Browse Submitted Surnames

Abadžić South Slavic
Means "son of the cloak-maker, descendant of the woolen coat tailor" from abadžija (or abadzhija), which comes from the Turkish word abacı, meaning “cloak-maker” or “wool-worker” combined with the suffix -ić which means "son of" or "descendant of".

Abajian Armenian
The surname Abjian is a patronymic from Turkish abacι‎ ‘maker or seller of coarse woolen cloth or garments’, from aba ‘coarse woolen cloth’.

Abajyan Armenian
From Turkish abacı referring to a maker or seller of woollen homespun cloth or garments, ultimately from aba meaning "coarse woollen cloth".

Abitbol Judeo-Spanish
Means "father of drums" (figuratively referring to a drum maker) from Arabic أَبُو (abū) meaning "father" and طَبْل (ṭabl) meaning "drum".

Agatep Filipino, Ilocano
Means "thatcher, roof maker" in Ilocano.

Alabaster English
From the name of a whitish kind of gypsum used for vases, ornaments and busts, ultimately deriving from Greek alabastros, itself perhaps from Egyptian 'a-labaste "vessel of the goddess Bast"... [more]

Arabacı Turkish
Occupational name for a driver, maker or seller of carts and wagons, from Turkish araba meaning "cart, carriage".

Arcaro Late Roman
Occupational name for a maker or seller of bows.

Armas Spanish
Occupational name for an arms maker or soldier, from Spanish armas meaning "arms, weapons".

Armour Scottish, Northern Irish
From Middle English, Old French armure, blended with the agent noun armer (see Armer), hence an occupational name for a maker of arms and armor. The collective noun armure denoted offensive weapons as well as the more recently specialized sense of protective gear.

Aßman German
Derived from Middle Low German asse "axle", this name used to denote an axle maker. In some cases, however, it can also be a variant of Asmussen.

Ast German
German and Ashkenazic Jewish: from German Ast ‘knot (in wood)’ hence a nickname for a tough or awkward individual or a metonymic occupational name for a lumberjack. ... [more]

Awad Arabic
Occupational name for a player or maker of lutes, ultimately derived from Arabic عود ('ud) meaning "oud, lute".

Axt German
From a Middle High German ackes or axt, meaning "axe". Name for a woodcutter, carpenter, or axe maker.

Azoulay Judeo-Spanish
Meaning uncertain. It may derived from Spanish azul or French azur meaning "blue" (both ultimately derived from Persian via Arabic), possibly used as a nickname for someone with blue eyes or an occupational name for a maker of blue ceramic ware... [more]

Baldacchino Maltese
Derived from Italian baldacchino meaning "baldachin (or baldaquin)", referring to a type of canopy placed over a throne. It was originally used as an occupational name for a maker of baldachins.

Balistreri Sicilian
Means "archer, crossbowman" or "crossbow maker" in Sicilian.

Baltacı Turkish
Occupational name for a maker or seller of axes, derived from Turkish balta meaning "axe, hatchet".

Barreto Portuguese, South American
Occupational name for a cap maker. Comes from barreto which means ‘cap’.

Becker English
Occupational name for a maker or user of mattocks or pickaxes, from an agent derivative of Old English becca "mattock".

Beenders Dutch
Possibly an occupational name for a bookbinder or barrel maker, from Middle Dutch binden "to bind, to tie". Alternatively, could be related to been "bone".

Bender German, German (East Prussian)
As a German surname, Bender is a regional occupational surname from the Rhineland area denoting a "barrel-maker" (the Standard German Fassbinder became "Fassbender" in the local dialects and ultimately was shortened to Bender).... [more]

Benner German
Occupational name for a basket and bassinet maker, from an agent derivative of Middle High German benne 'work basket', 'bassinet', 'cradle'.

Berretta Italian
From berretta, originally meaning ‘hooded cloak’ (Latin birrus), later ‘headdress’, ‘bonnet’, hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker of such headgear or a nickname for an habitual wearer.

Besemer German
Occupational name meaning "broom maker".

Bindschädler German (Swiss)
Derived from German binden "to bind" and Swiss German schädlen "to make wood vessels", this is an occupational surname referring to a cooper, a barrel maker.

Bo Khmer
From Khmer បូ (bo) meaning "ribbon, colored headband". Possibly a nickname for a person who's associated with a ribbon. Alternatively, it could be an occupational name for a ribbon maker.

Bolt English
From Middle English bolt meaning "bolt", "bar" (Old English bolt meaning "arrow"). In part this may have originated as a nickname or byname for a short but powerfully built person, in part as a metonymic occupational name for a maker of bolts... [more]

Boot English
Metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of boots, ultimately from Old French bote "boot, high-sided leather shoe".

Bordner German
A variant spelling of Bartner, a job name for a battle axe maker.

Bottai Italian
From bottaio "cooper, barrel-maker".

Bottaro Italian
Possibly from Italian bottaio "cooper, barrel-maker".

Boulier French
Occupational name for a maker of balls or the organizer of a game of boules, from French boule meaning "ball".

Bouteiller French
occupational name for a wine steward or butler usually the chief servant of a medieval household or for a maker of bottles from bouteiller an agent derivative of bouteille "bottle"... [more]

Bowe Medieval English, English, Irish (Anglicized)
There are three possible sources of this surname, the first being that it is a metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of bows, a vital trade in medieval times before the invention of gunpowder, and a derivative of the Old English boga "bow", from bugan "to bend"... [more]

Bower English, Scottish
Scottish: occupational name for a bow maker, Older Scots bowar, equivalent to English Bowyer. ... [more]

Bowyer English
English: occupational name for a maker or seller of bows (see Bow), as opposed to an archer. Compare Bowman.

Braley English (American)
A New England variant spelling of Brailey. French: from a diminutive of Brael, from Old French braiel, a belt knotted at the waist to hold up breeches; presumably an occupational name for a maker of such belts... [more]

Bridon French (Rare)
Patronymic surname derived from French bride "bridle, harness", this name used to denote a maker or merchant of bridle, harness or horse-gear and more generally a saddler.

Brusse French
Topographic name for someone living in a scrubby area of country, from Old French broce meaning "brushwood, scrub". It is also occupational name for a brush maker, from Old French brusse meaning "brush".

Buckler English
Occupational name for a maker of buckles, derived from Old French bouclier. Could also be a name for someone who used a buckle, a kind of small shield.

Buffet French
Occupational name for a maker of furniture, derived from Old French buffet meaning "table, cupboard". It could also be a nickname for an angry and violent man, from Old French buffet meaning "slap in the face"... [more]

Busse German, English
German: variant of Buss. ... [more]

Bussemaker Dutch
Occupational name for a maker of boxes, tins or firearms, from Dutch bus "box, tin, container, firearm" and maker "maker".

Butkereit German (East Prussian)
Derived from Prussian-Lithuanian butkėrė (Standard Lithuanian butkėrė), a Balticized form of German Böttcher "cooper, barrel maker" combined with the East Prussian German patronymic suffix -eit.

Büttner German
Occupational name for a cooper or barrel-maker, an agent derivative of Middle High German büte(n) "cask", "wine barrel". This name occurs chiefly in eastern German-speaking regions.

Cabell Catalan, English, German
As a Catalan name, a nickname for "bald" from the Spanish word cabello. The English name, found primarily in Norfolk and Devon, is occupational for a "maker or seller of nautical rope" that comes from a Norman French word... [more]

Cable English
English: metonymic occupational name for a maker of rope, especially the type of stout rope used in maritime applications, from Anglo-Norman French cable ‘cable’ (Late Latin capulum ‘halter’, of Arabic origin, but associated by folk etymology with Latin capere ‘to seize’).... [more]

Çakmakçı Turkish
Occupational name for a maker or seller of lighters, from Turkish çakmak "lighter".

Caldeira Portuguese
Name given to a maker of kettles or other cooking vessels.

Candela Spanish, Italian, Sicilian, Catalan
Either 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).

Cannizzaro Italian
Derived from Sicilian cannizzu "wattle", denoting a maker of reed matting. Stanislao Cannizzaro (1826-1910) was an Italian chemist. He is famous for the Cannizzaro reaction and his influential role in the atomic-weight deliberations of the Karlsruhe Congress in 1860.

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)... [more]

Ĉaristo Esperanto
Occupational name for a charioteer, from ĉaro, meaning "a chariot, wagon, or cart", and -isto, a suffix used for professions.

Carrel French
French: from Old French quar(r)el ‘bolt (for a crossbow)’, hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker of crossbow bolts or a nickname for a short, stout man. The word also meant ‘paving slab’, and so it could also have been a metonymic occupational name for a street layer... [more]

Carrell English
English: from Old French carrel, ‘pillow’, ‘bolster’, hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker of these. In some cases perhaps an altered spelling of Irish Carroll... [more]

Cauchon French, Norman, Picard
Metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of slippers, derived from French chausson literally meaning "slipper".

Cestaro Italian
From cesta "basket" and the suffix -aro, an occupational name for a basket maker.

Challinor English
Occupational name for a blanket maker, derived from Middle English chaloun "blanket", itself derived from the French city of Châlons-sur-Marne (now Châlons-en-Champagne), where blankets were made in the Middle Ages.

Chapdelaine French
Compound name derived from Old French chape meaning "hooded cloak, cape, hat" and de laine meaning "of wool", probably applied as a metonymic occupational name for a maker of such apparel, or as a nickname for someone who wore a distinctive cloak or hat.

Chapel French
Occupational name for a maker of cloaks or a nickname for a person who wore a distinctive cloak, from a diminutive of Old French chape meaning "cape, cloak".

Cheeseman English
Occupational name for a maker or seller of cheese.

Cherenkov m Russian
Derived from Russian черенок (čerenók) "handle, hilt", denoting a tall, thin person or a maker of such handles. Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov (1904-1990) was a Soviet physicist who shared the Nobel Prize in physics in 1958 with Ilya Frank and Igor Tamm for the discovery of Cherenkov radiation, made in 1934.

Chopin French
French and English: nickname for a heavy drinker, from Old French chopine, a large liquid measure (from Middle Low German schopen "ladle"). The derived Old French verb chopiner has the sense 'to tipple’, ‘to drink to excess’... [more]

Ciaramitaro Italian
From Sicilian ciaramidaru "roof tile maker, potter", ultimately from Ancient Greek κέραμος (keramos) "potter's clay, pottery, tile".

Clavel Spanish
Metonymic occupational name for a spice trader or a nail maker, derived from Spanish clavel or Catalan clavell meaning "nail", later also "clove", itself a derivative of Latin clavellus "nail".

Clavel French
Metonymic occupational name for a nail maker, ultimately from Latin clavellus "nail", but in some cases possibly from the same word in the sense "smallpox, rash". A fictional bearer is Miss Clavel, a nun and teacher in Ludwig Bemelmans's 'Madeline' series of children's books (introduced in 1939).

Clinger English (American)
Americanized spelling of German Klinger.Possibly a variant of Clinker. an English occupational name for a maker or fixer of bolts and rivets.

Coard English, Northern Irish
Derived from Old French corde "string", a metonymic occupational name for a maker of cord or string, or a nickname for an habitual wearer of decorative ties and ribbons.

Comer English
Occupational name for a maker or seller of combs, or to someone who used them to prepare wool or flax for spinning, derived from Middle English combere, an agent derivative of Old English camb meaning "comb"... [more]

Cope English
From Middle English cope "cape, cloak", an occupational name for a maker of cloaks, or a nickname for someone known for wearing one.

Coppersmith English, German (Americanized)
Occupational name for someone who is a maker of copper goods. Sometimes it is an Americanized form of German Kupferschmidt.

Corbelli Emilian-Romagnol
May be mean 'raven-like' or 'basket maker'.

Cordell English
Means "maker of cord" or "seller of cord" in Middle English.

Corden English
Derives from Old French Cordon meaning "a seller of ribbon" or from Cordoan, a locational job description for a worker in fine kid leather. Originally associated with the city of Cordova in Spain... [more]

Corder French (Anglicized, Archaic), English (American)
Linked to both English, French and Spanish origin. Cordier, Cordero, Corder- one who makes cord. Can refer to both the act of making cords (rope), cores of fire wood, or actual location names.... [more]

Cott 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]

Cripps English
Occupational name of a pouch maker. Derived from the Middle English plural "crippes" meaning pouch. Metathesized version of Crisp.

Crivelli Italian
From the Italian crivello, which is derived from the Latin cribrum, meaning "sieve," (a mesh food strainer); likely an occupational name for a maker or user of sieves.

Croom English
An occupational surname for a maker, seller, or user of hooks. Derived from Middle English crome or cromb, meaning "hook" or "crook".

Cutler English
Occupational name for a maker or seller of cutlery, from Middle English coteler "cutler, knife-maker."

Cwynar Polish
Polonized form of the German surname Zwirner, an occupational name for a yarn or twine maker, from an agent derivative of Middle High German zwirn ‘twine’, ‘yarn’

Daruwala Indian (Parsi)
Means "wine maker" or "wine seller" from Hindi दारू (dārū) meaning "liquor, wine, alcohol" and the suffix -वाला (-vālā) denoting an occupation.

Deas Scottish
From Old French dez meaning “dice.”... [more]

Deremer Dutch
Occupational name for a belt maker or cutter of leather straps, from Dutch riem "belt, strap". It could also be a name for a peat digger, someone who "riems" peat.

Dobberstein German
Metonymic occupational name for a dice maker or a nickname for a dice player, from Middle High German topel ‘die’ + stein ‘stone’, ‘cube’.

Dowler English
Occupational name for a maker of dowels and similar objects, from a derivative of Middle English “dowle”.

Fass German
From Middle High German faz, German Fass 'cask', 'keg', hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of casks and kegs, or a nickname for someone as rotund as a barrel. German: variant of Fasse, Faas.

Fassbender German
Occupational name for a maker of keg barrels.

Fauci Sicilian
Means "sickle" in Sicilian, originally an occupational name for a maker of sickles.

Feather English
from Middle English fether fedder "feather" or perhaps a shortened form of Middle English fetherer applied as a metonymic occupational name for a trader in feathers and down a maker of quilts or possibly a maker of pens... [more]

Feltscher Romansh
Derived from Romansh feltscher "scythe-maker", ultimately from Latin falcarius "scythe-maker; sickle-maker".

Fenster German, Jewish
Occupational name for a window maker from Middle High German venster German fenster "window".

Fernel French
Derived from French ferronel, a diminutive of (obsolete) ferron "maker or seller of iron".

Flanner English
This early occupational and mainly 'midlands' English surname, is actually of pre-medieval French origins. Introduced into England at the time of the Norman Conquest of 1066, it derives from the French word flaonet meaning a 'little flan', and described a maker of patisserie or pancakes.

Frett English
English from Middle English frette, Old French frete ‘interlaced work (in metal and precious stones)’ such as was used for hair ornaments and the like, hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker of such pieces.

Ghazanchyan Armenian
From Turkish kazancı denoting a maker or seller of cauldrons, kettles or boilers, derived from kazan meaning "kettle, cauldron".

Girón Galician (Hispanicized)
Of Galician origin. Occupational name for a clothing maker.

Gleave English
Means either "sword-maker" or "sword-seller", or else from a nickname applied to a skilled swordsman (in either case from Middle English gleyve "sword").

Godet French
From Old French godet, meaning "glass, tumbler", used as a nickname for a maker or seller.

Goldmann German, Jewish
occupational name for someone who worked with gold denoting anything from a gold-miner to a maker of gold jewelry or a gilder (someone skilled in decorating surfaces with a very thin layer of gold leaf)... [more]

Goldner German
"Gold maker, gilder".

Gousset French
It is derived from the Old French word gousset, which means "purse" or "wallet". It is likely that this surname was originally given to someone who was a purse maker or a merchant who dealt in small items.

Grape Low German
Metonymic occupational name for a maker of metal or earthenware vessels, from Middle Low German grope "pot".

Greenwald American
Partly Americanized form of German and Jewish Grün(e)wald (see Grunwald). ... [more]

Haftek Polish
“From the english occupation name describing a maker of handles for tools - a hafter”... [more]

Haik Judeo-Spanish
From the name of a garment worn by Algerian women, derived from Arabic حاك (hak) meaning "to weave". It was used as an occupational name for a maker of these garments.

Hamer English, German
From the town of Hamer in Lancashire from the old english word Hamor combining "Rock" and "Crag". It is also used in Germany and other places in Europe, possibly meaning a maker of Hammers.

Hammer German, English, Jewish
From Middle High German hamer, Yiddish hamer, a metonymic occupational name for a maker or user of hammers, for example in a forge, or nickname for a forceful person.

Handschuh German
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".

Hatter English
This name derives from the Old English pre 7th Century "haet" meaning a hat and was originally given either as an occupational name to a maker or seller of hats

Hefner German, Jewish
Recorded in several spellings including Hafner, Haffner, and Hevner, this is as surname of early Germanic origins. ... [more]

Hegadush Hungarian
Meaning violin maker and violin player deriving from the Hungarian work for violin.

Helm English, Dutch, German
Either from Old English helm "protection covering" (in later northern English dialects "cattle shelter barn"). The name may be topographic for someone who lived by or worked at a barn or habitational from a place so named such as Helme in Meltham (Yorkshire)... [more]

Hodder English
Occupational name for a maker or seller of hoods, from a Middle English agent derivative of Old English hod

Hornton English (Rare, Archaic)
Derived from the surname Horton or perhaps used to describe a horn maker meaning “maker of horns.”

Hosekin Dutch (Archaic)
Occupational name for a maker or seller of hose (garments for the legs), from Middle Dutch hose "stocking, boot".

Hottmann German
probably either from an ancient Germanic personal name formed with hut "protection helmet" (compare German hut "hat")... [more]

Houdin French
Variant of Bodin , a pet form of Bodo, a short form of any of various ancient Germanic personal names with the element bod ‘messenger’.... [more]

Jupin French
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.

Kalashnik Ukrainian
Means "maker of kalaches", a variant of калачник (kalachnik) - itself composed of калач (kalach), a type of bread, and the agent suffix -ник (-nik). See also Kalashnikov.

Kalashnikov m Russian
Means "son of the kalach-maker", derived from Russian калашник (kalashnik), a variant of калачник (kalachnik) "maker of kalaches" - kalach being a type of bread - combined with ‎the patronymic suffix -ов (-ov)... [more]

Kamm German, Estonian
Means "comb" in German, an occupational name for a wool comber or fuller, or perhaps a maker of combs. In some cases it might have been used in the sense of "ridge of mountains, hills", making it a topographic name... [more]

Kandt German
Probably from Middle High German kant meaning "jug" (from Latin olla cannata meaning "pot with one spout") and hence an occupational name for a maker or seller of jugs.

Kapadia Indian, Gujarati
Occupational name for a cloth maker from Gujarati કાપડ (kāpaḍ) meaning "cloth, fabric".

Karakas Hungarian
Means "maker of wheels".

Kazan Greek
Reduced form of Kazandis which is an occupational surname for a maker of cauldrons or someone who uses a cauldron for the distillation of ouzo or raki... [more]

Kazancı Turkish
Occupational name for a maker or seller of cauldrons, kettles or boilers, from Turkish kazan meaning "cauldron, boiler".

Kebel German (Americanized)
Possibly an Americanized form of German Kübel "tub, vat", a metonymic occupational name for a cooper or barrel-maker.

Kelch German
nickname from Middle High German kelch "double chin", "goiter". from another meaning of Middle High German kelch "glass", "chalice", hence a metonymic occupational name for a chalice maker or a habitational name for someone living at a house distinguished by the sign of a chalice.

Kessel German
Occupational name for a maker of cooking vessels from Middle High German kezzel meaning "kettle, cauldron, boiler".

Kessler German, Jewish
Means "kettle-maker, tinker", denoting a maker of copper or tin cooking vessels, derived from Middle High German kezzel meaning "kettle, cauldron". In some instances, it could have referred to the shape of a landform.

Kiebler German
Comes from the Middle High German word "kübel" meaning a "vat," or "barrel." As such it was an occupational name for a cooper, or barrel maker.

Kiestler German
Possibly a form of Kistler an occupation name for a joiner or cabinet maker.

Kish English
A name for a person who worked as a maker of leather armor for the knight's legs.

Kleiber German
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)".

Kleinschmidt German
Occupational surname which means "small smith", that is, a maker of small forged items and metal hand tools.

Klingemann German
Occupational surname for a knife maker, literally meaning "knife maker, weapons smith". It is derived from German klinge meaning "blade".

Knifati Arabic
Means "Knafeh maker," given to pasty makers specializing in Knafeh, a filo-dough middle-eastern pastry typically filled with cheese and syrup.

Kober German, Jewish (Ashkenazi)
From Middle High German kober "basket". This was used as either an occupational name for a basket maker or a nickname for someone who carried a basket on his back.

Kodikara Sinhalese
Derived from Sinhala කොඩිය (kodiya) meaning "flag, banner" and Sanskrit कार (kara) meaning "maker, doer", possibly an occupational name for a person who made flags.

Koelzer German
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.

Konopásek Czech
From konopa meaning "hemp", probably an occupational name for a rope maker.

Korb German
Means "basket" in German, denoting a basket maker or a basket vendor.

Korbel Czech
Occupational name for a maker of drinking vessels, from korbel "tankard".

Kozub Czech, Polish, Slovak
Either denoted a fireplace maker or a saddler depending on the origin, either meaning "fireplace, hearth" in Czech and Slovak or "saddle" in Polish.

Kross Low German
Occupational name for a maker of mugs and jugs, from Middle Low German krus, kros 'pitcher', 'ceramic drinking vessel'.

Kübarsepp Estonian
Kübarsepp is an Estonian surname meaning "hat maker" (literally, "hat smith").

Kumbhakar Indian, Bengali, Hindi
From Sanskrit कुम्भकार (kumbhakara) meaning "potter", derived from कुम्भ (kumbha) meaning "jar, urn, pot" and कार (kara) meaning "maker, doer".

Lacasse French
Means "box maker"

Leivat Estonian
Leivat is an Estonian surname derived from "leivatehas" meaning "baker" ("bread maker").

Liimatainen Finnish
The meaning is: "Son of a Glue Maker"

Longbow English (American, Anglicized, Modern)
"Maker of strings".

Lorimer English, Scottish
Occupational name for a maker or seller of bits and other metal parts of a horse's bridle, and other metal pieces, derived from Old French lorain "tackle, harness".

Lösch Low German, Upper German
North German metonymic occupational name for a maker of fine leather, from Middle Low German losche ‘fine leather’. South German variant of Lesch (see Loesch).

Loukanis Greek
Means "sausage" in Greek, nickname for a butcher or sausage maker.

Maccarone Italian
from maccaroni "macaroni" (or in northern Italy "gnocco") perhaps applied as a metonymic occupational name for a maker of pasta or in the North as a nickname for a silly or foolish person.

Maker Dutch (Rare)
An occupational name for someone who makes or repairs things, from Dutch maken "to make, mend, create".

Maker English
From the name of a village in Cornwall, England, derived from Old Cornish magoer meaning "wall" or "ruin".

Malakar Indian, Bengali, Assamese
Means "florist, maker of flower garlands" in Bengali and "gardener" in Assamese.

Malthouse English
Occupational name for a maker of malt or a malt merchant. It could also be a topographic name for a person who lived at a malt house.

Manikas Greek
Occupational name for a maker of handles (e.g. of knives), from medieval Greek manikion "sleeve", "handle", from Latin manicae "sleeve, manacle".

Mantel English, German, French, Dutch
nickname for someone who wore a cloak in a particularly conspicuous way or with a striking design, from Middle English, Middle High German, Old French, and Middle Dutch mantel "cloak, coat" (from Late Latin mantellus)... [more]

Mantilla Spanish
Spanish: from mantilla ‘mantilla’, ‘scarf worn over the head and shoulders’, presumably an occupational name for a maker of mantillas or a descriptive name for someone who habitually wore such a garment.

Maquet French
From a derivative of bac ‘tub’, also ‘ferry’, used as a metonymic occupational name for a maker or for a boatman.... [more]

Martillo Spanish
From the Spanish word "martillo" which means hammer. Occupational name for a user or maker of hammers.

Mascherano Italian
Occupational name for maker of masks, derived from Italian mascherare meaning "to mask". The Argentine former soccer player Javier Mascherano (1984-) is a famous bearer of this name.

Meades English
The name Meades is a plural variation of the name Meade, Mead, Mede, etc., the spelling being rather arbitrary and phonetic in the middle ages (even among the very few scribes, clerics and high-born persons who were literate) and without due consideration of standarized form, hence the various spellings of the name today... [more]

Mendler German
Occupational name for a maker of coats from an agent derivative of Middle High German mantel, mandel, mendel "coat".

Mesmer German
Occupational name for a maker of knives from Middle High German messer meaning "knife". A famous bearer was Franz Mesmer (1734-1815), a German doctor known for his theory of "animal magnetism", which was eventually incorporated into the field of hypnosis.

Mirotvorets Russian
Means "maker of peace" in Russian, from мир (mir) "peace" and творец (tvorets) "creator, maker". Probably given to someone who often mediated fights between villagers.

Mouldenhauer German
Has a Northern German origin, and means “bowl maker” or “carver of bowls”.

Nadel German, Jewish
Metonymic occupational name for a maker of needles, or in some cases for a tailor, from Middle High German nadel(e), German Nadel "needle".

Nalci Turkish
Occupational surname denoting a horse-shoe maker, from the Turkish word nal meaning "horse-shoe" and the particle -cı a suffix appended to words to create a noun denoting a profession or occupation.

Naylor English
Occupational name for someone who made nails, from Middle English nayler "nail maker".

Needle English, Jewish (Americanized)
English: from Middle English nedle nadle ‘needle’ (Old English nǣdle) hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker of needles or in some cases perhaps for a tailor. See also Nadler.... [more]

Nesmith English, Scottish
Occupational name for a nail or knife maker, derived from Middle English nayl "nail" or knyf "knife" and smyth "craftsman, smith" (from Old English smiþ).

Nestler German
Derived from the middle high German word nesteler meaning "maker of string or thread".

Obukhov m Russian
Occupational name for a lumberjack or a maker of axes, derived from Russian обух (obukh) meaning "butt" (referring to the thicker end of a tool or weapon like an axe).

Pabalat Tagalog (Filipinized, Archaic)
A Filipino surname meaning "cover, saddle" or "saddle maker". This surname was probably created when a Spanish surveyor conducts a census sometime in the 19th century in Cavinti, Laguna, Philippines... [more]

Palliser English
Means "maker of palings and fences" (from a derivative of Old French palis "palisade"). In fiction, the Palliser novels are a series of six political novels by Anthony Trollope, beginning with 'Can You Forgive Her?' (1864) and ending with 'The Duke's Children' (1880), in which the Palliser family plays a central role.

Panaro Italian
From old Italian panaro meaning "bread basket" or "wooden basket, hamper", an occupational name for a baker, or perhaps a basket maker. Alternatively, could be a habitational name from the Panaro river.

Panksepp Estonian
Panksepp is an Estonian surname meaning "bank smith". May also be derived from "pangsepp", meaning "bucket smith/maker".

Papier French, German, Jewish
Means "paper" in French and German, denoting a paper maker or merchant, both derived from Old French papier.

Parmentier French, Belgian
An occupational surname for a maker of "facings" and "trimmings".

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.

Pelsmaker Dutch
Occupational name for a pelt maker, from Dutch pels "pelt, fur" and maker "maker"

Pfannebecker German
Occupational name for a maker of roof tiles, cognate of Dutch Pannebakker.

Pilch English
From Middle English pilch, a metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of pilches or a nickname for a habitual wearer of these. A pilch (from Late Latin pellicia, a derivative of pellis "skin, hide") was a kind of coarse leather garment with the hair or fur still on it.

Pilcher English
Occupational name for a maker or seller of pilches, from an agent derivative of Pilch. In early 17th-century English, pilcher was a popular term of abuse, being confused or punningly associated with the unrelated verb pilch "to steal" and with the unrelated noun pilchard, a kind of fish.

Pinn English, German
Derived from Middle English pin and Middle Low German pinne, both meaning "peg" or "pin". This was an occupational name from a maker of these things. The German name can in some cases be an occupational name for a shoemaker.

Plate German, Dutch
metonymic occupational name for a maker of plate armor from Middle High German blate plate Middle Dutch plate "plate armor plating".

Plummer English
1. Occupational name for a worker in lead, especially a maker of lead pipes and conduits, from Anglo-Norman French plom(m)er, plum(m)er ‘plumber’, from plom(b), plum(b) ‘lead’ (Latin plumbum)... [more]

Podriznik Slovene
From the article of clothing of the same name worn by priests, possibly denoting a maker of them or perhaps a relative of a clergyman.

Potier French
An occupational name for a maker of drinking and storage vessels, from potier "potter", an agent derivative of Old French pot "drinking vessel"... [more]

Potisepp Estonian
Potisepp is an Estonian surname meaning "spade/shovel maker (smith)".

Puckett English
Of uncertain origin; perhaps a variant of Pocket(t), from a diminutive of Anglo-Norman French poque "small pouch", hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker of purses and pouches or a nickname... [more]

Punzalan Filipino, Tagalog, Pampangan
Possibly an occupational name for a maker of fences or a nickname derived from Spanish punzar meaning "to punch, to sting".

Puškár Slovak, Czech
Occupational name for a rifle maker.

Pyle English
From the Middle English word pile, meaning "stake" or "post", which is derived via Old English from Latin pilum, meaning "spike" or "javelin". This was a topographic name for someone who lived near a stake or post serving as a landmark, a metonymic occupational name for a stake maker, or a nickname for a tall, strong man.

Rader German
Variation of Rademacher, meaning "maker of wheels" in German ("rat" meaning wheel), later shortened to Rader and other variations such as Redder, Raeder, Redler, etc.

Range German, French
German: nickname for a ragamuffin, from Middle High German range ‘naughty boy’, ‘urchin’.... [more]

Reshetnikov Russian
Occupational name for a maker of sieves or gratings, derived from Russian решетник (reshetnik) meaning "sheathing, grate, sieve".

Reusser Swiss, German, Upper German
In Switzerland, an occupational name for a fisherman or maker of fish traps, from an agent derivative of Middle High German riuse "fish trap, weir basket". A nickname from an agent noun based on Middle High German riusen "to moan or complain"... [more]

Riegel German
From Middle High German rigel "bar, crossbeam, mountain incline", hence a topographic name or a habitational name from any of numerous places named with this word in Baden, Brandenburg, and Silesia; in some instances it may have been a metonymic occupational name for a maker of crossbars, locks, etc.

Ringer English
From the Norman name Reinger or Rainger derived from the Germanic elements ragin meaning "advice, counsel" and ger meaning "spear"... [more]

Ripper English
Means "maker, seller or carrier of baskets" (from a derivative of Middle English rip "basket").

Rivet French, English
French: from a diminutive of Old French rive ‘(river) bank’, ‘shore’ (see Rives).... [more]

Roper English
English: occupational name for a maker or seller of rope, from an agent derivative of Old English rāp ‘rope’. See also Roop.

Ruotina Italian
Means "wheel" in Italian. This meant that a bearer of this surname was a wheel maker.

Saco Italian
There are several possible derivations for the Saco surname: the Saco name evolved from an old Tuscan personal name, Saccus; it came from the word "sacco" meaning "a sack," and was an occupational name for a maker of sacks or bags; it was a habitational name taken on from the place named Sacco in Salerno province.

Saker English
Occupational name for a maker of sacks or bags, derived from an agent derivative of Old English sacc meaning "sack, bag".

Samargiu Macedonian
Etymology... [more]

Samet German, Jewish, Yiddish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of velvet, from Yiddish samet ‘velvet’ (German Samt, ultimately from Greek hexamiton, a compound of hex ‘six’ + mitos ‘thread’).

Sapozhnikov m Russian
Derieved from сапожник (sapozhnik), meaning "shoe maker".

Sattler German
An occupational name meaning "saddle maker".

Sax English
From Middle English sax meaning "knife", an occupational name for a knife maker, or perhaps a nickname for someone skilled with a knife.

Schaffter German
An occupational name for a shaft maker or maker of tools and weapons, from Middle Low German schaft "shaft, spear, lance."

Schild German, Dutch
Occupational name for a maker or painter of shields, from Middle High German, Middle Dutch schilt "shield".

Schildhauer German
First 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.

Schirmacher German
occupational name for someone who makes harnesses and bridles for horses from Middle High German geschirre "harness" and macher "maker".

Schleiger German
Occupational name for a maker or seller of scarves and veils from Middle Low German sleiger sleier "(head)scarf".

Schnitzer German
From Upper German schnitz, referring to someone who cuts wood, ultimately from Middle High German snitzære "woodcutter, carver, crossbow maker".

Schopenhauer German
Derived from German schöpfen meaning "to scoop, ladle" and hauen meaning "to chop", referring to a maker of wooden and metal scoops and buckets. This name was borne by the German pessimist philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860), the author of the 1818 book The World as Will and Representation among other works.

Schops German
Means "scoop maker"

Schreiner German
Occupational surname for a joiner (maker of wooden furniture), ultimately from Middle High German schrīnære.

Schuch German
Likely derived from SCHUMACHER (Shoe Maker)

Schuh German, Jewish
Occupational name for a maker or repairer of shoes, derived from Middle High German schuoch meaning "shoe". In some cases, it may have denoted a person to a house distinguished by the sign of a shoe.

Schwertner German
Either a habitational name for someone from Schwerta in Silesia or an occupational name for a sword maker.

Seif German, Jewish
Metonymic occupational name for a soap maker, from Middle High German seife, German Seife 'soap'.

Seiler German
German and Jewish occupational surname for a rope maker.

Sevier English
Occupational name for a sieve-maker, Middle English siviere (from an agent derivative of Old English sife "sieve").

Sieber German
The roots of the German surname Sieber can be traced to the Old Germanic word "Siebmacher," meaning "sieve maker." The surname is occupational in origin, and was most likely originally borne by someone who held this position

Sigler Middle High German (Americanized)
Occupational name, derived from the Middle High German sigel, meaning "seal." It refers to a maker of seals and signet rings or an official keeper of a seal.... [more]

Siler English
Anglicized form of Seiler, an occupational name for a rope maker, from German Seil ‘rope’

Sinapius History
Derived from Latin sināpi, meaning "white mustard". This was the latinized surname of a Bohemian pharmacist and possible maker of the Voynich Manuscript, Jacobus Horcicky.

Slipper English
Occupational surname for a sword-slipper, or scabbard maker.

Spader German
Occupational name for a spade maker or for someone who used a spade in his work, derived from Middle High or Middle Low German spade. A notable bearer is American actor James Spader (1960-).

Spiegel German, Jewish
Metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of mirrors, from Middle High German spiegel, German Spiegel "mirror" (via Old High German from Latin speculum, a derivative of specere "to look").

Spiegler German, Jewish
Occupational name for a maker or seller of mirrors, from Middle High German spiegel, German Spiegel "mirror" and the agent suffix -er.

Spindler English, German, Jewish
Occupational name for a spindle maker, from an agent derivative of Middle English spindle, Middle High German spindel, German Spindel, Yiddish shpindl "spindle, distaff".

Spohr German
Occupational name for a maker of spurs, from Middle High German spor ‘spur’, or a topographic name, from Middle High German spor ‘spoor’, ‘animal tracks’.... [more]

Spoon English
Apparently a metonymic occupational name either for a maker of roofing shingles or spoons, from Old English spon "chip, splinter" (see also Spooner).

Spoor English, Dutch
From Middle Dutch and Middle English spoor "spur", an occupational name for a maker or seller of spurs.

Stang German, Jewish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) from Middle High German stang, German Stange ‘pole’, ‘shaft’, hence a nickname for a tall, thin person, a metonymic occupational name for a maker of wooden shafts for spears and the like, or a metonymic occupational name for a soldier.

Stavonin Russian
Originally Stavnin (shutter-maker), Stavonin resulted from an incorrect spelling that stuck (for over a hundred years)... [more]

Stellmacher German
occupational name for a cartwright from late Middle High German stelle "carriage" (originally "frame chassis") and mahhon "maker"... [more]

Stellrecht German
Occupational name for a cartwright, from Middle High German stel "framework" and reht (from Old High German wurht-) "maker". Compare English -wright.

Stellwagen German
metonymic occupational name for a carter or a cartwright from Middle High German stelle "cart" and wagen "wagon".

Stelzner German
Variant of Stelzer, probably an occupational name for a stilt-maker. Also, a habitational name for anyone from any of the places named Stelzen.

Stiefel German
Either from stiefel "boot", which could mean a boot maker or from middle low german stief which means "stiff", a nickname for a stubborn person

Stoller German, Jewish, English
Habitational surname for someone from a place called Stolle, near Zurich (now called Stollen).... [more]

Stradivari Italian
Italian surname of uncertain origin, either from the plural of Lombard stradivare meaning "toll-man" or from strada averta meaning "open road" in the Cremonese dialect. A famous bearer was Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737), a violin-maker of Cremona.

Stradling English (British)
Researchers found the origin of this surname Stradling by referring to such documents as the Viking Sagas, the Orkneyinga Sagas, the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, the Inquisitio and the translations of local manuscripts, parish records, baptismal & tax records, found in the north of Dingwall, and in the Orkneys and Shetlands.... [more]

Stricker German, Low German, Dutch
Occupational name for a rope maker or knitter (of hose, for example), from an agent derivative of Middle High German, Middle Low German stricken ‘to tie’.

Strynckx Flemish
Variant form of Dutch Streng "strong, rope, cord", a metonymic occupational name for a rope maker. Alternatively, it could be a nickname derived from streng "strict, severe, cruel".

Tamrakar Newar, Indian
Means "copper maker; craftsman" in Sanskrit. This is used by the Tamrakar caste of Nepal and India, and mainly of Newar ethnicity in Nepal.

Tingle English
Derived from Middle English tingel, referring to a kind of very small nail (a word of North German origin); this was either an occupational name for a maker of pins or nails, or else a nickname for a small thin man.... [more]

Tippetts English (American)
Tippetts Recorded as Tipp, Tippe, diminutives Tippell, Tippets, Tipping, patronymics Tippett, Tipples, Tippins, and possibly others, this is a medieval English surname. ... [more]

Tõllasepp Estonian
Tõllasepp is an Estonian surname meaning "coach maker" or "coach smith"; derived form the compound words "tõld" (coach, chariot) and "sepp" (smith).

Twine English
Metonymic occupational name for a maker of string or thread, and derived from Old English twin meaning "thread, string".

Twiner English
Occupational name for a maker of thread or twine; an agent derivative of Old English twinen meaning "to twine".

Ucar Croatian
1 Croatian, Serbian, and eastern Slovenian: ironic nickname for an autocratic person, from car ‘tsar’.... [more]

Uhr German, Jewish
Derived from the given name Ulrich. In Jewish, it is a metonymic occupational name for a watch or clock maker, derived from German uhr meaning "watch, clock".

Wagenknecht German
occupational name from Middle High German wagenknëht "hauler's assistant" from wagan "wagon" and kneht "servant".

Wainwright English
Occupational name for a maker or repairer of wagons.

Wannemacher German, Dutch
Occupational name for a maker or seller of baskets, particularly winnowing baskets or fans, derived from Middle High German wanne literally meaning "winnowing basket" and macher meaning "maker"... [more]

Weaponsworth English
Means maker of weapons

Weidemann Medieval German, German (Austrian), Norwegian
Weidemann is a German family name and comes from the Middle High German terms for hunter or woad farmer.... [more]

Weingartner German
Derived from German weingärtner meaning "wine maker, vintner", which itself is derived from German weingarten meaning "vineyard". The latter is a composite word consisting of German wein "wine" combined with German garten "garden"... [more]

Wenger German, German (Swiss)
The surname Wenger is derived from the Middle High German word "wenger," "meaning "wagoner" or "cartwright."" It was an occupational name given to someone who worked as a wagon maker or driver. Another possible origin is that is derived from the German word, wenge, "meaning field of meadow"

Wiggs English (British)
The surname Wiggs was first found in Leicestershire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, at Lennerlyde. This interesting name has two possible origins. The first being a metonymic occupational name for a maker of wedge-shaped bread, from the Medieval English "Wigge" meaning "wedge-shaped"... [more]

Wildsmith English
Probably means "maker of wheels, wheelwright".

Wimmer German
Occupational last name, meaning "wine maker," using a derivation of the element Wein (meaning "wine") and likely another derivation from -macher (meaning "maker"). It's possible as well that it is derived from Weimann.

Wimp English
The surname has at least two origins. The first is occupational and describes a maker of 'wimplels', an Old English veil later much associated with nuns. Second, it may also be locational from the village of Whimple in Devonshire, or Wimpole in Cambridge.

Winstead English
Perhaps derived from the town of Wanstead in Greater London, England (recorded in the Domesday Book as Wenesteda), named with Old English wænn meaning "wagon" and stede meaning "place, site", but it is more likely derived from the village of Winestead in East Yorkshire, England, named from Old English wefa meaning "wife" and hamstede meaning "homestead"... [more]

Woehrle Gothic
Origin from Ohio Known for Farmers, less common occupation was Baker Farmer, Gardener and Bag Maker were the top 3 reported jobs.

Yapıcı Turkish
Means "builder, maker, constructor" in Turkish.

Zdun m Polish
Means "stove maker" from Polish word zdun meaning "stove maker, stove mason".

Zeimet German, Luxembourgish
Western German and Luxembourgeois: probably a variant spelling of Zeimert, a variant of Zeumer, an occupational name for a harness maker, from an agent derivative of Middle High German zoum ‘bridle’.

Zilčyan Armenian
Means "cymbal-maker" in Armenian, from Ottoman Turkish زلجی (zilci) "cymbal-maker" with a surname forming suffix.