Browse Submitted Surnames

Keyworth English
Habitational name from Keyworth in Nottinghamshire. The place name derives from an uncertain initial element (perhaps Old English ca "jackdaw") and Old English worþ "enclosure".

Khrushchev Russian
Derived from Russian хрущ (khrushch) meaning "cockchafer" or "May beetle".

Khumalo Zulu, Ndebele, South African
Zulu and Ndebele clan name meaning "descendant of the fish tribe".

Kidwell Welsh, English
The origins of this surname are uncertain, but it may be derived from Middle English kidel "fish weir", denoting a person who lived by a fish weir or made his living from it, or from an English place called Kiddal, probably meaning "Cydda's corner of land" from the Old English given name Cydda and halh "nook or corner of land".

Kierkegaard Danish
Means "farm near the church" from elements kirke meaning "church" and gaard meaning "farm." A famous bearer is Søren Aabye Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher, theologian, poet, social critic and religious author who is widely considered to be the first existentialist philosopher.

Kiil Estonian
Kiil is an Estonian surname meaning "keel", "wedge (tool)", and "frog".

Kikkas Estonian
Kikkas is an Estonian surname, derived from "kikas", meaning "rooster".

Kilgore Scottish
Habitational name for someone from Kilgour in Fife, named with the Gaelic coille "wood" and gobhar, gabhar "goat".

Kılıçaslan Turkish
From Turkish kılıç meaning "sword" and aslan meaning "lion".

Kirchofer German
German topographic name for someone living near a churchyard, or habitational name for the proprietor or tenant of a farm named as "Church Farm", from Middle High German kirche "church" + hof "farmstead", "manor farm".

Kishka Ukrainian
Means "Cat" in Ukrainian.

Kitley English
Derived from a place name in Devonshire, England, and was first recorded in the form of Kitelhey in 1305.... [more]

Kits Estonian
Kits is an Estonian surname meaning "goat".

Kiuru Finnish, Karelian
"lark (bird)"

Knatchbull English
A nickname from Old English knatch "to strike" + bull "bull", indicating strength.

Kocur Ukrainian
means "tom cat" or "male cat"

Kogane Japanese (Rare)
This surname is used as 黄金, 小金, 古金, 子金, 故金 or 小賀根 with 黄 (ou, kou, ki, ko-) meaning "yellow", 小 (shou, o-, ko-, sa-, chii.sai) meaning "little, small", 古 (ko, furu-, furu.i, -fu.rusu) meaning "old", 子 (shi, su, tsu, ko, -ko, -ne) meaning "child, sign of the rat (1st sign of Chinese zodiac", 故 (ko, furu.i, moto, yue) meaning "cause, circumstances, consequently, especially, happenstance, intentionally, reason, the late, therefore", 賀 (ga) meaning "congratulations, joy", 根 (kon, ne, -ne) meaning "head (pimple), radical, root" and 金 (kin, kon, gon, kana-, kane, -gane) meaning "gold."... [more]

Koha Estonian
Koha is an Estonian surname meaning "pike-perch (fish)".

Kohlhaas German
Apparently a nickname from Middle Low German kōlhase, literally "cabbage rabbit".

Kōja Japanese (Rare)
From Japanese 紅 (kō) meaning "crimson; vivid red" and 蛇 (ja) meaning "snake; serpent".

Kokoszka Polish
Nickname for a fussy or broody person, from kokoszka "laying hen".

Kokotović Croatian, Serbian
From the Slavic word kokot meaning "rooster, cock".

Komagata Japanese
Ko could mean "little, small" or "old". Ma could mean "genuine, real" or "horse". Gata could come from kata meaning "shape, form".

Konks Estonian
Konks is an Estonian surname meaning "hook", "swan neck", and "trammel".

Konksi Estonian
Konksi is an Estonian surname derived from "konks" meaning "hook", "swan neck" and "trammel".

Konn Estonian
Konn is an Estonian surname meaning "frog".

Kontio Finnish
Means "bear, bruin" in Finnish.

Korp Estonian
Korp is an Estonian surname meaning both "rough/outer bar" and "raven".

Korshunov Russian
From a nickname derived from Russian коршун (korshun) meaning "kite (a type of bird)".

Koshkov Russian (Rare)
Possibly from Russian кошка (koshka) "cat".

Koška Belarusian
Derived from Belarusian кошка (koška) meaning "cat".

Kot Polish, Slovak, Czech, Belarusian, Jewish, German
From a personal name or nickname based on Slavic kot "tom cat".

Kotkas Estonian
Kotkas is an Estonian surname, meaning "eagle".

Kõuts Estonian
Kõuts is an Estonian surname meaning "cat" (also, in Estonian "Kass") or "tomcat".

Koyuncu Turkish
Means "sheep farmer" in Turkish.

Krabi Estonian
Krabi is an Estonian surname meaning "crab".

Krah German
Nickname from Middle High German kra "crow" given to someone who resembles a crow.

Krahe German, Spanish
From the German word Krähe, meaning "crow".... [more]

Krähenbühl German (Swiss)
Combination of German Krähen "crow" and Bühl "hill".

Krasa Thai (Rare)
Means "heron, stork" in Thai.

Krasniqi Albanian
The name "Krasniqi" is of Albanian linguistic origin. The exact historical origin and meaning of the surname "Krasniqi" can vary, but it's believed to be related to the Albanian word "kërsenik" or "kërseniku," which means "blackbird" or "thrush."

Kray German
Variant of Krah nickname for someone who resembled a crow from Middle High German kra "crow".

Krebsbach German
From a place name meaning "crab stream" in German.

Krey German
Nickname from Middle Low German krege "crow".

Krolikov Russian
Patronymic surname derived from Russian кролик (krolik) meaning "male rabbit".

Kruczynski Polish
Derived from the polish diminutive of kruk meaning “raven”.

Krukowski Polish
Name for someone from any of various places called Kruki, Kruków or Krukowo, all derived from Polish kruk meaning "raven".

Krull Estonian
Krull is an Estonian surname possibly derived from "kull" meaning "hawk".

Kruup Estonian
Kruup is an Estonian surname meaning "goat".

Krysin Belarusian, Russian, Ukrainian
Derived from Russian крыса (krysa) meaning "rat".

Kujira Japanese (Rare)
Kujira is an uncommon Japanese surname and first name that literally means "whale".

Kulasinghe Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit कुल (kula) meaning "family" and सिंह (sinha) meaning "lion".

Kull Estonian
Kull is an Estonian surname meaning "hawk".

Kuma Japanese
Kuma could mean "bear", or it could be written with ku meaning "long lasting, long time ago" and ma meaning "horse" or "flax".

Kumada Japanese
From Japanese 熊 (kuma) meaning "bear" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".

Kumai Japanese
From Japanese 熊 (kuma) meaning "bear" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".

Kumaki Japanese (Rare)
The kanji in Anri Kumaki's name reads, Kuma ("Bear") + Ki ("Tree"). She is a singer and songwriter. There might be other combinations too, probably being , Ku ("Long Time") + Maki 1 ("Shepard").

Kumakura Japanese
From Japanese 熊 (kuma) meaning "bear" and 倉 (kura) meaning "granary, storehouse".

Kumano Japanese
Kuma means "bear" and no means "field, wilderness, plain".

Kumarasinghe Sinhalese
From Sanskrit कुमार (kumara) meaning "boy, prince" and सिंह (sinha) meaning "lion".

Kumasaka Japanese
From Japanese 熊 (kuma) meaning "bear" and 坂 (saka) meaning "slope".

Kumasawa Japanese
Kuma means "bear" and sawa means "swamp, marsh".

Kumasawa Japanese
From Japanese 熊 (kuma) meaning "bear" and 沢 or 澤 (sawa) meaning "marsh".

Kumashiro Japanese
Kuma means "bear" and shiro can mean "white" or "castle".

Kurama Japanese
Kura can mean "own, possess, warehouse, storehouse" and ma can mean "horse".

Kurg Estonian
Kurg is an Estonian surname meaning "stork".

Kuritsyn Russian
Derived from Russian курица (kuritsa) meaning "chicken".

Kuroko Japanese (Rare)
Kuro means "black" and ko means "child, sign of the rat". ... [more]

Kurt Turkish
Means "wolf" in Turkish.

Kurtoğlu Turkish
Means "son of the wolf" from Turkish kurt meaning "wolf".

Kuş Turkish
Means "bird" in Turkish.

Kuşçu Turkish
Occupational name for a breeder, seller or trainer of birds, from Turkish kuş meaning "bird".

Kushwaha Indian
Kushwaha (sometimes, Kushvaha) is a community of the Indo-Gangetic plain which has traditionally been involved in agriculture. The term has been used to represent at least four subcastes, being those of the Kachhis, Kachwahas, Koeris and Muraos... [more]

Kutz Polish
Germanized form of Polish Kuc "pony", "short person".

Kuular Tuvan
Derived from Tuvan куу (kuu) meaning "swan" or "gray". Names bearing unfavourable meanings were traditionally used by Tuvans to ward off evil spirits.

Kuwako Japanese
Kuwa means "mulberry tree" and ko means "child, sign of the rat, first of the Chinese zodiac."

Kuzu Turkish
Means "lamb" in Turkish.

Kvitsinia Abkhaz
Mingrelian form of the Abkhaz surname Kutsnia; the Abkhaz name was replaced by the Mingrelian spelling during the era of Joseph Stalin. It is most likely derived from Abkhaz икуцны иааз (ikutsny iaaz) meaning "one who migrates", though the word квици (kvitsi) has no real meaning in Abkhaz... [more]

Kyne Irish
From Gaelic Ó Cadháin meaning "descendant of Cadhán", a byname meaning "barnacle goose".

Kyyhkynen Finnish
Means "pigeon, dove" in Finnish.

Labba Sami
Meaning uncertain. Perhaps derived from Sami slabba "large reindeer antler shaped like a hand" or from Northern Sami láppis "lamb".

Laborde French
Derived from the French word borde meaning "small farm" (from Frankish bord meaning "plank") with the definite article la. This is an occupational surname for a tenant farmer.

Lāce Latvian
Derived from Latvian lācis “bear”.

Lācis Latvian
Means "bear".

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]

Langeland Norwegian
Derived from the elements lang meaning "long" and land meaning "land" or "farmstead".

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]

Laudrup Danish
Possibly from the name of homesteads in Denmark, most likely derived from Old Norse laut meaning "barn", combined with the Danish suffix -drup (itself from Old Norse thorp) meaning "outlying farmstead, village, settlement"... [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".

Leverton English
This surname combines the Old English personal female name Leofwaru or the Old English word læfer meaning "rush, reed" with another Old English word tún meaning "enclosure, field, farm, dwelling." The etymology with the female name addition fits in with the town of the same name in Berkshire while the etymology with the word addition fits in with the one in Lincolnshire.

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".

Lively English
A modern English surname possibly derived from a lost village called Laefer-leah which would give it the meaning "the farm by the lake".... [more]

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").

Lothrop English
Habitational name from Lowthorpe in East Yorkshire named with the Old Norse personal name Logi and þrop "outlying farmstead".

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".

Mäetalu Estonian
Mäetalu is an Estonian surname meaning "mountain/hill farmstead".

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.

Mattila Finnish
Means "Matti's farm". A combination of Matti and the suffix -la "farm, place".

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

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

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".

Melby Norwegian
Modern form of Meðalbýr meaning "middle farm", a combination of Old Norse meðal "middle" and býr "farm".

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".

Murutalu Estonian
Mututalu is an Estonian surname meaning "lawn farm/farmstead".

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).

Myklebust Norwegian
Derived from Old Norse Myklibólstaðr meaning "large farm". From mikill "large" and bólstaðr "farm".

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."

Nerby English, Norwegian, Swedish (Rare)
From Old Norse neðri "lowest" and býr "farm".

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

Newby English
Means "person from Newby", Newby being a combination of the Middle English elements newe "new" and by "farm, settlement" (ultimately from Old Norse býr "farm"). British travel writer Eric Newby (1919-2006) bore this surname.

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 Xhosa (Modern, Archaic), Zulu (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".

Norrgård Finnish, Swedish
From Swedish norr meaning "north" combined with gård meaning "farm, estate".

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".

Ødegård Norwegian
Means "deserted farm" in Norwegian. A combination of øde "deserted, empty" and gård "farm, yard".

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.

Oglethorpe English
From Oglethorpe Hall in Bramham (WR Yorks) which is recorded as Ocelestorp in 1086 and Okelesthorp in 124 The place-name derives from the Old Scandinavian personal name Oddkell and Old Scandinavian or Old English þorp "secondary settlement outlying farmstead" meaning "Oddkell's village" the surname derived from oddr "point of a weapon" and ketill "cauldron".

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")

Oldenhave Dutch
From the name of a small village in the province of Drenthe, Holland, composed of Dutch oud and hoeve, meaning "old farm".

Oldham English
Habitational name from Oldham in Lancashire. The placename derives from Old English ald "old" and Old Norse holmr "island water meadow" or eald "old" and ham "farmstead" meaning either "old lands" or "old farm".

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]

Onstad Norwegian, German
Habitational name from the name of any of seven farmsteads mainly in the southeast most of them with names formed from any of various Old Norse personal names plus stathir "farmstead" as for example Augunarstathir from the personal name Auðun (from Auth "wealth" plus un "friend")... [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".

Oppegård Norwegian
Habitational name meaning "upper farm". Derived from Old Norse uppi "upper" and garðr "farm, yard". This was the name of several farmsteads in Norway. ... [more]

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

Orbison English
From a village in Lincolnshire, England originally called Orby and later Orreby that is derived from a Scandinavian personal name Orri- and the Scandinavian place element -by which means "a farmstead or small settlement."

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.

Østby Norwegian
Habitational name from farmsteads in Norway named Østby or Austby. Derived from Old Norse aust "east" and býr "farm, village".

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".

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.

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".

Paartalu Estonian
Paartalu is an Estonia surname meaning "twain farmsteads" or "a couple of farmsteads".

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.