BaileyEnglish From Middle English baili meaning "bailiff", which comes via Old French from Latin baiulus "porter".
BarnettEnglish Derived from Old English bærnet meaning "place cleared by burning".
BowieScottish Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Buidheach, derived from buidhe meaning "yellow". A famous bearer was the American pioneer James Bowie (1796-1836), for whom the bowie knife is named. The British musician David Bowie (1947-2016), born David Robert Jones, took his stage name from the American pioneer (and the knife).
FitzgeraldIrish Means "son of Gerald" in Anglo-Norman French. It was brought to Ireland with William the Conqueror. A famous bearer was Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996), an American jazz singer.
GrahamScottish, English Derived from the English place name Grantham, which probably meant "gravelly homestead" in Old English. The surname was first taken to Scotland in the 12th century by William de Graham.
Hayes 1English From various English place names that were derived from Old English hæg meaning "enclosure, fence". A famous bearer was American President Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1893).
JeffersonEnglish Means "son of Jeffrey". A famous bearer was American president Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). Since his surname was sometimes adopted by freed slaves, it is now more common among the African-American population.
JohnsonEnglish Means "son of John". Famous bearers include American presidents Andrew Johnson (1808-1875) and Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973).
KaiserGerman From Middle High German keiser meaning "emperor", originally a nickname applied to someone who acted kingly. The title ultimately derives from the Roman name Caesar.
NewtonEnglish From the name of one of many English towns meaning "new town". A famous bearer was the English physicist Isaac Newton (1643-1727).
NolanIrish Anglicized form of Irish Ó Nualláin meaning "descendant of Nuallán".
NormanEnglish Referred to a person who was originally from Scandinavia or Normandy. Even before the Norman Conquest, Scandinavians were settling the north and east of England. The Normans who participated in the Conquest were originally from Scandinavia, but had been living in Normandy, France for over a century and spoke French.
NorwoodEnglish Originally taken from a place name meaning "north wood" in Old English.
PeacockEnglish From Middle English pecok meaning "peacock". It was originally a nickname for a proud or haughty person.
Perry 1English From Old English pirige meaning "pear tree", a derivative of peru meaning "pear", itself from Latin pirum. A famous bearer was Matthew Perry (1794-1858), the American naval officer who opened Japan to the West.
WalkerEnglish Occupational name for a person who walked on damp raw cloth in order to thicken it. It is derived from Middle English walkere, Old English wealcan meaning "to move".
WashingtonEnglish From a place name meaning "settlement belonging to Wassa's people", from the given name Wassa and Old English tun meaning "enclosure, yard, town". A famous bearer was George Washington (1732-1799), the first president of the United States. This surname was sometimes adopted by freed slaves, resulting in a high proportion of African-American bearers.
WatsonEnglish, Scottish Patronymic derived from the Middle English given name Wat or Watt, a diminutive of the name Walter.
WilsonEnglish Means "son of Will". A famous bearer was the American president Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924).
YoungEnglish Derived from Old English geong meaning "young". This was a descriptive name to distinguish father from son.