Browse Submitted Surnames

This is a list of submitted surnames in which the meaning contains the keyword play.
usage
meaning
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Aglipay Filipino, Ilocano
Means "to play with lipay seeds", referring to a type of thorny shrub or bush.
Blough English
Anglo-Saxon form of German “Blauch.” The name means “one who plays a horn.”
Crowther English
Originally meant "person who plays the crowd (an ancient Celtic stringed instrument)". It was borne by British entertainer Leslie Crowther (1933-1996).
Daiber German
Derived from either Middle High German tiuber "pigeon breeder, pigeon fancier" or from Middle High German touber "wind musician, musician who plays a wind instrument".
Garlick English
(i) "grower or seller of garlic"; (ii) perhaps from a medieval personal name descended from Old English Gārlāc, literally "spear-play"; (iii) an anglicization of the Belorussian Jewish name Garelick, literally "distiller"
Gullick English
From the Middle English personal name Gullake, a descendant of Old English Gūthlāc, literally "battle-sport".
Havelock English
From the Middle English male personal name Havelok, from Old Norse Hafleikr, literally "sea sport". It was borne by the British general Sir Henry Havelock (1795-1857).
Hudec Czech, Slovak
Occupational name for a fiddler, hudec, a derivative of housti meaning "to play the fiddle".
Ludenberg German
From Latin ludere meaning "to play" and German berg meaning "mountain".
Malaeb Arabic
Lebanese Druze name possibly derived from Arabic مَلْعَب (malʿab) meaning "scene, theatre, sport".
Playfair English
From a medieval nickname for an enthusiastic competitor in sports and games (from Middle English pleyfere "companion in play, playmate"), or else a different form of Playford (from a Suffolk place-name meaning "ford where sports are held")... [more]
Rutter English
Either (i) "player of the rote (a medieval stringed instrument played by plucking)"; or (ii) from a medieval nickname for a dishonest or untrustworthy person (from Old French routier "robber, mugger")... [more]
Spielberg Jewish, German
From Old High German spiegel "lookout point" or German Spiel "game, play" and berg "mountain". Locational surname after a town in Austria. A famous bearer is American director Steven Spielberg (1946-present).
Spillman English
From the medieval male personal name Spileman, literally "acrobat" or "jester" (from a derivative of Middle English spillen "to play, cavort").
Yusa Japanese
From Japanese 遊 (yu) meaning "play" and 佐 (sa) meaning "help, aid".