Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Canavan Irish (Anglicized)Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Ceanndubháin "descendant of
Ceanndubhán", a byname meaning "little black-headed one", from
ceann "head" combined with
dubh "black" and the diminutive suffix
-án.
Canché MayanFrom Yucatec Maya
ka'anche' referring to the button mangrove (Conocarpus erectus), a type of shrub. Alternately it may be derived from
che' meaning "wood, stick, board", referring to a raised seedbed or floorboards used to beat and cut cobs.
Cancino SpanishA name for a person who first held the position of Chancellor.
Cancio SpanishA name for a person who first held the position of Chancellor.
Cancro ItalianDerived from Italian
cancro "cancer". Probably an occupational name for a person who catches, cooks, sells crabs.
Candela Spanish, Italian, Sicilian, CatalanEither an occupational name for a chandler (a candle maker or candle seller) or a nickname for a tall thin person, derived from
candela meaning "candle" (from Latin
candela).
Candemir TurkishMeans "iron soul" from Turkish
can meaning "soul, spirit" and
demir meaning "iron".
Candlin EnglishDerived from the medieval English, male first name Gandelyn, of unknown meaning.
Candreia RomanshDerived from Romansh
casa "house" and, by extension, "household, family" and the given name
Andreia.
Candy EnglishUnexplained.There was a family of this name in Roussillon, France, descended from a partisan of James II named Kennedy, who was exiled in France in the 17th century. The family died out in France in 1868, but may have had an American branch.
Candy Englishperhaps from Middle English
candi "crystallized cane sugar" (via French from Persian
qand "sugar") and used as a metonymic occupational name for a sugar merchant... [
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Cane EnglishFrom the English word meaning "cane, reed", a nickname for someone tall and thin, or perhaps an occupational name for someone who gathered reeds.
Canela SpanishDerived from the word 'canela' meaning cinnamon in Spanish. It Could also be a variant of the Catalan surname
Candela.
Canella ItalianItalian regional surname denoting someone who lived by a canal. From the Italian
canale 'canal', from the Latin
canalis meaning "canal; conduit; groove; funnel; or ditch". Alternatively, it may come the genus name of wild cinnamon, a diminutive of the Latin
canna "reed, cane".
Canelo SpanishFrom spanish
canela meaning "cinnamon". Perhaps a nickname for someone with red hair.
Cangussu BrazilianThe surname Cangussu has its origins in the Tupi-Guarani language and is a variation of
Akangu’su, which means "jaguar".
Canizales Spanish (Latin American)This surname came from around the beginnings of 1800 in south regions of Colombia where sugar cane was cultivated. It's a variation of
Cañizales, that literally means "sugar cane fields".
Cannarsa ItalianPossibly means "dry throat", a joking nickname for someone who drinks too much.
Cannavaro ItalianProbably from a nickname used to refer to rope makers or hemp growers. This surname is most famously borne by brothers Fabio (1973–) and Paolo Cannavaro (1981–), former football players.
Cannella ItalianDerived from the word "Cinnamon" in Italian meaning someone who was a baker and or made cinnamon.
Canner Jewish (Anglicized, Modern, Rare)Anglicized (American) version of one of many Eastern European Ashkenazi surnames including Cahana, Cahane, Kahana, Kahane, etc. Cahana et al is a version of the common surname Cohen.
Cannock EnglishFrom from the town of
Cannock in Staffordshire, England. The surname itself might be derived from Old English
cnocc, meaning "hillock."
Canomanuel SpanishThe first part of this surname is possibly derived from Spanish
cano "hoary, white-haired, grey-haired". The second part is derived from the given name
Manuel... [
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Cañosa FilipinoIt is derived from the word 'Caña' meaning 'reed'. Born as a surname in before World War I, it is a newly formed family name built by Angelo Cañosa and his 2 siblings, formerly his birth surname is Caña when he and his siblings migrated to Agusan when they are wanted by the Spanish Authorities as they were berdugos(Killing Spanish allies)in their native place, Minglanilla and by rowing boats, they landed in Mindanao and he, Angelo Caña and his two siblings changed their family name into Cañosa... [
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Canova RomanshDerived from Romansh
casa "house" and
nova, the feminine form of the adjective
nov "new".
Canoy FilipinoPossibly derived from Hokkien 橄欖孫
(ka-núi-sun) meaning "great-grandchild".
Cant EnglishMeans "singer in a chantry chapel", or from a medieval nickname for someone who was continually singing (in either case from Old Northern French
cant "song").
Cantagallo ItalianFrom the name of a town, or possibly a nickname meaning "singing rooster".
Cantalupi ItalianDenoting a person from Cantalupo, the name of several towns and counties near wooded areas where wolves could be heard. From Italian
canta "singing" and
lupo "wolf". ... [
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Cantellow EnglishMeans "person from Canteleu, Canteloup, etc.", the name of various places in northern France ("song of the wolf").
Canteloup FrenchName of several places in France. The surname means "Song of the Wolf" from canta and loup as in "place where the wolves howl".
Canterbury EnglishHabitational name from Canterbury in Kent, named in Old English as
Cantwaraburg "fortified town (
burgh) of the people (
wara) of Kent".
Cantieni RomanshDerived from Romansh
casa "house" and, by extension, "household, family" and the given name
Antieni.
Cantone ItalianHabitational name for someone from any of various locations named Cantone, derived from Italian
cantone meaning "canton, corner".
Cantore ItalianFrom
cantore "cantor, singer", itself from Latin
canto "sing; enchant, call forth by charms".
Caouette French (Quebec)Altered form of French
Cahouet, itself a regional form of
chat-huant meaning "screech owl", hence a nickname referring to the bird.
Capadrutt RomanshDerived from Romansh
casa "house" and, by extension, "household, family" and the given name
Padrutt.
Capaldo ItalianProbably a diminutive of Italian
capo meaning "head", perhaps used as a nickname for a stubborn or hard-headed person.
Caparas PampanganDerived from Pampangan
para's meaning "hot, spicy", possibly used as an occupational name for a cook.
Capaul RomanshDerived from Romansh
casa "house" and, by extension, "household, family" and the given name
Paul.
Capdevila CatalanFrom Catalan
cap meaning "chief, head" and
de vila meaning "of the town".
Cape French, English (British)French and English: metonymic occupational name for a maker of capes and cloaks, or perhaps a nickname for someone who habitually wore a cloak or cape, from Middle English and Old Norman French cape ‘cape’, ‘cloak’, ‘hooded cloak’ (in French also ‘hood’ or ‘hat’), from Late Latin cappa, capa, probably a derivative of caput ‘head’ (see Capp)... [
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Capecchi ItalianProbably from Old Italian
capecchio, either denoting a type of cheap batting and, by extension, upholsterers, who worked with it, or as a nickname for a person with bristly hair or beard.... [
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Capeder RomanshDerived from Romansh
casa "house" and, by extension, "household, family" and the given name
Peder.
Čapek CzechDerived from a diminutive of Czech
cáp meaning "stork", applied as a habitational name for someone who lived at a house distinguished by the sign of a stork. In some cases the family name may have derived from a heraldic symbol.
Capel EnglishFrom the Domesday Book of 1086, from the old French word 'capele' meaning chapel.
Caplazi RomanshDerived from Romansh
casa "house" and, by extension, "household, family" and the given name
Plazi.
Caplin EnglishMeans "singer in a chantry chapel" (from Old Northern French
capelain, a variant of standard Old French
chapelain (cf.
Chaplin)).
Capol RomanshDerived from Romansh
casa "house" and, by extension, "household, family" and the given name
Pol.
Capone ItalianAugmentative of Italian
capo meaning "head", used as a nickname for a big-headed or arrogant person.
Capote Italian (Tuscan)Capote is a name for person who was the chief of the head from the Italian personal name Capo.
Capra ItalianFrom the Latin word
capra meaning "nanny goat." This was a name originally borne by shepherds / goat herders.
Capraro ItalianOccupational name for a goatherd, derived from Italian
capra meaning "goat".
Capri Italianhabitational name for someone from Capri the island in the Bay of Naples.
Capriati ItalianFrom the name of the province in Campania Italy named "Capriati a Volturno".
Capricorne FrenchDerived from the Latin word
(Capricornus) meaning "horned like a goat". Probably a nickname for an ambitious person.
Caprio Italianfrom Latin
caprae ‘goats’ or possibly from Greek
kapros "(wild) boar" and so a metonymic occupational name for a goatherd or swineherd or a nickname for someone thought to resemble a goat or boar.
Capshaw EnglishUnexplained. Perhaps a habitational name from Cadshaw near Blackburn, Lancashire, although the surname is not found in England.
Capua ItalianCapua is a city and comune in the province of Caserta, Campania, southern Italy, situated 25 km (16 mi) north of Naples on the northeastern edge of the Campanian plain. Ancient Capua was situated where Santa Maria Capua Vetere is now.... [
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Capulet EnglishThis is the last name of Juliet from William Shakepeare's tragedy, Romeo and Juliet.
Caputo ItalianDerived from Latin
caput meaning "head", used as a nickname for a big-headed or stubborn person.
Carabuz RomanianCarabuz is a combination betwen 2 Romanian words, ,,cărăbuș" the Romanian form of ,,beetle" and ,,autobuz" the Romanian form of ,,bus"
Caradine English, German (Anglicized)Americanized form of German
Gardein, itself a Germanized spelling of French
Jardin. It could also denote someone from the village and civil parish of
Carden in Cheshire, England.
Carafa ItalianIt could derive from toponyms such as Caraffa del Bianco in the province of Reggio Calabria or Caraffa in the province of Catanzaro.... [
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Carandang Filipino, TagalogOccupational name for someone who dried things using fire, derived from Tagalog
dangdang meaning "heating, toasting, drying through exposure to fire or glowing coals".
Caraway EnglishProbably means "spice merchant" (from Middle English
carewei "caraway").
Carbajal Spanish, Judeo-SpanishProbably a habitational name denoting someone originally from any of the multiple locations called
Carbajal in León, Asturias, or Zamora in Spain. Alternatively, it may be of pre-Roman origin from the word
carbalio meaning "oak", denoting someone who either lived near an oak tree or who was like an oak tree in some way.... [
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Carbonell EnglishFrom a medieval nickname for a dark-haired or swarthy person, from Anglo-Norman
carbonel, literally "little charcoal".
Carbonero SpanishFamous bearers are Carlos Carbonero, a Colombian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Sampdoria on loan from Fénix and Sara Carbonero, a Spanish sports journalist.
Carbrey IrishAnglicized form of Irish Gaelic
Ó Cairbre and
Mac Cairbre meaning "descendant of
Cairbre", a given name meaning "charioteer".
Carcan LombardIt indicates familial origin within the eponymous frazione of the commune of Vila in the province of Còmm.
Carcelén SpanishThis indicates familial origin within the eponymous Manchego municipality.
Card EnglishEnglish: metonymic occupational name for someone who carded wool (i.e. disentangled it), preparatory to spinning, from Middle English, Old French card(e) ‘carder’, an implement used for this purpose... [
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Cardellini ItalianFrom a diminutive of
Cardelli. A famous bearer of this surname is the American actress Linda Cardellini (1975-).
Carden EnglishFrom the name of a village in Cheshire, England, derived from Old English
carr "stone, rock" and
worþign "enclosure, estate".
Carden EnglishDerived from Middle English
cardoon "wild thistle, artichoke thistle". Could be a nickname for someone who carded wool (which was originally done with thistles), for a person who lived near a thistle patch, or for a prickly and unapproachable person... [
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Cardenete SpanishThis indicates familial origin within the eponymous Manchego municipality.
Cardillo ItalianCardillo is a surname of Sicilian origin, derived from the word
cardilla, meaning ''goldfinch''.
Cardon Frenchfrom the name of several places in southern France called (Le) Cardon. Or from Old Norman French
cardon "thistle" (a diminutive of
carde from Latin
carduus) hence a topographic name for someone who lived on land overgrown with thistles an occupational name for someone who carded wool (originally a process carried out with thistles and teasels) or perhaps a nickname for a prickly and unapproachable person... [
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Cardone Italian, SicilianFrom Sicilian
carduni "thistle, teasel, cardoon" possibly a topographic name but also could mean "rough, uncouth, stingy, or miserly".
Carducci ItalianFrom
Riccarduccio, an affectionate form of the given name
Riccardo. A famous bearer of this surname is Italian poet Giosuè Carducci (1835-1907), winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1906.
Cardwell EnglishFrom the traditionally British surname, which is a variant of the British surname Caldwell, a from the Old English
cald "cold" and
well(a) "spring, stream".
Care EnglishOccupational name for a locksmith, Middle English keyere, kayer, an agent derivative of keye.
Carganico ItalianPossibly from
cargar, an Italic descendent of Latin
carrico "to load", indicating someone who carried or loaded items for transport for a living.
Carhartt Cornishthe surname of the founder of Carhartt Apparel, a habitational name from
Carhart in Cornwall. Possibly also an Americanized form of German
Gerhardt.
Cariglia GalicianThe surname Cariglia comes from the autonomous region in the northwest Iberian peninsula.
Carioto ItalianIt means “deer” and originates from Italy the surname is considerably rare the total number is still unknown
Carisbrook EnglishCarisbrooke is a village on the Isle of Wight; the name is thought to mean "Carey's brook". When in 1917 the British royal family changed its name from the "House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha" to the "House of Windsor" and renounced all German titles, the title of Marquess of Carisbrooke was created for the erstwhile German Prince Alexander of Battenberg.
Carisch RomanshDerived from Romansh
casa "house" and, by extension, "household, family" and the given name
Risch.
Ĉaristo EsperantoOccupational name for a charioteer, from
ĉaro, meaning "a chariot, wagon, or cart", and
-isto, a suffix used for professions.
Carlan IrishAnglicized form of Irish
O'Carlain or
O'Caireallain, from the Irish
carla meaning a "wool-comb" and
an meaning "one who" which roughly translates as "one who combs wool"... [
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Carlander SwedishCombination of the given name
Karl or Swedish
karl "man" and
ander, from classical Greek
andros, "man".
Carlin Swedish (Rare)Combination of the given name
Karl, which is also a common place name prefix, and the common surname suffix
-in (originally from Latin
-inus "descendant of").
Carlin GermanHabitational name from a place named Carlin in Germany.
Carling SwedishFrom the personal name
Karl, which is also a common place name prefix, and the common surname suffix
-ing "belonging to".
Carlova RomanianMeaning uncertain. It may be related to the name Karlov or Karlova. Another possible relative is the surname
Korolev, originating from
korol meaning "king"... [
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Carlsberg GermanVariant spelling of
Karlsberg or derived from the name of a municipality in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
Carlström SwedishCombination of the given name
Carl and Swedish
ström (Old Norse
straumr) meaning "stream".
Carlyon CornishCornish: habitational name from any of three places in Cornwall called Carlyon, in St. Minver and Kea parishes. The first element is Celtic ker ‘fort’; the second could represent the plural of Cornish legh ‘slab’.
Carmack EnglishAnyone with information about this last name please edit.
Carmiggelt DutchDutch cognate of
Carmichael. This was the surname of the Dutch writer, journalist and poet Simon Carmiggelt (1913-1987).