".

Stanek (1)
Usage: Polish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from Stanek, a pet form of the name Stanislaw.

Stanek (2)
Usage: Czech
Extra: Statistics
Derived from Stanek, a pet form of the name Stanislav.

Stanev
Usage: Bulgarian
Means "son of Stane", Stane being a pet form of Stanislav.

Stankic
Usage: Serbian, Croatian
Means "son of Stanko".

Stanton
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means from one of the many places named Stanton, Staunton in Britain. The place name means "farmstead on stony ground".

Stárek
Usage: Czech
Czech spelling of Starek.

Starek
Usage: Polish
Means "an old man" from Polish stary "old".

Stark
Usage: English, German
Extra: Statistics
From a nickname meaning "strong, brave" in Old German and Old English.

Starosta
Usage: Czech
Means "mayor" in Czech.

Starr
Usage: English
From Middle English sterre, "star". This was ususally a nickname, but it was also a rare given name. It could also occasionally be a "sign name" from the name of an inn called The Star.

Starrett
Usage: Scottish
Means 'from Stairaird', 'Stairaird' being a town in Scotland.

Stasiuk
Usage: Ukrainian
Extra: Statistics
Diminutive form of Stanislaw.

Statham
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
From the name of a village in the county of Lancashire (NW England), near Manchester, Liverpool, and Warrington. The name literally translates as something like "town of the staves (poles or staffs) near the river".

Stauss
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "buttocks" from the Middle High German stuz.

Stavros
Usage: Greek
Extra: Statistics
From the first name Stavros.

Stawski
Usage: Polish
Derived from Polish staw "pond".

Steed
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
This surname derives from Middle English steed, which in turn derives from Old English steda, meaning "stallion". It was an occupational name for one who tended horses.

Steele
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Occupational name for a steelworker.

Steen
Usage: Low German
Extra: Statistics
Low German variant of Stein.

Steensen
Usage: Danish, Norwegian
Means "son of Steen".

Stefanov
Usage: Bulgarian
Means "son of Stefan".

Stefanovic
Usage: Serbian
Means "son of Stefan".

Stefansen
Usage: Danish
Means "son of Stefan".

Stefansson
Usage: Swedish, Icelandic
Means "son of Stefan".

Steffen
Usage: German, English
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Stephen.

Steffensen
Usage: Danish
Means "son of Steffen".

Stein
Usage: German, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
From the Old High German word stein meaning "stone". It is common in German-Jewish names like Bernstein and Orenstein.

Steinmann
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "stone man" either used as an occupational name for a stone worker, a habitational name for a man who lived by a stone or as a nickname for a strong man. It most commonly a habitational name.

Steinsson
Usage: Icelandic
Means "son of Stein".

Stenberg
Usage: Danish, Swedish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from Swedish sten = "stone" and berg = "mountain".

Stendahl
Usage: Swedish
Derived from Swedish sten "stone" and dahl, an old spelling of the modern day dal "valley".

Stenet
Usage: English
Means "little Stephen" from the pet form of Stephen, Sten plus the diminutive suffix -et.

Stenger
Usage: Danish, German
Extra: Statistics
Name for a post maker, from German stange "pole".

Štepanek
Usage: Czech
Extra: Statistics
Derived from a pet form of the given name Štepan.

Stephanidis
Usage: Greek
Means "son of Stephanos" in Greek.

Stephens
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Stephen.

Stephenson
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Stephen".

Stern
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
From the Old English styrne, Middle English sterne. This was used as a nickname for someone who was stern, harsh, or severe in manner or character.

Sternberg
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "dweller on a star(ry) hill, mountain" from the German stern "star" and berg "mountain, hill".

Steube
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Steuben.

Steuben
Usage: German
Means "dweller by a stump of a large tree".

Stevens
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Stephens.

Stevenson
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Stephenson.

Stewart
Usage: Scottish
Occupational name for an administrative official of an estate or steward, from Old English stig "house" + weard "guardian".

The Stewart family (sometimes spelled Stuart) held the Scottish crown for several centuries; one of the most famous members of the Stewart family was Mary, Queen of Scots.

Stidolph
Usage: English
From an Old English name meaning "strong wolf".

Stieber
Usage: German
Derived from the High German verb stiuben "to escape". The name was given as a nickname to a cowardly person, or a thief.

Stigsson
Usage: Swedish
Means "son of Stig".

Stilo
Usage: Italian
A locative surname deriving from place name Stilo in southern Italy.

Stjepanic
Usage: Croatian
Means "son of Stjepan".

St John
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
From the place name St John.

St Martin
Usage: French
Extra: Statistics
From the place name St Martin.

Stoddard
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Occupational name for a horse keeper: Old English stod "stud" + hierde "herder".

Stojanovic
Usage: Serbian
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Stojan".

Stolarz
Usage: Polish, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Occupational name meaning "joiner" from Polish stolarz.

Stoppelbein (1)
Usage: German
Means "stump leg" from the Middle Low German stoppel "stump" and bein "leg".

Stoppelbein (2)
Usage: German
Means "dweller by a tree stump on communal land" from the Middle Low German stoppel "stump" and bein(t) "communal land".

Storstrand
Usage: Norwegian
Means "from Storstrand farm, Norway". In the place name stor means "big", and strand means "beach".

Stoyanov
Usage: Bulgarian
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Stoyan".

St Pierre
Usage: French
Extra: Statistics
From the place name St Pierre.

Strand
Usage: Danish, German, Norwegian, Swedish
Extra: Statistics
From the Middle Low German word strand meaning "sea shore". Originally given to someone who lived on or near the sea.

Strange
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Derived from Middle English strange "foreign" (ultimately derived from Latin extraneus).

Straub
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "rough, unkempt" from the Middle High German strup.

Street
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Habitational name for anyone who lived in a place called Street, for example in Hertfordshire, Kent and Somerset. It is derived from Old English strćt "Roman road".

Strickland
Usage: English
From a place called Strickland in Westmoreland, England. The place name is of Old English origin, from stirc "young bullock" and land "cultivated land".

Stringer
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Occupational name for a maker of string or bow strings, from Middle English streng "string".

Strnad
Usage: Czech, Slovak, Slovene
Extra: Statistics
Means "bunting" in the central Slavic languages.

Strobel
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "rough, unkempt" from the Middle High German str?b.

Strohkirch
Usage: German
Means literally "straw church" in German. Apparently it's a German translation of a Swedish aristocratic name.

Stroman
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Occupational surname meaning "straw-dealer" in German.

Stroud
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Locational name meaning "thicket, marsh, or marshy ground overgrown with brushwood".

Strudwick
Usage: Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Strudwick, England".

Struna
Usage: Slovene
Means "cord" from the Slovenian struna, possibly denoting a maker of rope.

Stuart
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Stewart.

Stuber
Usage: German
Derived from German die Stube "room". The name was most likely used to denote the owner of an inn.

Studwick
Usage: Scottish, English
Variant of Strudwick.

Stueck
Usage: German, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Means "piece, part" from the Middle High German st?ck.

Stumpf
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "stump" from the Middle High German stumpf.

Sturm
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Means "storm".

Styles
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Locational name for one who lived near a steep hill, from Old English stigol "climb".

Suárez
Usage: Spanish
Derived from Latin suerius "swineherd".

Suchý
Usage: Czech
Extra: Statistics
Means "thin" or "dry" in Czech.

Sudworth
Usage: English
From an English place name composed of sud "south" and worth "farm".

Suero
Usage: Spanish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from a Germanic given name, the first element is unknown, the second element is derived from heri, hari meaning "army".

Suess
Usage: German, Jewish
From a Jewish ornamental name from the Middle High German süss "sweet".

Suggitt
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Southgate.

Sullivan
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics
From the Irish surname Ó Súileabháin which means "descendent of Súileabhán". The name Súileabhán means "little dark eye".

Sultan
Usage: Muslim
Extra: Statistics
Means "sultan" from the Arabic sultan, from a root meaning "authority".

Sultana
Usage: Italian, Maltese
Extra: Statistics
Means "outlandish, pompous" from the Arabic sultana.

Sulzbach
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
This is a topynomic name, in that people with this name are named after the place they lived. During Charlemagne's time, Germany was mapped, with certain places being named for their geologic characteristics, for example Salzberg means "Salt Mountain". Areas named Sulzbach were named such because the area had salty water, hence the name meaning "salty brook".

Summerfield
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
The surname means literally "dwellers in the summer fields", and is derived from the city of Summerfield, located in the county of Norfolk in England.

Summers (1)
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Occupational surname meaning "summoner", which is the petty official who calls people to appear in court.

Summers (2)
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
From the Middle English sumer "summer". This was a nickname given to someone associated with the summer season.

Sumner
Usage: English
Occupational name for a summoner, an official who was responsible for ensuring the appearance of witnesses in court, Middle English sumner, sumnor.

Sunden
Usage: Swedish
Means "sound, strait" from the Old Norse sund.

Sung
Usage: Chinese
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Song (1).

Sutherland
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Scottish regional name that described the man who came from the former county by this name, which got its name from Old Norse suđroen (= "southern") and land (= "land"). It was called the South Land because it was south of Scandinavia and south of the Norse colonies of Orkney and Shetland Islands. The man who came from that area of Scotland was referred to by his former place of residence.

Sutton
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Means "south town". Brought to England by the Normans. Several towns in England now bear this name.

Suzuki
Usage: Japanese
Extra: Statistics
Means "bell tree" from suzu, meaning "bell", and ki, "tree".

Svéd
Usage: Hungarian
Means "Swedish" in Hungarian.

Svendsen
Usage: Danish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Svend".

Svenson
Usage: Swedish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Svensson.

Svensson
Usage: Swedish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Sven".

Svoboda
Usage: Czech
Extra: Statistics
Means "freedom" in Czech. It was a name of freemen in middle ages, of people who worked hard for their lord but they were not slaves.

Swango
Usage: German
Extra: Statistics
Americanized variation of the German surname Schwangau.

Sweet
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
From a nickname meaning "sweet, pleasant".

Swenhaugen
Usage: Norwegian
Probably means "from Swenhaugen, Norway".

Swindlehurst
Usage: English
From a place name in the Forest of Bowland in central Lancashire. In 1190 Sir Robert Fitzhenry, Lord of Lathom, gave the lease of part of his land in Aules-Large called Swynleyhurst (meaning "pig grazing wood") to a family who adopted the place as their family name.

Switzer
Usage: German, Swiss
Extra: Statistics
A topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature, such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree.

Sykora
Usage: Czech, Slovak
Extra: Statistics
Means "titmouse" in Czech.

Symons
Usage: English
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Simon.

Szabó
Usage: Hungarian
Extra: Statistics
Means "tailor" in Hungarian. A rather frequent name in Hungary.

Szabolcsi
Usage: Hungarian
From Szabolcs, a county of Hungary. Szabolcs is also a given name.

Szántó
Usage: Hungarian
Extra: Statistics
Means "ploughman, tiller" in Hungarian. The name was given to farmers.

Szarka
Usage: Hungarian
From the Hungarian szarka meaning "magpie". Szarka is often used as a euphemistic term for thieves.

Szarvas
Usage: Hungarian
Means "deer" in Hungarian.

Szczepanski
Usage: Polish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the Polish given name Szczepan.

Székely
Usage: Hungarian
Extra: Statistics
Denotes a person who hailed from the Székely people who were Hungarians who lived in Romania.

Szekeres
Usage: Hungarian
Extra: Statistics
Derived from szekér that means "cart, wagon" in Hungarian. Originally it was applied to wagoners, or simply someone who owned a wagon.

Szép
Usage: Hungarian
Means "beautiful, lovely" from the Hungarian szép.

Szewc
Usage: Polish
Extra: Statistics
Means "shoemaker" in Polish.

Szőke
Usage: Hungarian
Extra: Statistics
Means "blonde, fair haired" from the Hungarian szőke.

Szombathy
Usage: Hungarian
Means "from Rimaszombat", Szombat(i) may mean 'sabbatical'.

Szűcs
Usage: Hungarian
Extra: Statistics
Occupational name that means "furrier" in Hungarian.

Szwarc
Usage: Polish
Extra: Statistics
A Polish phonetic spelling of the German last name Schwartz.

Szweda
Usage: Polish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from Polish szwed "Swede".

Szwedko
Usage: Polish
Means "Swedish" in Polish.

Home Copyright © 2002-2007 | Contact Information