Search Surnames

Using the form below, select any number of criteria, enter your preferences for each, then click the SEARCH button.

+Usage or language
Usage   clear
Language   clear
+Letters
Initial   clear
Start   clear
End   clear
Substring   clear
Pattern   clear   help?
  • the letters in the pattern are compared to the letters in the name
  • * is a wildcard that matches zero or more letters
    • example: *oo* matches names which contain oo
  • _ is a wildcard that matches exactly one letter
    • example: __z matches names which have two letters and then z
+Meaning and keywords
Meaning   clear   help?
  • separate search terms with spaces
  • search for an exact phrase by surrounding it with double quotes
  • this field understands simple boolean logic
    • force a term to be included by preceding it with a + sign
    • force a term to be excluded by preceding it with a - sign
  • expand search to include grammatical forms: attempt to include grammatical forms of the meanings
    • example: speak includes spoke
  • expand search to include close synonyms: attempt to include synonyms of the meanings
    • example: brave includes courageous
  • expand search to include search narrower synonyms: attempt to include subclasses of the meanings
    • example: reptile includes turtle
  • expand search to related names: allow related names to inherit the meaning of the main form
Description   clear   help?
  • the description is the meaning and history write-up for the name
  • separate search terms with spaces
  • search for an exact phrase by surrounding it with double quotes
    • example: "lord of the rings" matches names from the novel 'The Lord of the Rings'
  • this field understands simple boolean logic
    • force a term to be included by preceding it with a + sign
    • force a term to be excluded by preceding it with a - sign
    • example: +greek +(legend myth) -zeus matches Greek names of myths or legends not about Zeus
  • ignore name meanings: keywords from the name meanings are ignored
+Origin
  clear
+Source
Source   clear
+Length
    clear
+Sound and syllables
Pronunciation   clear   help?
  • see the pronunciation key for a guide on how to write the sounds
  • sounds can only be searched in names that have been assigned pronunciations
  • * is a wildcard that will match zero or more letters in the pronunciation
    • example: *lee matches names which end with the sound lee
  • _ is a wildcard that will match exactly one letter in the pronunciation
    • example: __z matches names which have two letters and then a z
  • (s) matches exactly one syllable in the pronunciation
    • example: (s)(s)ra matches names which have two syllables and then the sound rah
  • (c) matches a consonant
  • (k) matches a consonant or consonant cluster
  • (v) matches a vowel
  • (p) matches a plosive or stop consonant
  • (f) matches a fricative consonant
  • (n) matches a nasal consonant
  • case sensitive: check this if you wish distinguish between unstressed lowercase sounds and stressed uppercase sounds
Syllables   clear   help?
  • syllables can only be counted in names that have been assigned pronunciations
  • names without pronunciations are excluded from results
+Relations
Relationship   clear   help?
  • the "relationship" is how the name relates to its parent name
    • example: searching for diminutive matches Betsy because it is a diminutive of its parent Elizabeth
  • selecting (all core forms) excludes peripheral forms such as diminutives, short forms, and combinations
  • expand search to ancestral names: relationships between names further up the family tree are included
+Popularity
List   clear
Year   clear
Rank   clear
+Famous namesake
Category   clear
+Options
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