Browse Submitted Surnames

Abo Japanese (Rare)
From 安 (a) meaning "peaceful, relax, cheap, inexpensive, low" or 阿 (a) meaning "corner, nook" and 保 (bo) meaning for "guard, protect".

Adelmund Frankish
Meaning "Noble Protection", Adel, being a variation of germanic adal, meaning "noble" and mund, meaning "protection".

Adelsköld Swedish (Rare)
Combination of Swedish adel "nobility, aristocracy" and sköld "shield".

Agincourt Medieval English
Surname Agincourt was first found in Lincolnshire where "Walter de Aincourt, who came from Aincourt, a lordship between Mantes and Magny Normandy, where the remains of the ancient family castle still exists... [more]

Aikou Japanese
From Japanese 愛 (ai) meaning "love" combined with 甲 (kou) meaning "armor, first class".

Akashiro Japanese
From 赤 (aka) meaning "red" and 城 (shiro) meaning "castle".... [more]

Åkerhielm Swedish
Combination of Swedish åker "field" and hjälm "helmet".

Alcaide Spanish, Portuguese
Ancient occupational or status name from alcaide from Arabic al-qāʾid "the leader, the commander" (see Kaid)... [more]

Alcalá Spanish
Derived from numerous towns with this name (fortified villages during the Moorish occupation of Spain), derived from Arabic القلعة (al-qalʿah) meaning "fortress, fortification, citadel".

Alcalay Judeo-Spanish
Derived from Arabic القلعة (al-qal'ah) meaning "the citadel, the fortress".

Alcázar Spanish
Habitational name from any of various places for example in the provinces of Ciudad Real Cuenca and Granada named with the word alcázar "citadel" or "palace" (from Arabic al "the" and qaṣr "fortress" a borrowing of Latin castrum; see Castro).

Almazán Spanish
Habitational name demoting someone originally from the municipality of Almazán in Castile and León, Spain. The name itself is derived from Arabic المكان المحصن (al-makān al-ḥiṣn) meaning "the fortified place" or "the stronghold".

Almond English
From the Middle English personal name Almund, from Old English Æthelmund, "noble protection" and variant of Allman, assimilated by folk etymology to the vocabulary word denoting the tree.

Amagi Japanese (Rare)
From Japanese 天 (ama) meaning "heaven" and 城 (ki) meaning "castle".

Amparo Spanish (Philippines)
Means "protection, shelter, refuge" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora del Amparo, meaning "Our Lady of Refuge".

Anjo Japanese
An means "peace, relax, cheap" and jo means "castle".

Apollo Italian, Spanish
From the Greek personal name Apollo. There are several saints Apollo in the Christian Church, including an Egyptian hermit and monastic leader who died in 395 ad. The personal name derives from the name in classical mythology of the sun god, Apollo, an ancient Indo-European name, found for example in Hittite as Apulana "god of the gate" (from pula "gate", cognate with Greek pylē), therefore "protector, patron".

Ariyapala Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit आर्य (arya) meaning "noble, honourable, respectable" and पाल (pala) meaning "guard, protector".

Baccay Filipino, Tagalog
Possibly from a Tagalog word meaning "to guard".

Bantayan Filipino, Cebuano
Means "watchtower, guard-place" in Cebuano.

Barman Indian, Bengali, Assamese
Derived from Sanskrit वर्मन् (varman) meaning "armour, shield, protection".

Bolkiah Malay (Rare)
Meaning uncertain. It may be derived from Arabic وَاقِيَة‎ (wāqiya) meaning "protector, preserver", or it may be an alteration of the Hadhrami surname بلفقيه (Balfaqih) from Arabic الفَقِيه (al-faqīh) meaning "the jurist"... [more]

Bongard German, French
In german a rhenish place name "Obstgarten" (orchard).... [more]

Borg Maltese
From Maltese borġ meaning "castle, citadel, tower".

Borgedalen Norwegian (Rare)
Combination of Norwegian borg "fortification, castle" and dal "valley".

Brandenburg German (East Prussian, Rare)
From a state in eastern Germany, formerly known as Prussia, containing the capital city of Berlin. Ancient. Associated with the Margravate (Dukedom) of Brandenburg, the seat of power in the Holy Roman Empire... [more]

Brogna Italian
From Sicilian brogna "conch, shell".

Brough English
Habitational name derived from any place called Brough, named with Old English burh "fortress" (compare English and Irish Burke).

Brougham English
From the parish of Brougham in Westmoreland, derived from Old English burg "stronghold" + ham "piece of land".

Broughton English
Habitational name from any of the many places so called in England. The first name element is derived from Old English broc "brook", burh "fortress", or beorg "castle". The second element is derived from Old English tun "settlement, dwelling".

Burbage English
Habitational name from any of several places in England, derived from Old English burg "fortress, citadel" and bæc "stream, brook".

Burgio Italian
Denoting someone from a town of the same name, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European word meaning "high, lofty", possibly by way of Arabic بُرْج (burj) "tower", German burg "castle, fortification; settlement", French bourg "burg, market town", or Latin burgus "watchtower, fortified town".

Burgmeier German
Occupational name for the tenant farmer of an estate belonging to a castle or fortified town, from Middle High German burc "(fortified) town, castle" and meier "tenant farmer" (see Meyer 1).

Burkhalter German
Topographic name composed of the Middle High German elements burc "castle" "protection" and halter from halde "slope".

Burkhardt German
Burk is German for "Strong", and hardt is the "heart of a castle".

Burley English
English habitation name from the elements burh meaning "stronghold or fortified settlement" and leah meaning "field or clearing".

Burridge English
Derived from an English place name, derived from Old English burg "fortress, fortification, castle" and Old English hrycg, Old Norse hryggr "ridge" or from the name Burgric.

Buscemi Sicilian
Name for someone originally from the town of Buscemi in Sicily, derived from the Arabic toponym قلعة أبي شامة‎ (qal'at 'abi shama) meaning "castle of the man with the mole‎" or "castle of (the family of) Abi Shama".

Cadoret French, Breton
From an old Breton given name Catuuoret meaning "protector in combat".

Calatayud Spanish
From the city in Spain, in province of Zaragoza within the autonomous community Aragón. The name Calatayud came from the Arabic قلعة أيوب Qal‘at ’Ayyūb, "the qalat (fortress) of Ayyub".

Canul Yucatec Maya
Means "protector" in Mayan.

Caratsch Romansh
Derived from Romansh cuirass "armor".

Carmichael Scottish, English
From the name of a village in Scotland meaning "fort of Michael", from Welsh caer meaning "fortress" and the given name Michael.

Cassell English
Either (i) "person from Cassel", northern France, or "person from Kassel", Germany ("fort"); or (ii) a different form of Castle ("person who lives by or lives or works in a castle")... [more]

Castel French, English
Topographic name from a derivative of Late Latin castellum "castle" (a diminutive of Latin castrum "fort Roman walled city") or a habitational name from any of several places called Le Castel... [more]

Castellar Medieval Italian, Medieval Spanish
An Italian surname variant of or relating to Castello , Castelli, or Spanish Castella, among others, the Castellar family name signified that the original bearers "lived at or near a castle"... [more]

Castello Catalan, Italian
Catalan variant of Castell or from Italian castello meaning "castle".

Castelmur Romansh
Derived from Romansh castel "castle" and mür "wall".

Castelnuovo Italian, Judeo-Italian
From Italian castello "castle" and nuovo "new".

Castelo Branco Portuguese
Means “White Castle” in Portuguese.... [more]

Castiglione Italian
Habitational name for someone from any of various places called Castiglione, derived from Italian castiglione meaning "castle, fortress".

Castillon French
means "castle"

Castri Italian
Derived from Latin castrum "camp, fortress".

Cattell English, French, Irish (Anglicized)
Possibly derived from a given name containing the element ketill "kettle, cauldron; helmet", or a diminutive form of Cat or Cate... [more]

Caylus French
Of debated origin and meaning; theories include a Southern French corruption of Latin castellum "castle, fort, citadel, fortress, stronghold".

Celudrus Persian Mythology (Rare, Archaic, ?)
It is a mystical name of a fiction book by an author named Giselle Viatcheslav, meaning "DRAGON DIAMOND GUARDIAN OF EVIL". It emerged shortly after a millennium dragon gives birth to a child with vampire blood on the sacred celestial moon... [more]

Chandrapala Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit चन्द्र (chandra) meaning "moon" and पाल (pala) meaning "guard, protector".

Châtelain French
from châtelain "lord (of the manor)" Old French chastelain (from Latin castellanus a derivative of castellum "castle") applied either as a status name for the governor or constable of a castle or as an ironic nickname.

Chesbrough English
habitational name from Cheeseburn in Northumberland early recorded as Cheseburgh possibly from Old English cis "gravel" and burh "stronghold"... [more]

Chimalhua Nahuatl
Means "has a shield, possessor of shields" in Nahuatl.

Coccia Italian
Meaning uncertain, possibly from Sicilian cocciu "grain, berry", denoting a kind of gruel; an occupational name for a farmer from Greek κόκκος (kokkos) "grain, seed"; or from Italian coccia "head, shell", referring to someone with a large head, or who was stubborn.

Cottrell English, French
First found in Derbyshire where the family "Cottrell" held a family seat and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege lord for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings, 1066CE... [more]

Defensor Filipino
From Spanish defensor meaning "defender, advocate". A notable bearer was Miriam Defensor Santiago (1945-2016), a Filipino stateswoman and lawyer.

Del Castillo Spanish
Means "of the Castle" in Spanish, referring to someone who worked in one.

De Waard Dutch
From Dutch waard "innkeeper, host, landlord, protector", derived from Middle Dutch weert. Alternatively, from Middle Dutch waert "floodplain, riverine island".

Dhanapala Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit धन (dhana) meaning "wealth, riches, prize" and पाल (pala) meaning "guard, protector".

Dharmapala Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit धर्म (dharma) meaning "that which is established, law, duty, virtue" and पाल (pala) meaning "guard, protector".

Divata Filipino (Rare, Archaic)
Is Visayan or Mindanao word which means "Guardian/Protector of the Nature"... [more]

Dorn English
Either a place name from Dorn, Worcestershire, possibly derived from a root word meaning "fort, stronghold", or a variant of Thorn from Middle High German dorn "thorn" (from ancient Germanic þurnaz).

Durward English, Scottish
Occupational name meaning "doorkeeper, porter", derived from Old English duru "door" and weard "guard, guardian". In Medieval Scotland, this was a hereditary title for the warden of the king’s door.

Eamer English
Possibly derived from the given name Eomer, or from Middle English yẹ̄mer "guardian, keeper, protector; guard".

Ehlert German
From a Germanic personal name composed of the elements agil "edge", "point (of a sword)" + hard "brave", "hardy", "strong" or ward "guard".

Eneborg Swedish (Rare)
From Swedish en "juniper" and borg "castle".

Eshiro Japanese
Combination of Japanese 江 (e) meaning "bay, inlet" and 城 (shiro) meaning "castle, city".

Esmond English
It was a name for a person who was of "grace" or "favourable protection". The surname Esmond originally derived from the Old English word Eastmund which referred to "grace".

Etō Japanese
From Japanese 衛 (e) meaning "guard, protect" and 藤 (tō) meaning "wisteria".

Eyre English
Truelove the "Eyr" or "Heyr" was granted land in Derby as a reward for his services at the 1066 Battle of Hastings, together with a coat of arms featuring "a human leg in armour couped at the thigh quarterly argent and sable spurred", in reference to the sacrifice of his limb... [more]

Fort French, Walloon, English, Catalan
Either a nickname from Old French Middle English Catalan fort "strong brave" (from Latin fortis). Compare Lefort... [more]

Fortescue French
Means 'strong shield' from French elements fort meaning "strong" and escu meaning "shield#

Friedberg German, Jewish
Combination of either German vride "security, protection" or Friede "peace", with berg "hill, mountain". The name is most often locational, but may in some cases be ornamental.

Froment French, Walloon, English
from French froment "wheat" (from Latin frumentum "grain") probably applied as a nickname for a peasant or as metonymic occupational name for a dealer in wheat... [more]

Fujishiro Japanese
Fuji means "wisteria" and shiro means "castle".

Gambier French
Derived from gambier, a Northern French variant of jambier, the masculine form of jambière "greave (a piece of armour that protects the leg, especially the shin, and occasionally the tops of the feet)"... [more]

Garand French
nickname or status name from the Old French legal term garant "guarantor". perhaps from a personal name based on the ancient Germanic element warin "protection shelter" or "guard".

Garde French
from Old French garde "watch", "protection"; an occupational name for someone who kept watch or guard, or a topographic name for someone who lived near a vantage point or watchtower.

Garneau French
From a pet form of the Germanic given name Warinwald, composed of the elements war(in) meaning "guard" and waldan meaning "to govern".

Gaskill English
Meaning "Goat Shelter". English (Lancashire) habitual name from Gatesgill in Cumbria, so named from Old Norse geit ‘goat’ + skáli ‘shelter’. The surname is first recorded in the early half of the 14th Century.

Gaztelu Basque
From Basque gaztelu "castle", denoting someone from the town of Gaztelu in Basque country, Spain.

Ginsburg German, Jewish
Habitational name for someone who came from Gunzberg in Bavaria, Günsburg in Swabia, or Gintsshprik (Königsburg) in East Prussia. Its origin is from the name of the river Günz, written in early Latin documents as Guntia, which was probably of Celtic origin, and Old High German burg meaning "Fortress, walled town".

Guardia Italian, Spanish
From Spanish and Italian guardia "guard watch" a topographic name for someone who lived by a watch place by a watchtower or a habitational name from any of numerous places called La Guardia named with the same word; or a metonymic occupational name for someone who kept watch or for a member of the town guard... [more]

Guardiola Catalan
Habitational name from any of the numerous places named Guardiola, from guardiola, a diminutive of guàrdia meaning "guard".

Guertin French
A French surname that evolved from the Old Germanic given name Warin meaning "to guard" or "protection". This surname was often given as an occupational name for a guard, or someone who served as a protector in their community.

Guevera Spanish
means "protector"

Guimond French
from the medieval French name Guimond from the Germanic name Wigmund composed of the ancient Germanic elements wig "battle combat" and mund "protection".

Gunapala Sinhalese
From Sanskrit गुण (guṇa) meaning "quality, property, attribute" and पाल (pāla) meaning "guard, protector".

Habsburg German
This surname may have been used by someone whose descendants originated from the House of Habsburg, which was one of the most important royal houses in Europe. It is assumed that the surname is derived from High German Habichtsburg meaning "hawk castle," but some historians and linguists believe that it may actually be derived from Middle High German hab/hap meaning "ford", as there is a river with a ford nearby.

Hammarskjöld Swedish (Rare)
Combination of Swedish hammare "hammer" and sköld "shield". A notable bearer was diplomat and Secretary-General of the United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld (1905-1961).

Hansard English
Possibly from Middle English hansard "merchant or citizen of a Hanseatic town". Alternatively, from the given name Ansard, derived from ansu "god" and ward "guard" or hard "strong".

Harbour English
Variant of French Arbour or a metonymic occupational name for a keeper of a lodging house, from Old English herebeorg "shelter, lodging".

Harvard English
From the Old English given name Hereweard, composed of the elements here "army" and weard "guard", which was borne by an 11th-century thane of Lincolnshire, leader of resistance to the advancing Normans... [more]

Hauschild German
Possibly from German haus "house" or hauen "to chop, to hack" combined with schild "shield".

Heijkenskjöld Swedish (Rare)
Combination of an either German or Dutch first element (possibly Heike) and Swedish sköld "shield".

Heimburger German, Jewish
Status name for a village head, derived from Middle High German heim meaning "homestead, settlement" and bürge meaning "guardian". It could also be a habitational name for someone from numerous places called Heimburg or Heimberg in Germany.

Hellmich German
Derived from a personal name composed of the Germanic elements helm "helmet" and wig "battle".

Helm English, Dutch, German
from Old English helm "protection covering" (in later northern English dialects "cattle shelter barn"). The name may be topographic for someone who lived by or worked at a barn or habitational from a place so named such as Helme in Meltham (Yorkshire)... [more]

Helmreich German
from the ancient Germanic personal name Helmrich composed of the elements helm "helmet" and rih "ruler, king".

Higai Japanese
From Japanese 樋 (Hi) meaning "rain gutter" and 貝 (Gai) meaning "seashell". A bearer of this surname was Japanese politician Senzo Higai (1890-1953).

Hjelm Swedish, Danish
From Swedish hjälm or Danish hjelm, both derived from Old Norse hjalmr "helmet".

Hochstein German
Topographic name for someone who lived by a high rock or a castle of that name from Middle High German hoh "high" and stein "rock stone castle".

Holder German, Jewish, English
1. German: topographic name for someone who lived by an elder tree. Middle High German holder, or from a house named for its sign of an elder tree. In same areas, for example Alsace, the elder tree was believed to be the protector of a house... [more]

Hoshiro Japanese
保城 or HOSHIRO would translate to "Castle of Protection"

Howdyshell American, German
Americanized (i.e., Anglicized) form of the Swiss German Haudenschild, which originated as a nickname for a ferocious soldier, literally meaning "hack the shield" from Middle High German houwen "to chop or hack" (imperative houw) combined with den (accusative form of the definite article) and schilt "shield".

Huth German
From Middle High German huot "hat, cap, helmet", a name for someone who made or wore hats.

Imashiro Japanese
From 今 (ima) meaning "now, present" and 城 (shiro) meaning "castle".

Itzstein German
Topographic surname that originated from broad regions around the river Itz in Thuringia, Germany. The word "Stein" (German word for stone) historically was also used to describe castles on a hill or at a river, thus a possible meaning of the name is "castle at the river Itz".

Iwaki Japanese
From Japanese 岩 (iwa) meaning "cliff, rocks" and 城 (ki) meaning "castle, fortress".

Jō Japanese
From Japanese 城 (jō) meaning "castle".

Jōnouchi Japanese
From Japanese 城 (jō) meaning "castle"; 之 (no), a possessive particle; and 内 (uchi) meaning "inside".

Kabe Japanese (Rare)
Ka ("Increase,Step Up"), ... [more]

Kabuto Japanese (Rare)
This surname is used as 甲, 兜, 加太, 甲頭, 加部東 or 鹿伏兎 with 甲 (ka, kan, kou, kinoe, kabuto) meaning "A grade, armour, carapace, first class, former, high (voice), instep", 兜 (to, tou, kabuto) meaning "headpiece, helmet", 加 (ka, kuwa.eru, kuwa.waru) meaning "add(ition), Canada, include, increase, join", 太 (ta, tai, futo.i, futo.ru) meaning "big around, plump, thick", 頭 (zu, to, tou, atama, kashira, kaburi, -gashira) meaning "head", 部 (bu, -be) meaning "bureau, class, copy, department, part, portion, section", 東 (tou, higashi) meaning "east", 鹿 (rou, ka, shika) meaning "deer", 伏 (fuku, fu.su, fu.seru) meaning "bend down, bow, cover, lay (pipes), prostrated" or 兎 (tsu, to, usagi) meaning "hare, rabbit."... [more]

Kageyama Japanese
From Japanese 影 or 景 (kage) meaning "shadow" or 蔭 (kage) meaning "shade, shelter" and 山 (yama) meaning "mountain, hill".

Kaits Estonian
Kaits is an Estonian surname meaning "guard".

Kale Croatian
Possibly derived from Turkish kale, meaning "castle, fortress".

Kale Turkish
Means "castle, fortress" in Turkish, ultimately from Arabic قلعة (qal'ah).

Kalkan Turkish
Means "shield" in Turkish.

Kanagusuku Okinawan
The Okinawan language reading of its kanji, meaning "golden castle".

Kaneki Japanese
This surname is used as 金城, 金木, 金気, 金喜, 兼城, 兼木 or 鹿子木 with 金 (kin, kon, gon, kana-, kane, -gane) meaning "gold," 兼 (ken, ka.neru, -ka.neru) meaning "and, concurrently," 城 (jou, shiro, ki) meaning "castle," 木 (boku, moku, ki, ko-) meaning "tree, wood," 気 (ki, ke, iki) meaning "air, atmosphere, mood, mind, spirit," 喜 (ki, yoroko.basu, yoroko.bu) meaning "rejoice, take pleasure in," 鹿 (roku, ka, shika) meaning "deer" and 子 (shi, su, tsu, ko, -ko, -ne) meaning "child, sign of the rat (1st sign of the Chinese zodiac)."

Kaneshiro Japanese
From Japanese 金 (kane) meaning "gold, metal, money" and 城 (shiro) meaning "castle".

Karunapala Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit करुणा (karuna) meaning "compassion, mercy" and पाल (pala) meaning "guard, protector".

Kašćelan Montenegrin
Derived from Italian castello, meaning "castle".

Kassel German
habitational name mainly from a place of this name in northeastern Hesse so named from Frankish castella cassela "fortification" a military term from Late Latin castellum "fortified position fort" or a topographic name from the same word.

Kastelic Slovene
Means "from a castle".

Kessel Dutch
Habitational name for someone originally from any of the various locations in the Netherlands named Kessel, ultimately derived from Latin castellum "fortress, stronghold, castle". Could possibly also be a variant of German Kexel.

Kestel English
Habitational name from Kestle, a place in Cornwall, so named from Cornish castell "castle, village, rock".

Kharazia Abkhaz
There are several theories on the origin of the name. It could be derived from Arabic حَارِس (ḥāris) meaning "guard, guardian, defender", from a contraction of a Hebrew term, or from the Abkhaz word ҳара (ḥārā́) meaning "we, ours" combined with the Abkhaz suffix -ya or -ia denoting descent.

Kido Japanese
From Japanese 木 (ki) meaning "tree, wood" or 城 (ki) meaning "castle" combined with 戸 (to) meaning "door".

Kilburg German, Luxembourgish
"Kyll castle," from German burg (castle) near the Kyll river in Germany. Also "wedge mountain" in Swedish: kil (wedge) and berg (mountain).

Kilp Estonian
Kilp is an Estonian surname meaning both "shield" and "shell".

Kingsbury English
Habitational surname derived from several places in England with the same name, for example in northwest London (formerly Middlesex), Somerset, and Warwickshire. These are mostly named in Old English as cyninges burh meaning "the king’s stronghold", but the last mentioned is cynesburh meaning "stronghold of Cyne" (cyne is a short form of any of various compound names with cyne- meaning "royal" as the first element).

Kinjo Japanese
From the Japanese 金 (kin or kane) "gold," "money" and 城 (jo or shiro) "castle."

Kinjō Japanese
From Japanese 金 (kin) meaning "gold, money, metal" and 城 (jō) meaning "castle".

Kio Japanese
From Japanese 木 (ki) meaning “tree, wood”, 城 (ki) meaning “castle, city”, combined with 大 (o) meaning “big, great, vast, high”, or 小 (o) meaning “small”.

Kõllo Estonian
Kõllo is an Estonian surname, possibly derived from "kõlu" meaning "shells".

Kõlu Estonian
Kõlu is an Estonian surname meaning "shells" and "scrapings".

Konoe Japanese
Means "royal guardian" in Japanese. The kanji that make up this name are 近 (kon, "near, close") and 衛 (e, "protection"). A famous bearer of this surname was Japanese Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe (近衞 文麿; 1891–1945).

Korutürk Turkish
Nickname meaning "protector of the Turks", derived from the Turkish verb korumak "to protect". This name was acquired by Turkish president Fahri Korutürk (1903-1987). It was given to him by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey (the verb korumak refers to Atatürk's expectation of Korutürk to preserve his legacy).

Kubota Japanese
From the Japanese 久 (ku) meaning "long time ago" combined with 保 (ho) "protect, defend, guard" or 窪 (kubo) meaning "hollow" that is then combined with and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy."

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

Kuriki Japanese
From Japanese 栗 (kuri) meaning "chestnut" and 城 (ki) meaning "castle".

Labrie French
Topographic name from l’abri meaning "the shelter", or a habitational name from a place named with this word.

Lagarde French
Habitational name from Lagarde or La Garde names of several places in various parts of France named in Old French with garde "watch protection" (see Garde).

Lagerstedt Swedish
Feom Swedish, lager meaning "lair, den, shelter" and stedt meaning "town, farmstead".

Lamborghini Italian
Probably from Germanic landa "land" and burg "fortress, castle".

Laybourn English
Habitational name from Leyburn in North Yorkshire, High Leybourne in Godalming in Surrey, or Leybourne in Kent. The North Yorkshire name may derive from Old English hlēg “shelter” and burna “spring, stream”... [more]

Lester English
Habitational name from Leicester which is recorded as Ligeraceastre in the 10th century. The placename derives from an Old English folk name Legore "the dwellers by the river Legor (a lost river name)" and Old English ceaster "city Roman fortification" (from Latin castrum) "camp fortress".

Linders Dutch
Patronymic form of Leonard, or possibly of a Germanic name composed of linta "linden tree, shield, spear" and heri "army".

Lindt German, Dutch
Derived from given names containing the elements lind "tender, mild, gentle hearted" or lind "linden tree, shield"... [more]

Linn Estonian
Means "city" in Estonian. Compare Finnish Linna "castle".

Linnus Estonian
Linnus is an Estonian surname meaning "castle" or "citadel".

Linnuste Estonian
Linnuste is an Estonian surname relating to "linnus", meaning "castle" or "citadel".

Litchfield English
locational origin either from Lichfield, south east of Stafford in Staffordshire, or from Litchfield in Hampshire... [more]

Lock English, Dutch, German
Habitational name from any of various places derived from Old English loca meaning "(locked) enclosure, stronghold".

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]

Macalindong Tagalog
From Tagalog makalindong meaning "to provide shelter".

Mac Con Chathrach Irish
Means "son of the hound of the fortress" in Irish, from Irish cú "hound" and cathair "castle, fortress".

Mahlangu Southern African, Ndebele, Zulu
Derived from Ndebele hlangula meaning "assist, help, remove (from danger)" or Zulu isihlangu meaning "shield".

Masilungan Tagalog
Means "to shelter, to provide refuge" in Tagalog.

Mayberry English, Irish
Of uncertain origin, probably an altered form of Mowbray. Alternatively, it could be derived from an unidentified English place name containing the Old English element burg "fortress, citadel" and an uncertain first element.

Mccammon Scottish, Northern Irish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Ámoinn "son of Ámoinn", a Gaelic form of the Norse personal name Amundr, which is composed of the elements ag "awe, fear", or "edge, point" and mundr "protection".

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

Metsavaht Estonian
Metsavaht is an Estonian surname meaning "forest guard" and "forest warden".

Middelberg Dutch
Variant of Middelburg, derived from middel "middle, centre" and burg "fortress, citadel".

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".

Miyashiro Japanese
"Shrine Castle".

Mohrenschildt German
From the surname Mohren and scilt "shield"

Mond German
Either from a short form of an ancient Germanic personal name formed with munt "protection guardianship" making it a cognate of Monday 1 or probably also a topographic or habitational name referring to a house with the sign of a moon from Middle High German mane mone "moon".

Montford English
As a Shropshire name believed to mean "from a communal ford or water crossing" while the Norfolk origin is "from Munda's ford," Munda being an old English personal name meaning "protector, guardian," as seen in names such as Edmund.

Moriya Japanese
From the Japanese 守 (mori) meaning "watchman, keeper, caretaker, guard, protect, defend" or 森 (mori) meaning "forest" combined with 屋 (ya) meaning "house, dwelling" or 谷 (ya or tani) meaning "valley."

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

Murakami Japanese
From the Japanese 村, 邑 or 邨 (mura) meaning "hamlet, town, village" combined with 上 (kami) meaning "upper, top, above" or 神 (kami) meaning "god" or 守 (kami) meaning "guard, protect, defend."

Nakajo Japanese
From 中 (naka) meaning "middle" and 条 (jo) meaning "article, strips" or 城 (jo) meaning "castle".

Nath Indian, Assamese, Hindi, Bengali, Odia, Punjabi
From Sanskrit नाथ (natha) meaning "lord, owner, protector".

Nazareth Hebrew
From the Hebrew for "To guard."

Negahban Persian
Means "watchman, guard, sentry, sentinel" in Persian. A famous bearer is the Iranian-American actor Navid Negahban (1968-).

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."

Nordenskiöld Swedish, Finland Swedish (Archaic)
Combination of Swedish nord "north" and sköld "shield". Norden is also the Swedish name for the Nordic countries, but it is not the element used in this surname. Nordenskiöld is a Swedish and Fennoswedish noble family, the first known members are brothers Anders Johan Nordenskiöld (1696-1763) and Carl Fredric Nordenskiöld the elder (1702-1779)... [more]

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

Pal Indian, Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Marathi, Odia
Derived from Sanskrit पाल (pala) meaning "guard, protector".

Panahi Persian
From Persian پناه (panâh) meaning "shelter, refuge, protection".

Panzer German
Metonymic occupational name for an armorer from Middle High German panzier "mailcoat" (Old French pancier "armor for the stomach, body armor" from Late Latin).

Panzeri Italian
Either a nickname from Italian pancia "belly, paunch", referring to someone with a prominent belly (see Panza), or an occupational name for someone who manufactured girdles and armour, from panciere "corset, girdle; paunce (armour covering the belly)", ultimately from the same root.

Pasdar Persian
Means "guard, sentinel, watchman" in Persian.

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

Plate German, Dutch
metonymic occupational name for a maker of plate armor from Middle High German blate plate Middle Dutch plate "plate armor plating".

Prytulyak Ukrainian
From Ukrainian притуляк (prytulyak), meaning "refugee" in Ukrainian, literally "shelter person, person who seeks shelter". It is not the common term for a refugee (біженець, bizhenets').

Ranz German
The surname that can have one of two origins. In some cases, it is derived from the ancient German given name, Rando, whose origins lie in the word rand, meaning "rim of shield"... [more]

Ratnapala Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit रत्न (ratna) meaning "jewel, treasure" and पाल (pala) meaning "guard, protector".

Raymond English, French
From the Norman personal name Raimund, composed of the Germanic elements ragin "advice, counsel" and mund "protection".

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]

Rochefort French
From various places called Rochefort meaning "strong castle".

Rochester English
Habitational name from one of three places in Northumberland called Rochester, with names whose early spellings are very similar and sometimes difficult to distinguish from each other... [more]

Saat Estonian
Saat is an Estonian surname derived from "saatja", meaning "sender", "addresser", "guard" and "porter".

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".

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

Sangalang Filipino, Tagalog
Derived from Tagalog sanggalang meaning "protection".

Sangthong Thai
From Thai สังข์ (sang) meaning "conch shell" and ทอง (thong) meaning "gold".

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

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".

Schattner German, Jewish
Habitational name for someone from any of several places named Schaten or Schatten, or a topographic name for someone living in a shady location, from Middle High German schate "shade", "protection".

Scherl German
Derived from the Middle Low German word “scherl” or “scherle,” which means “small shield.” It may have been from a person known for carrying a small shield, a person who lived near a small shield-shaped sign or symbol, or a person who lived in a place named after the small shield.

Schild German, Dutch
Occupational name for a maker or painter of shields, from Middle High German, Middle Dutch schilt "shield".

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

Schilder Dutch
Means "painter" in Dutch, derived from Middle Dutch schildere "shield painter" (from schilt "shield"), originally denoting someone who painted coats of arms on shields. An occupational name for someone who painted houses, shields, or anything else.

Schildhauer German
First appeared during the Middle Ages in Central Europe/Germany. The name means "Shield-Maker" and suggests correlation to Blacksmiths or or other forms of metalwork in the time period.

Schildknecht German
From the occupation of a page or squire for a knight derived from schilht "shield" and kneht "servant".

Schutz German
Occupational surname for an archer or a watchman, from Middle High German schützen "to guard, protect". Also a habitational name from Schutz, a place near Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.

Sciortino Italian
Occupational name from a diminutive of sciorta, sciurta "city guard, watchman, policeman" (Arabic ̣shuṛtī).

Scuderi Sicilian
Patronymic form of Scudero, a status name equivalent to English Squire, from scudero "shield-bearer", Latin scutarius, an agent derivative of scutum "shield"... [more]

Scutti Italian
From Sicilian scutu, "shield".

Sekewael Indonesian
The last name Sekewael is an original name from one of the island in Maluku. That one island name is "Negeri Oma." The meaning of Sekewael is "The Guardian of the River" because in "Negeri Oma" any body want to use the river of the water they have to ask for permission by Sekewael family... [more]

Shield English
Metonymic occupational name for an armorer, from Middle English scheld "shield" (Old English scild, sceld).

Sholom Russian
Derived from Old Russian шолом (sholom) meaning "helmet".

Shootman Germanic
Uncertain origin, probably occupational, from German, Dutch, or English. If German, possible occupational surname for a cobbler, from Old German Schuchmann, lit. "shoe man". Similar origin if Dutch... [more]

Sköld Swedish
Means "shield" in Swedish.

Skorupa Polish, Jewish
Derived from Polish skorupa meaning "shell", hence a nickname for a secretive individual.

Sluiter Dutch
Means "gatekeeper, porter, prison guard, cellar master" in Dutch, literally "one who closes".

Stahl German, Danish
Metonymic occupational name for a smith or armorer, from Middle High German stahel "steel, armor".

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-).

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

Stražičić Croatian
Possibly derived from straža, meaning "guard".

Sumanapala Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit सुमन (sumana) meaning "good-minded, benevolent" and पाल (pala) meaning "guard, protector".

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

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

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.

Tarcza Polish, Hungarian
Means "shield" in Polish.

Tewksbury English
Derived from Tewkesbury, a market town and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It is named with the Old English given name Teodec and burg meaning "fortification".

Thurman English (Rare)
Composed of the elements þórr (see Thor) and mundr "protection".

Trail Scottish
This surname is most likely a habitational name, taken on from a place name; perhaps from the Gaelic "Traill Creek" which runs into Upper Loch Torridon of Scotland.... [more]

Tshireletso Tswana
From the given name meaning "protection" in Setswana.

Tsukishiro Japanese
Tsuki means "month, moon" and shiro means "castle".

Ufugusuku Okinawan
The Okinawan language reading of its kanji, meaning "big castle".

Ugushiro Japanese (Rare)
From Japanese 天宮城 (Ugushiro) meaning "Ugu Castle", a castle that was possibly somewhere in the present-day city of Fukuyama in the prefecture of Hiroshima in Japan.

Utsugi Japanese
Utsugi can be written in 15 ways, them being: 宇ツ木, 宇次, 宇津城, 宇津木, 宇都城, 宇都木, 卯都木, 卯木, 空木, 槍, 打木, 梼木, 楊盧木, 擣木, 棯. The 宇津木 and 打木 are also place names while 空木 is also a female given name... [more]

Vahi Estonian
Means "watch" or "guard" in Estonian, derived from vahimees meaning "watchman".

Vali Spanish, Italian (Swiss), Arabic
This Spanish and Italian surname of VALI was a locational name for someone OR A family who lived in a valley. In valle quiescit ( In the valley of our home, we find peace.)... [more]

Van Der Burg Dutch
A toponymic surname meaning "from the fortress, stronghold" in Dutch.

Van Der Vest Dutch (Archaic)
Means "from the city wall, of the fort", derived from Middle Dutch veste "fortification, stronghold, castle; reliability".

Van Der Walle Dutch, Flemish
Means "from the rampart" or "from the defensive wall" in Dutch.

Van De Zandschulp Dutch
Means "from the sandy seashell" in Dutch. A famous bearer is the Dutch tennis player Botic van de Zandschulp (1995-).

Van Egmond Dutch
Means "from Egmond" in Dutch, the name of a town and former municipality in North Holland. The toponym is possibly derived from heeg-munde (or hecmunda) meaning "enclosed fortress".

Van Tilburg Dutch
Means "from Tilburg" in Dutch, the name of a city in North Brabant, Netherlands, derived from Old Dutch tilli "newly cultivated land" and burg "fortress, fortified settlement, citadel".

Varma Indian, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Nepali
Derived from Sanskrit वर्मन् (varman) meaning "armour, protection".

Verdun French, English (British, Rare), Spanish, Catalan
From the various locations in France called Verdun with the Gaulish elements ver vern "alder" and dun "hill fortress" and Verdú in Catalonia, English variant of Verdon

Villard German
Altered form of German Hilgard, from the female personal name Hildegard, composed of the Germanic elements hild "strife, battle" and gard "fortress, stronghold".

Vindex Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen meaning "champion", "avenger", or "defender".... [more]

Voogd Dutch
Means "guardian" in Dutch, an occupational name for a bailiff, farm manager, or someone appointed to look after the interests of other people. Ultimately from Latin advocatus "witness, advocate; one called upon to help"... [more]

Vreeland Dutch
Habitational name for a person from a place bearing the same name in the province of Utrecht, which is itself derived from the Middle Dutch word vrede, meaning "peace; legal protection against armed violence".

Wachter German, Dutch
Means "guard, sentinel", an occupational name for a watchman.

Walcott English
habitational name from any of several places called Walcott Walcot or Walcote for example in Lincolnshire Leicestershire Norfolk Oxfordshire and Wiltshire all named in Old English wealh "foreigner Briton serf" (genitive plural wala) and cot "cottage hut shelter" (plural cotu) meaning "the cottage where the (Welsh-speaking) Britons lived".

Wali Urdu, Pashto, Bengali, Arabic
Derived from Arabic وَلِيّ (waliyy) meaning "helper, friend, protector", used in Islam to describe a saint.

Warburton English
From the village and civil parish of Warburton in Greater Manchester (formerly in Cheshire), England, derived from the Old English feminine given name Werburg (itself derived from wǣr meaning "pledge" and burh "fortress") and Old English tun meaning "enclosure, yard, town".

Warden English
Occupational name for a watchman or guard, from Old French wardein meaning "protector, guard". It was also used as a habbitational name for someone from any of the various locations in England named Warden... [more]

Wardrop Scottish
Metonymic occupational name for someone who was in charge of the garments worn by a feudal lord and his household, from Norman French warde(r) meaning "to keep or guard" + robe meaning "garment".

Wehlburg German (Rare), Dutch (Rare)
Possibly derived from German Wehl "pool of water (esp. behind a dyke)" (cognate to Dutch weil "vortex, maelstrom; dyke breach pool") and burg "fortress, citadel".

Wei Chinese
From Chinese 卫 (wèi) meaning "guard, protect".

Weisenburger German, Jewish
Habitational name for someone from any of numerous places named Weissenburg "white fortress".

Wentz German (Rare)
Originally a pet form of the given names Werner and Wenceslaw. Meaning "guard" or "army".

Whitby English
English surname which was from either of two place names, that of a port in North Yorkshire (which comes from the Old Norse elements hvítr "white" (or Hvíti, a byname derived from it) combined with býr "farm") or a place in Cheshire (from Old English hwit "white" (i.e., "stone-built") and burh "fortress").

Whybrow English
From the medieval female personal name Wyburgh, literally "war-fortress". (Cf. Germanic cognate Wigburg.)

Wijayapala Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit विजय (vijaya) meaning "victory" and पाल (pala) meaning "guard, protector".

Wijepala Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit विजय (vijaya) meaning "victory" and पाल (pala) meaning "guard, protector".

Windenburg German, Germanic
Means "Windy Castle" in German.

Wolfenden English
derived from the place called Wolfenden in the parish of Newchurch-in-Rossendale, Lancashire. The placename means "Wulfhelm's valley", or "the valley of Wulfhelm" derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century personal name Wulfhelm, composed of the elements wulf "wolf" and helm "helmet, protection" and denu "valley".

Woolard English
from the Middle English personal name Wolfward (Old English Wulfweard from wulf "wolf" and weard "guard").

Yamashiro Japanese
From Japanese 山 (yama) meaning "mounain, hill" and 城 (shiro) meaning "castle".

Yarbrough English
Habitational name derived from Yarborough or Yarburgh in Lincolnshire, England, both composed of Old English eorþe "earth, ground, dirt" and burg "fortress, citadel, stronghold".

Zashchitnik Russian (Rare)
From Russian защитник (zashchitnik), meaning "defender".