All Submitted Surnames

usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Pelisaar Estonian
Pelisaar is an Estonian surname meaning "capstan/windlass island".
Pelissier French
From Old French "Pelicier", (Meaning "Furrier", from an agent derivative of pelice, meaning "Fur cloak", from Late Latin "pellicia", from "pellis", meaning "skin fur". An occupational name of someone likely in the fur and hide trade.
Pelka Polish
Reduced pet form of the given name Świętopełk.
Pelka Jewish
Habitational name for someone from Pelki in Poland.
Pelkey French (Anglicized)
Anglicized version of French surnames Peltier and Pelltier.
Pelle Italian
From the Italian word pelle "skin".
Pelle Danish, German
From the personal name Pelle, a vernacular form of Peter.
Pelle German
From 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.
Pellegrin French
Unknown. Possibly a variant of Pellegrino. This surname was given to the Chilean named Raúl Alejandro Pellegrin Friedmann (1958-1988; nicknamed José Miguel).
Pellerin French
From Old French pellerin pelegrin "pilgrim" (from Latin peregrinus "traveler") applied as a nickname for a person who had been on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land or to a famous holy site elsewhere... [more]
Pellicano Italian, Sicilian
nickname from dialect pelecanò pelicanò "woodpecker" from modern Greek pelekanos "green woodpecker" (cognate with pelekan "pelican"; both come from pelekys "axe" the pelican because its beak is shaped like an axe the woodpecker because it uses its beak like an axe).
Pelliccia Italian
From Italian pelliccia "fur (of an animal)".
Pellicer Spanish
Spanish variant of Pelletier
Pello Estonian
Pello is an Estonian surname meaning "pipe-clip".
Pelosi Italian
Patronymic or plural form of Peloso.
Peloso Italian
Nickname for a man with long or unkempt hair and beard, from peloso "hairy", "shaggy".
Pelt Dutch
Dutch: shortened form of Van Pelt.
Pelter Dutch
This 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.
Peltier French
Variant of Pelletier (from Old French pellet, a diminutive of pel "skin, hide").
Pelto Finnish
Translates to "field" from Finnish.
Pelton English
Habitational name from Pelton, a place in County Durham, named from an unattested Old English personal name Peola + tun 'farmstead', 'settlement'.
Peltz German, Jewish
Occupational name for a furrier, from Middle High German bellez, (modern German pelz) "fur", "animal skin".
Pelz German, Jewish
Variant of Peltz.
Pelzer German
Occupational name for a furrier, from an agent derivative Middle High German bellez "fur".
Pema Tibetan, Bhutanese
From the given name Pema.
Pembroke Welsh
Habitual surname for someone from Pembroke, a town in Wales.
Pémonge French, Occitan
Meaning unknown.
Pen Chinese (Hakka, Rare)
Variant transcription of Chinese (Hakka) 冰 (see Ben 2).
Peñafiel Spanish
It indicates familial origin within the eponymous municipality.
Peñaflorida Spanish (Philippines)
"flowery cliff" in Spanish
Penagos Cantabrian
It indicates familial origin within the eponymous municipality.
Penaluna Cornish
A surname with somewhat uncertain origins, though many agree it is locational. Potentially from pen-lyn, the head of a pond or pool.
Peñalver Spanish
This indicates familial origin within the eponymous Manchego municipality.
Peñaranda Spanish
Habitational name from places in Burgos and Salamanca named Peñaranda.
Penda Wolof
Penda stems from the Swahili “kupenda” = to love/like/be pleasant. Notable bearer was Fara Penda, a Waalo noble of the Wolof people in West Africa. Waalo was a kingdom on the lower Senegal River in in what is now Senegal and Mauritania.
Pendarvis English (American)
The American English spelling of the Cornish surname Pendarves. Ultimately, the surname is traced back to Pendarves Island, Cornwall.
Penderwick American
A family in a book series by Jeanne Birdsall.
Pendlebury English
Likely 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".... [more]
Pendleton English
An Old English name meaning "overhanging settlement".
Pendragon English
From 'Pen Dragon' meaning head dragon or dragons head. This was the name of the king Uther Pendragon who was King Arthurs father
Pengelly Cornish
Habitational 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 Cornish
Originally meant "person from Penhaligon", Cornwall ("willow-tree hill"). It is borne by Susan Penhaligon (1950-), a British actress.
Peniston English
Denoted someone who came from the town of Penistone in South Yorkshire.
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.
Penley English
habitational name from Penleigh in Dilton Wiltshire. The place name probably derives from Old English penn "fold enclosure" or perhaps Celtic penn "head" and Old English leah "wood woodland clearing"... [more]
Penman Scottish
Occupational 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".
Penna Italian
Possibly from Italian penna "feather, pen", a nickname for a scribe.
Pennant Celtic
Meaning, "Belonging to Pennant" (a common Welsh place-name).
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.
Penney English
Variant of Penny.
Pennilope Spanish (Latin American)
Pennilope is a type of surname. It is a type of bike aswell it is almost like a tricycle with 2 sets of stabilisers.
Penning English, Dutch, Low German
From 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.
Penning Upper German
Shortened form of Panno, which is a personal given name.
Pennington English
Habitational 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 Estonian
Penno is an Estonian surname derived from "penny"; from the German "pfennig".
Pennock Cornish, English
From the Cornish 'pennknegh', meaning "hilltop".
Pennybacker Low German
Pennybacker is an anglicized German surname for someone who worked making roof tiles or as a tiler.
Pennycuik Scottish
Originally meant "person from Penycuik", near Edinburgh (probably "hill frequented by cuckoos").
Pennyfield English (Rare, ?)
Probably derives from the two English words, 'Penny' and 'Field'.
Pennywell English
English habitational name from Pennywell in Tyne and Wear or from a similarly named lost place elsewhere.
Pennyworth English
From Old English pening, penig meaning "penny (the coin)" and worþ meaning "enclosure". A notable fictional bearer is Alfred Pennyworth, a DC Comics character notable for being the butler of the superhero Batman.
Penrose Cornish, Welsh
Originally 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-).... [more]
Penry Welsh, Cornish, English
Derived from Welsh ap Henry meaning "son of Henry". It is also a variant of Pendray, which is derived from a place name in Cornwall meaning "top of the village" in Middle Cornish... [more]
Pensa Italian
Possibly from Italian pensa "think", indicating the bearer was known for being thoughtful or intelligent.
Pense French
Pense 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 Estonian
Pent is an Estonian surname possibly derived from "pentsik" meaning "funny" and "eccentric".
Penwell English
English probably a variant of Pennywell.
People English
Possibly a variant of Pepall, a patronymic form of the given name Pepin. Alternatively, may be a habitational name.
Peoples Irish
An attempted English translation of Ó Duibhne, based on the Irish word daoine meaning "people".
Pepall English
Variant of People.
Pepe Italian
From the given name Giuseppe.
Pepi Italian
Patronymic form of Pepe.
Pépin French
From 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.
Pepin Russian
Means "son of Pepa".
Pepito Spanish (Philippines)
From the given name Pepito.
Peppe Italian
From a short form of the personal name Giuseppe.
Peppe Dutch
From Peppo, a pet form of a Germanic personal name.
Pepys English
From 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"... [more]
Pera Croatian
Derived from Pero. Also means "feathers".
Perales Spanish
Habitational 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, Aragonese
Habitational 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.
Perceval English, Norman
Derived from either the Old French given name Perceval, or from one of two places called Perceval in the department of Calvados in Normandy, France... [more]
Percher English
In 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... [more]
Percival English, Norman
Variant of Perceval, derived from the given name Percival.
Perdikis Greek
A surname derived from the Greek word "πέρδικα", meaning partridge or grouse. It appeared first time in the Byzantine Empire during the 11th century.
Perdikogiannis Greek
Means "partridge John" in Greek, from πέρδικα (perdika) "partridge" combined with the given name Giannis.
Perdomo Spanish (Canarian)
From French (prud'homme) meaning "expert". This is the Spanish variant of Prudhomme.
Perdue English, Irish, French
English 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... [more]
Perea Basque
It indicates familial origin within the municipality of Aiara.
Peredo Galician, Portuguese
For 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 Culture
Derived 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.
Pereiri Celtic (Latinized, Archaic)
Pereiri or Pereiro is a Galician surname in the north of Spain. It's a last name belonging to ancient Celtic tribes.
Pereiris Medieval Portuguese (Latinized, Rare, Archaic), Galician (Latinized, Rare, Archaic)
Pereiris (also known as Pereirus) is a last name of the Celtic roots (it's Galician and Portuguese). It meaning is will pear tree or pear tree and also european will pear tree. Pereiris comes from the translation of Welsh name and Cornish name Gellygen or Gellyg.
Pereiros Celtic (Latinized, Modern)
It is a last name that belongs to Celtic families. Its meaning is the will pear tree.
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... [more]
Perepelkin Russian
From perepel, meaning "quail".
Perera Sinhalese, Catalan
Sinhalese form of Pereira as well as a Catalan cognate.
Perero Medieval Spanish (Latinized, Archaic)
It appeared in Extremadura and it means pear tree. It's a family name belonging to the Celtiberian culture (Celtic families).
Peres Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese, Gascon, Breton, Central African
Means "son of Pedro" in Spanish and Portuguese. Means "son of Pere" in Catalan... [more]
Perese Gascon
Meaning 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).
Peress Breton (Latinized, Rare, Archaic)
It means Son of Peter (Pedro).
Peretti Italian
Patronymic from a pet form of the personal name Pero.
Peretz Jewish
From the given name Perez.
Perevozchik Russian, Belarusian
Means "carrier". It is a Russian last name, but it also present in Belarus.
Pereyro Galician
It's a Galician surname and it means apple tree.
Perham English
A 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".
Perhonen Finnish (Rare)
Means "butterfly" in Finnish.
Peričić Croatian
Patronymic, meaning "son of Perica".
Peries Sinhalese
Alternate transcription of Sinhalese පීරිස් (see Peiris).
Periz Gascon
Periz 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... [more]
Perkinson English
"Son of Perkin."
Perla Italian
From perla "pearl".
Perley English
Variant of Parley or Burley.
Perlman German
Occupational name for a person who makes or sells pearls.
Perlmutter Jewish
Jewish (Ashkenazic): ornamental name from German Perlmutter ‘mother-of-pearl'.
Perlstein Jewish
Ornamental name composed of German Perle ‘pearl’ + Stein ‘stone’.
Perminov Russian
Indicated a person from the Russian city of Perm, of Uralic origin meaning "faraway land".
Perna Italian
Meaning uncertain, possibly from the dialectic word perna "leg", denoting someone with a deformed or missing leg, or a variant of Perla.
Pernier Italian
A famous bearer is the Italian archaeologist Luigi Pernier (1874 - 1937), who discovered the mysterious Phaistos disc on the Greek island of Crete.
Perotti Italian
from the personal name Pietro.
Perović Serbian, Montenegrin
Patronymic, meaning "son of Pero".
Perovski Russian
I looked for the meaning of this name, but my searches almost always came up with "Perovskite, the mineral that named after the mineralogist" (there's also "Perovskia, the mint-plant named after a Russian General")... [more]
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.
Perre French (Rare), Jèrriais, Guernésiais
Derived from the given name Pierre.
Perri English
Variant of Perry 1.
Perrie Scottish
Scottish form of Perry 1 and Perry 2.
Perron Spanish
Spanish (Perrón) : probably from an augmentative of perro 'dog'.
Perron French (Quebec)
Probably a diminutive of Pierre.
Persad Indian, Trinidadian Creole
Indo-Trinidadian variant of Prasad.
Persakis Greek
Possibly related to περσικός (persikos), itself from the Ancient Greek Περσίς (Persís) meaning “Persia (today Iran)”.
Persaud Indian (Expatriate), South American, Caribbean
Indo-Guyanese form of Prasad. This is the most common surname in Guyana.
Persen Norwegian
Norwegian form of Persson.
Perseu Italian
Sardinian form of Perseo.
Persia Italian, Spanish
Ethnic name or regional name for someone from Persia (modern-day Iran) or some other country with Persian-speaking peoples or a nickname for someone who had visited or traded with one of these countries (see the given name Persis)... [more]
Peršin Croatian, Serbian
From Croatian peršin meaning "parsley," likely referring to a grower or seller.
Peršin Slovene
From given name Perše.
Perske Belarusian, Lithuanian, Jewish
Variant form of Persky. This was the real surname of American actress Lauren Bacall (1924-2014), who was born Betty Joan Perske.
Persky Belarusian, Lithuanian, Jewish
Derived from the village of Pershai in the Valozhyn District of Belarus, or the place named Perki in Lithuania.
Person English
Americanised version of Persson.
Persoon Dutch, Flemish
Derived from Dutch persoon, meaning "person".
Persopoulos Greek
Means "descendant of a Persian" in Greek.
Peru Basque
Derived from the given name Peru.
Peruničić Serbian
Patronymic, meaning "son of Perun". Perun was the Slavic god of lightning.
Peruško Croatian
Habitational name for someone from Peruški, Croatia.
Peruzzi Italian
From the given name Piero.
Pervaiz Urdu
From the given name Parviz.
Pervak Ukrainian, Russian
Derived either from Russian первый (pervy) meaning "first" or directly from colloquial Ukrainian первак (pervak) meaning "firstborn".
Pervez Urdu
From the given name Parviz.
Pervik Estonian
Pervik is an Estonian surname meaning "embankment".
Pesälä Finnish
From Finnish pesä meaning “nest” and the suffix -lä signifying a place.
Pescador Spanish
Means "fisherman, fisher" in Spanish.
Pesci Italian
Variant of Pesce.
Peshlakai Navajo
Derived from the Navajo words béésh "metal" and łigaii "white" meaning “silver”.
Peska Czech
From a pet form of the personal name Pešek
Pessegueiro Portuguese
Means "peach tree" in Portuguese, ultimately from Latin persicum. It indicated a person who lived near or worked with peach trees.
Pessoa Portuguese
From Portuguese pessoa meaning "person."
Pestana Portuguese
Nickname for a person with prominent eyelashes, from Portuguese pestana "eyelash".
Pesur Estonian
Pesur is an Estonian surname meaning "washer".
Petaccia Medieval Italian
It is one of the thirteen patrician families of Trieste bearing the comital title, and extinct in 1817.
Peták Czech
Derivative of the personal name Petr, Czech form of Peter.
Petcu Romanian (?)
Possibly a diminutive of Petrescu (child of Peter).
Petek Slovene, Croatian
Derived from petek "Friday".
Peterli German (Swiss)
Derived from the given name Peterli.
Petitjean French
Nickname for a small or little man, or ironically a large or tall man, derived from Old French petit meaning "small, little" combined with the given name Jean 1... [more]
Petito Italian, Judeo-Italian
Nickname for a small person, derived from a dialectal word ultimately from French petit meaning "small, little".
Petke German
German surname derived from a diminutive form for Peter.
Petkevich Russian
Russian form of Piatkievič.
Petkov Bulgarian, Macedonian
Means “son of Petko” in Bulgarian and Macedonian.
Petrakis Greek
Patronymic form of the Greek given name Petros (see Peter).
Petraliphas Greek
The surname is composed of the name Petros and the city Alifa in Campania, Italy. The surname was held by a Byzantine-Italian family in Epirus.
Petranov Bulgarian
From Greek petros meaning "rock" or "stone".
Petras Various
Possibly from the name Petros. Famous bearer of this surname is the German singer Kim Petras (born 1992)
Petre Romanian
From the given name Petre.
Petrelli Italian
From the given name Pietro.
Petrevski Macedonian
Means "son of Petar".
Petri Romanian
Derived from Petre, the Romanian form of Peter.