Browse Submitted Surnames

Lagle Estonian
Lagle is an Estonian surname (and feminine given name) meaning "goose".

Lambillotte French (Modern)
Currently, a common name in Wallonia, Belgium with some descendants in USA. Believed to be derived from three terms..."lamb" "ill" "otte". The first term has remained unchanged from early Germanic term; the second is latin for "of the" and the third a dimiuative or feminine form suffix... [more]

Lammas Estonian
Lammas is an Estonian surname meaning "sheep".

Lämmle German, Jewish
Derived from German lamm meaning "lamb", a nickname for a meek and inoffensive person or a shepherd.

Landa Polish
Nickname for a persistent and irritating person, from a derivative of the dialect verb landzić "to ask insistently, badger someone".

Lang Popular Culture
From 狼 (láng) meaning "wolf". Shi-Long Lang is a character in the game Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth, a wolf-themed Interpol agent who speaks mainly in quotes and metaphors about wolves... [more]

Lanier French, English
Occupational name designating one who worked in the wool trade (see Lane 2), derived from Old French lanier (ultimately from laine) meaning "wool", or for a keeper of donkeys, from Old French asnier literally "donkey keeper, donkey driver"... [more]

Lapin French
Means "Rabbit" in French.

Laskin Russian
Derived from Russian ласка (laska) meaning "weasel" or "endearment, favour".

Lau German
nickname for a physically strong person from Middle High German louwe lauwe "lion". In some cases the surname may have been a topographic or habitational name referring to a house or inn distinguished by the sign of a lion... [more]

Laveau French (Cajun)
A Cajun surname meaning "the calf".

Laverick English
Derived from Old English lāferce meaning "lark", making it a cognate of Lark.

Lavi Hebrew
From the given name Lavi, meaning "lion"

Laycock English
The name comes from a small village in England called "Laycock" and has something to do with "the place of the birds."... [more]

LeBoeuf French
Nickname for a powerfully built man, derived from French boeuf meaning "bull", with the definite article le. In some cases it may have been originally a metonymic occupational name for a herdsman.

Lebrón Spanish
Lebrón is a surname most prevalent in the Autonomous Community of Andalucía. It is an augmentative of liebre (meaning "hare" in Spanish).

Lechat French
Means "The Cat" in French.

Leeuwenkamp Dutch
Possibly from an unknown place name meaning "lion's camp" in Dutch.

Leffert Dutch, North Frisian
"Leopard".

Lefferts Dutch, North Frisian
From lefert meaning "Leopard."

Legore Italian
Possibly Italian, a nickname for a fleet-footed or timid person, from a northern variant of lepre "hare". However, only the plural form Legori is attested in Italian records.

Lehmus Estonian
Lehmus is an Estonian surname relating to "lehm" meaning "cow".

Lehnhart German
"Lean deer." From the German words lehn and Hart, "lean" and "deer" respectively.

Leitão Portuguese
Occupational name for a keeper of pigs, derived from Portuguese leitão meaning "piglet, young pig".

Lejon Swedish
Means "lion" in Swedish.

Leleu French
From old French le leu a Picard form of old french le loup "the wolf".

Lellouche Judeo-Spanish
From Tamazight alûsh meaning "lamb".

Leloup French
Means “the wolf” in French.

Lemberg German
Habitational name from a place called Lemberg in Silesia, originally Löwenberg, from Middle High German lewe, löwe "lion" and berg "mountain".

Lemming Danish
Derived from any of the places in Denmark called Lemming where the first element lem "lamb" is combined with the suffix -ing denoting a place.

Leo Italian
Nickname for a fierce or brave warrior, from Latin leo meaning "lion".

Leonhardt German, Dutch
From the Germanic personal name Leonhard, composed of the elements leo "lion" and hard "hardy, brave, strong".

Lepp German
Unflattering nickname from Middle High German lappe "coxcomb", "puppy" (modern German Laffe).... [more]

Lest Estonian
Lest is an Estonian surname meaning "flounder (fish)" and "flake".

Létourneau French
Nickname for a chatty, gregarious person or an occupational name for a birdcatcher, derived from French l'étourneau meaning "the starling".

Leu Moldovan
Derived from Romanian leu "lion".

Lindmaa Estonian
Lindmaa is an Estonian name meaning "bird land".

Lindmäe Estonian
Lindmäe is an Estonian surname meaning "bird mountain/hill".

Lindpere Estonian
Lindpere is an Estonian surname meaning "bird family".

Lindvee Estonian
Lindvee is an Estonian surname meaning "bird water".

Lisiecki Polish
Habitational name for someone from Lisiec in Konin voivodeship or a place called Liszki, both named with lis meaning "fox".

Lisiewski Polish
Habitational name for someone from Lisiewice in Skierniewice voivodeship, named with lis meaning "fox".

Lisitsyn Russian
Derived from Russian лисица (lisitsa) meaning "fox".

Liška Czech
Liška means "fox" in Czech. A famous bearer is actor Pavel Liška.

Lisowski Polish
Name for someone from any of various locations named Lisowa, Lisowo, Lisów or Lisowice, all derived from Polish lis meaning "fox".

Liszewski Polish
Habitational name for someone from any of various places called Lisewo (also Liszewo), named with Polish lis meaning "fox".

Lobato Spanish, Portuguese
nickname from lobato "wolf cub" (from Latin lupus "wolf") or from a medieval personal name based on this word.

Löbe German
Variant of Löwe from Middle High German lēwe löuwe "lion" hence a nickname for a brave or regal person. In some cases the surname may have been a topographic or habitational name referring to a house or inn distinguished by the sign of a lion.

Lobera Spanish
Either a topographic name from lobera "wolf pack" or "wolves' lair" or a habitational name from any of several places called La Lobera. variant of Lovera.

Loche French
From the Old French word loche meaning "freshwater fish."

Lodde Italian
From Sardinian lodde "fox".

Loiseau French
Means "The Bird" in French.

Loisel French
Derived from Old French oisel "bird" with fused definite article l' used as a nickname for a flighty individual or perhaps for a small birdlike person but possibly also as a metonymic occupational name for a bird-catcher.

Lomishvili Georgian
Basically means "child of a lion” in Georgian, from Georgian ლომი (lomi) meaning "lion" combined with an Eastern Georgian surname suffix -შვილი (-shvili) meaning "child".

Long Chinese
From Chinese 龍 (lóng) meaning "dragon".

Lõoke Estonian
Lõoke is an Estonian surname, meaning "lark".

Lorain French
Occupational name for a saddler, derived from the Old French word lorain, meaning "a leather strap used on a horse's breastplate".

Lorang French
Surname of uncertain origin. Might be derived from:... [more]

Lorimer English
Means "maker or seller of metal items of a horse's harness and associated equipment (e.g. bits and spurs)" (from Anglo-Norman loremier, a derivative of Old French lorain "harness").

Lovato Spanish (Latin American), Italian
Northern Italian from the Late Latin personal name Lupatus, derivative of Latin lupus "wolf". This is one of several medieval personal names which became popular under the influence of Germanic compound personal names formed with wolf-.

Love English, Scottish
From Anglo-Norman French lo(u)ve meaning "female wolf."

Lovera Italian, Spanish
Either a topographic name from lovera "wolf pack" or "wolves’ lair" or a habitational name from a place called Lovera. Spanish variant of Lobera.

Lovett English, French
From Ango-Norman French "louvet" meaning "young wolf".

Löwenhaar German
Meaning "lion hair", from German löwe "lion" and haar "hair".

Lowenhar German (East Prussian, Anglicized)
An Anglicized form of Löwenhaar, meaning "lion hair", from German löwe and haar.

Lowenstein Jewish
Combination of German Löwe "lion" and stein "stone". In some cases an ornamental name associated with the name Levi (see also Levy and Lew 2).

Löwenthal Jewish, Swedish
Ornamental name composed of German Löwe "lion" and T(h)al "valley". In some cases the Jewish name would have been an ornamental elaboration associated with the personal name Levi (or other names meaning "lion").

Luiga Estonian
Luiga is an Estonian surname derived from "luik" meaning "swan". "Eluiga" is also an Estonian word meaning "life".

Luik Estonian
Luik is an Estonian surname, meaning "swan".

Luikpere Estonian
Luikpere is an Estonian surname meaning "swan family/folk".

Lunavelasco Spanish (Latin American, Rare)
Un-hyphenated combination of the last names, Luna, and Velasco forming its’ own name. Luna meaning “the moon” in Latin as well as multiple languages. Velasco meaning “crow” or “raven”.

Lupescu Romanian
Possibly means "son of the wolf", from Romanian lup ("wolf").

Lupin French
Lupin is a variant on the Latin word "lupus", meaning "wolf". Two important literary characters, Arsène Lupin, the famous French gentleman-burglar, and Professor Remus Lupin, from the world of Harry Potter, have this name... [more]

Lūsēns Latvian
Derived from the word lūsis meaning "lynx".

Lūsis Latvian
Means "lynx".

Luttrell English
From a diminutive of Old French loutre, meaning "otter" (from Latin lutra), applied as a nickname for someone thought to resemble an otter or a metonymic occupational name for someone who hunted otters (for their pelts).

Lynx Southern African, English
Meaning "lynx" in English.

Mac Canann Irish
Means "son of CANÁN". Canán is a given name derived from the word cano "wolf cub".

MacConall Scottish (Anglicized, Rare), Irish (Anglicized, Rare)
Anglicized form of Scottish and Irish Gaelic Mac Conaill 'son of Conall', the personalized name composing of the elements con, which is an inflected form of cú 'wolf' + gal 'valor'. Giving the ultimate meaning due to variegated spellings of this specified name, is "Battle-Wolf of High Valor."

Mac Con Uladh Northern Irish
It literally means "hound of Ulster" in Irish Gaelic.

MacRoibin Scottish
Means "son of Robin"

Madau Italian
From Sardinian madau "fold, enclosure for sheep".

Mahomes American
With Gaelic origins, Mahomes is a surname that is derived from the word “mathghamhan”, which means “bear”. A famous individual with the name is NFL Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.

Maide Estonian
Maide is an Estonian surname possibly derived from "maidel" meaning "gudgeon (a type of freshwater fish)".

Mamani Indigenous American, Aymara
Means "falcon, hawk" in Aymara.

Manatad Filipino, Cebuano
Means "common emerald dove (a type of bird)" in Cebuano.

Mangiarotti Italian
From an Italian nickname, possibly meaning "rat eater".

Marasinghe Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit मार (mara) meaning "slaying, killing" and सिंह (sinha) meaning "lion".

Marchal French, Walloon
Either a status name or occupational name from Old French mareschal "marshal" (from Late Latin mariscalcus). The term is of ancient Germanic origin (from marah "horse mare" and scalc "servant") and was originally applied to a man who looked after horses... [more]

Marmion English, French, Irish
1. English (of Norman origin) and French: nickname from old French marmion “monkey”, “brat”. ... [more]

Matsouka Greek (Cypriot)
Means "Bat" from Latin maxuca.

Mawatari Japanese
From the Japanese 馬 (ma, uma or ba) "horse" and 渡 (watari or wata) "ferry" or ferryboat."

Mcnamee Irish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Conmidhe, a patronymic from the personal name Cú Mhidhe, meaning "hound of Meath". Meath is a county in Ierland. This family were hereditary poets in Ulster.

Mednis Latvian
Means "wood grouse".

Meka Telugu
From Telugu మేక (meka) meaning "goat".

Merlette French
Feminine diminutive of French merle "blackbird", this name was given as a nickname to a cheerful person or to someone who liked to sing.

Mesila Estonian
Mesila is an Estonian surname meaning "apiary" and "bee garden".

Mesmer German
Occupational name for a maker of knives from Middle High German messer meaning "knife". A famous bearer was Franz Mesmer (1734-1815), a German doctor known for his theory of "animal magnetism", which was eventually incorporated into the field of hypnosis.

Metsola Finnish
From Finnish metso meaning "wood grouse, capercaillie" and the suffix -la indicating a place. Metsola is the realm of forests in Finnish mythology.

Mier Dutch
Derived from Dutch mier "ant", perhaps denoting an industrious person.

Mitsugi Japanese
This surname is used as 貢, 三木, 三ツ木, 三津木, 三樹, 三次, 参木, 満木, 見次, 身次 or 巳継 with 貢 (ku, kou, mitsu.gu) meaning "finance, support, tribute", 三 (san, zou, mi, mi'.tsu, mi.tsu) meaning "three", 津 (shin, tsu) meaning "ferry, harbour, haven, port", 木 (boku, moku, ki, ko-) meaning "tree, wood", 樹 (juu, ki) meaning "timber trees, wood", 参 (san, shin, mai-, mai.ru, majiwaru, mitsu) meaning "be defeated, be madly in love, coming, die, going, nonplussed, three, visit, visiting", 満 (ban, man, mi.tasu, mi.chiru, mi.tsu) meaning "enough, full, fullness, satisfy", 見 (ken, mi.eru, mi.seru, mi.ru) meaning "chances, hopes, idea, look at, opinion, see, visible", 身 (shin, mi) meaning "one's station in life, person, somebody", 次 (shi, ji, tsugi, tsu.gu) meaning "next, order, sequence", 巳 (shi, mi) meaning "sign of the snake/serpent (6th sign of Chinese zodiac)" and 継 (kei, tsu.gi, mama-) meaning "graft (tree), inherit, patch, succeed."... [more]

Mitsugu Japanese (Rare)
This surname is used as 貢, 三次, 三続 or 巳継 with 貢 (ku, kou, mitsu.gu) meaning "finance, support, tribute", 三 (san, zou, mi, mi'.tsu, mi.tsu) meaning "three", 次 (shi, ji, tsugi, tsu.gu) meaning "next, order, sequence", 続 (kyou, kou, shoku, zou, tsugu.nai, tsudzu.ku, tsudzu.keru) meaning "continue, sequel, series", 巳 (shi, mi) meaning "sign of the snake/serpent (6th sign of Chinese zodiac)" and 継 (kei, tsu.gi, mama-) meaning "graft (tree), inherit, patch, succeed."... [more]

Mockford English
Mockford comes from "Mocca's ford", with Mocca being an Old English name of uncertain origin. An alternative theory is that it comes from "Motholfr's ford" from the Old Norse meaning "renown-wolf". Either way, Mockford was once a place in Sussex, near Rottingdean, and it is from there that most branches of the name originate.

Mokoena Southern African, Sotho, Tswana
Derived from Sotho or Tswana kwena meaning "crocodile".

Moleski Polish
A variation of Molski, originated from the many places in Poland called "Mole".

Mondragón Spanish
From the name of a town in Basque County, Spain, which is derived from Latin mons draconis meaning "dragon mountain".

Monma Japanese
From Japanese 門 (mon) meaning "gate, door" and 馬 (ma) meaning "horse".

Monteleone Italian
From various place names, meaning "mountain lion", or "mountain of the lion".

Montes De Oca Spanish
Spanish surname meaning "mounts of goose".

Montone Italian
nickname from montone "ram" (from Medieval Latin multo genitive multonis). Or a habitational name from any of numerous places called Montone ("big mountain").

Morant English, French
From the Old French personal name Morant, perhaps from a nickname meaning "steadfast", or alternatively of Germanic origin and meaning literally "courage-raven". A known bearer was the British-born Australian soldier and poet Breaker Morant, original name Edwin Henry Murrant (?1864-1902).

More Indian, Marathi
Derived from Marathi मोर (mor) meaning "peacock", ultimately from Sanskrit मयूर (mayura).

Mosca Romansh
Younger form of Muos-cha which was derived from Romansh muos-cha "fly (animal)".

Mosquera Spanish, Catalan
Spanish topographic name for someone who lived in a place that was infested with flies or mosquitos from a derivative of mosca "fly" (from Latin musca)... [more]

Moth English
From a nickname derived from Middle English mothe meaning "moth". Known bearers include New Zealand photojournalist Margaret Moth (1951-2010), British artist Charlotte Moth (1978-), and British Roman Catholic bishop Richard Moth (1958-).

Motome Japanese (Rare)
This surname is used as 求, 元目 or 求馬 with 求 (kyuu, gu, moto.meru) meaning "demand, request, require, want, wish for", 元 (gan, gen, moto) meaning "beginning, former time, origin", 目 (boku, moku, ma, me, -me) meaning "care, class, experience, eye, favour, insight, look" and 馬 (ba, uma, uma-, ma, me) meaning "horse."... [more]

Mõttus Estonian
Mõttus is an Estonian name derived from "Mõtus", meaning "grouse".

Moua Hmong
From the Hmong clan name Muas associated with Chinese 馬 (mǎ) meaning "horse" (see Ma).

Mousel German (Austrian, Anglicized), English
Anglicisation of the German Mäusl, from the German word maus - "mouse" combined with a diminutive suffix, literally meaning "little mouse"... [more]

Mouton French
Nickname from Old French mouton "sheep" used for a docile mild-mannered person for someone easily led or perhaps for a curly-haired man. Original French cognitive of Mutton.

Moyongan Filipino, Bontoc
Means "bumble bee" in Bontok.

Mroczkowski Polish
Name for someone from any of various places called Mroczkowa, Mroczków or Mroczkowice, all derived from Polish mroczek meaning "house bat".

Mucha Polish, Slovak, Czech, Ukrainian
Nickname for an irritating person or someone considered of no importance, from mucha "fly".

Muis Dutch, Indonesian
From Dutch muis meaning "mouse". Common in Indonesia.

Mukhin Russian
From Russian муха (mukha) meaning "fly".

Mullarkey Irish
From Irish Gaelic Ó Maoilearca "descendent of the follower of (St) Earc", a personal name meaning literally either "speckled one" or "salmon".

Munasinghe Sinhalese
Derived from Sinhala මුහුණ (muhuna) meaning "face, visage" combined with Sanskrit सिंह (sinha) meaning "lion".

Murako Japanese (Rare)
Mura means "village, hamlet" and ko means "child, sign of the rat".

Musch Dutch, German
From a nickname meaning "house sparrow".

Muston English
Habitational name from places so named, from Old English mus "mouse", or must, "muddy stream or place" combined with tun "enclosure, settlement". Another explanation could be that the first element is derived from an old Scandinavian personal name, Músi (of unknown meaning), combined with tun.

Muszynski Polish
Habitational name for someone from places called Muszyna in Nowy Sacz voivodeship and elsewhere, named with mucha "fly" (see Mucha).

Näär Estonian
Näär is an Estonian surname meaning "burnet-saxifrage (a plant: Pimpinella saxifraga)" and "jay".

Nachtigall German, Jewish
Nickname from Middle High German nachtegal "nightingale" from Old High German galan "to sing". Cognate to Nightingale.

Nachtrieb German
It possibly comes from the German name of a nachtrab, which is a "night bird like the owl". Another possible meaning is "night tribe".

Nair Indian, Malayalam
From Nair, the name of a group of Hindu castes concentrated in the Indian state of Kerala. The origin of the word itself is somewhat disputed. Some believe it is derived from nayaka, an honorific meaning "leader of the people", while another theory suggests that is is derived from the Sanskrit नाग (nāgá) "snake, serpent" (a reference to the practice of snake worship)... [more]

Nakagame Japanese
仲 (Naka) means "relation" and game is a variation of 亀 (kame), which means "turtle, tortoise".

Nalci Turkish
Occupational surname denoting a horse-shoe maker, from the Turkish word nal meaning "horse-shoe" and the particle -cı a suffix appended to words to create a noun denoting a profession or occupation.

Namur Arabic, Maltese
Derived from Arabic نمر, نامور (namur) meaning "tiger". It is typical of Malta.

Nancarrow Cornish
Means "person from Nancarrow", Cornwall (either "valley frequented by deer" or "rough valley"). It was borne by US composer Conlon Nancarrow (1912-1997).

Nankervis Cornish, English (Australian)
From the name of a place in St Enoder parish in Cornwall, derived from Cornish nans "valley" and an uncertain second element, possibly *cerwys, an unattested plural of carow "stag".... [more]

Natkho Circassian
Shapsug name possibly derived from Adyghe нат (nāt) meaning "Nart" (referring to a Caucasian saga) combined with хъо (χo) meaning "pig".

Ndlovu Southern African, Ndebele, Zulu
Derived from Ndebele or Zulu indlovu meaning "elephant".

Neji Japanese (Rare)
This surname is used as 子師, combining 子 (shi, su, tsu, ko, -ko, ne) meaning "child, sign of the rat (1st sign of Chinese zodiac)" with 師 (shi, su, nara.u, moromoro) meaning "army, exemplar, expert, master, model, teacher, war."

Nesher Hebrew (Modern)
Means "eagle" in Hebrew.

Ngoy Central African
Means "lion" in Baluba cultures, identifying someone from a warrior or hunting family.

Nightingale English
Nickname for someone with a good voice from Middle English nightegale "nightingale" (Old English nihtegale, ultimately from niht "night" and galan "to sing").

Nimr Arabic
Means "leopard" or "tiger" in Arabic.

Niu Chinese
From Chinese 牛 (niú) meaning "cow, ox, bull".

Nkomo AmaXhosa (Modern, Archaic), Amazulu (Modern, Archaic)
Southern African, Nguni Nomadic meaning "Dairy/Milk Cow or Southern African long-horn Cow".

Nokhaev Kalmyk
Derived from Kalmyk ноха (nokha) meaning "dog".

Nonnenmacher German
Occupational name for a gelder of hogs, from Middle High German nunne, nonne meaning "nun", and by transfer "castrated hog" + an agent derivative of machen meaning "to make".

Noorhani Estonian
Noorhani is an Estonian surname meaning "young goose".

Nugis Estonian
Nugis is an Estonian surname meaning "marten".

Nukhao Thai
Means "white mouse" in Thai.

Nutter English
Means either (i) "scribe, clerk" (from Middle English notere, ultimately from Latin notārius); or (ii) "person who keeps or tends oxen" (from a derivative of Middle English nowt "ox")... [more]

Ó Canann Irish
Means "descendant of CANÁN". Canán is a given name derived from the word cano "wolf cub".

Occhibove Italian
Probably means "ox eyes, cow eyes", from Italian occhio "eye" and bove "ox", perhaps a nickname for someone with large, dark eyes.

Ochsner German (Swiss)
Means "oxen herder" in Swiss, from Middle High German ohse "ox".

Ofer Hebrew (Modern)
From the given name Ofer, means "fawn" in Hebrew.

Ó Gibne Irish
'Descendant of Gibne', a byname meaning "hound". This sept came from Counties Meath and Cavan. This was a very ancient sept but unfortunately, there are few references surviving.

Oinas Estonian, Finnish
Oinas is an Estonian and Finnish surname meaning "ram (Ovis Aries)" in both languages. The surname is somewhat rare in Finland.

Ojalind Estonian
Ojalind is an Estonian surname meaning "stream/creek bird".

Ōkuma Japanese
Combination of the kanji 大 (ō, "big, great") or 逢 (ō, "meeting") and 熊 (kuma, "bear") or 隈 (kuma, "recess, corner, shade")

O'Lennon Irish
Original form of Lennon. Probably a variant of Ó Leannáin (from a by-name meaning "lover"), but may also be derived from O'Lonain (from lon, "blackbird").

Oliphant English
Means "elephant" (from Middle English, Old French and Middle High German olifant "elephant"), perhaps used as a nickname for a large cumbersome person, or denoting someone who lived in a building distinguished by the sign of an elephant.

O'Lonain Irish
Derived from lon ("blackbird") and a diminutive combined with O ("grandson; male descendant").

Olwell English
Possibly a habitational name from Ulwell in Swanage Dorset named with Old English ule "owl" and wille "stream".

Onotora Japanese (Rare)
From Japanese 男虎 (onotora) meaning "male tiger", from 男 (o) meaning "male; man", の (no), an unwritten possessive particle, and 虎 (tora) meaning "panthera tigris", referring to someone with qualities of a male tiger.... [more]

Ööbik Estonian
Ööbik is an Estonian surname meaning "nightingale".

Oot Estonian
Oot is an Estonian surname meaning "tsk". Also, possiblt derived from "Ott", a masculine given name meaning "bear".

Orav Estonian
Orav is an Estonian surname meaning "squirrel".

Orłowski Polish
Habitational name for someone from any of various places called Orłów, Orłowo or Orły, all derived from Polish orzeł meaning "eagle".

Örn Swedish
Means "eagle" in Swedish.

Osuna Spanish
Habitational name from a place in the province of Seville, named from Arabic Oxuna, perhaps named from Late Latin Ursina (villa) "estate of Ursus" a byname meaning "bear".

Ōtaka Japanese
This surname combines 大 (tai, dai, oo-, -oo.ini, oo.kii) meaning "big, large" with 高 (kou, taka, taka.i, taka.maru, taka.meru, -daka) meaning "expensive, high, tall," 鷹 (ou, you, taka) meaning "hawk," 孝 (kyou, kou, taka) meaning "child's respect, filial piety," 嵩 (shuu, suu, kasa, kasa.mu, taka.i) meaning "be aggravated, grow bulky, grow worse, swell" or 貴 (ki, tatto.i, tatto.bu, touto.i, touto.bu, taka) meaning "esteem, honour, precious, prize, value."... [more]

Ōtaka Japanese
From Japanese 大 (ō) meaning "big, great" and 鷹 (taka) meaning "eagle, falcon, hawk".

Ovechkin Russian
Patronymic derived from Russian овечка (ovechka) meaning "lamb". A famous bearer is the Russian hockey player Alexander Ovechkin (1985-).

Oven Slovene, German
Derived from Oven "ram, male sheep".

Oxendine English
From an English place name meaning "valley of the oxen", which was derived from Old English oxa "ox" (genitive plural oxena) and denu "valley".

Oyaski English (American)
A surname created by Michael Oyaski (formally Michael O'Yaski). The surname is currently known to only be used by one particular branch of the O'Yaski family tree. The surname means "Dragon Rider of the West" according to members of the Oyaski family.

Paal Estonian
Paal is an Estonian surname meaning both "mooring post" and "dolphin".

Paalmaa Estonian
Paalmaa is an Estonian surname meaning both "dolphin land" and "mooring post land".

Pääsuke Estonian
Means "swallow", taken from the Estonian word.

Pabón Spanish
Variant of Pavón from Spanish pavón "peacock" from Latin pavo.

Paddington English
Believed to mean "Pada's farm", with the Anglo-Saxon name Pada possibly coming from the Old English word pad, meaning "toad".

Paddock English
Derived from Middle English parrock meaning "paddock, small enclosure", hence a topographic name for a dweller by a paddock or an enclosed meadow. It could also be a nickname for a person who resembled a toad or frog in some way (derived from Middle English paddock meaning "toad, frog"), or denote a person hailing from one of the many places in England that bear this name, for example the town and civil parish of Paddock Wood in Kent.

Page German
Metonymic occupational name for a horse dealer, from Middle Low German page "horse".

Päll Estonian
Päll is an Estonian surname meaning "screech owl".

Pällo Estonian
Pällo is an Estonian surname derived from "päll" meaning "screech owl".

Pamireddy Indian, Telugu
From the name of the village of Pamidi in Andhra Pradesh, India, combined with Telugu రెడ్డి (reddi) meaning "village headman". The village's name means "snake killer" from Telugu పాము (pamu) meaning "snake, serpent".

Parts Estonian
Parts is an Estonian surname, derived from "part" meaning "duck".

Patiño Spanish, Galician
From a diminutive of Spanish or Galician pato meaning "duck", used as a nickname for a person who waddled.

Păun Romanian
Derived from Romanian păun "peacock".

Păunescu Romanian
Patronymic derived from Romanian păun "peacock".

Pauw Dutch, Flemish
Means "peacock" in Dutch.

Pávek Czech
Diminutive of páv "peacock", hence a nickname for a pretentious or ostentatious person.

Pavón Spanish
Spanish cognitive of Pavone and variant of Pabón from Spanish pavón "peacock" from Latin pavo.

Pchyolkin Russian
Derived from Russian пчёлка (pchyolka), a diminutive of пчела (pchela) meaning "bee". The founder of the surname may have been a beekeeper.

Peabody English
Probably from a nickname for a showy dresser, from Middle English pe "peacock" (see Peacock) and body "body, person". Alternatively it may be from the name of a Celtic tribe meaning "mountain men" from Brythonic pea "large hill, mountain" combined with Boadie, the tribe's earlier name, which meant "great man" (or simply "man") among the Briton and Cambri peoples... [more]

Pecchia Italian
Nickname, probably for an industrious person, from pecchia "bee".

Peixoto Portuguese
Occupational name for a fisherman or fish seller or a nickname for someone thought to resemble a fish, derived from Portuguese peixe meaning "fish".

Pelagatti Italian
Probably derives from an old expression meaning "cheat, scoundrel", literally a combination of pela "to skin" and gatti "cats".

Pelekanos Greek
Means woodpecker" from Greek pelekanos "green woodpecker" (cognate with pelekan "pelican"; both come from pelekys "axe" the pelican because its beak is shaped like an axe the woodpecker because it uses its beak like an axe).

Pellicano Italian, Sicilian
nickname from dialect pelecanò pelicanò "woodpecker" from modern Greek pelekanos "green woodpecker" (cognate with pelekan "pelican"; both come from pelekys "axe" the pelican because its beak is shaped like an axe the woodpecker because it uses its beak like an axe).

Pelliccia Italian
From Italian pelliccia "fur (of an animal)".

Peltz German, Jewish
Occupational name for a furrier, from Middle High German bellez, (modern German pelz) "fur", "animal skin".

Pennycuik Scottish
Originally meant "person from Penycuik", near Edinburgh (probably "hill frequented by cuckoos").

Perhonen Finnish (Rare)
Means "butterfly" in Finnish.

Phenix French (Quebec, Anglicized)
Either (i) an anglicization of French Canadian Phénix, literally "phoenix", probably originally a nickname of now lost import; or (ii) a different form of Fenwick.

Philippart Belgian
In the Medieval period, of Ancient Greek origin, derives from philippos, a compound made of philein meaning "to love", and hippos, a horse, hence "lover of horses".

Phukuntsi Tswana, Sotho
This surname has multilayered meanings... [more]

Piccioni Italian
From Italian piccione, "pigeon".

Pichugin Russian
From pichuga, meaning "small bird".

Pigg English
Derived from Middle English pigge meaning "young hog".

Pinches English (British, Rare)
This is one of the very earliest of surnames. This is an English name. First recorded in the 12th century it was a nickname of endearment for a bright, chirpy, person, thought by his peer group to be active like a finch... [more]

Pinson Jewish, Russian
Derived from Spanish "pinzon", meaning "finch".

Pinson French
From Old French pinson "finch" a nickname applied to someone who whistles or sings like a finch or to a bright and cheerful person.

Pliev Ingush (Russified), Ossetian (Russified)
Russified form of an Ingush and Ossetian name, which is derived from the name of an Ingush teip (clan). The name itself comes from Plievo, the name of a village in Ingushetia, which means "village of the sons of Pkhile", referring to a given name possibly derived from Ossetian пыл (pyl) meaning "elephant".

Pobjoy English
From a medieval nickname for someone thought to resemble a parrot, from Middle English papejai, popinjay "parrot". This probably denoted someone who was talkative or who dressed in bright colours, although it may have described a person who excelled at the medieval sport of pole archery, i.e. shooting at a wooden parrot on a pole.

Podda Italian
From Sardinian podda "flour", or pudda "chicken".

Põder Estonian
Põder is an Estonian surname meaning "moose".

Põdersoo Estonian
Põdersoo is an Estonian surname meaning "moose swamp".

Põdramägi Estonian
Põdramagi is an Estonian surname meaning "moose mountain".

Poe English
From a medieval nickname for a vain or flamboyantly dressed person (from Old Norse pá "peacock"). American author and poet Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was a famous bearer.

Poland English, German, French (Anglicized), Irish (Anglicized)
English and German name is derived from the Middle High German Polan, which means "Poland". The surname originally signified a person with Polish connections.This French surname originated from an occupational name of a poultry breeder, or from a fearful person; it is derived from the Old French poule, which means "chicken".In other cases, particularly in Ireland, the English Poland is a variant of Polin,which is in turn an Anglicised form of the original Gaelic spelling of Mac Póilín, which translated from Irish means "son of little Paul"... [more]

Põllupüü Estonian
Põllupüü is an Estonian surname meaning "field grouse".

Polombo Italian
Derived from Palombo literally meaning "Ring Dove" or Palombella meaning "Wood Pigeon" in the dialects of Southern Italy.

Pombal Portuguese
from the portuguese word: pombo meaning "dove", "pigeon". ... [more]

Porcari Italian, English
From Italian porci "pigs", denoting someone who worked as a pig herder.

Porcu Italian
From Sardinian porcu "pig".

Porko Finnish
Meaning uncertain, possibly derived from Finnish poro meaning "reindeer".

Premasinghe Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit प्रेम (prema) meaning "love, affection" and सिंह (sinha) meaning "lion".

Psaki Greek
"lying canine", "pack of small dogs"

Ptacek Czech
A name given to a small, birdlike individual, meaning literally "little bird".

Pták Czech
Czech surname meaning "bird".

Ptak Polish
Polish surname meaning "bird".

Puddu Italian
From Sardinian puddu "chicken" (compare Podda).

Pugachev Russian
From the nickname Pugach which is probably derived from Ukrainian пугач (pugach) meaning "owl". Following this etymology, the nickname was most likely given to someone who was wise or sensible (attributing to the owl as a symbol of wisdom).

Pühvel Estonian
Pühvel is an Estonian surname meaning "buffalo (wisent)" and "bull".

Punay Filipino, Cebuano
Means "yellow-breasted fruit dove" or "pink-necked green pigeon" (both species of bird) in Cebuano.

Pung Korean
From Sino-Korean 馮 (pung) meaning "fast running horse".

Pürg Estonian
Pürg is an Estonian surname derived from "pürg" meaning both "avidity (eagerness or enthusiasm") and a colloquial name for the European bison ("Bison bonasus").

Püü Estonian
Püü is an Estonian surname meaning "grouse".

Raab German
Derived from German rabe "raven". As a surname, it was given to a person with black hair.

Rääsk Estonian
Rääsk is an Estonian surname possibly derived from "rääs" meaning "whale-oil".

Rabe German
German surname meaning "raven, crow".

Rabenschlag German
Means "wing beat of a raven" in German, from German Rabe meaning "raven" and Schlag meaning "flap" or "wing beat" in this context.

Rader German
Variation of Rademacher, meaning "maker of wheels" in German ("rat" meaning wheel), later shortened to Rader and other variations such as Redder, Raeder, Redler, etc.

Rähn Estonian
Rähn is an Estonian surname meaning "woodpecker".

Räim Estonian
Räim is an Estonian surname meaning "Baltic herring".

Rajasinghe Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit राज (raja) meaning "king" and सिंह (sinha) meaning "lion".

Rajasuriya Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit राज (raja) meaning "king" and सिंह (sinha) meaning "lion".

Ralph English
From a Middle English personal name composed of Germanic rad "counsel, advice" and wolf "wolf". This was first introduced into England by Scandinavian settlers in the Old Norse form Ráðulfr, and was reinforced after the Conquest by the Norman form Ra(d)ulf... [more]

Rambeau French (Rare), Frankish
Altered spelling of the southern French family name Rambaut, from an Old French personal name, Rainbaut, composed of the Germanic elements ragin "counsel" + bald "bold", "brave", or alternatively from the Germanic personal name Hrambehrt or Hrambald, composed of the elements hramn "crow" & berht "bright" or bald "bold", "brave".

Rambo Swedish (Rare), Norwegian (Rare)
Combination of Norwegian and (dialectal) Swedish ramn "raven" and bo meaning either "dweller, inhabitant" or "home, nest". Peter Gunnarsson Rambo (1611-1698) was one of the first Swedish immigrants to the United States in the 17th century and considered to be the father of the settlement New Sweden in Pennsylvania... [more]

Ramm Estonian
Ramm is an Estonian surname meaning both "beetle" and "(to) ram".

Rammo Estonian
Rammo is an Estonian surname possibly derived from "rammus", meaning "fat" and "fertile"; or from "ramm", meaning both "beetle" and "strength".

Ramsbottom English
Habitational name from a market town called Ramsbottom in Greater Manchester, England (historically in Lancashire), derived from Old English hramsa meaning "wild garlic" or ramm "ram", and bothm meaning "bottom, bottom valley".

Ranasinghe Sinhalese
From Sanskrit राणा (rana) meaning "king" or रण (rana) meaning "delight, pleasure, joy" and सिंह (sinha) meaning "lion".

Randolph English, German
Classicized spelling of Randolf, a Germanic personal name composed of the elements rand "rim (of a shield), shield" and wolf "wolf". This was introduced into England by Scandinavian settlers in the Old Norse form Rannúlfr, and was reinforced after the Norman Conquest by the Norman form Randolf.

Rapace Swedish (Modern, Rare)
From French and Italian rapace meaning "predatory, bird of prey, raptor". A notable bearer is Swedish actress Noomi Rapace.

Raposo Portuguese, Galician
Means "fox".

Rascon Spanish
Possibly a nickname for Rascón, meaning “sharp”, “sour”, or “rail (the bird)”

Rashleigh English
From a location in Devon, derived from Old English rá "roe buck" + léah "clearing".

Rästas Estonian
Rästas is an Estonian surname meaning "ouzel (bird)" and "thrush (bird)".

Ratchford English
habitational name from Rochford (Worcestershire) from Old English ræcc ‘hunting dog’ (genitive ræcces) and ford "ford"... [more]

Raun Estonian
Raun is an Estonian surname derived from "raunjalg" meaning "bird's nest fern" (Asplenium).

Ravenscroft English, English (British)
Habitational name from a minor place in Cheshire, England. The place name means "Hræfn's croft", from an Old English personal name Hræfn (itself from Old English hræfn meaning "raven", possibly a byname) and Old English croft meaning "enclosed field".

Rawls English
From the Olde German and Anglo-Saxon personal name Rolf. Originally derived from the Norse-Viking pre 7th Century 'Hrolfr' meaning "Fame-Wolf".

Rebassoo Estonian
Rebassoo is an Estonian surname meaning "vulpine (fox) swamp".

Rehn Swedish
Derived from Swedish ren "reindeer".

Relph English
From the Old French male personal name Riulf, of Germanic origin and meaning literally "power-wolf" (cf. Riculf).

Renberg Swedish
Combination of Swedish ren "reindeer" and berg "mountain". The first element might also be derived from a place name.

Renwick Scottish (Rare)
A habitational name from a place in Cumbria, so called from the Old English byname Hræfn meaning "raven" + wic "outlying settlement".

Rikimaru Japanese
This surname is used as 力丸 with 力 (rii, riki, ryoku, chikara) meaning "bear up, exert, power, strain, strength, strong" and 丸 (gan, maru, maru.i, maru.meru) meaning "curl up, explain away, full, make round, month, perfection, pills, roll up, round, seduce."... [more]

Rind German
Probably a metonymic occupational name for a cattle dealer or butcher, from Middle High German rint meaning "cow".

Robinsen Norwegian, Danish
Means "son of Robin".

Robinsson Swedish (Rare)
Means "son of Robin".

Rockwell English
Means "person from Rockwell", Buckinghamshire and Somerset (respectively "wood frequented by rooks" and "well frequented by rooks"). Famous bearers include American illustrator Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) and Utah pioneer Porter Rockwell (1813-1878).

Rodić Serbian, Croatian
Possibly derived from roda (рода), meaning "stork".

Roffey English
There are two small villages named "Roffey". One in England, near Horsham, and one in France, Burgundy. The name is of Norman orgin. First mentioned in (surviving English documents) in 1307 when a George Roffey buys a house... [more]

Ronk Estonian
Ronk is an Estonian surname meaning "raven".

Rossignol French
Means "nightingale" in French, used as a nickname for person with a good singing voice, or ironically, for a raucous person.

Roszhart German
The original spelling of the name is Roßhart. Roß means "horse" and hart means "hard" in German. The name was changed when the family immigrated to the United States in the 1850's. Some took on the name "Rosshart", and some "Roszhart" as the ß has the "sss" sound.

Rothfus German
Middle High German rot "red" + vuoz "foot", a nickname for someone who followed the fashion for shoes made from a type of fine reddish leather. Or a variant of Rotfuchs, from the Middle Low German form fos "fox", a nickname for a clever person.

Röwekamp German
From old German röwe meaning "lion" and kamp meaning "fighter". Perhaps named for someone who's brave.

Roxburgh Scottish
From Roxburgh, a village near the market town of Kelso in the Scottish Borders area in Scotland, derived from the Old English byname Hroc meaning "rook" and burh meaning "fortified place"... [more]

Rude Norwegian, German
German: From a pet form of a personal name formed with Old High German hrōd "fame", for example Rudolf or Rüdiger... [more]

Rudolf German
From a personal name composed of Old High German hrōd "renown" and wolf "wolf", equivalent to English Ralph. This name is also found in Slovenia.

Rupasinghe Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit रूप (rupa) meaning "shape, form" and सिंह (sinha) meaning "lion".

Rybacki Polish
Habitational name for someone from any of various places called Rybaki, derived from Polish ryba meaning "fish".

Rybak Polish, Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Jewish
Means "fisherman" in some Slavic languages. Derived from the word ryba "fish". A famous bearer is Byelarusian-Norwegian artist Alexander Rybak (b. 1986) who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009.

Rybalka Ukrainian
Ukrainian surname meaning "fisherman". Derived from ryba "fish".

Rybkin Russian
From rybka, meaning "little fish".

Ryś Polish
Means "Lynx" in Polish.

Ryuen Japanese (Rare)
龍 (Ryuu) means "Dragon" and 円 (En) means "Circle, Round". En also can also mean "Garden" in this surname. ... [more]

Ryūjin Japanese
It means "Dragon God" or "Dragon King". Using the kanjis 龍 (ryuu, ryou, tatsu) meaning "dragon", and 神 (kami, jin or shin) meaning "god". It can be read as Tatsugami as well.

Ryumine Japanese
竜/龍 (Ryu) means "Dragon, Imperial" and 嶺,峰,峯 (Mine) means "Peak, Summit, Mountaintop".

Ryusaki Japanese
Ryu means "dragon" or "imperial" and Saki means "peninsula".

Ryuuen Japanese
Most common transcription of Ryuen, meaning "dragon garden".