KameiJapanese Japanese surname meaning "turtle well". It is written as 亀井. A bearer of this surname is Eri Kamei. She is a member of the Japanese pop group Morning Musume. (1988-)
KandtGerman Probably from Middle High German kant meaning "jug" (from Latin olla cannata meaning "pot with one spout") and hence an occupational name for a maker or seller of jugs.
KapuścińskiPolish Habitational name for someone from the town of Kapuścin or Kapuścino, both named from Polish kapusta meaning "cabbage".
KeglerGerman Nickname for a skilled or enthusiastic skittles player, from an agent derivative of Middle High German kegel meaning "skittle", "pin".
KenmaJapanese Japanese surname meaning "to see enough".
KenobiPopular Culture Obi-Wan Kenobi is a fictional character in the 'Star Wars' saga, created by George Lucas. The meaning of the name is not known, but as Lucas was very much influenced by Japanese samurai movies, it is possible that the name is a combination of Japanese 剣 (ken) "sword" and 帯 (obi) "belt".
KeränenFinnish Possibly from Keräpää, a nickname for a bald person or someone with a round head and/or with closely cropped hair, combined with the common surname suffix -nen. In eastern Finland the name dates back to the 16th century.
KinDutch Nickname for someone with a pointed or jutting chin.
KovaleskiBelarusian Habitational name for someone from any of several places called Kovali in Belarus, or perhaps Kavoliai in Lithuania, named with a derivative of kavalj meaning "smith".
KrasowskiPolish, Jewish Habitational name for someone from the villages of Krasowa, Krasów, or Krasowa.
KriegshauserGerman Probably a habitational name for someone from an unidentified place called Kriegshaus, literally "war house".
KuchenmeisterGerman Occupational name for a master cook (literally "kitchen master"), a court official.
KukowskiPolish Habitational name for someone from a place called Kukowo in Wlolawek voivodeship or Kuków in Bielsko-Biala voivodeship, named with kuk, the cry of the cuckoo.
KummerowGerman Habitational name from any of various places in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg called Kummerow.
LabrieFrench Topographic name from l’abri meaning "the shelter", or a habitational name from a place named with this word.
LadleyEnglish Probably a habitational name from a lost or unidentified place.
LahnerGerman, Hungarian Habitational name for someone from any of various places called Lahn in Hungary and Germany. In southern Germany and Austria, Lahn denotes a place where there had been an avalanche or landslide, from Middle High German laen, lēne meaning "avalanche".
LakeEnglish Topographic name for someone who lived by a stream, Old English lacu, or a habitational name from a place named with this word, for example in Wiltshire and Devon. Modern English lake (Middle English lake) is only distantly related, if at all; it comes via Old French from Latin lacus... [more]
LaporteFrench Topographic name for someone who lived near the gates of a fortified town (and often was in charge of them; thus in part a metonymic occupational name), from Old French porte "gateway", "entrance" (from Latin porta, "door", "entrance"), with the definite article la... [more]
LatinoItalian From the medieval personal name Latino, originally an ethnic name for someone of Latin as opposed to Germanic, Byzantine or Slavic descent.
LijewskiPolish Habitational name for someone from a place called Lijewo in Włocławek voivodeship.
LindtGerman, Dutch The Lindt surname comes from an Upper German word "lind," which meant "tender" or "gentle hearted." In some instances, especially in Saxony, the surname evolved from the personal name Lindemuth. In general, the similar phonetic name Linde comes from "Linden," which was a type of tree.... [more]
LipowskiPolish, Jewish Habitational name for someone from any of various places called Lipowo, Lipowa, or Lipowe, named with an adjectival derivative of Polish lipa meaning "lime tree".
LipskiPolish, Jewish Habitational name for someone from any of various places called Lipie, Lipsk, Lipsko, Lipy, etc., all named with Polish lipa meaning "lime tree".
LisieckiPolish Habitational name for someone from Lisiec in Konin voivodeship or a place called Liszki, both named with lis meaning "fox".
LisiewskiPolish Habitational name for someone from Lisiewice in Skierniewice voivodeship, named with lis meaning "fox".
LisowskiPolish Name for someone from any of various locations named Lisowa, Lisowo, Lisów or Lisowice, all derived from Polish lis meaning "fox".
LiszewskiPolish Habitational name for someone from any of various places called Lisewo (also Liszewo), named with Polish lis meaning "fox".
LoaizaBasque Topographic name from Basque loa meaning "mud", "mire", with the suffix -tza denoting abundance.
LottEnglish from a medieval personal name brought to England by the Normans, of uncertain origin. It may be the Hebrew personal name Lot ‘covering’, which was relatively popular in northern France, or a reduced form of various names formed with the diminutive suffix -lot (originally a combination of -el + -ot), commonly used with women’s names.
ŁozowskiPolish Name for someone from a place called Łoza, derived from Polish łoza meaning "grey willow, osier, wicker".
LucíaSpanish, Italian From the feminine personal name Lucia, feminine derivative of Latin lux meaning "light".
LukeEnglish From a derivative of Lucas. This was (and is) the common vernacular form of the name, being the one by which the author of the fourth Gospel is known in English.
MadoniaItalian Habitational name from any of numerous places named Madonia, or a regional name for someone from Madonie in Sicily.
MadonnaItalian From the person name Madonna, from donna meaning "lady", bestowed in honor of the Virgin Mary.
MaiChinese From Chinese 麦 (mài) meaning "wheat, barley, oats". It was adopted as a family name by the descendants of Maiqiu, a figure from the Spring and Autumn Period, or Mai Tiezheng, a Sui dynasty military general.
MandžukićSerbian (Rare), Croatian (Rare) Famous bearer of this last name is Mario Mandžukić who is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Italian club Juventus and the Croatia national team.
MccallIrish (Anglicized) Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Cathmhaoil meaning "son of Cathmhaol", a personal name composed of the elements cath meaning "battle" + maol meaning "chief". Anglicized form of Mac Cathail meaning "son of Cathal".
MccubbinScottish (Anglicized) Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Giobúin, a patronymic from the pet form of a Gaelic form of the personal name Gilbert.
McmonagleIrish (Anglicized), Scottish (Anglicized) Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Maonghail, a patronymic from the personal name Maonghal, composed of the elements maoin meaning "wealth" + gal meaning "valor".
MellenthinGerman Habitational name from places so called near Berlin and on the island of Usedom.
MoneymakerEnglish (American) Translated form of German Geldmacher or Geldschläger, occupational names for a coiner.
MontemayorSpanish Habitational name from any of several places called Montemayor, from monte meaning "mountain" + mayor meaning "main", "larger", "greater", in particular in the provinces of Cordova, Salamanca, and Valladolid.
MonteverdeGalician Habitational name from Monteverde in Ourense province, Galicia.
MonteverdeItalian Habitational name from any of various places called Monteverde, for example in Avellino province, from monte meaning "mountain" + verde meaning "green".
MorehouseEnglish Habitational name from any of various places, for example Moorhouse in West Yorkshire, named from Old English mōr meaning "marsh", "fen" + hūs meaning "house".
MosbruckerGerman Topographic name for someone who lived by a bridge over a swamp, from Middle High German mos meaning "bog", "swamp" + brucke meaning "bridge".
MossingNorwegian Habitational name from a farm name in Trøndelag, probably named with mose meaning "moss" + vin meaning "meadow".
NapierkowskiPolish Habitational name for someone from a place called Napierki in Olsztyn voivodeship.
NasriArabic, Persian Derived from Arabic نَصْر (naṣr) meaning “triumph, victory”.
NastGerman Topographic name for someone who lived in a thickly wooded area, or a metonymic occupational name for a woodcutter, from Middle High German nast meaning "branch", a regional variant of ast, resulting from the misdivision of forms such as ein ast meaning "a branch".
NaughtonEnglish Habitational name from a place in Suffolk, named in Old English with nafola meaning "navel" + tūn meaning "enclosure", "settlement", i.e. "settlement in the navel or depression".
NehoJapanese Japanese surname meaning "raised foundation".
NeinGerman Unexplained. Perhaps from a short form of a Germanic personal name formed with an element cognate with Old High German niuwi meaning "new".
NeuenfeldtGerman Habitational name for someone from places so named in Brandenburg and Pomerania, or from places in Lower Saxony or Westphalia called Neuenfelde.
NewEnglish Nickname for a newcomer to an area, from Middle English newe meaning "new".
NiedbałaPolish Nickname from niedbały meaning "negligent", "careless", "untidy".
NiederhäuserGerman, Swiss Habitational name from any of numerous places named Niederhaus or Niederhausen, denoting the lower of two dwellings or settlements or one in a low-lying position.
NiewinskiPolish Habitational name for someone from Niewino in Białystok voivodeship.
NineEnglish (American) Americanized spelling of German Nein or Neun, from Middle High German niun meaning "nine".
NiñoSpanish Nickname from Spanish niño meaning "child", "boy". This was often given to a first-born son as a familiar name.
NoisetteFrench This is a French surname meaning "hazelnut".
NonnenmacherGerman Occupational name for a gelder of hogs, from Middle High German nunne, nonne meaning "nun", and by transfer "castrated hog" + an agent derivative of machen meaning "to make".
NorinSwedish Derived from Swedish nord "north" or nor "small strait".
NorsworthyEnglish Habitational name from Norseworthy in Walkhampton, Devon.
NorthernEnglish Topographic name, from an adjectival form of North.
OtradovecCzech Habitational name for someone from any of four places in Bohemia called Otradov or Otradovice.
PacanaSpanish From pacana meaning "pecan", "pecan tree", a word of Algonquin origin. This surname is also found in the Philippines.
PacynaPolish Unflattering nickname from paczyna meaning "clod", "brickbat", or possibly a metonymic occupational name for a boatman, from the same word in the sense meaning "oar", "rudder".
PagácSlovak Nickname from pagáč meaning "clown", "buffoon".
PalfreymanEnglish Occupational name for a man responsible for the maintenance and provision of saddle-horses.
PapHungarian A populaur Hungarian surname meaning Priest. It is also a variant of Papp 1.
PartenheimerGerman Habitational name for someone from Partenheim in Rheinhessen.
PedrosaSpanish, Catalan, Portuguese, Galician Habitational name from any of numerous places named Pedrosa, from pedroso, pedrosa meaning "stoney", an adjectival derivative of pedra meaning "stone".
PeikertGerman Probably an occupational name for a drummer.
PilarskiPolish Occupational name for a sawyer, Polish pilarz + -ski, common ending of surnames.
PiórkowskiPolish Habitational name from places called Piórkowo in Toruń voivodeship or Piórków in Tarnobrzeg voivodeship.
PivecCzech Nickname for a drinker, from pivo meaning ‘beer’.
PniewskiPolish, Jewish Habitational name for someone from Pniewy in the district of Poznań, or from any of the many places in Poland named Pniewo.
PodbielskiPolish Habitational name for someone from a place called Podbielsko in Konin voivodeship.
PoissonFrench Poisson is the French word for fish, and was given to one who was a fishmonger, fisherman, or could be a nickname for one who had the appearance similar to a fish.
PorteraItalian Occupational name for a female servant, from Spanish portera.
PortugalSpanish, Portuguese, English, Catalan, French, Jewish Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, English, French, and Jewish surname meaning ethnic name or regional name for someone from Portugal or who had connections with Portugal. The name of the country derives from Late Latin Portucale, originally denoting the district around Oporto (Portus Cales, named with Latin portus ‘port’, ‘harbor’ + Cales, the ancient name of the city)... [more]
RäisänenFinnish From an unexplained personal name (possibly of Russian Orthodox origin) + the common surname suffix -nen. It occurs chiefly in central and eastern Finland.
RajkowskiPolish Habitational name for someone from Rajki in Białystok voivodeship or Rajkowy in Gdańsk voivodeship.
RasberryEnglish Possibly a habitational name from Ratsbury in Lynton, Devon.
RatcliffEnglish Habitational name from any of the places, in various parts of England, called Ratcliff(e), Radcliffe, Redcliff, or Radclive, all of which derive their names from Old English rēad meaning "red" + clif meaning "cliff", "slope", "riverbank".
RayaGalician, Spanish Possibly a habitational name from Raya in Galicia or in Albacete and Murcia provinces. Possibly a topographic name from Spanish raya meaning "line", denoting the boundary between two countries or provinces.
SabourinFrench (Quebec), French (Huguenot) Southern French surname, originally a nickname for a pleasant or amiable person, from a diminutive of sabor meaning "flavor, taste" (Old French saveur). The Huguenots brought this surname to England, and from there it may have been introduced to North America.
SachtlebenGerman Nickname for someone perceived to lead a carefree, easy life, from Middle Low German sacht(e) meaning "soft" + leben meaning "life".
SackmannGerman Occupational name from Middle High German sacman meaning "baggage servant", one who was in charge of transporting and looking after a knight’s baggage and supplies on campaign.
SaengerGerman, Jewish Occupational name for a chorister or a nickname for someone who liked singing, from Middle High German senger, German Sänger meaning "singer".
SagastumeBasque Topographic name from Basque sagasta meaning "apple tree" + -ume meaning "young plant".
SandeNorwegian Habitational name from any of forty or more farmsteads so named, especially on the west coast, from the dative case of Old Norse sandr meaning "sand", "sandy plain", "beach".
SarnowskiPolish Habitational name for someone from any of the many places in Poland called Sarnowa, Sarnowo, or Sarnów, named with Polish sarna "roe deer".
ŠaulisLithuanian Occupational name from Lithuanian šaulys meaning "rifleman".
SchaumburgGerman, Dutch, Belgian Habitational name from any of the places called Schaumburg or Schauenburg in Germany, or Schauwberg in Brabant, Belgium.
SchmuckGerman, German (Austrian) From Middle High German smuc meaning "jewel", "finery", hence a metonymic occupational name for a jeweler, or a nickname for someone who wore a prominent jewel or ornament.North German: nickname from Middle Low German smuck meaning "neat", "dainty".
SchönenbergerGerman Habitational name for someone from any of several places in Germany and Switzerland named Schönenberg.
SchuknechtGerman Occupational name for a shoemaker’s assistant, from Middle High German schuoch meaning "shoe" + knecht meaning "journeyman", "assistant".
SchwanbeckGerman Habitational name from any of several places so named, for example near Lübeck and near Anklam.
SchweitzGerman Ethnic name for a Swiss, from German Schweitz meaning "Swiss".
SchwingGerman Occupational name for someone whose job was to swingle flax, i.e. to beat the flax with a swingle in order to remove the woody parts of the plant prior to spinning, from Middle German swingen meaning "to swing" or swing meaning "swingle".
SeagraveEnglish Habitational name from a place in Leicestershire, recorded in Domesday Book as Satgrave and Setgrave; probably named from Old English (ge)set meaning "fold", "pen" (or sēað meaning "pit", "pool") + grāf meaning "grove" or græf meaning "ditch".
SeeEnglish, German Topographic name for someone who lived by the sea-shore or beside a lake, from Middle English see meaning "sea", "lake" (Old English sǣ), Middle High German sē. Alternatively, the English name may denote someone who lived by a watercourse, from an Old English sēoh meaning "watercourse", "drain".
ShanChinese From the place name Shan. Cheng Wang, the second king (1115–1079 bc) of the Zhou dynasty, granted to a son the area of Shan, and the son’s descendants adopted the place name as their surname. It comes from the Chinese word meaning "mountain"... [more]
ShanGujarati, Hindi A Gujarati and Hindi surname with an unknown meaning.
SingletonEnglish Habitational name from places in Lancashire and Sussex.
SkawinskiPolish Habitational name for someone from Skawina in Kraków province.
SkowrońskiPolish Name for someone from a place called Skowronów, Skowronna, Skowron or Skowronki, all derived from Polish skowronek meaning "lark".
ŠkudlárekCzech Nickname for a stingy person, from a derivative Czech škudil meaning "stingy","tight-fisted".
SłomkowskiPolish Habitational name for someone from places called Słomków, Słomkowa, or Słomkowo, all named with słomka meaning "little straw".
SlovenskyCzech Ethnic name for someone from Slovakia or who had connections with Slovakia.
SmockEnglish From Middle English smoc, smok meaning "smock", "shift", hence a metonymic occupational name for someone who made or sold such garments, or a nickname for someone who habitually wore a smock (the usual everyday working garment of a peasant).
SobanskiPolish Habitational name for someone from a place called Sobanice, in Ciechanów voivodeship.
SopranoItalian For soprano "higher, situated above", a topographic name for someone who lived at the top end of a place on a hillside.
SouthernEnglish Topographic name, from an adjectival derivative of South.
StadtmuellerGerman From Middle High German stet meaning "place", "town" + müller meaning "miller", hence an occupational name for a miller who ground the grain for a town.
StaplefordEnglish Habitational name from any of a number of places, in Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Wiltshire, so named from Old English stapol meaning "post" + ford meaning "ford".
StapletonEnglish Habitational surname from any of various places in England.
StateGerman Nickname from Middle High German stæt(e) meaning "firm", "steadfast", "constant".
StefańskiPolish Name for someone from any of various places named Stefanów or Stefanowo, derived from the given name Stefan.
StinchcombEnglish Habitational name from Stinchcombe in Gloucestershire, recorded in the 12th century as Stintescombe, from the dialect term stint meaning "sandpiper" + cumb meaning "narrow valley".
StormEnglish, Low German, Dutch, Scandinavian Nickname for a man of blustery temperament, from Middle English, Middle Low German, storm, Old Norse stormr "storm".
StormoNorwegian Habitational name from any of numerous farmsteads, notably in northern Norway, so named from stor meaning "big" + mo meaning "moor", "heath".
StrojnyPolish A nickname for a dandy; Elegant and Well-Dressed.
StryjewskiPolish Habitational name for someone from a place called Stryjów in Zamość voivodeship, named with stryj meaning "paternal uncle", "father’s brother".
SuomiFinnish Ethnic name from Finnish Suomi meaning "Finland". At one time this term denoted only southwestern Finland, but nowadays it is the national name for the whole of Finland. As a surname it is mostly an adopted name during the names conversion movement at the beginning of the 20th century.
SwingEnglish Probably an Americanized spelling of German Schwing or from Middle High German zwinc meaning "legal district", hence possibly a metonymic occupational name for a district administrator.
SzymanowskiPolish Name for someone from a place called Szymanów, Szymanowo or Szymanowice, all derived from the given name Szymon.
TabakDutch Occupational name for a butcher or hog breeder, from Middle Dutch tucbake, from tucken meaning "to pull, push, or strike" + bake meaning "hog".
TalamantesSpanish Habitational name from Talamantes in Zaragoza province
TellinghuisenDutch Unexplained; possibly a habitational name from a lost or unidentified place.
TempleEnglish, French Occupational name or habitational name for someone who was employed at or lived near one of the houses ("temples") maintained by the Knights Templar, a crusading order so named because they claimed to occupy in Jerusalem the site of the old temple (Middle English, Old French temple, Latin templum)... [more]