Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Sawai JapaneseFrom Japanese 沢 or 澤
(sawa) meaning "wetland,swamp, marsh" and 井
(i) meaning "well, mineshaft, pit".
Sawajiri JapaneseSawa means "marsh, swamp" and jiri comes from shiri, meaning "rear".
Sawano JapaneseSawa means "swamp, marsh" and no means "field, plain, wilderness".
Sawant Indian, MarathiDerived from Sanskrit समन्त
(samanta) meaning "universal, complete, entire".
Sawaragi JapaneseFrom 椹 (
sawara) meaning "sawara cypress,
Chamaecyparis pisifera" and 木 (
gi) meaning "tree, wood".
Sawasaki JapaneseFrom Japanese 沢 or 澤
(sawa) meaning "marsh, swamp, wetland" and 崎
(saki) meaning "cape, peninsula, promontory".
Sawashiro JapaneseFrom Japanese 沢 (
sawa) meaning "swamp, wetland, marsh" and 城 (
shiro) meaning "castle".
Sawatdi ThaiFrom Thai สวัสดี (
sawatdi) meaning "welfare, prosperity, security, goodness, virtue, moral excellence".
Sawicki PolishThis indicates familial origin anywhere within a cluster of 3 Podlachian villages in Gmina Repki: Sawice-Dwór, Sawice-Wieś, or Sawice-Bronisze.
Sawtell English (British)A dialectal variant of
Sewell, which was first recorded in early 13th-century England. The later addition of the 't' was for easier pronunciation.... [
more]
Sax EnglishFrom Middle English
sax meaning "knife", an occupational name for a knife maker, or perhaps a nickname for someone skilled with a knife.
Saxby English (British)Saxby is the surname of the character Stella Saxby from the book Awful Auntie, by David Walliams. Saxby means "Grand" .
Saxena Indian, HindiTraditionally believed to be derived from Sanskrit सखिसेना
(sakhisena) meaning "friend of the army", from सखा
(sakha) meaning "friend, companion" and सेना
(sena) meaning "army"... [
more]
Saxton EnglishFrom the name of a village in West Yorkshire or Cambridgeshire, both derived from the Old Norse given name
Saxi or Old English
seaxa "Saxon" and
tun "enclosure, settlement".
Sayagu LeoneseIt indicates familial origin within the eponymous comarca.
Sayalath LaoFrom Lao ໄຊ
(say) meaning "victory" and ລາດ
(lath) meaning "pave, pour".
Sayavong LaoFrom Lao ໄຊ
(say) meaning "victory" and ວົງ
(vong) meaning "lineage, family".
Sayer EnglishOccupational name for a professional reciter or minstrel, derived from Middle English
seier "speaker".
Saykhman PunjabiThis name is a boy's name. used as surname name. mostly used as boys name of Sikh or Hindu religion. originated from Punjabi. (sikh) means "learner" and (maan) means "mind". "Learner's Mind"
Sayson FilipinoFrom Hokkien 世孫
(sì sun) meaning "direct lineal descendant" or 西孫
(sai sun) meaning "western grandchild".
Sayto Japanese (Russified)Alternate transcription of
Saitō more commonly used by ethnic Japanese living in parts of the former Soviet Union and Sakhalin Japanese residing on Sakhalin Island in Russia.
Saytou Japanese (Russified)Alternate transcription of
Saitou more commonly used by ethnic Japanese living in parts of the former Soviet Union and Sakhalin Japanese residing on Sakhalin Island in Russia.
Sayyid Swahili, MuslimFrom the Arabic honourific title سَيِّد
(sayyid) which means "master, lord, prince, mister".
Sayyid ArabicFrom an honorific title meaning "master, lord" in Arabic, used as a surname by descendants of the prophet
Muhammad.
Saza JapaneseFrom Japanese 佐 (
sa) meaning "to assist, to help" and 座 (
za) meaning "seat."
Scafata ItalianPossibly denoting someone from the Italian town Scafati, from Latin
scapha "skiff, light boat". Alternately, may be from Italian
scafare "to husk peas", either literally referring to someone's occupation, or from the figurative meaning of "to make more confident; alert, shrewd".
Scaglietti ItalianThe name of an Italian coachbuilder, with one of its famous customers being Ferrari when it doesn't want a design from Pininfarina.
Scaglione ItalianDerived from
scaglione meaning "stallion’s canine tooth" (an augmentative form of
scaglie meaning "canine tooth", from Old French
escaillon meaning "horse’s tooth"), presumably a nickname for someone with exceptionally large teeth.
Scala ItalianMeans "ladder, stair, scale" in Italian, a habitational name from any of various places named
Scala, or a topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent staircase or terraced land... [
more]
Scali ItalianHabitational name from Scali in Piedimonte Etneo, Sicily, derived from Greek σκαλί
(skali) "step, rung (of a ladder)".
Scalia ItalianHabitational name derived from Scalea in the province of Cosenza, deriving ultimately from medieval Greek
skaleia meaning "hoeing".
Scaloni ItalianLikely derived from Italian
scala meaning "ladder, stairs". It may have originated as a occupational name for someone who built or worked with ladders.
Scanagatta ItalianProbably means "cat killer", from Italian
scannare "to slaughter, to cut the throat of" and
gatto "cat", with the figurative meaning of "cheat, scoundrel". (Compare
Pelagatti)... [
more]
Scanavacca ItalianPossibly an occupational name for a butcher, from
scannare "to slaughter, to cut the throat of" and
vacca "cow".
Scanavino ItalianMeaning uncertain, possibly related to
scanalare "to cut a groove, to plough" and
vino "wine".
Scannabissi ItalianPossibly from
scannare "to slaughter, to cut the throat of" and
biscio "snake". Alternately, the first element may be from an archaic form of
zanna, "tooth (of an animal)".
Scannadinari Italian (Rare)Taken from the Italian
scanna meaning "slaying" and
dinari meaning "money" in the plural form. Therefore,
killer of money.
Scannapieco ItalianOccupational name for a butcher, from
scannare "to slaughter, to cut the throat of" and
piecuro "sheep, lamb".
Scannella ItalianPossibly from Italian
scannellare "to channel, to cut a groove", itself from Latin
scamnum "ridge (of earth formed by plowing)".
Scannláin IrishThe name originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Scannláin or Mac Scannláin, which are both derived from the word
scannal. which means "contention."
Scarborough EnglishFrom the name of a town in North Yorkshire, derived from the Old Norse byname
Skarði and
borg "fortress, fortification, citadel".
Scarcella ItalianFrom Italian "scarcella", a dessert enjoyed during Easter from the Italian region of Apulia, possibly referring to a baker who would make them.
Scarduzio ItalianFrom the Italian verb scardare, meaning to husk a hazelnut or chestnut. Possibly a metaphor for a sculptor who 'husked' a sculpture from stone.
Scarff EnglishNickname from Old Norse
skarfr meaning "cormorant".
Scargill EnglishThis ancient surname is of Old Norse origin, and is a locational name from a place called Scargill in Northern Yorkshire, deriving from the Old Norse bird name "skraki", a diving duck, plus the Old Norse "gil", valley or ravine.
Scarlato ItalianFrom Sicilian
scarlatu meaning "scarlet" or "purple". Given as an occupational name for a dyer, or as a nickname for someone who habitually wore scarlet or who had bright red hair.
Scarr EnglishDerived from the word ‘skjarr’ meaning a rocky outcrop / hill
Scarry IrishShortened Anglicized form of Gaelic
Ó Scurra, meaning ‘descendant of Scurra’, a personal name of uncertain origin.
Scarselli ItalianFrom
scarsella "purse", a type of bag hung around the neck to keep money in. Possibly indicated a wealthy person.
Scatena ItalianFrom
scatenare "to provoke, stir up, unleash", probably a nickname for a troublemaker.
Scerri MalteseMeaning disputed; it could be derived from Sicilian
sciarra meaning "fight, brawl", Arabic شَرّ
(šarr) meaning "evil, cruel", or a word meaning "anger".
Schaaf GermanMetonymic occupational name for a shepherd, from Middle High German schāf ‘sheep’. In some cases it may have been a nickname for someone thought to resemble a sheep, or a habitational name for someone living at a house distinguished by the sign of a sheep... [
more]
Schaal German, Dutch, French, JewishEither a nickname for a braggart or a market crier, (derived from Middle High German
schal meaning "noise, bragging"), an occupational name for someone who made dishes for scales and vessels for drinking, (from Middle Low German and Dutch
schale "dish"), a habitational name from
Schaala in Thuringia or the Schaalsee lake near Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, or a topographic name for someone living on marshy land, (from Dutch
schald "shallow")... [
more]
Schaap DutchMeans "sheep" in Dutch, an occupational name for a shepherd. Alternatively, it could be a nickname for someone who looked or behaved like a sheep in some way, or who lived by a sign depicting a sheep.
Schachner GermanGerman origins (as told to me by my family); popular in Austria and also has Jewish and Slavic origins, according to the internet/ancestry.com.
Schacht German, FlemishFrom Middle Low German and Middle Dutch
schacht "shaft; pole, tunnel", a metonymic occupational name for someone who made shafts for tools or weapons, or who worked in a mineshaft.
Schade German, DutchFrom
schade "damage, injury", a derivative of
schaden "to do damage, harm, hurt", generally a nickname for a thug or clumsy person, or, more particularly, a robber knight, who raided others’ lands.
Schaefer German (?)Originating in Germany SCHAEFER is a given surname meaning Shepard in German.
Schaff GermanName given to sheepherders, accounding to personal family history.
Schäffler GermanOccupational name for a cooper, from an agent derivative of Middle High German
scheffel "bushel".
Schaffter GermanAn occupational name for a shaft maker or maker of tools and weapons, from Middle Low German
schaft "shaft, spear, lance."
Schalk German, DutchFrom Old High German
scalc "servant, retainer, jester", which eventually evolved to mean "joker, rogue, knave". Could be an occupational name for an attendant or jester, a nickname for someone mischievous, or derived from a given name containing
scalc as an element, such as
Godschalk.
Schall GermanNickname for a braggart or for a market crier from Middle High German
schal "noise" "bragging".
Schaller Upper GermanFrom Middle High German word "schal," which means "noise," or "bragging," and as such is was thought to have originally been a nickname for a braggart, or for a market crier.
Schankweiler GermanFrom the name of a German municipality, derived from
Schank "bar, pub, tavern" and
Weiler "hamlet".
Schattner German, JewishHabitational 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".
Schatz German, JewishGerman and Jewish (Ashkenazic) metonymic occupational name for a treasurer, from German
Schatz ‘treasure’, Middle High German
scha(t)z. It may also have been a nickname for a rich man (or ironically for a miser), or else for a well-liked person or a ladies’ favorite, from the use of the vocabulary word as a term of endearment... [
more]
Schätzel GermanGerman diminutive of
Schatz, or a nickname for a lover meaning "little sweetheart" (from the same word used as a term of endearment).
Schauer GermanThe Schauer surname comes from the Middle High German word "schouwen" meaning "to inspect;" as such, the name is thought to have originally been occupational, for some kind of inspector, perhaps an official of a market.
Schaul German, Dutch, JewishEither from from Middle Low German
schulle, Middle Dutch
scholle,
schulle, Middle High German
schülle "plaice"; either a metonymic occupational name for a fisherman or seller of these fish or a nickname for someone thought to resemble a plaice... [
more]
Schaumburg German, BelgianHabitational name from any of the places called Schaumburg or Schauenburg in Germany, or Schauwberg in Brabant, Belgium. Derived from
schūm "slag, cinder" and
burg "mountain, hill".
Schaus German, LuxembourgishA nickname for a simpleton, from
schaus, a word in Rhenish Franconian and Lower Rhine dialects of German.
Schauwecker Germanhabitational name for someone from Schaubeck near Marbach (Württemberg).
Scheele German, Dutch, Swedish (Rare)From Middle Low German
schele and Dutch
scheel meaning "squinting, cross-eyed". A notable bearer was German-Swedish pharmaceutical chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1742-1786) who discovered oxygen and identified several other elements.
Scheepens DutchFrom Middle Dutch
schēpen "alderman", a member of a municipal council.
Scheetz GermanAnglicized version of the German surname, Schütz, "archer," "yeoman," "protect."
Scheid German, JewishEither a topographic name for someone who lived near a boundary (between two valleys etc.) or crossroads Middle High German
scheide, a habitational name from any of various places called
Scheidt Scheiden... [
more]
Scheidegger German, German (Swiss)Topographic name for someone who lived near a boundary or watershed. The name was derived from the Old German word SCHEIDE, meaning 'to part, to divide'. It may also have been a habitation name from any of the numerous places named with this word.
Scheidemann GermanDenoted a person who is divorced or who lives in a valley, from Middle High German
scheiden "to separate, to divorce (a couple)" and
mann "man".
Schein German, Jewishfrom Middle High German
schīn German
schein "shining brightness" hence a nickname for someone with either a radiant personality or possibly for someone living in a sunny location or a Jewish artificial name.
Schelin SwedishCombination of an unknown element (probably derived from a place name) and the common surname suffix
-in.
Schell GermanMeans "noisy" or "loud" from the German word "schel"
Schemmel GermanNickname for a disabled person, from Middle High German
schemel "stool", which was used as a crutch by invalids.
Schena ItalianDerived from a regional variant of Italian
schiena "back (of the body)", perhaps a nickname for someone with a straight, rigid posture, or a topographic name denoting a rise or bump in the ground.
Schenkel German, Dutch, JewishMeans "leg, shank", an occupational name for a butcher or a nickname for someone with long or otherwise notable legs.
Scherf Germanfrom Middle High German and Middle Low German
scherf a coin worth half a penny possibly applied as a nickname for a poor person.
Scherl GermanDerived 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.
Schermerhorn DutchFrom
Schermerhorn, the name of a village in the province of North Holland in the Netherlands, derived from Dutch
schermer meaning "fencer" and
hoorn meaning "horn". It was borne by the Dutch politician Willem "Wim" Schermerhorn (1894-1977), a Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
Scheuer German, JewishDerived from Middle High German
schiure meaning "barn, granary", denoting somebody who lived in a barn of some sort.
Scheunemann GermanIt literally means someone who either lives near (or in, if poor &/or homeless) a barn or works within its general vicinity.
Schiavo ItalianMeans both "Slav" and "slave" in Italian, the latter meaning deriving from the former. Was most likely given as an ethnonym to people from Eastern Europe, though in some cases it may have been a nickname, or an occupational name for a servant.
Schiazza ItalianFrom
chiazza "stain, blot", perhaps given to someone with a prominent birthmark. Might also from a regional dialect, meaning "piazza, town square".
Schick GermanA nickname given to a person who's smart, stylish, and well-dressed.
Schiff German, JewishFrom Middle High German
Schif "ship", indicating the bearer was either a sailor, or lived in a house distinguished by a ship sign.
Schild German, DutchOccupational name for a maker or painter of shields, from Middle High German, Middle Dutch
schilt "shield".
Schild JewishFrom 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 DutchMeans "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 GermanFirst 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.
Schiller GermanNickname for someone with a squint, from an agent derivative of Middle High German schilhen, schiln 'to squint'.
Schilling German, Dutch, JewishMeans "shilling (coin)", possibly a nickname for a serf who had paid his rent or fee to his lord for his freedom. It could also be a habitational name derived from
Schillingen, a municipality in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany... [
more]
Schimmelpfennig GermanFrom Middle High German
schimel "mildew, mould" and
pfennic "penny", a nickname for someone who was miserly or stingy with their money, hence it growing mouldy in its purse.