Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Pavelka CzechDerived from the given name Pavel. A famosu bearer is Jake Pavelka.
Pavese ItalianMeans "one from Pavia". Pavia is an Italian town located in Lombardy, northern Italy. It can also derive from
pavese, a kind of big, Medieval shield.... [
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Pavey EnglishEither (i) from the medieval female personal name
Pavia, perhaps from Old French
pavie "peach"; or (ii) "person from Pavia", Italy.
Pavlova RussianFeminine form of
Pavlov. A famous bearer was the Russian prima ballerina Anna Pavlova (1881-1931).
Paxson EnglishThis surname means "son of Pack." Pack may be a survival of the Old English personal name
Pacca or it may have been a Middle English personal name derived from
Paschalis (meaning "relating to Easter"), the Latin form of Pascal.
Pchyolkin RussianDerived from Russian пчёлка
(pchyolka), a diminutive of пчела
(pchela) meaning "bee". The founder of the surname may have been a beekeeper.
Peabody EnglishProbably from a nickname for a showy dresser, from Middle English
pe "peacock" (see
Peacock) and
body "body, person". Alternatively it may be from the name of a Celtic tribe meaning "mountain men" from Brythonic
pea "large hill, mountain" combined with
Boadie, the tribe's earlier name, which meant "great man" (or simply "man") among the Briton and Cambri peoples... [
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Peach English (Rare)Derived from the name of the fruit, which itself derived its name from Late Latin persica, which came from older Latin malum persicum meaning "Persian fruit."
Peachy English (Anglicized)Means “lived near a peach tree, sold peaches, or was associated with the fruit in some other way”. Originally arrived with the in England after the Norman conquest of 1066.
Pearcy English (American)Variant of Percy, which is a name derived from Perci, a parish and canton near St. Lo, in Normandy
Pearks EnglishSir Stuart Edmond Pearks (1875–1931) served as the Chief Commissioner of the North-West Frontier Province of British India from 1930 until 1931. Sourced from Wikipedia.... [
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Pearl EnglishMetonymic occupational name for a trader in pearls, which in the Middle Ages were fashionable among the rich for the ornamentation of clothes, from Middle English, Old French
perle (Late Latin
perla).
Pearsall Englisha British surname of French origin derived from the pre-9th-century word "pourcel", which described a breeder of animals or a farmer
Pease EnglishEnglish: from Middle English pese ‘pea’, hence a metonymic occupational name for a grower or seller of peas, or a nickname for a small and insignificant person. The word was originally a collective singular (Old English peose, pise, from Latin pisa) from which the modern English vocabulary word pea is derived by folk etymology, the singular having been taken as a plural.
Pećanac SerbianHabitational name for someone from the village of Peći, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Pecchia ItalianNickname, probably for an industrious person, from
pecchia "bee".
Pechman German"Pechman" means "man with bad luck" in many European languages (Polish, German, and Dutch predominantly), though in German, it originally referred to one who prepared, sold, or used pitch.
Pecic AlbanianDerived from the name of the small town Peja (Pec) in western Kosovo. Most likely given to the inhabitants of the town and their descedents.
Pedraza SpanishRefers to the blow received from a stone thrown intentionally to wound someone.
Pedriks EstonianPedriks is an Estonian surname, a derivation of the names Frederick and Friedrich.
Pedrola AragoneseIt indicates familial origin within the eponymous municipality.
Pedrosa Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese, GalicianHabitational name from any of numerous places named Pedrosa, from pedroso, pedrosa meaning "stoney", an adjectival derivative of pedra meaning "stone".
Peebles Scottish, Spanish (?)Habitational name from places so named in Scotland. The place names are cognate with Welsh
pebyll "tent, pavilion".
Peele EnglishThis surname was given topographically to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. A famous bearer of this surname is actor, comedian, writer, producer, and director Jordan Peele.
Peep EstonianPeep is an Estonian surname (and masculine given name). Taken from the given name "Peep".
Peerna EstonianPeerna is an Estonian surname, possibly derived from the city of Pärnu in Pärnu County.
Peet EstonianPeet is an Estonian surname meaning "beetroot".
Peet English, DutchDerived from a pet form of the given name
Peter. As a Dutch nickname, it is derived from Middle Dutch
pete meaning "godfather, godmother, godchild".
Peetersoo EstonianPeetersoo is an Estonian surname meaning "Peeter's swamp". However, it most likely derived from an Estonianization of the surname "Peterson" or "Peeterson".
Peetre EstonianPeetre is an Estonian surname; a variant of the masculine given name "Peeter".
Peevey Norman, EnglishMeans "a place with a fine view". Composed of the Old French roots
beu, which means "fair" and "lovely", and
voir, which means "to see".
Pehlivan TurkishMeans "wrestler, strongman" in Turkish, ultimately from Persian پهلوان
(pahlavân).
Peik GermanFrom Middle Low German
pek ‘sharp, pointed tool or weapon’.
Peinado SpanishDerived from
peinado meaning "combed" (past participle of
peinar meaning "to comb"), hence a nickname for a well-groomed person or for someone with naturally smooth rather than curly hair.
Peiper German (Austrian)Occupational name for a piper, from Middle High German
piper. In some cases it may be derived from Sorbian
pipar "pepper", thus being an occupational name for a spicer or a nickname for one with a fiery temper.
Peit EstonianPeit is an Estonian surname meaning "concealed" and "hidden".
Pejović Serbian (Russified, Modern)Pejović is a Serbian surname. Mainly used in serbia. But also used in Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia
Peled JewishDerived from Hebrew פלדה
(plada) meaning "steel".
Pelevin RussianDerived from dialectal Russian пелева
(peleva) meaning "chaff, shuck". A notable bearer is Victor Pelevin, the Russian fiction writer.
Pelham EnglishFrom the name of a place in Hertfordshire, which meant "
Peotla's homestead" in Old English.
Pelisaar EstonianPelisaar is an Estonian surname meaning "capstan/windlass island".
Pelka JewishHabitational name for someone from Pelki in Poland.
Pelle GermanFrom Middle Low German
pelle "precious purple silk cloth", presumably an occupational name for a maker or seller of such cloth or for a maker of official and church vestments.
Peloso ItalianNickname for a man with long or unkempt hair and beard, from
peloso "hairy", "shaggy".
Pelter DutchThis surname is occupational in origin. It comes from the Latin word "pellis," meaning "skin" or "hide," and would have originally been born by someone who tanned or sold hides and pelts for a living.
Pelton EnglishHabitational name from Pelton, a place in County Durham, named from an unattested Old English personal name Peola + tun 'farmstead', 'settlement'.
Peltz German, JewishOccupational name for a furrier, from Middle High German
bellez, (modern German
pelz) "fur", "animal skin".
Pelzer GermanOccupational name for a furrier, from an agent derivative Middle High German
bellez "fur".
Pembroke WelshHabitual surname for someone from Pembroke, a town in Wales.
Penaluna CornishA surname with somewhat uncertain origins, though many agree it is locational. Potentially from pen-lyn, the head of a pond or pool.
Peñalver SpanishThis indicates familial origin within the eponymous Manchego municipality.
Peñaranda SpanishHabitational name from places in Burgos and Salamanca named Peñaranda.
Pendarvis English (American)The American English spelling of the Cornish surname Pendarves. Ultimately, the surname is traced back to Pendarves Island, Cornwall.
Pendlebury EnglishLikely originated from the area Pendlebury, in the Borough of Swindon and Pendlebury in Greater Manchester. Formed from the Celtic
pen meaning "hill" and
burh meaning "settlement".... [
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Pendragon EnglishFrom 'Pen Dragon' meaning head dragon or dragons head. This was the name of the king Uther Pendragon who was King Arthurs father
Peng ChineseFrom Chinese 彭
(péng) referring to the ancient state of Peng that existed during the Shang dynasty.
Pengelly CornishHabitational name for someone from any of various locations in Cornwall named Pengelly, from Cornish
penn meaning "head, top, end" and
gelli or
gilly meaning "copse, grove".
Penhaligon CornishOriginally meant "person from Penhaligon", Cornwall ("willow-tree hill"). It is borne by Susan Penhaligon (1950-), a British actress.
Penketh English (British)The surname Penketh was first found in Lancashire at Penketh, a township, in the chapelry of Great Sankey, parish of Prescot, union of Warrington, hundred of West Derby.
Penman ScottishOccupational name for someone who was a scribe, but could also be a habitational name derived from any place named with the British elements
penn "hill" and
maen "stone".
Pennebaker Dutch (Anglicized)Coming from the Dutch name
Pannebakker. The name is of occupational origin and is traceable to a term literally translated as "producer of tiles." Legend has it that the family imigrated from central Europe in the mid 1300’s to the Netherlands to escape the wars and plague that were common in the area at that time.
Penning English, Dutch, Low GermanFrom early Middle English
penning, Low German
penning, and Middle Dutch
penninc, all meaning "penny". It was used as a topographic surname or a nickname referring to tax dues of a penny.
Pennington EnglishHabitational surname denoting someone originally from any of the various locations in England named Pennington, derived from Old English
penning meaning "penny" (used as a byname or from a tribute due on the land) and
tun meaning "town".
Penno EstonianPenno is an Estonian surname derived from "penny"; from the German "pfennig".
Pennybacker Low GermanPennybacker is an anglicized German surname for someone who worked making roof tiles or as a tiler.
Pennycuik ScottishOriginally meant "person from Penycuik", near Edinburgh (probably "hill frequented by cuckoos").
Pennywell EnglishEnglish habitational name from Pennywell in Tyne and Wear or from a similarly named lost place elsewhere.
Pennyworth EnglishFrom 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.
Penrose Cornish, WelshOriginally meant "person from Penrose", Cornwall, Herefordshire and Wales ("highest part of the heath or moorland"). It is borne by the British mathematician Sir Roger Penrose (1931-).... [
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Pense FrenchPense is, quite literally, a French word meaning "to think" or "thought", but is also a surname. Sometimes confused with the surname Pence, which is German.
Pent EstonianPent is an Estonian surname possibly derived from "pentsik" meaning "funny" and "eccentric".
Pépin FrenchFrom the Old French name
Pepis, itself a form of the given name
Pépin. Alternatively, it may be derived from French
pépin meaning "(fruit) seed", thus making it an occupational name for a gardener or someone who grew fruit-bearing trees.
Peppe ItalianFrom a short form of the personal name
Giuseppe.
Peppe DutchFrom
Peppo, a pet form of a Germanic personal name.
Pepys EnglishFrom the medieval personal name
Pepis, a form of Old French
Pepin, brought into England by the Normans. It may have been based on an earlier nickname meaning "awesome"... [
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Perales SpanishHabitational name for someone from any of various locations named Perales, from Spanish
perales meaning "pear trees" (the plural of
peral meaning "pear tree").
Peralta Catalan, Spanish, AragoneseHabitational name from any of the places in Aragon, Catalonia, and Navarre called Peralta, from Latin
petra alta "high rock". This name is also established in Italy.
Percher EnglishIn textile mills, woven fabric coming off the mill / loom would pass over a frame, or rod, called a 'perch'. It was the job of the 'Percher' to examine the cloth for defects, and repair them when they were found... [
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Perdikis GreekA surname derived from the Greek word "πέρδικα", meaning partridge or grouse. It appeared first time in the Byzantine Empire during the 11th century.
Perdue English, Irish, FrenchEnglish and Irish from Old French
par Dieu ‘by God’, which was adopted in Middle English in a variety of more or less heavily altered forms. The surname represents a nickname from a favorite oath... [
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Perea BasqueIt indicates familial origin within the municipality of Aiara.
Peredo Galician/PortugueseFor Galicians, it indicates familial origin near the eponymous hill in the municipality of Castroverde and for Portuguese people, it indicates familial origin within the eponymous parish of the municipality of Macedo de Cavaleiros.
Peregrine English, Popular CultureDerived from the given name
Peregrine. A fictional bearer is Alma LeFay Peregrine, a character from the novel "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" (2011) by Ransom Riggs.
Pereire Breton (Latinized, Archaic)This surname is the Gallic (Gaulish) origin and it means wild pear tree. There are also similar spellig in the Iberian Peninsula such as Pereiro, Pereyro, Pereiros, Perero and Pereros. These surnames (last names) correspond to families of the Celtiberian culture.
Pereiru Medieval Portuguese (Latinized, Rare, Archaic)This is a Military Order (Knights Templar or the Order of Solomon's Temple) and it was founded by the Henrique de Borgonha, conde de Portucale (Henry, Count of Portugal) in the year 1090. It was then confirmed by Pope Alexandre III in the year 1177... [
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Perese GasconMeaning the pear tree. It have a second meaning that is Son of Peter and it's a surname of the Christian inspiration. In Catalonia there is a derivative that is Parés (Variations: Pares, Parès, Parè and Pare).
Perham EnglishA variation of the English name
Parham, based on the village of Parham (one in county Suffolk, another in county Sussex). From the Old English
peru, meaning "pear" (the fruit), and
ham, meaning "homestead".
Periz GasconPeriz is a Gascon surname. It's a native of the region of Gascony (Guyenne). Its signification is Descendant of Peter (Also is The family of Peter). In the French languaje is Pierre. It's a surname of the Christian inspiration and alludes to St... [
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Perlman GermanOccupational name for a person who makes or sells pearls.
Perlmutter JewishJewish (Ashkenazic): ornamental name from German Perlmutter ‘mother-of-pearl'.
Perlstein JewishOrnamental name composed of German
Perle ‘pearl’ +
Stein ‘stone’.
Pernier ItalianA famous bearer is the Italian archaeologist Luigi Pernier (1874 - 1937), who discovered the mysterious Phaistos disc on the Greek island of Crete.
Perpich English (American)Americanized spelling of Croatian and Serbian
Prpić.
Prporuše was a term denoting young girls who, in the dry season, would visit houses in the village and pray for rain.