Browse Submitted Surnames

Løkken Norwegian
Habitational name from any of numerous farmsteads so called. Derived from Old Norse lykkja "enclosure".

Lou Chinese
From Chinese 楼 (lóu) meaning "storey, level, building".

Ludwell English
From the Old English elements hlud meaning "famous, loud" and well meaning "well, spring, water hole"

Ma'ayan Hebrew (Rare)
Means "spring of water" or "fountain" in Hebrew, this is more common as a given name than a surname

Mac An Airchinnigh Irish
It literally means "son of the hereditary steward of church lands".

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

Maisonneuve French
Means "new house" in French.

Mamiya Japanese
From Japanese 真 (ma) meaning "true, genuine" or 茉 (ma) meaning "Arabian jasmine, white jasmine" combined with 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace".

Manera Italian
Either a habitational name from any of two places called Manera in the Italian provinces of Cuneo and Como, a nickname and perhaps a metonymic occupational name (from the dialect word manèra meaning "executioner's axe, cleaver" or from Italian manero "well-behaved, skilled"), or derived from the given name Mainiero (ultimately from Frankish Maginhari, composed of the Ancient Germanic elements magin "strength, might" and hari, heri "army").

Marugg Romansh
Derived from the given name Maurus, combined with the diminutive suffix -ugg. Another theory, however, derives this name from Late Latin maior domus "mayor of a palace" (compare Meyer 1).

Marui Japanese
"Round well".

Masui Japanese
From Japanese 増 (masu) meaning "increase" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".

Matsuhashi Japanese
松 (Matsu) means "pine" and 橋 (hashi) means "bridge".

Matsuhashi Japanese
From Japanese 松 (matsu) meaning "pine tree, fir tree" and 橋 (hashi) meaning "bridge".

Matsui Japanese
Matsu means "pine" and i means "well, mineshaft, pit".

Matsui Japanese
From Japanese 松 (matsu) meaning "pine tree, fir tree" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".

Mauer German, Jewish
Topographic name for someone who lived near a wall, Middle High German mure "wall".

Maxia Italian
Possibly from the dialectical term maxia "magic", or masia "farm, country house".

McInerney Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Gaelic Mac An Airchinnigh, meaning "son of the overseer (of church lands)".

Meanswell Popular Culture
Simply the English words "means well". This is the surname of the main protagonist of LazyTown, Stephanie Meanswell, as well as her uncle, Mayor Milford Meanswell.

Mecklenburg German, Jewish
Regional name for someone from this province in northern Germany. Derived from Old Saxon mikil "big, great" and burg "castle".

Meer German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from Late Latin maior domus "mayor of a palace" (compare Meyer 1).

Mercado Spanish
Topographic name for someone living by a market or metonymic occupational name for a market trader, from Spanish mercado meaning "market".

Meritee Estonian
Meritee is an Estonian surname meaning "sea road/causeway".

Merriott English
Either a habitational name from Merriott in Somerset. The placename may derive from Old English mere miere "mare" mere "pool" or gemære "boundary" and gæt "gate gap"... [more]

Michida Japanese
Michi means "path, road" and da means field, rice paddy".

Michikiyo Japanese
Michi means "path, road" and kiyo means "pure, clean".... [more]

Michishige Japanese
From Japanese 道 (michi) meaning "road" and 重 (shige) meaning "greater degree"

Michizoe Japanese
From the Japanese 道 (michi) "road," "way," "path" and 添 (zoe or soe) "addition," "add-on," "improvememnt."

Midōmaru Japanese (Rare)
From Japanese 御 (mi-), a prefix added to emphasize beauty, 堂 (dō) meaning "temple, shrine, hall", and 丸 (maru) meaning "circle, sphere", referring to a round land.

Milman English
From the old English word mylen meaning "mill" and mann meaning "man", which in this sense means a worker

Mitsuhashi Japanese
Mitsu means "three" and hashi means "bridge".

Mitsui Japanese
From the Japanese 三 (mi or san) and 井 (i) "well." The grammatical and phonetic add-on ツ (tsu) is not always included in this name's spelling.

Miya Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace".

Miyagi Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 城 (gi) meaning "castle".

Miyagishima Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace", 城 (ki) meaning "castle" and 島 (shima) meaning "island".

Miyahara Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 原 (hara) meaning "field, plain".

Miyahoshi Japanese
Miya means "shrine, temple, palace" and hoshi means "star".

Miyaichi Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "a shrine; a palace" and 一 (ichi) meaning "one".... [more]

Miyakuni Japanese
Miya means "Shrine, temple" and kuni "country".

Miyama Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 間 (ma) meaning "among, between". It can also be formed from 美 (mi) meaning "beautiful" or 深 (mi) meaning "deep, profound" and 山 (yama) meaning "mountain, hill".

Miyamizu Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" combined with 水 (mizu) meaning "water". A fictional bearer of this surname is Mitsuha Miyamizu (宮水 三葉) from the 2016 anime movie Your Name/Kimi no Na wa.

Miyamori Japanese
Miya means "shrine, temple" and mori means "forest".

Miyanichi Japanese
Miya means "temple, palace, shrine" and nichi means "sun, day".

Miyano Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".

Miyaoka Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 岡 (oka) meaning "ridge, hill".

Miyasaka Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 坂 or 阪 (saka) meaning "slope".

Miyasato Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 里 (sato) meaning "village".

Miyashima Japanese
Miya means "shrine, palace temple" and shima means "island".

Miyashiro Japanese
"Shrine Castle".

Miyatō Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 藤 (tō) meaning "wisteria".

Miyauchi Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 内 (uchi) meaning "inside".

Miyawaki Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 脇 (waki) meaning "side".

Miyazato Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 里 (sato) meaning "village".

Miyazawa Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 沢 or 澤 (sawa) meaning "marsh".

Mohler German (Swiss)
Derived from the Low German word möhl, meaning "mill." Variant of Müller.

Mõis Estonian
Mõis is an Estonian surname meaning "manor".

Mõisa Estonian
Mõisa is an Estonian surname meaning "manor".

Mõisaäär Estonian
Mõisaäär is an Estonian surname meaning "manor edge/periphery".

Molinaro Italian
Occupational name for a miller, derived from Italian mulino meaning "mill".

Molinarolo Italian
Probably from a person's occupation, with molino/mulino meaning "mill" in Italian. The second part may come from rullo, meaning "a roller" or "I roll."

Molyneux French
Possibly a habitational name from Moulineux, meaning "mill of the waters", or derives from the Old French name De Molines or De Moulins, meaning "mill". The surname has been linked to a large French family that settled in Lancashire from France.

Momoi Japanese
From Japanese 桃 (momo) meaning "peach" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".

Mon Japanese
Mon means "Gate".

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

Moorhouse English (British)
This derives from the surname Morehouse, with Old English mōr meaning "marsh", "fen" + hūs meaning "house".... [more]

Morabito Italian
Ultimately from Arabic مُرَابِط (murabit) "holy man, one who preaches in the street; soldier stationed in an outpost", from which comes Sicilian murabitu "moderate, sober" and murabbiu "teetotal".

Morehouse English
Habitational name from any of various places, for example Moorhouse in West Yorkshire, named from Old English mōr meaning "marsh", "fen" + hūs meaning "house".

Morii Japanese
Mori means "forest" and i means "well, mineshaft, pit".

Morimiya Japanese
Mori means "forest" and miya means "temple, shrine".

Moriya Japanese
From Japanese 守 (mori) meaning "watchman, keeper, caretaker" and 屋 (ya) meaning "house, dwelling".

Mosbrucker German
Topographic name for someone who lived by a bridge over a swamp, from Middle High German mos meaning "bog", "swamp" + brucke meaning "bridge".

Most Polish, Jewish
Topographic name from Slavic most meaning "bridge", or a habitational name from any of several places named with this word.

Motherwell Scottish
Means "person from Motherwell", North Lanarkshire ("Our Lady's well"). American artist Robert Motherwell (1915-1991) was a known bearer.

Motohashi Japanese
Moto means "origin" and hashi means "bridge". ... [more]

Motohashi Japanese
From Japanese 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin" and 橋 (hashi) meaning "bridge".

Moulton English
Derived from various places with the same name, for example in the counties of Cheshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Suffolk and North Yorkshire in England. It is either derived from the Old English given name Mūla, the Old Norse name Múli or Old English mūl meaning "mule" and tun meaning "enclosure, yard, town".

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

Muehlhauser Old High German
The German surname Müehlhauser is derived from the Middle High German words "mülle" and "hûs" which respectively mean mill and house. It is roughly translated to mean "mill-house" and is believed to have evolved from an individual who was either the owner of a mill or lived in a house attached to a mill in earlier times.

Mukai Japanese
From Japanese 向 (muka) meaning "facing, toward" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".

Mukaichi Japanese
From 向 (muka) meaning "towards", 井 (i) meaning "mineshaft, well, pit", and 地 (chi) meaning "earth, ground, land, destinations".... [more]

Muldoon Irish
From Irish Gaelic Ó Maoldúin "descendant of Maoldún", a personal name meaning literally "chief fortress".

Murahashi Japanese
Mura means "village, hamlet" and hashi means "bridge".

Murai Japanese
From Japanese 村 (mura) meaning "town, village" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".

Muraji Japanese
Mura can mean "village, hamlet" or "town", and ji can mean "road" or "ground".

Murdmaa Estonian
Murdmaa is an Estonian surname meaning "off-road" (literally, "fraction(al) land").

Murillo Spanish
Habitational name for someone from any of various locations called Murillo, so named from a diminutive of Spanish muro meaning "wall".

Muro Japanese
Muro means "room".

Muroi Japanese
From Japanese 室 (muro) meaning "room" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".

Muroya Japanese
From Japanese 室 (muro) meaning "room" and 屋 (ya) meaning "shop".

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

Mushakouji Japanese
From Japanese 武 (mu) meaning "military", 者 (sha) meaning "person", 小 (kou) meaning "small" and 路 (ji) meaning "street".

Mushanokouji Japanese
From Japanese 武 (mu) meaning "military", 者 (sha) meaning "person", an unwritten possessive marker の (no), 小 (kou) meaning "small" and 路 (ji) meaning "street".

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.

Müür Estonian
Müür is an Estonian surname meaning "wall".

Müürikivi Estonian
Müürikivi is an Estonian surname meaning "wall stone".

Müüripeal Estonian
Müüripeal is an Estonian surname derived from the compounds "müür" (wall) and "peal" (atop, above); "above wall".

Müürisepp Estonian
Müürisepp is an Estonian surname meaning "brick mason" (literally: "wall smith").

Myllymäki Finnish
Combination of Finnish mylly "mill" and mäki "hill, slope".

Nagai Japanese
From Japanese 長 (naga) meaning "long" or 永 (naga) meaning "eternity" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".

Nagato Japanese (Rare)
There might be different readings, but one is Naga meaning "chief" and to meaning "gate".... [more]

Nai Japanese
From Japanese 名 (na) meaning "name, famous; reputation" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".

Nakajo Japanese
From 中 (naka) meaning "middle" and 城 (jo) meaning "castle".

Narumiya Japanese
From Japanese 成 (naru) meaning "become" and 宮 (miya) meaning "palace, constellation".

Narutaki Japanese
Naru means "become" and taki means "fountain".

Naughton English
Habitational name from a place in Suffolk, named in Old English with nafola meaning "navel" + tūn meaning "enclosure", "settlement", i.e. "settlement in the navel or depression".

Netherton English
The Netherton surname is derived from the Old English "neothera," meaning "lower," and "tun," meaning "enclosure," or "settlement." It is a habitational name derived from any of several places so named, such as one in Northumberland, and one in Worcestershire.

Neuhauser German, German (Austrian)
Means "new house" in German.

Neukirch German, German (Swiss)
Derived from the Middle High German niuwe meaning "new" and kirch meaning "church".

Newbrough English (British)
Newbrough surname is thought to be a habitational, taken on from a place name such as from Newbrough in Northumberland, which is derived from the Old English words niwe, meaning "new," and burh, meaning "fortification."

Newey English
Topographic name for someone who lived at a "new enclosure", from Middle English newe "new" and haga "enclousire".

Newhouse English
Either a habitational name for someone who lived at a "new house" (from Middle English niwe "new" and hus "new house") or a habitational name from any of various minor places so called especially perhaps Newhouses in Horton Yorkshire near the border with Lancashire... [more]

Niemitalo Finnish
Finnish surname derived from the words "Niemi" meaning "peninsula,cape" and "talo" meaning "house"

Nieuwenhuis Dutch
Means "new house" in Dutch. Indicated that the bearer lived in a new house or lived in a village of the same name

Niidera Japanese (Rare)
From Japanese 新 (nii-) meaning "temple" and 寺 (dera), the joining form of 寺 (tera) meaning "temple".

Nikaido Japanese (Rare, ?)
From japanese kanji 二 (ni) meaning "two", 階 (kai) meaning "floor, storey" combined with 堂 (dō) meaning "temple". The last name is a name of a clan of Japanese samurai that ruled the Iwase District of Mutsu Province during the Sengoku period during the Kamakura era... [more]

Nikaidō Japanese
From Japanese 二 (ni) meaning "two", 階 (kai) meaning "floor, storey" and 堂 (dō) meaning "temple, shrine".

Ninomiya Japanese
From Japanese 二 (ni) meaning "two", ノ (no), a possessive marker, and 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace".

Nishidate Japanese
From Japanese 西 (nishi) meaning "west" and 舘 (tate) meaning "mansion, large building, palace".

Nishii Japanese
Nishi means "west" and i means "well, pit, mineshaft".

Nishii Japanese
From Japanese 西 (nishi) meaning "west" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".

Nishimiya Japanese
From Japanese 西 (nishi) meaning "west" and 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace".

Norrell English, German (?)
A locational surname from the Germanic (Old English/Old Norse) term for the north. It either refers to someone who lived in a location called Northwell, lived north of a well, spring or stream (Old English weall)... [more]

Northcott English
Derived from the Old English words "norð," meaning "north," and "cot," meaning a "cottage," or "shelter."

Northey English
Habitational name from Northay in Hawkchurch Devon. The placename derives from Middle English north "north northern" and heie "fence enclosure hedge" (Old English norþ (ge)hæg)... [more]

Northway English
Habitational name from one or more of the minor places called with Middle English bi northe weie "(place) to the north of the way or road" from the elements norþ "north" and weg "way" including Northway in Monkleigh Widecombe in the Moor and Parkham Norway in Whitestone Narraway in Drewsteignton (all Devon) and Northway in Halse (Somerset)... [more]

Noto Japanese
No means "wilderness, field, plain" and to means "wisteria" or "door".

Ogorodnikov Russian
From Russian огородник (ogorodnik) meaning "truck farmer, market gardener".

Ōhashi Japanese
From Japanese 大 (o) meaning "big, great" and 橋 (hashi) meaning "bridge".

Oi Japanese
From Japanese 大 (ō) meaning "big, great" and 井 (i) meaning "well, spring".

Oikonomos Greek
Means "housekeeper, steward" from the Greek word οἰκόνομος (oikonomos), derived from οἶκος (oikos) "house, household" and νόμος (nomos) "law, custom"... [more]

Okai Japanese
Oka means "mound, hill" and i means "well, mineshaft, pit".

Okuhashi Japanese
Oku means "inside, interior" and hashi means "bridge".

Okui Japanese
Oku means "interior, inside" and i means "well, mineshaft, pit".

Okumuş Turkish
Means "educated, well-read" in Turkish.

Ōkura Japanese
From Japanese 大 (ō) meaning "big, great" and 倉 (kura) or 蔵 (kura) both meaning "granary, storehouse".

Okuro Japanese
O means "big, large" and kuro means "castle".

Onodera Japanese
From Japanese 小 (o) meaning "small", 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness" and 寺 (tera) meaning "temple".

Oosterhuis Dutch
Oosterhuis is a Dutch surname meaning "eastern house".

Oudenhoven Dutch
Derived from Dutch oude "old" and hoeve "farm; farmstead; manor". As a surname it is derived from one of the many places of this name, for example in Menen, Passendale, Steenvoorde, Steenwerk, Broekburg or Godewaardsvelde.

Övall Swedish (Rare)
Combination of Swedish ö "island" and vall "wall, pasture, field of grass".

Ōya Japanese
From Japanese 大 (ō) meaning "big, great" and 屋 (ya) meaning "roof, house, shop".

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.

Pais Estonian
Pais is an Estonian surname meaning "dam" and "dike".

Palacio Spanish
Palacio is derived from the Spanish word "palaciao," meaning a "palace," and as a surname, was no doubt taken on by someone who lived near a palace or mansion, or perhaps by someone who worked there.

Palau Catalan
From palau meaning "palace", "mansion".

Palliser English
Means "maker of palings and fences" (from a derivative of Old French palis "palisade"). In fiction, the Palliser novels are a series of six political novels by Anthony Trollope, beginning with 'Can You Forgive Her?' (1864) and ending with 'The Duke's Children' (1880), in which the Palliser family plays a central role.

Parr English
From a place so named in England. Derived from Old English pearr "enclosure".

Paudel Nepali
From Nepali पौडी (paudi) possibly referring to the town of Pauri in Uttarakhand, India, combined with आलय (alaya) meaning "house, dwelling".

Peebles Scottish, Spanish (?)
Habitational name from places so named in Scotland. The place names are cognate with Welsh pebyll "tent, pavilion".

Penley English
habitational name from Penleigh in Dilton Wiltshire. The place name probably derives from Old English penn "fold enclosure" or perhaps Celtic penn "head" and Old English leah "wood woodland clearing"... [more]

Pennyworth English
From Old English pening, penig meaning "penny (the coin)" and worþ meaning "enclosure". A notable fictional bearer is Alfred Pennyworth, a DC Comics character notable for being the butler of the superhero Batman.

Philbrick English (British)
English (southeastern): probably a habitational name from Felbrigg in Norfolk named with Old Norse fjǫl “board plank” + Old English brycg “bridge”.... [more]

Phomvihane Lao
From Lao ພົມ (phom) referring to the Hindu god Brahma and ວິຫານ (vihane) meaning "temple, sanctuary". A notable bearer was Kaysone Phomvihane (1920-1992), the second president of Laos.

Pijnenburg Dutch
From the name of an estate or hamlet called Pijnenburg in the town of Soest in Utrecht, the Netherlands, composed of Middle Dutch pijn meaning "pine tree" and burg meaning "fortress, manor, mansion".

Pınar Turkish
Means "spring, fountain" in Turkish.

Plevneliev Bulgarian
From the Bulgarian name for the Greek village of Petroussa (called Plevnya in Bulgarian), itself derived from Bulgarian плевня (plevnya) meaning "barn". A notable bearer is Bulgarian president Rosen Plevneliev (1964-).

Poltimore English (Rare)
Rare English surname derived from a Devon place name of Celtic origin, allegedly meaning “pool by the large house”.

Pontiff French
Means "bridge builder". Comes from the French word pont, which means bridge. ... [more]

Poortman Dutch
Occupational name for a gatekeeper or topographic name for someone who lived near the gates of a fortified town, from Dutch poort meaning "gate" and man meaning "man".

Porta Romansh
Derived from Romansh porta "door".

Portanova Italian, Portuguese, Galician
Habitational name from a place or locality called Portanova "new gate" from the elements neos "new" and porta "door".

Porteous Scottish
A topographic surname for someone who lived in the lodge at the entrance to a manor house, derived from Middle English port, meaning "gateway" or "entrance", and hous meaning "house". It can also be an occupational name with similar meaning, derived from Latin portarius meaning "porter"... [more]

Portmann German
Occupational name for a gatekeeper, derived from Middle Low German port(e) meaning "gate" and man, or a topographic name for someone who lived near the gates of a fortified town.

Pozo Spanish (Caribbean)
Means "well", as in wishing well

Puentes Spanish
Means "bridges" in Spanish. Originated from "puente". The surname was first found in the valley of the Trucios in the Basque region of Spain.However, families with this surname have been present in Catalonia for hundreds of years... [more]

Puusild Estonian
Puusild is an Estonian surname meaning "wood bridge".

Pyrgos Greek
Means "tower" in Greek. Pyrgos is a city in the northwestern Peloponnese, Greece, capital of the regional unit of Elis.

Quaderer German
Nickname for someone stocky, from Middle High German quader meaning "building stone".

Quán Chinese
From Chinese 泉 (quán) meaning "fountain, spring".

Qvarnström Swedish
Combination of Swedish kvarn meaning "mill" and ström meaning "stream".

Räästas Estonian
Räästas is an Estonian surname meaning "eaves".

Rackham English
Means "person from Rackham", Sussex ("homestead or enclosure with ricks"). This surname was borne by British watercolourist and book illustrator Arthur Rackham (1867-1939).

Raum German
From German meaning "room, space".

Ree Estonian
Ree is an Estonian surname possibly derived from "rehi" meaning "barn".

Reemets Estonian
Reemets is an Estonian surname possibly derived from "rehi" meaning "barn" and "mets" meaning "forest".

Rehi Estonian
Rehi is an Estonian surname meaning "threshing barn".

Rei Estonian
Rei is an Estonian surname possibly derived from "reis", meaning "travel" and "journey" and "reid" meaning "road".

Reimets Estonian
Reimets is an Estonian surname possibly derived from "raie" ("cutting" and "felling trees") and "mets", meaning forest. Possibly a corruption of "reid" ("road" and "roadstead") and ""mets" ("forest").

Reitalu Estonian
Reitalu is an Estonian surname derived from "reid" meaning "road" and "talu" meaning "farm/farmstead".

Reiväli Estonian
Reiväli is an Estonian surname meaning "road/roadstead field".

Reller German (Swiss)
Occupational name for a miller, derived from the Swiss German dialect term relle meaning "grist mill".

Rideout English
Means "outrider (a municipal or monastic official in the Middle Ages whose job was to ride around the country collecting dues and supervising manors)".

Riihimäki Finnish
Derived from Riihimäki, a town and municipality in southern Finland, meaning "drying barn hill" in Finnish.

Riseborough English
Denoted a person hailing from any of the various places called Risborough, Riseborough or Risbury in England, derived from Old English hrīs meaning "brushwood" and beorg meaning "hill, mound", or from hrīs and burh meaning "fortification"... [more]

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).

Rodman English
The surname Rodman is an ancient English surname, derived from a trade name, "men who were by the tenure or customs of their lands to ride with or for the lord of the manor about his business". The most famous bearer of this name is the basketball player Dennis Rodman.

Rodwell English
Rodwell, a name of Anglo-Saxon origin, is a locational surname deriving from any one of various places in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Kent, England. In English, the meaning of the name Rodwell is "Lives by the spring near the road".

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]

Rootare Estonian
Rootare is an Estonian surname meaning "reed hut/house".

Routin French
From French route meaning "road".

Ruacho Spanish (Mexican)
Possibly from rúa, "street".

Rudyard English
From the location Rudyard (Staffs) which is recorded as Rudegeard in 100 The place-name probably derives from Old English rude "rue" and geard "enclosure yard".

Rushdie Kashmiri (Rare)
Derived from Arabic رَشَدَ (rašada) meaning "to go the right way, to follow the right course" or "to be well guided" (related to the given names Rashad and Rashid)... [more]

Saal Estonian
Saal is an Estonian surname meaning "hall".

Saavedra Spanish
Derived from the place-name Saavedra and therefore signifies "descendant or son of one from Saavedra". The place-name Saavedra is located in the north western province of Lugo in Galicia, Spain and is believed to be derived from the elements "Saa" meaning "Hall" and "Vedra" (feminine) meaning "Old".

Sackhoff German
Occupational name for a farmer who cultivated land to grow plants, particularly crops, derived from Middle High German sack meaning "sack, end of a valley, area of cultivation" and hof meaning "farmstead, manor, farm"... [more]

Sahara Japanese
From Japanese 左 (sa), a clipping of 左衛門尉 (saemon-no-jō) meaning "judge of senior gate guards" and 原 (hara) meaning "meadow; plain; field".

Sahashi Japanese
From Japanese 佐 (sa) meaning "help, aid" and 橋 (hashi) meaning "bridge".

Sahlin Swedish
Swedish sal "hall, large room" (possibly from a place name containing this element) combined with the common surname suffix -in.

Saijō Japanese
From Japanese 西 (sai) meaning "west" and 城 (jō) meaning "castle".

Saionji Japanese
Japanese surname derived from the kanji for "west", "park, garden" and "Buddhist temple".

Sakai Japanese
From Japanese 坂 or 阪 (saka) meaning "slope" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".

Sakai Japanese
From Japanese 酒 (saka) meaning "alcohol" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".

Sakei Japanese
Sake means "liquor" and I means "well, mineshaft".

Sakurai Japanese
From the Japanese 桜 or 櫻 (sakura) "cherry blossom" or 桃 (sakura or momo) "peach" and 井 (i) "well."

Sakurai Japanese
From Japanese 桜, 櫻 (sakura) meaning "cherry blossom" combined with 井 (i) meaning "well." A notable bearer of this surname is Takahiro Sakurai (櫻井 孝宏), a Japanese voice-actor who is best known for voicing Izuru Kira from Bleach, Kiyomaro Takamine from Zatch Bell, and Ja'far from the Magi series.

Sakurai Japanese
From Japanese 桜 or 櫻 (sakura) meaning "cherry blossom" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".

Sakuramiya Japanese
From Japanese 桜, 櫻 (sakura) meaning "cherry blossom" combined with 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace".

Sakurayashiki Japanese (Rare)
From Japanese 桜 (sakura) meaning "cherry blossom" and 屋敷 (yashiki) meaning "estate; grounds; mansion; compound; residence".... [more]

Salas Spanish, Galician, Aragonese, Portuguese, Catalan, Asturian
Habitational name from places named with salas, plural form of sala, meaning "room, hall" in Spanish and Asturian. Also an anglicized form of the Hungarian name SZÁLAS "tall".

Samon Japanese (Rare)
This surname combines 左 (sa, sha, hidari) meaning "left" or 佐 (sa) meaning "assistant, help" with 門 (mon, kado, to) meaning "gate."... [more]

Sandvall Swedish
Combination of Swedish sand "sand" and vall "wall, pasture, field of grass".

Sasai Japanese
Sasa means "bamboo grass" and i means "well, mineshaft, pit".

Satomiya Japanese (Rare)
From Japanese 里 (sato) meaning "village" and 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace".

Sawai Japanese
Sawa means "marsh, swamp" and i means "mineshaft, pit, well."

Sawai Japanese
From Japanese 沢 or 澤 (sawa) meaning "marsh" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".

Sawashiro Japanese
From Japanese 沢 (sawa) meaning "marsh" and 城 (shiro) meaning "castle".

Saxton English
Habitational name from a place in West Yorkshire, possibly also one in Cambridgeshire, both so named from Old English Seaxe "Saxons" and tūn "enclosure, settlement".

Scala Italian, Greek
Habitational or topographic name from any of various places named with scala, "ladder", "steps", "wharf".

Scarborough English
Habitational name from Scarborough on the coast of North Yorkshire, so named from the Old Norse byname Skarði + Old Norse borg "fortress", "fortified town".

Schild Jewish
From German Schild "shield", "(house) sign", applied either as an ornamental name or as a habitational name for someone who lived in a house distinguished by a sign.

Seabridge English
It means "sea bridge".

Seehuus Norwegian
Norwegian for "house by the sea."

Sellmeyer German
Occupational name for the steward of a hall or manor house from Middle High German sal "hall residence" and meier "steward" (see Meyer 1).

Selmer German
Teutonic name meaning "hall master" for a steward or keeper of a large home or settlement.

Selwyn English
from the Middle English personal name Selewin (Old English Selewine perhaps from sele "manor" or sǣl "happiness prosperity" and wine "friend")... [more]

Seto Japanese
Se means "riffle" and to means "door". ... [more]

Shibuimaru Japanese
From Japanese 渋 (''shibu'') "unripe persimmon juice", 井 (''i'') "well" and 丸 (''maru'') "circle".

Shijou Japanese
From Japanese 市 (shi) meaning "market, town", 四 (shi) meaning "four" or 砥 (shi) meaning "whetstone"; combined with 場 (jou) meaning "place", 條 (jou) meaning "article, twig, ray", 条 (jou) with the same meaning as the previous one, or 上 (jou) meaning "above".

Shimai Japanese
Shima means "island" and i means "well, pit, mineshaft".

Shimoyashiki Japanese (Rare)
From Japanese 下 (shimo) meaning "lower, downstream" and 屋敷 (yashiki) meaning "mansion", referring to a mansion in the lowlands.

Shindō Japanese
From Japanese 新 (shin) meaning "new", 進 (shin) meaning "advance, progress", 信 (shin) meaning "trust, faith", or 真 (shin) meaning "truth, reality" combined with 藤 (dō) meaning "wisteria" or 堂 (dō) meaning "temple, shrine".

Shinkura Japanese
From 新 (shin, ara, nii) meaning "fresh, new" and 蔵 (kura) or 倉 (kura) meaning "possess, storehouse, granary".

Shintaku Japanese
From Japanese 新 (shin) meaning "fresh, new" and 宅 (taku) meaning "house, home".

Shipton English
From Old English scip "sheep", and tun "enclosure; settlement".

Shiroi Japanese
Shrio means "white" and i means "well, pit, mineshaft".

Shishido Japanese
From Japanese 宍 (shishi) meaning "meat, flesh" and 戸 (to) meaning "door".

Shockley English
(i) perhaps "person from Shocklach", Cheshire ("boggy stream infested with evil spirits"); (ii) perhaps an anglicization of Swiss German Schoechli, literally "person who lives by the little barn"

Shōji Japanese
From Japanese 庄 (shō) meaning "manor, villa" and 司 (ji) meaning "officer, boss".

Siddi Italian
From the name of a municipality in Sardinia, possibly deriving from Vulgar Latin casilli "huts, farmhouses".

Sild Estonian
Sild is an Estonian name meaning "bridge".

Sildaru Estonian
Sildaru is an Estonian surname meaning "bridge meadow".

Silla Estonian
Silla is an Estonian surname meaning "bridges".

Sillajõe Estonian
Sillajõe is an Estonian surname meaning "river bridge".

Sillamaa Estonian
Sillamaa is an Estonian surname meaning "bridge land".

Sillamäe Estonian
Sillamäe is an Estonian surname meaning "bridge hill/mountain".

Sillaots Estonian
Sillaots is an Estonian surname meaning "bridge end".

Sillasoo Estonian
Sillasoo is an Estonian surname meaning "bridge swamp/marsh".

Sillaste Estonian
Sillaste is an Estonian surname meaning "pertaining to bridges".

Sokić Croatian
Derived from Turksh sokak, meaning "street". The word is still used in Croatian meaning "little street, alley". Most people with this surname live in Cernik, Croatia.

Somwong Thai
From Thai สม (som) meaning "suitable, well-matched" and วงศ์ or วงษ์ (wong) meaning "lineage, family, dynasty".

Søndergaard Danish
Habitational name from sønder "southern" and gård "enclosure", "farm".

Sotohebo Japanese (Rare)
From Japanese 外枦保 (Sotohebo), a clipping of 外枦保門 (Sotohebomon) meaning "Sotohebo Gate", a name of a group of several households in the Kadowari System that took place in the Edo Period in the former Japanese province of Satsuma in parts of present-day Kagoshima, Japan, as well as surrounding areas.

Southwell English
English surname meaning "From the south well"

Southworth English
Means "southern enclosure".

Spector Jewish
From Polish szpektor meaning "teacher's assistant (in a Jewish school)", ultimately from inspektor meaning "supervisor".

Spring German
From Middle High German sprinc, Middle Low German sprink "spring, well", hence a topographic name for someone who lived by a spring or well, or habitational name from Springe near Hannover.

Springborn German
Derived from Middle Low German sprinkborn meaning "spring, well", hence either a nickname for someone who lived by a spring or a water well, or from various place names in Germany.

Stackhouse English
habitational name from Stackhouse in Giggleswick (Yorkshire) from Old Norse stakkr "stack pile rick" and hus "house".

Steger German
From a derivative of Middle High German stec "steep path or track, narrow bridge". The name was likely given to someone living close to a path or small bridge.

Steinhagen German
Derived from Old High German stein "stone" and hag "enclosure, hedge, pasture".

Stekelenburg Dutch
Derived from Middle Dutch stekel meaning "prickle, stickle, spine, spike" and burg meaning "fortress". A famous bearer is the retired Dutch soccer goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg (1982-).

Stenson English
From the name of a hamlet (now called Twyford and Stenson) in Derbyshire, England. The name is a combination of the Old Norse name Steinn and Old English tun "settlement, enclosure".

Steurer German
Occupational name for someone who collects taxes from Middle High German stiurære "court assistant, tax collector".

Steward English
Occupational name for an administrative official of an estate or steward, from Old English stig "house" and weard "guard".

Stockton English
Habitational surname for a person from any of the places (e.g. Cheshire, County Durham, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Shropshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire, and North and West Yorkshire) so called from Old English stocc "tree trunk" or stoc "dependent settlement" + tun "enclosure", "settlement".

Stonehouse English
From Middle English ston stan "stone" (Old English stan) and house "house" (Old English hus)... [more]

Stonestreet English
Topographic name for someone who lived by a paved road, in most cases a Roman road, from Middle English stane, stone, "stone" and street "paved highway", "Roman road".

Stradivari Italian
Italian surname of uncertain origin, either from the plural of Lombard stradivare meaning "toll-man" or from strada averta meaning "open road" in the Cremonese dialect. A famous bearer was Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737), a violin-maker of Cremona.

Strasburg German
It is derived from the Old Germanic phrase "an der Strasse," which literally means "on the street." Thus, the original bearer of this name was most likely someone whose residence was located on a street.

Strassberg Jewish
Ornamental name composed of German Strasse "street" and Berg "mountain, hill".

Strassmann German, Jewish
Topographic name for someone living on a main street, from Middle High German strasse, German Strasse "street, road" and man "man".

Sugai Japanese
From Japanese 菅 (suga) meaning "sedge" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".

Suichi Japanese
Su means "oil" and ichi means "market".

Summerhays English
Probably means "person living by a summer enclosure (where animals were grazed on upland pastures in the summer)" (from Middle English sumer "summer" + hay "enclosure").

Suurvärav Estonian
Suurvärav is an Estonian surname meaning "big gate/door".

Suzushiro Japanese
From 鈴 (suzu) meaning "bell, chime" and 城 (shiro) meaning "castle".

Swinton English, Scottish
From various place names composed of Old English swin "pig, wild boar" and tun "settlement, enclosure".

Tabernero Spanish
Tabernero is a Spanish-language occupational surname literally meaning "tavern keeper".

Tachikura Japanese
Tachi means "stand" and kura means "granary, storehouse, warehouse, have, possess".

Tadayashiki Japanese (Rare)
Combination of Kanji Characters 多 meaning "many" and 田 meaning "rice field", and 屋 and 敷, 屋敷 meaning "great house".

Takagaki Japanese
From Japanese 高 (taka) meaning "high" and 垣 (gaki) meaning "fence".

Takai Japanese
From the Japanese 高 (taka) "high," "expensive" and 井 (i) "well."

Takakura Japanese
From Japanese 高 (taka) meaning "tall, high" and 倉 (kura) meaning "granary, storehouse".

Takamiya Japanese
From Japanese 高 (taka) meaning "tall, high" and 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace".

Takei Japanese
From Japanese 武 (take) meaning "military, martial" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".

Takei Japanese
From Japanese 竹 (take) meaning "bamboo" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".

Takemiya Japanese
From Japanese 竹 (take) meaning "bamboo" and 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace".

Takezo Japanese
Take means "bamboo" and zo means "castle".

Tall Estonian
Tall is an Estonian surname meaning both "lamb" and "stable/barn".

Tamai Japanese
From the Japanese 玉 (tama) "ball," "bundle" and 井 (i) "well."

Tamaki Japanese
From Japanese 玉 (tama) meaning "jewel, ball, sphere" combined with 城 (ki) meaning "castle", 置 (ki) meaning "put, place, set", or 木 (ki) meaning "tree, wood".

Tamashiro Japanese
Means "jewel castle" or "ball castle" in Japanese. From the Japanese words 玉 (jewel, ball) and 城 (castle). This surname is of Okinawan origin.

Tamiya Japanese (Rare)
Tamiya means "rice field palace". See also Miyata

Tammeveski Estonian
Tammeveski is an Estonian surname meaning "oak mill".

Tammjärv Estonian
Tammjärv is an Estonian surname meaning "oak lake" and "dam/levee lake".

Tammus Estonian
Tammus is an Estonian surname derived from "tamm" meaning both "oak" and "dam".

Tamon Japanese (Rare)
This surname is used as 多門, 多聞 or 田門 with 多 (ta, oo.i, masa.ni, masa.ru) meaning "frequent, many, much", 田 (den, ta) meaning "rice field/paddy", 門 (mon, kado, to) meaning "gate" and 聞 (bun, mon, ki.ku, ki.koeru) meaning "ask, hear, listen."... [more]

Tänav Estonian
Tänav is an Estonian surname meaning "street".