ÁlamoSpanish Either a topographic name from álamo "poplar" or a habitational name from any of several places in Spain and Portugal named with this word.
BaillyFrench, English French cognitive and English variant of Bailey from Old French baillif "bailiff" (from Latin baiulus).
BandieraItalian from bandiera "banner flag" hence presumably a status name for a standard bearer. Italian cognitive of Banner
BanvilleFrench, English, Irish From a place in france derived from the Germanic name Bada and French ville "village, town".
BarileItalian From Italian barile "barrel" either an occupational name for a Cooper or a nickname for a fat man.
BarillaItalian Occupational name from medieval Greek barellas "cooper" from Italian barella "barrel" with the suffix (e)as.
BatailleFrench nickname for a bellicose man from bataille "battle" (from Latin battualia) or a habitational name from (La) Bataille the name of several places in France all named as the site of a battle in former times.
BayleFrench Occupational name for a Bailiff from Old French Bailli "bailiff" (from Latin baiulus).
BecerraSpanish, Galician Nickname probably for a high-spirited person from becerra "young cow, heifer". It may also have been a metonymic occupational name for a cowherd.
BergschneiderGerman topographic name for someone living by a mountain trail (as in cut into the hillside) from Berg "mountain hill" and Schneit "trail path running on a border" (Old High German sneita).
BerkeleyEnglish From the elements beorce "birch" and leah "clearing, wood" meaning "birch clearing".
BermejoSpanish Nickname for a man with red hair or a ruddy complexion from Spanish bermejo "red ruddy" (from Late Latin vermiculus from vermis "worm" since a red dye was obtained from the bodies of worms).
BernierFrench From the personal name Bernier composed of the ancient Germanic elements bern "bear" and hari "army". Compare Barney and Barnier.
BertinFrench From the given name Bertin a diminutive of the ancient Germanic personal name Berhto a short form of various compound names formed with berht "bright famous".
BessonFrench, Provençal, Occitan Southern French nickname from Occitan besson "twin" (from Latin bis) or from the various places (Le) Besson in southern France.
BesteFrench, English Nickname from Middle English beste Old French beste "beast animal" (especially those used for food or work) applied either as a metonymic occupational name for someone who looked after beasts such as a herdsman or as a nickname for someone thought to resemble an animal... [more]
BiedermannGerman, Jewish nickname for an honest man from a compound of Middle High German biderbe "honorable" and man "man". Jewish surname adopted because of its honorific meaning from German bieder "honest, upright" and mann "man".
BiehlGerman From Middle Low German bil "hatchet", Middle High German biel; given to someone who made or used hatchets.
BierGerman, Jewish from Middle High German bier "beer" German bier Yiddish bir a metonymic occupational name for a brewer of beer or a tavern owner or in some cases perhaps a nickname for a beer drinker.
BlondFrench Nickname from old French blundblond "fair-haired" a word of ancient Germanic origin.
BoutetFrench from a pet form of the ancient Germanic personal name Boto a short form of any of various names composed with the element bod "messenger"... [more]
BreuerGerman, Jewish occupational name for a brewer of beer or ale from Middle High German briuwer "brewer".
BrinsleyEnglish From a place meaning "brun's clearing" or "brown clearing" with the elements Brun "brown" and leah "meadow, clearing".
BuissonFrench, Haitian Creole (Rare) Topographic name for someone who lived in an area of scrub land or by a prominent clump of bushes from (Old) French buisson "bush scrub" (a diminutive of bois "wood"); or a habitational name from (Le) Buisson the name of several places in various parts of France named with this word.
CandelaItalian, Sicilian, Spanish, Catalan from candela "candle" (from Latin candela) hence a metonymic occupational name for a chandler (candlemaker) or a nickname for a tall thin person.
CapriItalian habitational name for someone from Capri the island in the Bay of Naples.
CaprioItalian from 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.
CardinalEnglish, French, Dutch, Spanish English, French, Spanish, and Dutch: from Middle English, Old French cardinal "cardinal", a church dignitary (Latin cardinalis, originally an adjective meaning "crucial")... [more]
CardoSpanish, Italian From cardo "thistle, cardoon" (from Latin carduus) either a topographic or occupational name for using wool carder thistles, or from the given name Cardo a short form of given names Accardo, Biancardo, or Riccardo.
CardonFrench from 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... [more]
CardoneItalian, Sicilian From Sicilian carduni "thistle, teasel, cardoon" possibly a topographic name but also could mean "rough, uncouth, stingy, or miserly".
CastagnaItalian From Italian castagna "chestnut" (from Latin castanea) for someone who worked with chestnuts. Variant of Castagno and Italian cognitive of Chastain.
CastagnoItalian For someone who lived near a chestnut tree from castagno "chestnut" (from latin castanea). Variant of Castagna and Italian cognitive of Chastain.
CastelFrench Topographic name from a derivative of Late Latin castellum "castle" (a diminutive of Latin castrum "fort Roman walled city") or a habitational name from any of several places called (Le) Castel... [more]
CentoreItalian from cento ore "hundred gold pieces" hence probably a nickname for a wealthy person.
CeriseFrench, Italian Italian habitational name from La Cerise or Torrent-La Cerise placenames in Valle d'Aosta from French cerise "cherry"; and French occupational name from cerise "cherry" (from Latin cerasus) applied as a metonymic occupational name for someone who grew or sold cherries.
ChampagneFrench regional name for someone from Champagne, named in Latin as Campania (from campus "plain", "flat land"). This is also the name of various villages in France, and in some cases the family name may derive from one of these.
ChampionEnglish, French from Middle English Old French campionchampiunchampion "athlete" such as a wrestler or boxer; also "warrior hired to do battle in single combat on behalf of others" (from Late Latin campio genitive campionis a derivative of campus "plain field of battle")... [more]
ChapelleFrench Topographic name for someone who lived near a chapel from French chapelle "chapel" or from several places in France and Belgium called (La) Chapelle and variant of Lachapelle, Capelle, and Chappelle.
ChapuisFrench Occupational name from Old French chapuis "carpenter joiner" a derivative of chapuiser "to cut" (from Late Latin cappulare). Variant of Chappuis.
CharlierFrench, Walloon Occupational name for a cartwright wheelwright from Old French charrelier a derivative of charrel "cart" a diminutive of char "cart carriage".
CharltonEnglish habitational name from any of the numerous places called Charlton, from Old English Ceorlatun meaning ‘settlement of the peasants’. With old English elements tun ‘settlement, yard, town’ and ceorl denoted originally a free peasant of the lowest rank, later (but probably already before the Norman conquest) a tenant in pure villeinage, a serf or bondsman... [more]
ChâtelainFrench from châtelain "lord (of the manor)" Old French chastelain (from Latin castellanus a derivative of castellum "castle") applied either as a status name for the governor or constable of a castle or as an ironic nickname.
ChaumontFrench Habitational name from any of numerous places called Chaumont "bald mountain" from the elements chalscaux "bald" and mont "mountain" (ultimately from Latin calvusmons) for example in Cher Orne Jura Haute-Savoie.
ChesbroughEnglish habitational name from Cheeseburn in Northumberland early recorded as Cheseburgh possibly from Old English cis "gravel" and burh "stronghold". Variant of Chesebro and Chesbro.
CimineraItalian from a dialect variant of ciminiera "chimney" hence a metonymic occupational name for someone who built chimneys or worked a furnace oven or kiln with a chimney or a nickname for a tall thin person.
ClercFrench Occupational or status name for a member of a minor religious order or for a scholar Old French clerc from Late Latin clericus from Greek klērikos a derivative of klēros "inheritance legacy" with reference to the priestly tribe of Levites (see Levy ) "whose inheritance was the Lord"... [more]
ClericoItalian Occupational or status name for a member of a minor religious order or for a scholar from Late Latin clericus (see Clerc ). Italian cognitive of Clark.
CochetFrench Either from cochet a diminutive of coq "rooster" used as a nickname for a vain conceited or womanizing individual. Or possibly also a habitational name from (Le) Cochet the name of several places in various parts of France.
CocoItalian, Sicilian occupational name for a cook a seller of cooked meats or a keeper of an eating house from southern Italian coco "cook" (from Latin cocuscoquus).
ColonnaItalian topographic name from colonna "column" (from Latin columna).
ColvilleScottish, English Derived from the place Colleville in Normandy, France. With the Scandinavian name Koli and French ville "town, village".
CombeFrench Either a topographic name for someone living in or near a ravine from combe "narrow valley ravine" (from Latin cumba a word of Gaulish origin); or a habitational name from Combe the name of several places in the southern part of France of the same etymology.
CombèsFrench Either a topographic name from combe "narrow valley ravine" (see Combe ) or a habitational name from any of various places in southern France for example in Hérault named Combes.
ComteFrench Nickname for someone who worked for a count or for someone acting haughty from Old French contecunte "count". French cognitive of Conte and variant of Lecomte.
ConejoSpanish Spanish for rabbit from Latin "cuniculus". Given to someone who hunted rabbits.
ConfaloneItalian from gonfalone "standard banner" from Old French gonfalon (of ancient Germanic origin) a metonymic occupational name for a standard bearer either in a military context or as the officer of a guild responsible for carrying the banner in religious processions... [more]
ConiglioItalian From coniglio "rabbit" (from Latin cuniculus ) applied as a nickname for a timid person or a metonymic occupational name for a dealer in rabbits. Italian cognitive of Coelho.
CordierFrench Given to someone who worked or made with cord and or strings from old French corde "string".
CottEnglish English: from the Old English personal name Cotta. Possibly an altered spelling of French Cotte, a metonymic occupational name for a maker of chain mail, from Old French cot(t)e ‘coat of mail’, ‘surcoat’... [more]
CoulonFrench From Old French colomb "pigeon" (from Latin columba) used as a metonymic occupational name for a breeder.
CrestaItalian, Romansh Derived from Italian and Romansh cresta "crest" (ultimately from Latin crista). This name was perhaps applied as a topographic name for someone who lived by the crest of a mountain or as a nickname with reference to the comb of a rooster.
CusimannoItalian, Sicilian from the personal name Cusimano which may be a fusion of two Christian saints' names: Cosma and Damiano with a loss of the last syllable of one and the first of the other... [more]
CuvelierFrench, Walloon, Flemish Occupational name for a Cooper derived from an agent in Old French cuve "vat tun". Also found in the Netherlands.
DalbyEnglish, Danish, Norwegian From any of the locations call Dalby from the old Norse elements dalr "valley" and byr "farm, settlement" meaning "valley settlement". Used by one of the catholic martyrs of England Robert Dalby... [more]
D'AmourFrench Patronymic from Amour, this name was a nickname for an amorous man or a love child.
DausGerman From Middle Low German dūs denoting the "two on a die or , the ace in cards" hence a nickname for a passionate card or dice player.
DelageFrench From the dialect word age "hedge" for someone who lived by a hedge or from the various places in France called L'Age.
DelahayeFrench, Walloon Variant with fused preposition de "from" of Lahaye. This surname is also found in the Flemish part of Belgium.
DelannoyFrench, Flemish, Walloon From the various locations in northern France and Belgium called Lannoy with the element de "from".
DemandGerman from Middle Low German demant "diamond" a metonymic occupational name for either a cutter or dealer in diamonds.
DemontignyFrench habitational name with fused preposition de "from" for someone from any of several places in various parts of France named Montigny (see Montigny).
DenierFrench, French (Swiss), English, English (British, Rare) from Old French denier originally the name of a copper coin or penny later a term for money in general hence probably an occupational name for a moneyer or minter. It is also found in Switzerland... [more]
DieuFrench, Walloon From French dieu "god" given as a nickname for someone who played Christ in medieval mysteries or for a presumptious or an overly religious person, or from a short for of the given name Dieudonné.
DigbyEnglish Derived from the name of an English town, itself derived from a combination of Old English dic "dyke, ditch" and Old Norse byr "farm, town".
Di TarantoItalian Habitational name for someone from the city of Taranto the provincial capital of Apulia. Variant of Taranto and Tarantino.
DolceItalian, Sicilian From the medieval name Dolce meaning "sweet, pleasant" derived from Latin dulcis.
DornGerman, English German cognitive and English variant of Thorn from Middle High German dorn "thorn" (from ancient Germanic thurnaz).
DoucetFrench Nickname for a gentle minded person from French doux "sweet" (from Latin dulcis).
DucheminFrench Either a topographic name with fused preposition and definite article du "from the" for someone who lived beside a path from chemin "path way" (from Late Latin caminus a word of Gaulish origin); or a habitational name for someone from Le Chemin the name of several places in various parts of France.
DumoulinFrench, Walloon Variant with fused preposition and definite article du "from the" of Moulin meaning "from the mill" and This surname is also found in the Flemish part of Belgium and in the Netherlands.
DuplainFrench topographic name from Old French plain an adjective meaning "flat" and a noun meaning "plain" with fused preposition and definite article du "from the".
DuqueSpanish, Portuguese Spanish and Portuguese cognitive of Duke. from duque "duke" (from Latin dux genitive ducis "leader") an occupational name for someone who worked in the household of a duke or as a nickname for someone who gave himself airs and graces.
EscotoSpanish ethnic name from escoto originally denoting a Gaelic speaker from Ireland or Scotland; later a Scot someone from Scotland. Spanish cognitive of Scott.
EscribanoSpanish An occupational name from escribano "scribe" (from Late Latin scriba "scribe" genitive scribanis from Latin scriba genitive scribae).
EscuderoSpanish An occupational name for a squire a young man of good birth attendant on a knight or shield bearer escudero (medieval Latin scutarius a derivative of Latin scutum "shield"). Spanish cognitive of Squire.
FalcónSpanish Spanish cognitive of Falco, nickname from falcón an archaic variant of halcón "falcon" (Latin falco).
FavierFrench Occupational name for a grower of beans or a bean merchant derived from Latin faba "bean".
FensterGerman, Jewish Occupational name for a window maker from Middle High German venster German fenster "window".
FicoItalian from fico "fig" (from Latin ficus) applied as a metonymic occupational name for someone who grew or sold figs a topographic name for someone who lived in an area where figs grew or a habitational name from a place called with this word such as the district so named in Valderice Trapani province Sicily.
FiguierFrench From French figuier ultimately from Latin ficus ''fig tree'' given to someone who lived near a fig tree. French cognitive of Figueroa.
FinsterGerman, Jewish Nickname from German finster "dark gloomy" or Yiddish fintster (Middle High German vinster). The name may have referred to a person's habitual character or it may have been acquired as a result of some now irrecoverable anecdote... [more]
FleischGerman metonymic occupational name for a butcher from Middle High German fleisch or vleisch "flesh meat".
FleischhackerGerman, Jewish occupational name for a butcher from German fleisch "flesh meat" and an agent derivative of hacken "to chop or cut".
FleischhauerGerman occupational name for a butcher from Middle High German fleisch or vleisch "flesh meat" and an agent derivative of Middle High German houwen "to cut". Variant of Fleischauer
FleischmannGerman, Jewish occupational name for a butcher literally "meatman" from Middle High German fleisch "flesh, meat" and man "man".
FleuryFrench, English Either a habitational name from Fleury the name of several places in various parts of France which get their names from the Gallo-Roman personal name Florus (from Latin florus "blooming flowering") and the locative suffix -acum or from the given name Fleury.
FontCatalan, Occitan, Spanish, French topographic name for someone living near a spring or well Catalan and Occitan font "spring well" (from Latin fons genitive fontis).
FortFrench, Walloon, English, Catalan Either a nickname from Old French Middle English Catalan fort "strong brave" (from Latin fortis). Compare Lefort. From Fort a French form of the Latin personal name Fortis (from fortis "strong brave") chosen by early Christians as a symbol of moral strength and steadfastness and borne by an obscure saint whose cult was popular during the Middle Ages in southern and southwestern France... [more]
FotiItalian, Sicilian from the Greek personal name PhotesPhotios a derivative of Greek phos (genitive photos) "light".
FragolaItalian apparently from fragola "strawberry" probably applied as either a topographic name for someone who lived by a patch of wild strawberries a metonymic occupational name for a grower or seller of soft fruits or a nickname for someone with a conspicuous strawberry mark.
FrühlingGerman (Rare) Nickname from Middle High German vrüelinc German frühling "spring" in some cases for an early-born child from früh "early" and the suffix -ling denoting affiliation.
GallandFrench Nickname for a cheerful or high-spirited or bold person from Old French galant "lively vivacious" also "bold valiant" (the meanings "gallant" and "attentive to women" developed only in the 16th century) the present participle of Old French galer "to be in good humor to enjoy oneself" a word of ancient Germanic origin... [more]
GalloglyIrish, Irish (Anglicized) shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac An Ghalloglaigh from galloglach "foreign warrior" or "galloglass". Galloglasses were a class of mercenary warriors retained by Irish chieftains... [more]
GarandFrench nickname or status name from the Old French legal term garant "guarantor". perhaps from a personal name based on the ancient Germanic element warin "protection shelter" or "guard".
GardeFrench from Old French garde "watch", "protection"; an occupational name for someone who kept watch or guard, or a topographic name for someone who lived near a vantage point or watchtower.
GascónSpanish Spanish cognitive of Gascoigne. Habitational name for someone from the province of Gascony Old French Gascogne (see Gascoigne).
GasconFrench French cognitive of Gascoigne. Habitational name for someone from the province of Gascony Old French Gascogne (see Gascoigne).
GaudinFrench From the Old French personal name Gaudin Norman French Waldin Waudin a pet form of ancient Germanic names based on the element wald "rule power".
GenovaItalian habitational name from Genoa (Italian Genova) in Liguria which during the Middle Ages was one of the great seaports of the Mediterranean and a flourishing mercantile and financial center. The origin of the name of the city is uncertain... [more]
GobertFrench, German, English From the given name Gobert a compressed form of Godebert composed of the ancient Germanic elements gōd "good" or godgot "god" and berht "bright famous".
GoupilFrench nickname for someone with red hair or for a cunning person from Old French goupil "fox" Late Latin vulpiculus a diminutive of classical Latin vulpes a distant cognate of Wolf . This was replaced as a vocabulary word during the Middle Ages by Renard originally a personal name.
GrainvilleFrench Original French form of Granville, from locations in France from the given name Guarin and ville "town" meaning "Guarin's town".
GranoItalian, Spanish from grano "grain" (from Latin granum) probably applied as a metonymic occupational name for a farmer or grain merchant.
GraupmanGerman Occupational name for someone who produced or dealt with grits and legumes, from early modern German graupe "pot barley" (bohemian krupa) and man "man".
GroschGerman Either a metonymic occupational name for a moneyer or possibly a nickname for an avaricious person from Middle High German Middle Low German grosche "groschen" a medieval thick silver coin its name ultimately derived from medieval Latin denarius grossus literally "thick coin".
GuadalajaraSpanish habitational name from Guadalajara in Castile named with Arabic wādī-al-ḥijāra (واد الحجرة o وادي الحجرة) "river of the stones".
GuerrierFrench Nickname for an aggressive person or occupational name for a soldier, from Old French guerrier "warrior". Making it a cognitive for Guerrero and Guerriero.
GuerryFrench From the Germanic given name Wigric derived from the elements wig "battle" and ric "powerful".
GuillotinFrench From a diminutive of Guillaume and a variant of Guillot. A notable user is Joseph-Ignace Guillotin whom the guillotine was named after.
GuimondFrench from the medieval French name Guimond from the Germanic name Wigmund composed of the ancient Germanic elements wīg "battle combat" and mund "protection".
GuinFrench From the given name Guin the French form of Wino a short form of names with the element win "friend".
GüldenDutch, German from gulden "golden" derived from vergulden vergolden "to gild" a metonymic occupational name for a craftsman who gilds objects; compare Guldner. From gulden the name of the coin (English guilder) applied as a topographic or habitational name referring to a house name such as In den silvren Gulden ("In the Silver Guilder") or from related verb meaning "to gild" applied as a topographic or habitational name referring to a house name such as De Gulden Hoeve ("The Gilded Farmhouse") or De Gulden Zwaan ("The Gilded Swan").
GutjahrGerman, German (Swiss) nickname for someone born on New Year's Day from a New Year's greeting meaning "Good year".
HalfpennyEnglish Nickname probably for a tenant whose feudal obligations included a regular payment in cash or kind (for example bread or salt) of a halfpenny. From Old English healf "half" (from proto Germanic halbaz) and penning "penny" meaning "half penny".
HamelFrench topographic name for someone who lived and worked at an outlying farm dependent on the main village Old French hamel (a diminutive from an ancient Germanic element cognate with Old English hām "homestead"); or a habitational name from (Le) Hamel the name of several places in the northern part of France named with this word.
HandschuhGerman Occupational name for a maker or seller of gloves or perhaps a nickname for someone who habitually wore gloves from Middle High German hantschuoch "glove" literally "hand shoe" from the elements hant "hand" and schuh "shoe".
HaverkampGerman, Dutch Topographic name from Middle Low German haver "oats" and kamp "field".
HeideGerman, Jewish, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian Variant of German Heid, and Dutch Vanderheide. Danish and Norwegian surname from various places called Heide all from the German elements heida, heidr, haith all meaning "heath"... [more]
HennardFrench From the ancient Germanic personal name Haginhard composed of the elements hagin "enclosure protected place" and hard "strong hardy".
HerbstGerman Nickname from Middle High German herbest "harvest". The modern German word herbst has come to mean "fall" the time of year when the harvest takes place. The exact application of the nickname is not clear; perhaps it referred to a peasant who had certain obligations to his master at the time of the harvest or it may have been acquired for some other anecdotal reason which is now lost.
HerbsterGerman Occupational name for a grape picker or vintner from Middle High German herbest "(grape) harvest".
HermèsFrench Either a topographic name for someone who lived in a deserted spot or on a patch of waste land from Occitan erm "desert waste" (from Greek erēmia) and the topographic suffix -ès, or from the given name Hermès.
HoheiselGerman Topographic from the German elements hoh "high" and a diminutive of hus "house".
HollywoodEnglish Habitational name from any of various farms or hamlets in England called Hollywood such as one in Sandon and Burston (Staffordshire) perhaps named with Middle English holli "holly" and wode "wood".
HolyoakEnglish Habitational name from Holy Oakes (Leicestershire) or else a topographic name from residence near a "holy oak" (or "gospel oak") from Middle English holy "holy" and oke "oak" (from Old English halig and ac).
HolzhauerGerman Occupational name for a "lumberjack, woodsman" with the element holz "forest".
JupinFrench from a diminutive of Old French jupe a term denoting a long woolen garment hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller (or a nickname for a wearer) of such garments. This word ultimately derives from Arabic.
KaeserGerman, German (Swiss) Occupational name for a cheesemaker or a cheese merchant from an agent derivative of Middle High German kæse "cheese". Variant of Käser.
KalkGerman, Dutch Occupational name for a lime burner from Middle High German kalc and Middle Dutch calk "lime" (both a loanword from Latin calx).
KalkbrennerGerman Occupational name for a lime burner from Middle High German kalc "chalk lime" and brenner "burner".
KaltGerman, German (Swiss) From Middle High German kalt "cold" probably applied as a nickname for someone who felt the cold or for someone with an unfriendly disposition.
KaltmanGerman From a nickname for a cool, unfriendly person from middle high German kalt "cold" and mann "man".
KampfGerman, Jewish From middle high German kampf, German kamf "fight, struggle" occupation for a fighter.
KäserGerman, German (Swiss) occupational name for a cheesemaker or a cheese merchant (see Kaeser ). topographic name for someone who lived by a summer dairy in the Alps from a Tyrolean dialect word derived from Ladin casura... [more]
KasselGerman habitational name mainly from a place of this name in northeastern Hesse so named from Frankish castellacassela "fortification" a military term from Late Latin castellum "fortified position fort" or a topographic name from the same word.
KaukGerman probably a variant of Kauke from Middle Low German koke "cake" (dialect kauke) hence a metonymic occupational name for a baker or confectioner or a nickname for a cake lover.
KaukeGerman Variant of Kauk from Middle high German kauke "cake" hence a metonymic occupational name for a baker or confectioner or a nickname for a cake lover.
KeicherGerman from the East Prussian dialect word keicher "small cake, pastry" hence a metonymic occupational name for a pastry chef or cook.
KernGerman, Dutch, Jewish from Middle High German kerne "kernel, seed pip"; Middle Dutch kern(e)keerne; German Kern or Yiddish kern "grain" hence a metonymic occupational name for a farmer or a nickname for a physically small person... [more]
KindermannGerman, Jewish occupational name for a schoolteacher literally "children man", from the elements kind "child" and man "man".
KircherGerman from Middle High German kirchner "minister, sexton patron" hence an occupational name for a priest or a church assistant.
KleiberGerman Derived from an agent Middle High German kleben "to stick or bind" an occupational name for a builder working with clay or in Swabia for someone who applied whitewash. in Bavaria and Austria an occupational name for a shingle maker from Middle High German klieben "to split (wood or stone)".
KnechtGerman, German (Swiss), Dutch From the occupation of a servant and a journeyman from Middle High German kneht Middle Low German and Middle Dutch knecht "knight's assistant" also "lad, servant". cognitive of Knight.
KoelzerGerman From a noun derived from kolzen "ankle boots" (from Latin calceus "half-boot walking shoe") hence an occupational name for a boot maker or a cobbler. Or a habitational name for someone from Kölzen near Merseburg.
KolberGerman From an agent derived from Middle High German kolbe "club, cudgel" an occupational name for someone who made wooden clubs later for an armorer, or a habitational name for someone from Kolben in Württemberg or Cölbe in Hesse.
KrahGerman Nickname from Middle High German kra "crow" given to someone who resembles a crow.
KrautGerman metonymic occupational name for a market gardener or a herbalist from Middle High German krūt "herb plant; cabbage".
KrayGerman Variant of Krah nickname for someone who resembled a crow from Middle High German kra "crow".
KrengelGerman, Jewish An occupational name for a pastry chef from Middle High German krengel German kringel "(cake) ring doughnut". As a Jewish name this may also have been adopted as artificial name.
KreyGerman Nickname from Middle Low German krege "crow".
KriesGerman From Middle High German kriese "cherry" hence an occupation for someone who sold soft fruits or a locational surname for some who lived by a cherry tree.
KronbergGerman, Swedish German habitational name from any of the places called Kronberg near Frankfurt in Hesse and in Bavaria from the elements krone "crown" and berg "mountain, hill". Swedish ornamental name from kron "crown" and berg "mountain hill".
KronenbergGerman, German (Swiss) Habitational name from a place called Kronenberg (there is one near Wuppertal) or possibly from any of the places called Kronberg (see Kronberg ) from German Krone "crown" and German Berg "mountain, hill".
KucherGerman Occupational name for a pastry cook from an agent derivative of Middle High German kuoche "cake pastry".
KuttnerGerman Originally from a nickname for someone wearing monk robes from Middle High German kuttner "robe wearing monk".
KutzerGerman Occupational name for a coachman or coach builder from old high German kutsche from Hungarian kocsi "coach". Variant of Kutscher.
LacourFrench topographic or occupational name for someone who lived at or was employed at a manorial court (see also Court).
LafleurFrench, French (Caribbean) from la fleur "the flower" used as a soldier's name and also as a servant's name; it was one of the most common nicknames (noms de guerre) among French soldiers.
LafontFrench topographic name for someone living near a spring or well a variant of Font with fused feminine definite article la.
LagardeFrench Habitational name from Lagarde or La Garde names of several places in various parts of France named in Old French with garde "watch protection" (see Garde).
LagoItalian, Spanish, Portuguese Topographic name for someone living by a lake from lago "lake" (from Latin lacus) or a habitational name from any of the many places called with this word.
LaguerreFrench Nickname for a belligerent person or a valiant soldier from old French guerre "war" (from Latin werra) with fused article la.
LahayeFrench, Walloon topographic name with the definite article la from Old French haye "hedge" (see Haye ) or a habitational name from La Haye the name of several places in various parts of France and in Belgium (Wallonia) named with this word... [more]
LaînéFrench distinguishing epithet from French l'aîné "the eldest (son)", used to identify the older of two bearers of the same name in a family.
LajoieFrench From a nickname for a happy cheerful person from joie "joy" with fused feminine definite article la.
LamendolaItalian, Sicilian nickname or more often a habitational name from places named with the dialect term amendola, mendola, mendula "almond" (also "almond tree").
LamoreeFrench From the nickname "the loved one" derived from the French word amour meaning "love" from (Latin amor).
LamourFrench From Old French l'amour "(the) friendship bond" used as a nickname for a kindly individual. the French word amour "love" (from Latin amor).
LanthierFrench From the given name Lantier derived from German elements Land "land" and Hari "army".
LatourFrench Either a topographic name for someone who lived near a tower usually a defensive fortification or watchtower from Old French tūr "tower"; or a habitational name from any of various places called Latour or La Tour named with this word.
LauGerman nickname for a physically strong person from Middle High German louwelauwe "lion". In some cases the surname may have been a topographic or habitational name referring to a house or inn distinguished by the sign of a lion... [more]
LaurieFrench Habitational name from a place in Cantal derived from Latin laurus "laurel" with the suffix -ea.
LebleuFrench From French bleu "blue" with the masculine element le from a nickname for someone who wore blue clothes with blue eyes or a person with a bluish complexion.
LebonFrench Approbatory (or ironic) nickname from le bon "the good" a variant of Bon with fused masculine definite article le.
LecomteFrench Nickname for someone in the service of a count or for someone who behaved pretentiously from Old French elements contecunte "count" with fused masculine definite article le. Variant of Lecompte and Comte.
LeconteFrench from the Old French title of rank conte ‘count’, an occupational name for a servant in the household of a count or who was one.
LeducFrench, Breton From the Old French title of rank duc "duke" (from Latin dux "leader" genitive ducis) with the French masculine definite article le used as a nickname for someone who gave himself airs and graces or else as a metonymic occupational name for a servant employed in a ducal household.