Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
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 ItalianMeans "bee" in Italian, probably a nickname for a hard-working or industrious person.
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.
Pechtold German, Dutch, JewishFrom the Old German given name
Pechtholt, which is composed of the elements
pecht "rotation" and
holdt "hero". As a Dutch-language surname, it is derived from the Middle Dutch given name
Pechte combined with Old High German
walt "power, authority"... [
more]
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.
Pedreira Portuguese, GalicianMeans "quarry, rocky place" in Portuguese and Galician, originally a habitational name from any of various places called Pedreira or A Pedreira.
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 DutchMeans "godparent, godchild" in Dutch, 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.
Peirce EnglishFrom the given name
Piers. A notable bearer was the American philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914), who is considered to be one of the founders of pragmatism, along with William James and John Dewey.
Peit EstonianPeit is an Estonian surname meaning "concealed" and "hidden".
Peixoto PortugueseOccupational name for a fisherman or fish seller or a nickname for someone thought to resemble a fish, derived from Portuguese
peixe meaning "fish".
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
Pelagatti ItalianProbably derives from an old expression meaning "cheat, scoundrel", literally a combination of
pela "to skin" and
gatti "cats".
Peled JewishDerived from Hebrew פלדה
(plada) meaning "steel".
Pelekanos GreekMeans woodpecker" from 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).
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".
Pelissier FrenchFrom 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 JewishHabitational name for someone from Pelki in Poland.
Pelle ItalianMeans "skin, hide; leather" in Italian, an occupational name for a tanner, or a nickname for someone with notable skin.
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.
Pellicano Italian, Siciliannickname 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).
Peloso ItalianNickname for a man with long or unkempt hair and beard, from
peloso "hairy", "shaggy".
Pelsmaker DutchOccupational name for a pelt maker, from Dutch
pels "pelt, fur" and
maker "maker"
Pelter EnglishDerived from Middle English
pellet "skin (of an animal, sheep)", an occupational name for someone who tanned or sold hides and pelts for a living. Compare French
Pelletier.
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".
Peluso m ItalianPeluso is a surname derived from the Italian word "peloso", meaning 'hairy' or 'furry,'
Pelzer GermanOccupational name for a furrier, from an agent derivative Middle High German
bellez "fur".
Pember EnglishFrom
Paegna, a given name meaning "pagan",
ber meaning "barley", or it's a variant of
Pamber.
Pemberley EnglishFrom the given name
Paegna,
ber meaning "barley" and
leah meaning "clearing".
Pemberly EnglishFrom the given name
Paegna,
ber meaning "barley" and
leah meaning "clearing".
Pembroke WelshHabitual surname for someone from Pembroke, a town in Wales.
Peñafiel SpanishIt indicates familial origin within the eponymous municipality.
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.
Penda WolofPenda 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.
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
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.
Penis FilipinoPossibly derived from Spanish
pino "pine tree", or perhaps a nickname based on the English word for genitalia.
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 Englishhabitational 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 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".
Penna ItalianPossibly from Italian
penna "feather, pen", a nickname for a scribe.
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 from the name of a field, or a nickname referring to tax dues of one 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 English, Cornish, WelshFrom the names of various towns in Cornwall and Wales, all derived from Cornish
penn "head" and
ros "moor, heathland".
Penry Welsh, Cornish, EnglishDerived 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... [
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Pensa ItalianPossibly from Italian
pensa "think", indicating the bearer was known for being thoughtful or intelligent.
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".
People EnglishPossibly a variant of
Pepall, a patronymic form of the given name
Pepin. Alternatively, may be a habitational name.
Peoples IrishAn attempted English translation of
Ó Duibhne, based on the Irish word
daoine meaning "people".
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.
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.
Perceval English, NormanDerived from either the Old French given name
Perceval, or from one of two places called
Perceval in the department of Calvados in Normandy, France... [
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Perche FrenchDerived from a former province of the south of Normandy, and extending into Orleanois.
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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Percy EnglishEither a nickname from Old French
percehaie "pierce hedge" (Old French
percer "to pierce, penetrate" and
haie "hedge, fence"), perhaps with the sense of someone breaking into an enclosure... [
more]
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... [
more]
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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Perello Catalan (Balearic), CatalanPerello is a Catalan surname linked to regions like Catalonia and the Balearic Islands in Spain, often associated with "pear tree" or specific locations named Perello.
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).