Browse Surnames

This is a list of surnames in which the usage is English; and the relationship is from place name.
usage
form
Abney English
From the name of a town in Derbyshire, derived from Old English meaning "Abba's island".
Appleby English
From the name of various English towns, derived from Old English æppel "apple" and Old Norse býr "farm, settlement".
Appleton English
From the name of several English towns, meaning "orchard" in Old English (a compound of æppel "apple" and tun "enclosure, yard").
Ashley English
Denoted a person hailing from one of the many places in England that bear this name. The place name itself is derived from Old English æsc "ash tree" and leah "woodland, clearing".
Ashton English
Denoted a person from one of the towns in England that bear this name, itself derived from Old English æsc "ash tree" and tun "enclosure, yard, town".
Ashworth English
From an English place name meaning "ash enclosure" in Old English.
Aston 1 English
From a place name meaning "east town" in Old English.
Audley English
From a place name meaning "Ealdgyð's clearing" in Old English.
Ayton English
From the name of towns in Berwickshire and North Yorkshire. They are derived from Old English ea "river" or ieg "island" combined with tun "enclosure, yard, town".
Bagley English
From various English place names, derived from the Old English given name Bacga combined with leah "woodland, clearing".
Barclay English, Scottish
From the English place name Berkeley, derived from Old English beorc "birch" and leah "woodland, clearing". The surname was imported to Scotland in the 12th century.
Bardsley English
From the name a village near Manchester, from the Old English given name Beornræd and leah "woodland, clearing".
Beasley English
From the name of a place in Lancashire, from Old English beos "bent grass" and leah "woodland, clearing".
Bennington English
From the English town name Benington, which can mean either "settlement belonging to Beonna's people" or "settlement by the River Beane".
Bentley English
From a place name derived from Old English beonet "bent grass" and leah "woodland, clearing". Various towns in England bear this name.
Benton English
Denoted someone who came from Benton, England, which is derived from Old English beonet "bent grass" and tun "enclosure".
Beverley English
From the name of an English city, derived from Old English beofor "beaver" and (possibly) licc "stream".
Blackburn English
From the name of a city in Lancashire, meaning "black stream" in Old English.
Blakesley English
From the name of a town in Northamptonshire, itself meaning "Blæcwulf's meadow" in Old English. Blæcwulf is a byname meaning "black wolf".
Bloodworth English
Originally indicated someone from the town of Blidworth in Nottinghamshire, which was derived from the Old English byname Blīþa (meaning "happy, blithe") combined with worð "enclosure".
Bloxham English
From a place name meaning "Blocca's homestead". The Old English byname Blocca is of uncertain origin.
Boon 2 English
Originally indicated a person from the town of Bohon, in Manche in France. The town's name is of unknown origin.
Boone English
Variant of Boon 1 or Boon 2.
Bradford English
Derived from the name of the city of Bradford in West Yorkshire, which meant "broad ford" in Old English. This is also the name of other smaller towns in England.
Bradley English
From a common English place name, derived from brad "broad" and leah "woodland, clearing".
Breckenridge Scottish, English
Originally indicated someone from Brackenrig in Lanarkshire, derived from northern Middle English braken meaning "bracken" (via Old Norse brækni) and rigg meaning "ridge" (via Old Norse hryggr).
Brierley English
From an English place name, derived from brer "briar" and leah "woodland, clearing".
Briley English
Possibly a variant of Brierley.
Bristol English
From the name of a city in England meaning "the site of the bridge".
Bristow English
From the name of the city of Bristol, originally Brycgstow in Old English, meaning "the site of the bridge".
Buckley 1 English
From an English place name derived from bucc "buck, male deer" and leah "woodland, clearing".
Burnham English
From the name of various towns in England, typically derived from Old English burna "stream, spring" and ham "home, settlement".
Burton English
From a common English place name, derived from Old English meaning "fortified town".
Carlisle English
From the name of a city in northern England. The city was originally called by the Romans Luguvalium meaning "stronghold of Lugus". Later the Brythonic element ker "fort" was appended to the name of the city.
Cason English
From the English place name Cawston, derived from the Old Norse given name Kálfr combined with Old English tun meaning "enclosure, yard, town".
Chadwick English
From the name of English towns meaning "settlement belonging to Chad" in Old English.
Cheshire English
Originally indicated a person from the county of Cheshire in England. Cheshire is named for its city Chester.
Chester English
From the name of a city in England, derived from Latin castrum "camp, fortress".
Clinton English
Derived from the English place name Glinton, of uncertain meaning, or Glympton, meaning "settlement on the River Glyme". This surname is borne by former American president Bill Clinton (1946-).
Cockburn Scottish, English
Originally indicated someone who came from Cockburn, a place in Berwickshire. The place name is derived from Old English cocc "rooster" and burna "stream".
Colton English
From a place name meaning "Cola's town".
Courtenay 1 English
From the name of towns in France that were originally derivatives of the Gallo-Roman personal name Curtenus, itself derived from Latin curtus "short".
Crawford English
From a place name derived from Old English crawa "crow" and ford "river crossing". A notable bearer was the American actress Joan Crawford (1904-1977), born Lucille Fay LeSueur.
Cullen 1 English
From the name of the German city of Cologne, which was derived from Latin colonia "colony".
Darby English
From the name of the town Derby meaning "deer farm" in Old Norse.
Daubney English
From any of the various towns in France called Aubigny, derived from the Gallo-Roman personal name Albinus.
Debenham English
Originally denoted a person from the town of Debenham in Suffolk, derived from the name of the River Deben (meaning "deep" in Old English) combined with ham meaning "home, settlement".
Deighton English
From English towns by this name, from Old English dic "ditch" and tun "enclosure, yard, town".
Derby English
Variant of Darby.
Dudley English
From a place name meaning "Dudda's clearing" in Old English. The surname was borne by a British noble family.
Eaton English
From any of the various English towns with this name, derived from Old English ea "river" and tun "enclosure, yard, town".
Ewart 2 English
From the name of an English town, derived from Old English ea "river" and worþ "enclosure".
Farnham English
Indicated a person from any of the various towns named Farnham in England, notably in Surrey. Their names are from Old English fearn "fern" and ham "home, settlement" or ham "water meadow, enclosure".
Fulton English
From the name of the English town of Foulden, Norfolk, meaning "bird hill" in Old English.
Graham Scottish, 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.
Granville English
Derived from a Norman place name Grainville.
Hailey English
Variant of Haley.
Haley English
From the name of an English town meaning "hay clearing", from Old English heg "hay" and leah "woodland, clearing".
Hamilton English, Scottish
From an English place name, derived from Old English hamel "crooked, mutilated" and dun "hill". This was the name of a town in Leicestershire, England (which no longer exists).
Harden English
From a place name meaning "hare valley" in Old English.
Harford English
Habitational name from places called Harford in Gloucestershire and Devon, meaning "hart ford" or "army ford".
Harley English
Derived from a place name meaning "hare clearing", from Old English hara "hare" or hær "rock, heap of stones" and leah "woodland, clearing".
Hayley English
Variant of Haley.
Holland 1 English
From various English places of this name, derived from Old English hoh "point of land, heel" and land "land".
Holland 2 Dutch, German, English
Indicated a person from the Dutch province of Holland 1.
Honeycutt English
Derived from the name of the English town of Hunnacott, derived from Old English hunig "honey" or the given name Huna combined with cot "cottage".
Honeysett English
Possibly a variant of Honeycutt.
Hunnisett English
Possibly a variant of Honeycutt.
Huxley English
From the name of a town in Cheshire. The final element is Old English leah "woodland, clearing", while the first element might be hux "insult, scorn". A famous bearer was the British author Aldous Huxley (1894-1963).
Jeanes 2 English
Originally denoted a person who came from Genoa, Italy.
Kendall English
Derived from the town of Kendal in England, so-called from the river Kent, on which it is situated, and Old English dæl meaning "valley, dale".
Kimberley English
From various English places called Kimberley. They mean either "Cyneburga's field", "Cynebald's field" or "Cynemær's field".
Kingsley English
From a place name meaning "king's clearing" in Old English.
Kingston English
From a place name meaning "king's town" in Old English.
Kynaston English
Originally derived from a place name meaning "Cynefrith's town" in Old English.
Lacey English
Derived from Lassy, the name of a town in Normandy. The name of the town was Gaulish in origin, perhaps deriving from a personal name that was Latinized as Lascius.
Lacy English
Variant of Lacey.
Lamar French, English
Originally from a place name in Normandy, derived from Old French la mare meaning "the pool".
Langley 1 English
From any of the various places with this name, all derived from Old English lang "long" and leah "woodland, clearing".
Layton English
Derived from the name of English towns, meaning "town with a leek garden" in Old English.
Leavitt English
From the name of various places called Livet in Normandy, France. They are possibly of Gaulish origin.
Leyton English
Variant of Layton.
Lincoln English
Originally indicated that the bearer was from the English city of Lincoln, called Lindum Colonia by the Romans, derived from Brythonic lindo "lake, pool" and Latin colonia "colony". A famous bearer was Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), president of the United States during the American Civil War.
Lindon English
Variant of Lyndon.
Lindsay English, Scottish
From the region of Lindsey in Lincolnshire, which means "Lincoln island" in Old English.
Linton English
Originally from place names meaning either "flax town" or "linden tree town" in Old English.
Linwood English
Originally from place names meaning "linden tree forest" in Old English.
London English
From the name of the capital city of the United Kingdom, the meaning of which is uncertain.
Lyndon English
Originally from a place name meaning "linden tree hill" in Old English.
Lynton English
Variant of Linton.
Lyon 1 English, French
Originally denoted a person from the city of Lyon in central France, originally Latin Lugdunum, of Gaulish origin meaning "hill fort of Lugus". It could also denote a person from the small town of Lyons-la-Forêt in Normandy.
Lyons English
Variant of Lyon 1.
Macey English
Variant of Massey.
Macy English
Variant of Massey.
Marlow English
Originally a name for a person from Marlow in Buckinghamshire, England. The place name means "remnants of a lake" from Old English mere "lake" and lafe "remnants, remains". A notable bearer was the English playwright and poet Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593).
Massey English
Derived from Massy, the name of several towns in France. The name of the town is perhaps derived from a personal name that was Latinized as Maccius.
Montgomery English, Scottish
From a place name in Calvados, France meaning "Gumarich's mountain". A notable bearer was Bernard Montgomery (1887-1976), a British army commander during World War II.
Neville English, Irish
From the names of towns in Normandy, variously Neuville or Néville, meaning "new town" in French.
Parish 1 English
Originally denoted a person who came from the French city of Paris, which got its name from the ancient Celtic tribe known as the Parisii.
Payton English
From the name of the town of Peyton in Sussex. It means "Pæga's town".
Peyton English
Variant of Payton.
Power 1 English, Irish
From Old French Poier, indicating a person who came from the town of Poix in Picardy, France.
Presley English
Variant of Priestley. This name was borne by musician Elvis Presley (1935-1977).
Priestley English
From a place name meaning "priest clearing", from Old English preost and leah.
Quincy English
Originally from various place names in Normandy that were derived from the given name Quintus.
Raines English
Originally denoted a person from Rayne, Essex, England (possibly from an Old English word meaning "shelter") or from Rennes, Brittany, France (from the name of the Gaulish tribe of the Redones).
Rains English
Variant of Raines.
Ramsey English, Scottish
Means "garlic island", derived from Old English hramsa "garlic" and eg "island". The surname was brought to Scotland by the Norman baron Simundus de Ramsay.
Riley 1 English
From the name of the town of Ryley in Lancashire, derived from Old English ryge "rye" and leah "woodland, clearing".
Rome French, English
English and French form of Romano 2.
Romilly English, French
Originally denoted a person who came from any of the various places in northern France called Romilly or from Romiley in England.
Ross English, Scottish
From various place names (such as the region of Ross in northern Scotland), which are derived from Scottish Gaelic ros meaning "promontory, headland".
Royston English
Originally taken from an Old English place name meaning "Royse's town". The given name Royse was a medieval variant of Rose.
Ryley English
Variant of Riley 1.
Sandford English
Indicated a person from Sandford, England, which means simply "sand ford".
Seabrook English
Denoted a person from a town by this name in Buckinghamshire, England. It is derived from that of a river combined with Old English broc "stream".
Selby English
From the name of a village that meant "willow farm" in Old English.
Sempers English
From the name of various towns named Saint Pierre in Normandy, all of which commemorate Saint Peter.
Seymour 1 English
From Saint Maur, a French place name, which commemorates Saint Maurus.
Shelby English
Variant of Selby.
Sherburn English
Denoted a person hailing from any of the various places called Sherborne or Sherburn in England, derived from Old English scir "bright" and burna "spring, fountain, stream".
Shirley English
From an English place name, derived from Old English scir "bright" and leah "woodland, clearing".
Sidney English
Originally derived from various place names in England meaning "wide island", from Old English sid "wide" and eg "island". Another theory holds that it comes from the name of a town in Normandy called "Saint Denis", though evidence for this is lacking.
Sinclair English
Derived from a Norman French town called "Saint Clair".
St John English
From a place named for Saint John.
Sydney English
Variant of Sidney.
Tatham English
From the name of the town of Tatham in Lancashire, itself from the Old English given name Tata combined with ham meaning "home, settlement".
Tatton English
Originally indicated a person from a town by this name, derived from the Old English given name Tata combined with tun meaning "enclosure, yard, town".
Tatum English
Variant of Tatham.
Thorley English
From any of the various places in England called Thornley or Thorley, meaning "thorn clearing" in Old English.
Thornton English
From any of the various places in England by this name, meaning "thorn town" in Old English.
Tracey 1 English
From the village of Tracy-sur-mer on the Normandy coast in France. It was brought to England with William the Conqueror.
Trent English
Denoted one who lived near the River Trent in England.
Troy English
Originally denoted a person from the city of Troyes in France.
Upton English
Denoted a person hailing from one of the many towns in England bearing this name. The place name itself is derived from Old English upp "up" and tun "enclosure, yard, town".
Wakefield English
Originally indicated a person who came from the English city of Wakefield, derived from Old English wacu "wake, vigil" and feld "field".
Walmsley English
Originally denoted a person from the English town of Walmersley.
Warwick English
From the name of an English town, itself derived from Old English wer "weir, dam" and wic "village, town".
Washington English
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.
Wembley English
From the name of a town, now part of Greater London, meaning "Wemba's clearing" in Old English.
Westcott English
From any of the several English towns by this name, derived from Old English meaning "west cottage".
Westley English
From the name of various English towns, derived from Old English west "west" and leah "woodland, clearing".
Weston English
From the name of various English towns, derived from Old English west "west" and tun "enclosure, yard, town".
Whitney English
Originally from the name of an English town, meaning "white island" in Old English.
Wickham English
From any of various towns by this name in England, notably in Hampshire. They are derived from Old English wic "village, town" (of Latin origin) and ham "home, settlement".
Wiley English
From any of the various English towns named Willey or from the River Wylye.
Willey English
Variant of Wiley.
Willoughby English
From the name of various English towns, derived from Old English welig "willow" and Old Norse býr "farm, settlement".
Wilton English
From any of the English towns named Wilton.
Winchester English
From an English place name, derived from Venta, of Celtic origin, and Latin castrum meaning "camp, fortress".
Winslow English
Derived from an Old English place name meaning "hill belonging to Wine".
Winthrop English
Habitational name from the place names Winthrope 1 or Winthrope 2.
Winton English
Derived from the name of several English villages. Their names derive from Old English meaning "enclosure belonging to Wine".
Wortham English
Derived from the name of a town in Suffolk, England meaning "enclosed homestead".
Wyndham English
From the name of the town of Wymondham, meaning "home belonging to Wigmund", from the given name Wigmund combined with Old English ham meaning "home, settlement".
York English
From the name of the English city of York, which was originally called Eburacon (Latinized as Eboracum), meaning "yew" in Brythonic. In the Anglo-Saxon period it was corrupted to Eoforwic, based on Old English eofor "boar" and wic "village". This was rendered as Jórvík by the Vikings and eventually reduced to York.
Yoxall English
Originally indicated a person from the town of Yoxall in Staffordshire, itself derived from Old English geoc "oxen yoke" and halh "nook, recess".