Browse Surnames

Leclerc French
Means "the clerk" in French.

Leclercq French
Variant of Leclerc.

Lefebvre French
Variant of Lefèvre.

Lefèvre French
Occupational name meaning "blacksmith" in Old French, derived from Latin faber.

Lehrer Jewish
Means "teacher" in German (Yiddish לערער (lerer)).

Lemoine French
Means "the monk" in French. This was typically a nickname or an occupational name for a person who worked in a monastery.

Leroy French
Variant of Rey 1, using the definite article.

Lévêque French
Variant of Lévesque.

Lévesque French
Derived from French évêque, a cognate of Bishop.

Lončar Croatian, Serbian, Slovene
Means "potter", from Serbo-Croatian lonac, Slovene lonec meaning "pot".

Mac Cléirich Irish
Means "son of the clerk" in Irish.

Mac Ghabhann Irish
Means "son of the smith" in Irish.

Mac Giolla Bhrighde Irish
Means "son of the servant of Brighid" in Irish.

Mac Giolla Eoin Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McLean.

Mac Giolla Rí Irish
Means "son of the king's servant" in Irish.

Mac Giolla Ruaidh Irish
Means "son of the red-haired servant" in Irish.

Maestri Italian
Means "master" in Italian.

Maier 1 German
Variant of Meyer 1.

Maki 1 Japanese
From Japanese 牧 (maki) meaning "shepherd, tend cattle".

Malone Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Maoil Eoin meaning "descendant of a disciple of Saint John".

Marangoz Turkish
Occupational name meaning "joiner, carpenter" in Turkish.

Marchand English, French
Occupational name meaning "merchant", ultimately from Latin mercari "to trade".

Marshall English
Derived from Middle English mareschal "marshal", from Latin mariscalcus, ultimately from Germanic roots akin to Old High German marah "horse" and scalc "servant". It originally referred to someone who took care of horses.

Mason English
Occupational name for a stoneworker or layer of bricks, from Old French masson, of Frankish origin (akin to Old English macian "to make").

Masters English
Variant of Masterson.

Masterson English
Patronymic derived from Middle English maister meaning "master", via Old French from Latin magister.

Maurer German
Occupational name meaning "wall builder" in German.

Mayer 1 German
Variant of Meyer 1.

Mayer 4 English
Variant of Myer.

McClelland Irish, Scottish
From Gaelic Mac Giolla Fhaoláin meaning "son of the servant of Faolán".

McIntyre Scottish
From Scottish Gaelic Mac an tSaoir meaning "son of the carpenter".

McLean Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic MacGillEathain or MacGillEain meaning "son of the servant of Eòin".

McNab Scottish, Irish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac an Aba meaning "son of the abbot".

McNeilly Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac an Fhilidh meaning "son of the poet".

Meier 1 German
Variant of Meyer 1.

Meijer Dutch
Dutch form of Meyer 1.

Melnik Russian, Belarusian
Means "miller" in Russian and Belarusian.

Melnyk Ukrainian
Means "miller" in Ukrainian. This is the most common Ukrainian surname.

Mencher Polish
Possibly an occupational name derived from Polish maczarz meaning "miller".

Mercer English
Occupational name for a trader in textiles, from Old French mercier, derived from Latin merx meaning "merchandise".

Merino Spanish
From the title for a judge in medieval Spain, derived from Latin maior.

Mészáros Hungarian
Means "butcher" in Hungarian.

Metzger German
Means "butcher" in German.

Meunier French
Means "miller" in French.

Meyer 1 German
From Middle High German meier meaning "bailiff, administrator", derived from Latin maior meaning "greater". Later it also denoted a tenant farmer. The spellings Meier and Meyer are more common in northern Germany while Maier and Mayer are more common in southern Germany.

Meyer 4 English
Variant of Myer.

Meyers German, English
Patronymic form of Meyer 1, Mayer 3 or Myer.

Miller English
Occupational surname meaning "miller", referring to a person who owned or worked in a grain mill, derived from Middle English mille "mill".

Mlynář m Czech
Means "miller" in Czech.

Möller Low German, Swedish
Low German and Swedish form of Müller.

Møller Danish
Danish form of Müller.

Moloney Irish
From Irish Ó Maol Dhomhnaigh meaning "descendant of a church servant".

Monk English
Nickname or occupational name for a person who worked for monks. This word is derived from Latin monachus, from Greek μοναχός (monachos) meaning "alone".

Monteiro Portuguese
Portuguese cognate of Montero.

Montero Spanish
Means "hunter" in Spanish, an agent derivative of monte meaning "mountain, wilderness".

Mueller German
Variant of Müller.

Mulder Dutch
Dutch equivalent of Miller.

Müller German
German equivalent of Miller, derived from Middle High German mülnære or müller.

Muller German
Variant of Müller.

Munson English
Patronymic formed from the Norman French nickname moun meaning "monk".

Myer English
From Old French mire meaning "doctor", derived from Latin medicus.

Myers English
Patronymic form of Myer or Mayer 3.

Mylonas m Greek
Means "miller" in Greek, from μύλος (mylos) meaning "mill".

Nacar Turkish
Turkish form of Najjar.

Najjar Arabic
Means "carpenter" in Arabic.

Notaro Italian
Occupational name for a clerk, derived from Latin notarius.

Nyilas Hungarian
Means "archer, bowman" in Hungarian.

Ó Cléirigh Irish
Means "descendant of the clerk" in Irish.

Ó Maoil Riain Irish
Means "descendant of a follower of Rian", derived from Irish maol meaning "follower".

Ó Maol Aodha Irish
Means "descendant of a follower of Saint Aodh". It is derived from Irish maol meaning "follower, servant".

Ó Maol Bhréanáin Irish
Means "descendant of a follower of Saint Brendan" in Irish.

Ó Scolaidhe Irish
Means "descendant of the scholar" from Irish scholaidhe.

Pabst German
From German Papst, a cognate of Pope.

Page English, French
Occupational name meaning "servant, page". It is ultimately derived (via Old French and Italian) from Greek παιδίον (paidion) meaning "little boy".

Paget English, French
Diminutive of Page.

Paige English
Variant of Page.

Palladino Italian
From Italian paladino meaning "knight, defender", from Late Latin palatinus meaning "palace officer".

Palomer Provençal
Means "pigeon keeper" from Latin palumbes "pigeon".

Pan 1 Provençal
Means "baker", from Latin panis meaning "bread".

Pander Dutch
Variant of Penders.

Panders Dutch
Variant of Penders.

Papadakis m Greek
From a diminutive of Greek πάπας (papas) meaning "priest".

Papadimitriou Greek
Means "son of Dimitrios the priest", from Greek πάπας (papas) combined with the given name Dimitrios.

Papadopoulos m Greek
Means "son of the priest", from Greek πάπας (papas) combined with the patronymic suffix πουλος (poulos).

Papageorgiou Greek
Means "son of Georgios the priest", from Greek πάπας (papas) combined with the given name Georgios.

Papaioannou Greek
Means "son of Ioannis the priest", from Greek πάπας (papas) combined with the given name Ioannis.

Papanikolaou Greek
Means "son of Nikolaos the priest", from Greek πάπας (papas) combined with the given name Nikolaos.

Pape French
French cognate of Pope.

Papke Low German
Low German diminutive form of papa (see Pope).

Papoutsis m Greek
Means "shoemaker" in Greek, from παπούτσι (papoutsi) meaning "shoe" (ultimately of Persian origin).

Papp 1 Hungarian
From a nickname meaning "priest, cleric" in Hungarian.

Pappas m Greek
Means "priest" in Greek.

Parker English
Means "keeper of the park" in Middle English. It is an occupational name for a person who was a gamekeeper at a medieval park.

Pastor Spanish
Means "shepherd" in Spanish.

Pastore Italian
Means "shepherd" in Italian.

Pásztor Hungarian
Means "shepherd" in Hungarian.

Patel Gujarati
Means "landowner" in Gujarati.

Pék Hungarian
Means "baker" in Hungarian.

Pelletier French
Derived from Old French pelletier "fur trader".

Pender 2 Dutch
Variant of Penders.

Penders Dutch
From Middle Dutch paender meaning "brewer", derived from panne meaning "pan, pot", ultimately from Latin patina.

Penner English
Variant of Penn 2.

Penners Dutch
Variant of Penders.

Pfaff German
From a nickname meaning "priest, cleric" from Old High German pfaffo, from Latin papa.

Pfeiffer German
Occupational name meaning "pipe player" in German, from Middle High German pfifen "to whistle".

Pintér Hungarian
Means "cooper, barrel maker" in Hungarian.

Piper English
Originally given to a person who played on a pipe (a flute).

Pop Romanian
Variant of Popa.

Popa Romanian
From Romanian popă "priest", from Old Church Slavic popŭ. This is the most common surname in Romania.

Pope English
From a nickname that originally designated a person who played the part of the pope in a play or pageant. Otherwise the name could be used as a nickname for a man with a solemn, austere, or pious appearance. It is derived from Latin papa, ultimately from Greek πάππας (pappas) meaning "father".

Popescu Romanian
Patronymic derived from Romanian popă "priest". This is the second most common surname in Romania.

Popov m Russian, Bulgarian
Means "son of the priest", derived from Russian and Bulgarian поп (pop).

Popović Croatian, Serbian
Means "son of the priest", derived from Serbo-Croatian pop meaning "priest".

Popovski m Macedonian
Means "son of the priest" in Macedonian.

Porcher English, French
Means "swineherd" from Old French and Middle English porchier, from Latin porcus "pig".

Potter English
Occupational name for a potter, one who makes earthen vessels. This surname was used by J. K. Rowling for the hero in her Harry Potter series of books, first released in 1997.

Pottinger English
Occupational name, either for an apothecary, from Old French potecaire, or a seller of stew, from Old French potagier.

Prescott English
From the name of various English places meaning "priest's cottage" in Old English.

Preston English
Originally derived from various place names meaning "priest town" in Old English.

Priddy Welsh
From Welsh prydudd meaning "bard".

Prifti Albanian
From Albanian prift meaning "priest".

Queen English
From a given name that was derived from Old English cwen meaning "queen, woman". In some occurrences it may have been a nickname.

Raine 1 English
From a nickname derived from Old French reine meaning "queen".

Rais Italian
Occupational name for the fisherman in charge of the boat, from Italian rais "captain", of Arabic origin. It is typical of Sicily and Sardinia.

Rao 1 Telugu, Kannada
From Sanskrit राज (raja) meaning "king".

Raptis m Greek
Means "tailor" in Greek.

Rautio Finnish
Means "smith" in Finnish.

Ray English
Variant of Rey 1, Rey 2, Rye or Wray.

Rayne English, French
Variant of Raine 1 or Raine 2.

Ré Italian
Italian form of Rey 1.

Reeve English
Occupational name derived from Middle English reeve, Old English (ge)refa meaning "sheriff, prefect, local official".

Reeves English
Variant of Reeve.

Revie English
Variant of Reeve.

Rey 1 English, Spanish, French, Catalan
Means "king" in Old French, Spanish and Catalan, ultimately from Latin rex (genitive regis), perhaps originally denoting someone who acted like a king.

Reyes Spanish
Spanish variant of Rey 1.

Řezník m Czech
Means "butcher" in Czech.

Richter German
Means "judge" in German, from Middle High German rihtære.

Rimmer English
Occupational name meaning "poet", from Middle English rime meaning "rhyme".

Ritter German
From Middle High German riter meaning "rider, knight", a cognate of Ryder.

Roy 1 French, English
Variant of Rey 1.

Ruskin 1 Scottish
From Gaelic rusgaire meaning "tanner".

Rybár m Slovak
Means "fisher" in Slovak, from ryba meaning "fish".

Rybář m Czech
Czech form of Rybár.

Sangster English, Scottish
Occupational name or nickname for a singer, from Old English singan "to sing, to chant".

Sarti Italian
Variant of Sarto.

Sartini Italian
Diminutive form of Sarto.

Sarto Italian
Occupational name meaning "tailor" in Italian, from Latin sartor, from sarcire meaning "to mend".

Sartor Italian
Variant of Sarto.

Sartore Italian
Variant of Sarto.

Sartre French
French cognate of Sarto. A famous bearer was the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980).

Sastre Spanish
Spanish cognate of Sarto.

Sauter German
Occupational name for a cobbler, from Latin sutor "sewer, cobbler".

Savatier French
From Old French savatier "shoemaker", derived from savate "shoe", of uncertain ultimate origin.

Sawyer English
Occupational name meaning "sawer of wood, woodcutter" in Middle English, ultimately from Old English sagu meaning "saw". Mark Twain used it for the main character in his novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876).

Sayer Welsh
From Welsh saer meaning "carpenter".

Saylor English
Occupational name meaning "acrobat, dancer", derived from Old French sailleor, from Latin sallitor.

Scarpa Italian
Means "shoemaker" from Italian scarpa meaning "shoe".

Scavo Italian
Means "serf, slave", from Old Sicilian scavu.

Schäfer German
From Old High German scaphare meaning "shepherd".

Scheer German, Dutch
Variant of Scherer.

Schenck German
Variant of Schenk.

Schenk German, Dutch
From Middle High German, Middle Dutch schenke meaning "wine server" (from Old High German scenken "to pour out").

Scherer German
Occupational name for a cutter of cloth or a sheep-shearer, from Old High German skeran "to cut".

Schermer Dutch, Low German
Dutch and Low German form of Schirmer.

Schipper Dutch
Occupational name meaning "skipper, ship captain" in Dutch.

Schirmer German
Means "fencer, fencing master", from Old High German skirmen meaning "to defend".

Schlösser German
Variant of Schlosser.

Schlosser German
Occupational name for a locksmith, derived from Old High German sloz meaning "lock".

Schmid German
Variant of Schmidt.

Schmidt German
Occupational name derived from Middle High German smit "smith, metalworker", a cognate of Smith.

Schmitt German
Variant of Schmidt.

Schmitz German
Variant of Schmidt, originating in the Rhine area in western Germany.

Schneider German, Jewish
From German schneider or Yiddish shnayder, making it a cognate of Snyder.

Schneiders Dutch
Variant of Snyder.

Schneijder Dutch
Variant of Snyder.

Scholz German
Variant of Schulz.

Schouten Dutch
Occupational name derived from Middle Dutch schout meaning "sheriff, bailiff".

Schreiber German
German cognate of Scriven.

Schreier German, Jewish
Occupational name for a town crier, from Old High German scrian meaning "to shout, to yell".

Schröder 1 Low German
Occupational name for a tailor, from Middle Low German schroden meaning "to cut".

Schubert German
Variant of Schuchardt. This name was borne by the Austrian composer Franz Schubert (1797-1828).

Schuchard German
Variant of Schuchardt.

Schuchardt German
From Middle High German schuochwürte meaning "shoemaker, cobbler".

Schuchert German
Variant of Schuchardt.

Schuhart German
Variant of Schuchardt.

Schuhmacher German
From the Middle High German occupational name schuochmacher meaning "shoemaker".

Schuler German
Means "scholar, student" in German, ultimately from Latin schola meaning "school".

Schult Low German
Low German variant of Schulz.

Schulte Low German
Low German variant of Schulz.

Schultes German
Variant of Schulz.

Schultheis German
Variant of Schulz.

Schultheiss German
Variant of Schulz.

Schultheiß German
Variant of Schulz.

Schultz German
Variant of Schulz.

Schultze German
Variant of Schulz.

Schulz German
Occupational name derived from Middle High German schultheiße meaning "mayor, judge".

Schulze German
Variant of Schulz.

Schuster German
Means "shoemaker, cobbler", from Middle High German schuoch "shoe" and suter, from Latin sutor "sewer, cobbler".

Scriven English
Occupational name meaning "writer, clerk, scribe" in Old French, derived from Latin scriba.

Scrivener English
Variant of Scriven.

Scrivenor English
Variant of Scriven.

Scrivens English
Variant of Scriven.

Sedlák m Czech, Slovak
Means "farmer" in Czech and Slovak. A sedlák had more land than a Zahradník or a Chalupník, but less land than a Dvořák.

Sepp Estonian
Means "smith" in Estonian.

Seppä Finnish
Means "smith" in Finnish.

Seppänen Finnish
Variant of Seppä.

Sergeant English, French
Occupational name derived from Old French sergent meaning "servant", ultimately from Latin servire "to serve".

Ševčík m Czech, Slovak
Occupational name derived from Czech and Slovak švec meaning "shoemaker, cobbler".

Seward 2 English
Means "swineherd" from Old English su "sow, female pig" and hierde "herdsman, guardian".

Shah Persian, Urdu
Derived from Persian شاه (shah) meaning "king".

Shearer English
English cognate of Scherer.

Shepard English
Variant of Shepherd.

Shepherd English
Occupational name meaning "shepherd, sheep herder", from Old English sceaphyrde.

Sheppard English
Variant of Shepherd.

Sherman 2 Jewish
Means "tailor" in Yiddish, derived from שער (sher) meaning "scissors".

Shevchenko Ukrainian
Derived from Ukrainian швець (shvets) meaning "shoemaker".

Shevchuk Ukrainian
Derived from Ukrainian швець (shvets) meaning "shoemaker".

Shriver German
German cognate of Scriven.

Shvets Ukrainian
Means "shoemaker" in Ukrainian.

Sipos Hungarian
Occupational name for a fife player or piper, from Hungarian síp "whistle, pipe".

Slusser German
Variant of Schlosser.

Smeets Dutch
Variant of Smit.

Smets Dutch
Variant of Smit.

Smit Dutch
From Middle Dutch smit "metalworker, blacksmith", a cognate of Smith.

Smith English
Means "metalworker, blacksmith" from Old English smiþ, related to smitan "to smite, to hit". It is the most common surname in most of the English-speaking world. A famous bearer was the Scottish economist Adam Smith (1723-1790).

Smits Dutch
Variant of Smit.

Smolak Polish
Occupational name for a distiller of pitch, derived from the Old Slavic word smola meaning "pitch, resin".

Smythe English
Variant of Smith.

Snaaijer Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snyder.

Snaijer Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snyder.

Sneiders Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snyder.

Sneijder Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snyder.

Sneijders Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snyder.

Sneijer Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snyder.

Sneijers Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snyder.

Snider English
Variant of Snyder.

Sniders English
Variant of Snyder.

Snijder Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snyder.

Snijders Dutch
Dutch cognate of Snyder.

Snyder English
Means "tailor", derived from Middle English snithen "to cut", an occupational name for a person who stitched coats and clothing.

Snyders English
Variant of Snyder.

Soldati Italian
From Italian soldato meaning "soldier", ultimately from Latin solidus, a type of Roman coin.

Spencer English
Occupational name for a person who dispensed provisions to those who worked at a manor, derived from Middle English spense "larder, pantry".

Steiner German
Variant of Stein.

Stoddard English
Occupational name for a horse keeper, from Old English stod "stallion, stud" and hierde "herder".

Šulc m Czech
Czech form of Schulz.

Sultan Arabic
From a nickname meaning "sultan, ruler" in Arabic.

Sultana Bengali, Urdu, Maltese
Bengali, Urdu and Maltese form of Sultan.

Sultanov m Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Azerbaijani
Means "son of Sultan".

Swanson English
Patronymic form of Middle English swein meaning "servant" (of Old Norse origin). This word was also used as a byname, and this surname could be a patronymic form of that.

Szabó Hungarian
Means "tailor" in Hungarian.

Szántó Hungarian
Occupational name for a ploughman or tiller, derived from Hungarian szánt meaning "to plow".

Szewc Polish
Means "shoemaker" in Polish.

Szewczyk Polish
Diminutive form of Szewc.

Szulc Polish
Polish form of Schulz.

Taggart Irish, Scottish
Anglicized form of Irish Mac an tSagairt meaning "son of the priest". This name comes from a time when the rules of priestly celibacy were not strictly enforced.

Tailler French
Means "tailor" from Old French tailleur.

Tailor English
Variant of Taylor.

Takács Hungarian
Means "weaver" in Hungarian.

Tamboia Italian
Possibly means "drummer", from Italian tamburo meaning "drum".

Tanner English
Occupational name for a person who tanned animal hides, from Old English tannian "to tan", itself from Late Latin and possibly ultimately of Celtic origin.

Tanzer German
Means "dancer" in German, derived from Middle High German tanzen "to dance".

Taylor English
Derived from Old French tailleur meaning "tailor", ultimately from Latin taliare "to cut".

Terzi 2 Turkish
Means "tailor" in Turkish, ultimately of Persian origin.

Terzić Bosnian
From Bosnian terzija meaning "tailor", ultimately of Persian origin.

Tesař m Czech
Means "carpenter" in Czech, ultimately from the Old Slavic word tesla meaning "adze".

Tesařík m Czech
Diminutive of Tesař.

Tessaro Italian
Occupational name meaning "weaver", ultimately from Latin texarius.

Tímár Hungarian
Occupational name meaning "tanner" in Hungarian.

Tiraboschi Italian
Possibly of Lombardic origin meaning "shepherd" (from Old German tior "animal" and bursa "boy"). This surname is typical of Lombardy.

Tkachenko Ukrainian
Derived from Ukrainian ткач (tkach) meaning "weaver".

Tkachuk Ukrainian
From Ukrainian ткач (tkach) meaning "weaver".

Toller English
Occupational name meaning "tax gatherer", derived from Old English toln "toll, fee, tax".

Towner English
Variant of Toller.

Turner English
Occupational name for one who worked with a lathe, derived from Old English turnian "to turn", of Latin origin. A famous bearer is the American musician Tina Turner (1939-2023), born Anna Mae Bullock.

Vaccaro Italian
Occupational name meaning "cowherd" in Italian.

Vámos Hungarian
Means "customs officer" in Hungarian, a derivative of vám "customs".

Varga um Hungarian, Slovak
Occupational name meaning "cobbler" in Hungarian.

Vargha Hungarian
Variant of Varga.

Ververs Dutch
Occupational name derived from Dutch verver meaning "dyer, painter".

Vescovi Italian
Derived from Italian vescovo meaning "bishop".

Visscher Dutch
Variant of Visser.

Visser Dutch
Occupational name meaning "fisherman" in Dutch.

Vodenicharov m Bulgarian
Derived from Bulgarian воденичар (vodenichar) meaning "miller".

Vogt German
Occupational name from Middle High German voget meaning "bailiff, administrator, steward", ultimately from Latin advocatus.

Wagner German
From Middle High German wagener meaning "wagon maker, cartwright". This name was borne by the German composer Richard Wagner (1813-1883).

Wang 1 Chinese
From Chinese 王 (wáng) meaning "king, monarch". This is the most common surname in China (and the world).

Ward 2 Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Mac an Bhaird, which means "son of the bard".

Waterman 1 English
Means "servant of Walter".

Wayne English
Occupational name meaning "wagon maker, cartwright", derived from Old English wægn "wagon". A famous bearer was the American actor John Wayne (1907-1979).

Weaver 1 English
Occupational name for a weaver, derived from Old English wefan "to weave".

Webb English
Occupational name meaning "weaver", from Old English webba, a derivative of wefan "to weave".

Weber German
German cognate of Weaver 1.

Webster English
Occupational name meaning "weaver", from Old English webba, a derivative of wefan "to weave".

Wechsler German, Jewish
Means "money changer, banker", from German wechseln "to exchange".

Weeber German
German cognate of Weaver 1.

Woźniak Polish
From Polish woźny meaning "caretaker, clerk".

Wright 1 English
From Old English wyrhta meaning "wright, maker", an occupational name for someone who was a craftsman. Famous bearers were Orville and Wilbur Wright, the inventors of the first successful airplane.

Zangari Italian
Southern Italian name, derived from Greek τσαγκάρης (tsankaris) meaning "shoemaker, cobbler".

Zapatero Spanish
Spanish cognate of Savatier.