Semitic Origin Surnames

This is a list of surnames in which the origin is Semitic.
usage
origin
Jesus Portuguese
Derived from the given name Jesus.
Jiménez Spanish
Means "son of Jimeno".
Jinks English
Means "son of Jenk", a short form of Jenkin, a diminutive of Jen, itself a Middle English form of John.
Johansen Norwegian, Danish
Means "son of Johan". This is the second most common Norwegian surname.
Johansson Swedish
Means "son of Johan". This is the second most common surname in Sweden.
John English
Derived from the given name John. A famous bearer is British musician Elton John (1947-), born Reginald Dwight.
Johns English
Derived from the given name John.
Johnsen Norwegian, Danish
Means "son of John".
Johnson English
Means "son of John". Famous bearers include American presidents Andrew Johnson (1808-1875) and Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973).
Johnsson Swedish
Means "son of John".
Johnston Scottish
From the name of a Scottish town, which meant "John's town".
Jokumsen Danish
Means "son of Jokum".
Jonaitienė f Lithuanian
Feminine form of Jonaitis. This form is used by married women.
Jonaitis m Lithuanian
From the given name Jonas 1.
Jonaitytė f Lithuanian
Feminine form of Jonaitis. This form is used by unmarried women.
Jónás Hungarian
Derived from the given name Jónás.
Jonasen Danish
Means "son of Jonas 2".
Jonasson Swedish
Means "son of Jonas 2".
Jones English, Welsh
Derived from the given name Jon, a medieval variant of John.
Jönsson Swedish
Means "son of Jöns".
Jonsson Swedish
Means "son of Jon 1".
Joossens Flemish
Means "son of Joos".
Joosten Dutch
Derived from the given name Joost.
Jordà Catalan
Derived from the given name Jordà.
Jordan 1 English, French, German
Derived from the given name Jordan.
Jordan 2 Jewish
Derived from the name of the Jordan river, which is from Hebrew יָרַד (yaraḏ) meaning "descend" or "flow down".
Joseph English, French
Derived from the given name Joseph.
Josephs English
Derived from the given name Joseph.
Josephson English
Means "son of Joseph".
Jovanović Serbian
Means "son of Jovan".
Jovanovska f Macedonian
Feminine form of Jovanovski.
Jovanovski m Macedonian
Means "son of Jovan".
Juan Spanish
From the given name Juan 1.
Judd English
Derived from the medieval name Judd.
Judson English
Means "son of Judd".
Jundt German
Derived from a diminutive of the feminine given name Judith.
Jusić Bosnian
Perhaps means "son of Josip".
Kaloyanchev m Bulgarian
Means "son of Kaloyan".
Kaloyanov m Bulgarian
Means "son of Kaloyan".
Kaloyanova f Bulgarian
Feminine form of Kaloyanov.
Karagianni f Greek
Feminine form of Karagiannis.
Karagiannis m Greek
From the Greek prefix καρα (kara) meaning "black, dark" (of Turkish origin) and the given name Giannis.
Kazloŭ m Belarusian
Alternate transcription of Belarusian Казлоў (see Kazlow).
Kazlova f Belarusian
Feminine form of Kazlow.
Kazlow m Belarusian
Derived from Belarusian казёл (kaziol) meaning "male goat", probably used to denote a goatherd.
Kopp German
Derived from a diminutive of the given name Jakob.
Lázár Hungarian
From the given name Lázár.
Lázaro Spanish, Portuguese
From the given name Lázaro.
Lazarov m Bulgarian, Macedonian
Means "son of Lazar".
Lazarova f Bulgarian, Macedonian
Feminine form of Lazarov.
Lazzari Italian
Means "son of Lazzaro".
Levi Jewish
From the given name Levi.
Levine Jewish
Patronymic from the given name Levi.
Maas Dutch, Low German
From the given name Maas.
Mac Daibhéid Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McDevitt.
Macek m Czech
Derived from a diminutive of the given name Matěj.
MacGillEain Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McLean.
MacGilleMhoire Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Gilmore.
Mac Giolla Eoin Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McLean.
Mac Giolla Mhuire Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Gilmore.
Mach mu Czech, Polish
From a diminutive of the given names Matěj or Maciej.
Macháň m Czech
Derived from the given name Mach, a Czech diminutive of Matěj and other given names beginning with Ma.
Macháňová f Czech
Feminine form of Macháň.
Machová f Czech
Czech feminine form of Mach.
Macías Spanish
Derived from the given name Mateo.
Macko m Slovak
Derived from a diminutive of the given name Matej.
Macková f Czech, Slovak
Feminine form of Macek or Macko.
Mac Pharlain Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McFarlane.
MacPhàrlain Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McFarlane.
MacTàmhais Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McTavish.
Madsen Danish
Means "son of Mads".
Maes Flemish
Flemish form of Maas.
Maessen Dutch
Means "son of Maas".
Mallon Irish
Variant of Malone.
Malone Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Maoil Eoin meaning "descendant of a disciple of Saint John".
María Spanish
From the given the name María.
Maria Italian, Portuguese
From the given the name Maria.
Marić Croatian, Serbian
Means "son of Marija".
Marie French
From the given name Marie.
Marion French
Derived from the given name Marion 1.
Marušić Croatian
Matronymic name meaning "son of Marija".
Maruška m Czech
Derived from the given name Marie.
Marušková f Czech
Feminine form of Maruška.
Mašek m Czech
Derived from the given name Mašek, which can be a diminutive of either Matěj or Tomáš.
Masi Italian
From the given name Maso a short form of Tommaso.
Masin Italian
Venetian variant of Masi.
Mašková f Czech
Feminine form of Mašek.
Masson 2 French
From a short form of the given name Thomasson, itself a diminutive of Thomas.
Mateev m Bulgarian
Means "son of Matey".
Mateeva f Bulgarian
Feminine form of Mateev.
Matei Romanian
Derived from the given name Matei.
Matějka m Czech
Derived from the given name Matěj.
Matějková f Czech
Feminine form of Matějka.
Mateo Spanish
Derived from the given name Mateo.
Mateos Spanish
Derived from the given name Mateo.
Mateu Catalan
Derived from the given name Mateu.
Mateus Portuguese
From the given name Mateus.
Matevosian Armenian
Alternate transcription of Armenian Մաթեւոսյան (see Matevosyan).
Matevosyan Armenian
Means "son of Matevos".
Matheson Scottish
Means "son of Matthew".
Mathews English
Derived from the given name Matthew.
Mathewson English
Means "son of Matthew".
Mathiasen Danish
Means "son of Mathias".
Mathieu French
Derived from the given name Mathieu.
Mathisen Norwegian
Means "son of Mathias".
Matić Croatian
Means "son of Matija".
Matoušek m Czech
Derived from a diminutive of the given name Matouš.
Matoušková f Czech
Feminine form of Matoušek.
Matsson Swedish
Means "son of Mats".
Matthews English
Derived from the given name Matthew.
Matthewson English
Means "son of Matthew".
Matthiasen Danish
Means "son of Matthias".
Mattsson Swedish
Means "son of Matts".
Matveev m Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Матвеев (see Matveyev).
Matveeva f Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Матвеева (see Matveyeva).
Matveyev m Russian
Means "son of Matvey".
Matveyeva f Russian
Feminine form of Matveyev.
May English
Derived from the given name Matthew.
Mayes English
Patronymic form of May.
McAdams Scottish, Irish
Means "son of Adam" in Gaelic.
McDevitt Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Mac Daibhéid meaning "son of Dáibhí".
McFarlane Scottish, Irish
Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic MacPhàrlain or Irish Gaelic Mac Pharlain meaning "son of Parthalán".
McLean Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic MacGillEathain or MacGillEain meaning "son of the servant of Eòin".
McTavish Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic MacTàmhais meaning "son of Tàmhas".
Meeuwsen Dutch
Derived from the Dutch given name Meeuw, which comes from Bartholomeus (see Bartholomew).
Meir Jewish
Variant of Meyer 2.
Mejía Spanish
Possibly from a nickname derived from Spanish Mesías meaning "Messiah", from Latin Messias, ultimately from Biblical Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (mashiyaḥ) meaning "anointed".
Mendel 1 Jewish
Derived from the given name Mendel.
Mendelsohn Jewish
Means "son of Mendel".
Mendelssohn Jewish
Means "son of Mendel".
Metz 2 German
Derived from Mätz, a diminutive of the given name Matthias.
Meyer 2 Jewish
From Hebrew מֵאִיר (meir) meaning "enlightened".
Michael English, German
From the given name Michael.
Michaelis German
Derived from the given name Michael.
Michaels English
Derived from the given name Michael.
Michaelson English
Means "son of Michael".
Michalak Polish
Means "son of Michał".
Michaud French
Derived from the given name Michel.
Michel French, German, Dutch, Basque
Derived from the given name Michel, Michiel or Mitxel.
Michelakaki f Greek
Feminine form of Michelakakis.
Michelakakis m Greek
Means "son of Michail".
Michelaki f Greek
Feminine form of Michelakis.
Michelakis m Greek
Means "son of Michail".
Michelakos m Greek
Means "son of Michail".
Michelakou f Greek
Feminine form of Michelakos.
Micheli Italian
From the given name Michele 1.
Michiels Dutch, Flemish
Means "son of Michiel".
Miguel Spanish, Portuguese
From the given name Miguel.
Mihai Romanian
From the given name Mihai.
Mihailović Serbian
Means "son of Mihailo".
Mihajlović Serbian
Means "son of Mihajlo".
Mihaljević Croatian
Means "son of Mihael".
Mihaylov m Bulgarian
Means "son of Mihail".
Mihaylova f Bulgarian
Feminine form of Mihaylov.
Mihov m Bulgarian
Means "son of Miho", the given name Miho being a diminutive of Mihail.
Mihova f Bulgarian
Feminine form of Mihov.
Mikaelsson Swedish
Means "son of Mikael".
Mikhailov m Russian
Means "son of Mikhail".
Mikhailova f Russian
Feminine form of Mikhailov.
Mikhaylov m Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Михайлов (see Mikhailov).
Mikhaylova f Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Михайлова (see Mikhailova).
Mikkelsen Danish
Means "son of Mikkel".
Minkov m Bulgarian
Means "son of Minko", a Bulgarian diminutive of Mihail.
Minkova f Bulgarian
Feminine form of Minkov.
Mitchell 1 English, Scottish
Derived from the given name Michael.
Mollown Irish
Variant of Malone.
Monday 3 Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Giolla Eoin. The last part of the surname was mistakenly taken as the Gaelic word for "Monday", Luain.
Moses Jewish, English
Derived from the given name Moses.
Moss 2 English
From the given name Moses.
Mousavi Persian
From the given name Mousa.
Nana Italian
From a diminutive of Giovanni.
Nani Italian
Variant of Nana.
Nanni Italian
Variant of Nana.
Nannini Italian
From Nanni, a diminutive of the given name Giovanni.
Naoumov m Russian, Bulgarian
Alternate transcription of Russian/Bulgarian Наумов (see Naumov).
Naoumova f Russian, Bulgarian
Alternate transcription of Russian/Bulgarian Наумова (see Naumova).
Nathans Jewish
Derived from the given name Nathan.
Nathanson Jewish
Means "son of Nathan".
Naumov m Russian, Bulgarian
Means "son of Naum".
Naumova f Russian, Bulgarian
Feminine form of Naumov.
Nazaretian Armenian
Alternate transcription of Armenian Նազարեթյան (see Nazaretyan).
Nazaretyan Armenian
Means "son of Nazaret".
Nazarian Armenian
Alternate transcription of Armenian Նազարյան (see Nazaryan).
Nazario Italian
From the given name Nazario.
Nazaryan Armenian
Means "son of Nazar".
Ó Maoil Eoin Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Malone.
Papaioannou Greek
Means "son of Ioannis the priest", from Greek πάπας (papas) combined with the given name Ioannis.
Paquet 2 French
From a diminutive of the given name Pascal.
Pascal French
Derived from the given name Pascal.
Pascual Spanish
From the given name Pascual.
Peusen Dutch
Derived from the given name Pascal.
Salamon Hungarian, Polish
Derived from the given name Salamon or Salomon.
Salem Arabic
From the given name Salim.
Salim Arabic
From the given name Salim.
Salmon English, French
Derived from the given name Solomon.
Salomon French, German, Jewish
Derived from the given name Salomon or Salomo.
Sampson English
Derived from a medieval form of the given name Samson.
Sams English
Derived from the given name Samuel.
Samsa Hungarian
Derived from a diminutive of the given name Sámuel.
Samson English, French
Derived from the given name Samson.
Samuel English, Welsh, French, Jewish
Derived from the given name Samuel.
Samuels English
Derived from the given name Samuel.
Samuelson English
Means "son of Samuel".
Samuelsson Swedish
Means "son of Samuel".
Sansone Italian
Derived from the given name Sansone.
Santana Spanish, Portuguese
From any of the numerous places named after Saint Anna. A famous bearer is the Mexican-American musician Carlos Santana (1947-).
Santiago Spanish, Portuguese
From various Spanish and Portuguese places called Santiago.
Segal 1 Jewish
From the Hebrew phrase סגן לויה (seḡan Lewiya) meaning "assistant Levite".
Siemon German
Variant of Simon.
Sienkiewicz Polish
Patronymic from the given name Sienko, an old diminutive of Szymon. This was the surname of the Polish writer Henryk Sienkiewicz (1846-1916).
Šimek m Czech
Derived from the name Šimek, a diminutive of Šimon.
Simen English (Rare)
From the given name Simon 1.
Simeonov m Bulgarian
Means "son of Simeon".
Simeonova f Bulgarian
Feminine form of Simeonov.
Šimić Croatian
Means "son of Šime".
Šimko m Slovak
From a diminutive of the given name Šimon.
Šimková f Czech, Slovak
Feminine form of Šimek or Šimko.
Simmon German
From the given name Simon 1.
Simmons English
Derived from the given name Simon 1.
Simms English
Derived from the medieval given name Sim, a short form of Simon 1.
Simões Portuguese
Means "son of Simão" in Portuguese.
Šimon m Slovak, Czech
Derived from the given name Šimon.
Simón Spanish
From the given name Simón.
Simon English, French, German, Dutch, Hungarian, Jewish
Derived from the given name Simon 1.
Simoneit German
From the given name Simon 1.
Šimonienė f Lithuanian
Feminine form of Šimonis. This form is used by married women.
Šimonis m Lithuanian
Means "son of Simonas".
Simonis Dutch
Means "son of Simon 1".
Šimonová f Slovak, Czech
Feminine form of Šimon.
Simons English, German
Derived from the given name Simon 1.
Simonson English
Means "son of Simon 1".
Simonsson Swedish
Swedish form of Simonson.
Šimonytė f Lithuanian
Feminine form of Šimonis. This form is used by unmarried women.
Simpkin English
From a diminutive of the given name Simon 1.
Simpson English
Means "son of Sim", Sim being a medieval short form of Simon 1. This is the name of a fictional American family on the animated television series The Simpsons, starting 1989.
Sims English
Variant of Simms.
Šimunović Croatian
Means "son of Šimun".
Smagulov m Kazakh
Means "son of Smagul".
Smagulova f Kazakh
Feminine form of Smagulov.
Solomon English, Romanian, Jewish
Derived from the given name Solomon.
St John English
From a place named for Saint John.
Sulaymanov m Kyrgyz
Means "son of Sulayman".
Sulaymanova f Kyrgyz
Feminine form of Sulaymanov.
Suleimenov m Kazakh
Means "son of Suleimen".
Suleimenova f Kazakh
Feminine form of Suleimenov.
Symonds English
Derived from the given name Simon 1.
Symons English
Derived from the given name Simon 1.
Szymańska f Polish
Feminine form of Szymański.
Szymański m Polish
From the given name Szymon.
Tadić Croatian, Serbian
Means "son of Tadija".
Tamás Hungarian
Derived from the given name Tamás.
Thomas English, Welsh, French, German
Derived from the given name Thomas.
Thompkins English
From a diminutive of the given name Thomas.
Thompsett English
From a diminutive of the given name Thomas.
Thompson English
Means "son of Thomas".
Tobias English, German, Jewish
From the given name Tobias.
Tobin English
From a diminutive of the given name Tobias.
Toloni Italian
Derived from the given name Bartolomeo.
Toma Romanian
From the given name Toma 2.
Tomàs Catalan
Derived from the given name Tomàs.
Tómasson Icelandic
Means "son of Tómas".
Tomasson Swedish
Means "son of Tomas".
Tomčić Serbian, Croatian
Derived from a diminutive of the given name Toma 2.
Tomczak Polish
From a diminutive of the given name Tomasz.
Tomić Serbian, Croatian
Means "son of Toma 2".
Tomov m Bulgarian
Means "son of Toma 2".
Tomova f Bulgarian
Feminine form of Tomov.
Tumicelli Italian
Possibly from a diminutive of the given name Bartolomeo.
Valjean Literature
Created by Victor Hugo for Jean Valjean, the hero of his novel Les Misérables (1862). The novel explains that his father, also named Jean, received the nickname Valjean or Vlajean from a contraction of French voilá Jean meaning "here's Jean".
Vanchev m Bulgarian
Means "son of Vancho".
Vancheva f Bulgarian
Feminine form of Vanchev.
Vanev m Bulgarian
Means "son of Vane", a diminutive of Ivan.
Vaneva f Bulgarian
Feminine form of Vanev.
Vankov m Bulgarian
Means "son of Vanko", a diminutive of Ivan.
Vankova f Bulgarian
Feminine form of Vankov.
Yakovlev m Russian
Means "son of Yakov".
Yakovleva f Russian
Feminine form of Yakovlev.