Browse Submitted Surnames

This is a list of submitted surnames in which an editor of the name is jocatchi.
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Hexspoor Dutch
Derived from Middle Dutch hicken "to pick, to chop" and spoor "spur", a nickname for a rider who often spurred on their horse.
Heyer German, Dutch
Occupational name for a grower or reaper of grass for hay, from Middle High German höu "grass, hay" and the agent suffix -er. Could also be a variant spelling of Heier.
Heyer Dutch
From Middle Dutch heiger "heron", a nickname for someone with long legs. Alternatively, from a Germanic personal name composed of hag "enclosure, hedge" and heri "army".
Heyer English
Variant of Ayer.
Hick English
From the medieval personal name Hicke, a diminutive of Richard. The substitution of H- as the initial resulted from the inability of the English to cope with the velar Norman R-.
Hick Dutch
From a variant of the Germanic personal name Hilke, such as Icco or Hikke, a pet form of names beginning with the element hild "strife, battle".
Hiemstra West Frisian, Dutch
Derived from West Frisian hiem "home" or the related Dutch Low Saxon hiem "farmstead, homestead" combined with the habitational suffix -stra.
Hieronymus German
From the Greek given name ‘Ιερωνυμος (Hieronymos) meaning "sacred name" (see Jerome).
Hilbert German, French, Dutch, English
From the Germanic personal name Hildiberht.
Hilger German, Dutch, French
From the personal name Hilger, composed of the elements hild "strife, battle" and ger "spear".
Hillard French
From the given name Hilaire.
Hillen Dutch, German
Patronymic of Hille, a pet form of given names containing the element hild "strife, battle".
Hilliard English
From the Norman female given name Hildiard, a variant of Germanic Hildegard, derived from hilt "strife, battle" and gart "enclosure, yard".
Hillier English
Occupational name for a roof tiler or thatcher from Middle English helier "roofer, slater, tiler", ultimately derived from Old English helan "to hide, conceal, cover".
Hingston English
From any of several towns named Hinxton or Hingston, varyingly meaning "Hengist’s hill" (from hengest "stallion" and dun "hill, mountain") or "hind’s stone" (from hind "female deer" and stan "stone").
Hinkebein German (Americanized)
Variant of Hinkelbein, a nickname for someone with a limp.
Hinkelbein German
Nickname for someone with a limp, from Middle High German hinken "to limp, hobble" and bein "leg, bone".
Hiott English (American)
Possibly a variant form of Hyatt.
Hitch English
Variant form of Hick, from the medieval given name Hitch.
Hitchins English
Can be either a patronymic derived from the medieval given name Hitch, or a habitational name denoting someone from the town Hitchin, itself from Old English Hicce, the name of the Celtic tribe who originally resided in the area.
Hobart English
Variant of Hubert via Hubbard.
Hoebeke Dutch, Flemish
A habitational name meaning "high brook", from Old Dutch "high" and beke "brook, stream, creek".
Hoed Dutch
Means "hat, cover", an occupational name for a hatmaker.
Hoen Dutch, German
From Middle Dutch hoen "chicken, hen", perhaps a nickname denoting a silly or foolish person, or an occupational name for someone who raised chickens.
Hoen Dutch, German
From the personal name Huno, a short form of names containing the element hun "bear cub, offspring".
Hoen Norwegian
Denoted someone from one of two farmsteads called Hon, derived from either Old Norse hundr "dog" or from Hóvin, a compound of hór "high", or possibly hof "temple, shrine", and vin "meadow".
Hof Dutch
Standard Dutch form of Hoff.
Hoff German
Means "yard, court, farmyard", from Germanic hof.
Hofman Dutch
Dutch cognate of Hoffmann.
Hofman mu Polish, Czech, Slovene, Croatian, Slovak
Derived from German Hoffmann.
Hofstede Dutch
Means "farmstead, property; farmhouse with land" in Dutch, a compound of Old Dutch hof "yard, court" and stat "place, location, abode, town".
Hol Dutch
Variant form of Holl.
Höld German
Variant of Held.
Holl German, Dutch
Topographic name meaning "hollow" or "hole", from Middle Low German and Middle High German hol.
Holl German
Short form of German Höld.
Holl English
Variant of Hole.
Holl Dutch
Variant of Holle.
Hollander German, English, Jewish, Dutch, Swedish
Regional name for someone from Holland 1.
Holle Dutch
Derived from a short form of given names containing the element hold "friendly, gracious, loyal".
Hollister English
An occupational name for a female brothel-keeper, a feminine form of Hollier.
Holman Dutch
Topographic or habitational name from Dutch hol "hollow, hole" or Middle Dutch heule "arched bridge, weir". It can also derive from the given name Holle, a short form of names containing the element hold "loyal, faithful, gracious".
Holman English
Uncertain etymology. Could be a topographic name derived from Old English holh "hollow, hole" or holm, which can mean either "holly" or "small island" (see Holme), combined with man "man, person"... [more]
Holter English, German, Norwegian, Dutch
Derived from Old English, Old Dutch, and Old Norse holt meaning "forest, small wood".
Homan English
Variant of Human.
Homan Dutch
From Old Dutch hovitman "leader, head man, chief". Alternatively, the Dutch form of Hoffmann.
Homans Dutch
Variant of Homan.
Hooch Dutch (Americanized, Rare, Archaic)
Possibly an archaic or Americanized form of Dutch Hoog "high, tall".
Hood English
Habitational or topographic name derived from Old English hod "hood, hat", referring to a hood-shaped hill, or possibly taking from the older meaning of "shelter, cover".
Hood Irish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó hUid meaning "descendant of Ud", a given name of uncertain derivation. Compare Mahood.
Hooft Dutch
Means "head" in Middle Dutch.
Hoog Dutch
Variant of De Hoog.
Hoogenboom Dutch
Means "high tree" in Dutch, from hoog "high" and boom "tree", a topographic name for someone living by a tall tree, or a habitational name from places called Hoogboom and Hogenboom in the Belgian province of Antwerp... [more]
Hoogendoorn Dutch
From any of several place names derived from either hoog "high" or haag "hedge" combined with doorn "thorn bush".
Hoogeveen Dutch
From any of several places called Hoogeveen, derived from Dutch hoog "high, elevated" and veen "peat bog, marsh".
Hoogland Dutch
A toponoymic or habitational surname meaning "highland", derived from Middle Dutch hooch "high" and lant "land".
Hoogteijling Dutch
Habitational name from Hoogteilingen, derived from hoogh "high" and the toponym Teijlingen, from Old Dutch *tagla "tail, narrow ridge".
Hooijkaas Dutch
Meaning uncertain, spelling possibly altered by folk etymology.
Hooiveld Dutch
Means "hay field" in Dutch.
Hoot Dutch (Americanized)
Americanized form of Hout or Hoed.
Hoot German (Americanized)
Americanized form of Hoth.
Hop Dutch
Variant form of Hopp. Alternatively, an occupational name derived from Dutch hop referring to the common hop (Humulus lupus), a kind of plant traditionally used to preserve and flavour beer.
Hopf German
An occupational name for a brewer or farmer, from German Hopfen meaning "hops", a plant used in preserving and flavouring beer.
Hopp German, Dutch
Variant of Hoppe. Can also be a pet form of the given name Hubrecht.
Hoppe German, Dutch
Derived from hoppen "to hop", a nickname for an active person. Can also be a variant of Hopp.
Horst Dutch, Low German
Means "elevated and overgrown land, thicket" or "bird of prey’s nest, eyrie" in Dutch, the name of several locations.
Hosekin Dutch (Archaic)
Occupational name for a maker or seller of hose (garments for the legs), from Middle Dutch hose "stocking, boot".
Hotaling Dutch (Americanized)
Americanized spelling of Dutch Hoogteijling.
Hoth German
Variant of Huth.
Houghton English
Habitational name derived from any of several locations across England, usually derived from Old English hoh "heel, hough, point of land" and tun "town, settlement, enclosure"... [more]
Hout Dutch
Means "wood, forest", a Dutch cognate of Holt. Can also be an occupational name (see Houtman).
Houtteman Flemish
Variant form of Houtman "wood man".
Hübenthal German
From either of two place names, derived from the older form Hufinadah meaning "valley where the hooves were".
Hück German
Topographic name meaning "bog" or "corner".
Huck English
From the medieval personal name Hucke, which was probably descended from the Old English personal name Ucca or Hucca, perhaps a shortened form of Uhtræd influenced by a medieval form of Hugh... [more]
Huck German, Dutch
Pet form of the given name Hugo.
Huisman Dutch
Literally "houseman", an occupational name for a farmer, specifically one who owned his own farm.
Huitema Dutch
Possibly a patronymic form of Hoite, a pet form of names containing the element hugu "mind, thought, spirit", using the Frisian suffix -ma "man of".
Huizinga West Frisian, Dutch
Habitational name from Huizinge, a town in Groningen, Netherlands, possibly derived from Old Frisian hūs "house" and dinge "newly cultivated lands"... [more]
Hulshof Dutch
Habitational name derived from Middle Dutch hul "holly" and hof "court, garden, farmstead".
Human English, South African, Dutch
Means "Hugh’s man", an occupational name for a servant of a man named Hugh. Alternatively, from the given name Hugheman.
Hungate English
Habitational name from any of several places in England called Hungate, derived from Old English hund "hound, dog" and Old Norse gata "street, road".
Hungerford English
From the name of a settlement in Berkshire, England, derived from Old English hungor "hunger, famine" and ford "ford, river crossing".
Hushour English (American)
Uncertain etymology. Possibly an Americanized form of a Germanic surname.
Huth German
From Middle High German huot "hat, cap, helmet", a name for someone who made or wore hats.
Hyatt English
Topographic name derived from Middle English heih "high" and yate "gate".
Hyatt Jewish (Americanized)
Americanized form of Chait.
Iacono Italian
From Sicilian jacunu "deacon".
Iadanza Italian
Habitational name from a place in the province of Benevento, Italy. ... [more]
Iams English (American)
Possibly the result of a misdivision of the given name William.
Iartza Basque
Habitational name probably derived from the obscure Basque word ihar "maple tree" and the suffix -tza "large quantity, abundance".
Ibaiguren Basque (Rare)
Means "river's edge", derived from Basque ibai "river" and guren "edge, bank".
Ibarguen Basque
From the name of a neighborhood in Biscay, Spain, derived from Basque ibar "valley, riverbank" and guren "limit, edge, bank".
Ibarrola Basque
From the name of a village in Basque Country, derived from ibar "valley, riverbank" and ola "factory, forge, ironworks", or possibly -ola "location, place of".
Ibba Italian
Meaning uncertain, possibly from Sardinian v-ibba "settlement" (compare Deidda), or from Latin ibi "that place, there".
Igarik Estonian
Etymology uncertain.
Ilarratza Basque
From the name of a settlement in Álava, Spain, possibly derived from Basque illar "bean, pea; heather" and the abundance suffix -tza.
Inderrieden Dutch (Americanized)
Variant of Dutch in der Rieden, possibly derived from German ried "reed", or from a cognate of Old English rith "stream".
Ing English
From the name of a former district in Essex, possibly derived from Old English ing "meadow, water meadow", or from ge "district, region" combined with the suffix -ing. Alternatively, it could derive from the given name Inge.
Inga Italian, Spanish
Possibly from Sicilian inga "ink", an occupational name for a scribe. Alternatively, it could derive from the Germanic given name Inge.
Ingersoll English
Habitational name derived from Inkersall in Derbyshire, probably composed of a given name such as Ingvarr or the byname Hynkere (meaning "limper") combined with Old English hyll "hill" or Old Norse salr "hall, room"... [more]
Ingleby English
From the names of either of two hamlets in England, derived from Old Norse Englar "Englishman" and býr "farmstead, village".
Inks English
Patronymic variant of Ing.
Inquieti Italian (Rare)
Possibly derived from Italian inquieto "restless, agitated; anxious, worried", perhaps given as a nickname or as a foundling name. This surname is no longer found in Italy.
Intzuntza Basque (Rare)
From the name of a neighbourhood in the municipality of Lemoa, Biscay, possibly derived from Basque inza "heath, reed bed".
Inutile Italian
Means "useless" in Italian.
Invernizzi Italian
Probably denoted someone from Inverno e Monteleone, a municipality in Lombardy. Inverno itself is Italian for "winter".
Ioachim Romanian
Derived from the given name Ioachim.
Iparragirre Basque
Derived from Basque ipar "north; north wind" and ageri "open, clear, prominent" (see Aguirre).
Iraeta Basque
From the name of a settlement in Basque Country, Spain, derived from Basque ira "fern" and the toponymic suffix -eta.
Iragorri Basque
From the name of a neighborhood in the municipality of Zaratamo, Spain, derived from Basque ira "fern" and gorri "red" or "bare, peeled".
Irala Basque
Probably a variant of Iraola.
Iraola Basque
Derived from Basque ira "fern" and -ola "location, place of".
Irarrazabal Basque
Possibly derived from Basque ira "fern" or ilharre "heather" and zabal "wide, broad; open".
Irby English
The name of several places in England, derived from Old Norse Iri býr meaning "Irish settlement".
Iriarte Basque
Topographic name for someone who lived between two or more settlements, from Basque iri "settlement, village" and arte "between".
Irigoien Basque
Means "upper village", derived from Basque (h)iri "village, town, settlement" and goi "high; upper part".
Irisarri Basque
From the name of a commune in the French arrondissement of Bayonne, derived from Basque (h)iri "town, city" and sarri "frequent, thickset; thicket, brushwood".
Irizar Basque
Means "old settlement", derived from Basque (h)iri "town, city" and zahar "old, aged".
Isurieta Basque
From the name of a neighborhood in the town of Aretxabaleta, Basque Country, derived from Basque izai "fir tree" and uri "town, settlement" combined with the toponymic suffix -eta "place of, abundance of"... [more]
Iturralde Basque
From the name of a neighborhood in the municipality of Lizartza, Spain, derived from Basque iturri "spring, fountain" and alde "near, by; side, area".
Itxasmendi Basque (Rare)
From the name of a neighborhood in Zarautz, Gipuzkoa, probably derived from Basque itxaso "sea" and mendi "mountain". Alternatively, the first element could be isats "gorse, broom (plant)".
Ivars Spanish, Basque (Hispanicized)
Etymology uncertain. Possibly related to Ibarra, derived from Basque ibar "meadow, riverbank, valley".
Ivey English
Could be a patronymic from the given name Ive, or a habitational name from Ivoy in Cher, northern France.
Ivy English
Variant of Ivey. In some cases, might instead be derived from the name of the plant.
Iwwerks German
Possibly derived from the given name Euwerik (also Ewerk), a name of uncertain etymology... [more]
Izaba Basque
From the name of a municipality in Navarre, Spain, of uncertain etymology. Proposed origins include Basque iz "water" combined with aba, which could mean "river, mouth, confluence" and/or be a variant of -aga "place of, abundance of".
Izagirre Basque
Derived from Basque (h)aize "wind" and ageri "prominent, visible, exposed".
Izarra Basque
Derived from either the village Izarra in Álava, or the town Lizarra in Navarre. The etymology of the former is uncertain, but it coincides with a form of the Basque word izar "star"; the latter derives from lizar "ash tree", but is called Estella ("star") in Spanish due to confusion with the aforementioned word izar.
Izturitze Basque
From the name of a commune in south-western France, possibly derived from Basque estura "strait, scrape; narrowing, tightening" and the abundance suffix -tza.
Jacobi Jewish, Dutch, German, French
Latinized patronymic form of Jacob.
Jaken Dutch
Possibly derived from the given name Jakob.
Jakk Estonian (Rare)
Probably originated from another language.
Jänes Estonian
Means "hare" in Estonian.
Janmaat Dutch
Possibly from janmaat, a slang term for a sailor or the collective nautical community, derived from a combination of the common given name Jan 1 and maat "shipmate, sailor; mate, buddy".
Janse Dutch
Variant of Jansen.
Japenga Dutch
Means "of Jaap".
Jareño Basque (Modern), Spanish
Possibly derived from Basque txara "rockrose".
Järv Estonian
Means "lake" in Estonian (compare Finnish Järvi).
Järve Estonian
Variant of Järv.
Jaspan English
Uncertain origin.
Jaspers Dutch, Low German
Patronymic from the given name Jasper.
Jauregi Basque
Means "palace, manor" in Basque, literally "lord house".
Jeschke German
Germanized form of Czech and Slovakian Ješko and Polish Jeszka, pet forms of given names beginning with Ja- or Je- such as Jan 1 or Jarosław, as well as various cognates or similar-sounding names, such as Ježek ("hedgehog").
Jeske German, Polish
Derived from a pet form of the given name Johannes.
Joines English
From a dialectal variant of Jones.
Jolyn Flemish
Possibly a pet form or patronymic of the given name Joli.
Jonkman Dutch
Means "young man" or "bachelor".
Jost Dutch, German
Derived from the given name Jodocus or Justus.
Jovon Italian
Possibly related to the Ancient Roman cognomen Jovian, ultimately derived from the name of the god Jupiter.
Jurvetson Estonian (Americanized)
Americanized form of Jürevson, probably a patronymic derived from an uncertain given name (possibly related to Jüri).
Kaag Dutch
Denotes someone from the Dutch village Kaag, derived from Middle Dutch kaghe "land next to water, land outside of a dyke or levee".
Kalda Estonian
Variant form of Kallas "shore".
Kaler English, German (Americanized)
Americanized form of German Kahler, Köhler, or Kehler.
Kalju Estonian
Means "cliff, rock" in Estonian. The given name Kalju is an independent invention.
Kallas Estonian
Means "shore, bank (of a river), seashore" in Estonian.
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]
Kamp German, Dutch, Danish
From the Germanic element kamp "field", derived from Latin campus "open space, battlefield".
Kamphuis Dutch
Topographic name for someone who lived near a field, derived from Dutch kamp "enclosed field" and huis "house, home, building".
Kan Dutch
Means "jug, teapot, can" in Dutch, from Middle Dutch kanne "pitcher, tankard, flagon", a metonymic occupational name for a potter, pewterer, or tinsmith.
Kanssen Dutch, Flemish
Means "son of Kant".
Kanters Dutch
An occupational name for a singer, such as a precentor (someone who leads songs or prayers in a church, monastery, or synagogue) or choir member. Ultimately derived from Latin cantor "singer, leader of song at a ceremony; prayer leader in a Jewish ceremony".
Käosaar Estonian
Possibly means "cuckoo island" in Estonian, from a genitive form of kägu "cuckoo" combined with saar "island". It could also indicate someone from the village Käo in Saare county, on the island Saaremaa.
Kapel Dutch, Dutch (Surinamese)
Means "chapel" in Dutch, a habitational name for someone who lived near a chapel (or in a place named after one), or an occupational name for a chaplain.
Kareaga Basque
Derived from Basque kare "lime (mineral)" and -aga "place of, abundance of".
Karin Estonian
Possibly derived from Estonian kari "reef, outcrop of stone in water".
Kármán Hungarian
An ethnic name for people from Karaman, Turkey, via Medieval Latin Caramanus.
Karman Dutch
Dutch form of Carman 1
Karman Jewish
From Russian карман (karman) meaning "pocket, bag pocket", probably an occupational name for someone who made such items. Alternatively, could derive from Hungarian Kármán.
Karmann German
German form of Carman 1.
Kärner Estonian, German
Derived from an archaic loan word meaning "gardener", related to German Gärtner.
Karrantza Basque
Habitational name from Basque Country, Spain, a Basque adaptation of Carrantia, a toponym probably of Cantabrian origin meaning "high rocks" (compare Basque harri "rock, stone" and (h)andi "big, large").
Kass Estonian
Means "cat" in Estonian.
Kat Dutch, Frisian, South African, Jewish
Means "cat", a habitational name for someone who lived by a sign depicting a cat, or a nickname for someone who somehow resembled a cat, perhaps in agility or an independent nature.
Katje Dutch
Diminutive form of the surname Kat.
Keate English
Variant of Kite.
Keats English
Variant of Kite.
Kebel German (Americanized)
Possibly an Americanized form of German Kübel "tub, vat", a metonymic occupational name for a cooper or barrel-maker.
Keizer Dutch
Dutch cognate of Kaiser.
Kellner German, Dutch, Jewish, Czech, Slovak, Polish, Hungarian, French
Means "waiter, cellarman" in German, ultimately derived from Latin cellarium "pantry, cellar, storeroom". This was an occupational name for a steward, a castle overseer, or a server of wine.
Kelsall English
Habitational name probably derived from Kelsall in Cheshire, England, derived from the Old English given name Kell combined with halh "nook, recess", or possibly from Kelshall, Hertfordshire, meaning "Cylle’s hill", or Kelsale, Suffolk, meaning "Ceol’s nook"... [more]
Kelshaw English
Variant of the habitational name Culcheth, or of Kershaw or Kelsall.
Kemper German, Dutch
From Kamp "field, piece of land", an occupational name denoting a peasant farmer. It could also indicate someone from a place named using the element. Alternatively, a variant of Kempf meaning "fighter".
Kenneally Irish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Cionnfhaolaidh "descendant of Cionnfhaoladh", a personal name derived from ceann "head" + faol "wolf".
Kenner German, Jewish
Means "expert, connoisseur" in German, from kennen "to know", a nickname for someone considered to be intelligent or knowledgeable.
Kenner German
Habitational name denoting someone from Kenn, Germany.
Kenner English
Possibly derived from Middle English kenner "teacher", derived from kennen "to make known, to teach".
Kentie Dutch
Origin and meaning unknown. Possibly derived from a Scottish surname such as MacKenzie.
Kershaw English
Derived from Old English cirice "church" and sceaga "thicket, grove, copse".
Kersten Low German, Dutch
Derived from the given name Kersten, a Dutch and low German form of Christian.
Kessel Dutch
Habitational name for someone originally from any of the various locations in the Netherlands named Kessel, ultimately derived from Latin castellum "fortress, stronghold, castle". Could possibly also be a variant of German Kexel.
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.
Keurig Dutch (Rare, Archaic)
Possibly an altered form of Kotterik, derived from Middle Dutch keuter "inhabitant of a small farm" (compare Cotterill)... [more]
Keymolen Flemish
Derived from the place name Keimolen, itself probably derived from Middle Dutch key "cobblestone, boulder" and molen "mill".
Kiel Dutch
From Middle Dutch kidel, kedel "smock", hence a metonymic occupational name for someone who make such garments or perhaps a nickname for someone who habitually wore one. Also a Dutch habitational name from a place so named in Antwerp or from the German city Kiel in Schleswig-Holstein.
Kiel Polish
From Polish kieł "tooth, fang", hence a nickname for someone with bad or protruding teeth.
Kiff English
Possibly a variant of Kift, itself from an Old English nickname meaning "clumsy, awkward".
Kikkas Estonian
Means "rooster" in Estonian.
Kin Dutch, Flemish
Means "chin", a nickname for someone with a pointed or jutting chin. Alternatively, from kinne "relative, family".
Kin English
From a short form of names containing cyne "royal, kingly" or cynn "relations, family, tribe".
Kind German, Jewish, Dutch
From Middle High German kint, German Kind "child", hence a nickname for someone with a childish or naive disposition, or an epithet used to distinguish between a father and his son. In some cases it may be a short form of any of various names ending in -kind, a patronymic ending of Jewish surnames.
Kind English
Nickname from Middle English kynde meaning "kind, type, nature" or "disposition", possibly used in the sense of "legitimate".
Kinne German
From the female given name Kinne, a Silesian diminutive of Kunigunde.
Kinne Flemish
Variant of Kin.
Kirkwood Scottish, English
From any of several places in Scotland named Kirkwood, derived from Old English cirice "church" and wudu "tree, wood, forest".
Kirsipuu Estonian
Means "cherry tree" in Estonian.
Kirts English (American)
Probably an Americanized form of German Kirtz.
Kirtz German
Patronymic form of Gero or Gier, pet forms of names containing the Old High German elements ger "spear" or giri "desire, greed".
Kite English
From the name of the bird of prey, derived from Middle English kete "kite, bittern".
Kite English
Habitational name derived from Old English cyte "cottage, hut".
Kivi Estonian, Finnish
Means "stone, rock" in Estonian and Finnish.
Klaassen Dutch
Means "son of Klaas".
Klanac Croatian
Means "gorge, ravine, narrow pass".
Klaver Dutch
Means "clover" in Dutch, a topographic name for someone who lived by a field of clovers or a sign depicting them, or an occupational name for a clover farmer.
Klem German, Dutch
From a short form of the given name Klemens, or a location named using the personal name.
Klemm German
Either from Middle High German klem "narrow, tight", a nickname for miserly person, or from the related klemme "constriction; narrows", a habitational name for someone who lived in a narrow area... [more]
Klepper German
Derived from Middle High German kleppern "to clatter, chatter; to gossip", a nickname for a talkative or gossipy person.
Klepper German
A metonymic name for someone who bred or kept horses, from Middle High German klepper "knight’s horse", possibly derived from kleppen "to strike rapidly, to ring sharply" in reference to bells on their harness... [more]
Kleynen Flemish
From Dutch klein meaning "small".
Klijn Dutch
Could be a variant of Klein "small, little", or could be derived from Old Dutch kluin (also klyn or kloen) "peat".
Klin Slovene
A nickname for someone with a beak-shaped nose, from kljun "beak, bill" (old spelling klun).
Kloek Dutch
From Middle Dutch cloec meaning "deft, clever, skilful", derived from Old Germanic *klōkaz "strong, quick, smart".
Klok Dutch
From Middle Dutch clocke "bell", an occupational name for someone who made or rang bells, or perhaps for a clockmaker. Compare Van Der Klok and Kloek.
Klomp Dutch, Low German
Means both "lump, block, compact heap" and "clog, wooden shoe" in Dutch, often an occupational name for someone who made such shoes. It could also be a nickname for a stocky or clumsy person, or a habitational name for someone who lived by a sign depicting a clog.
Kloosterman Dutch
Derived from Dutch klooster "cloister, monastery" and man "person, man", given to someone who worked for a monastery or lived near one.
Klopfer German, Jewish (Ashkenazi)
Derived from Middle High German klopfen "to knock, pound, hammer", an occupational name for a clothmaker, metalworker, miner, or hunter. As a Jewish name, it can refer to a shulklopfer, someone who knocks to call people to synagogue.
Kloppenburg German, Dutch
From Cloppenburg, the name of a town in Lower Saxony.
Kluit Dutch
Means "lump, clod (of earth)" in Dutch.
Knecht German, German (Swiss), Dutch
Means "servant, assistant" in German and Dutch, an occupational name for a journeyman or male servant derived from Old Germanic kneht meaning "servant, knight" or "youth, boy"... [more]
Knickerbocker Dutch (Americanized)
Americanized spelling of the Dutch occupational name Knickerbacker "marble baker", i.e., a baker of children's clay marbles. This lowly occupation became synonymous with the patrician class in NYC through Washington Irving's attribution of his History of New York (1809) to a fictitious author named Diedrich Knickerbocker... [more]
Knipe English
Habitational name derived from Old Norse gnípa "steep rock, cliff, overhang".
Knol Dutch
Derived from Middle Dutch knolle "tuber, turnip, lump of earth", a nickname for a fat or clumsy person, or an occupational name for a farmer.
Koelewijn Dutch
Derived from Dutch koel "cool, cold" and wei "whey", a metonymic occupational name for a dairy farmer. Altered by folk etymology to mean "cool wine". Can also derive from a place name.
Koenen Dutch
Patronymic from the given name Koen, a short form of names beginning with the element kuoni "brave, bold".
Koers Dutch
Means "son of Koert".
Koetsier Dutch
Means "coachman, coach driver" in Dutch.
Kõiv Estonian
Means "birch (tree)" in Estonian and Võro, a dialect native to southeastern Estonia.
Kokk Estonian
Means "cook, chef" in Estonian, borrowed from Low German koch (see Koch).
Kolk Dutch
Means "whirlpool, vortex, maelstrom" or "bog pond, watering hole".
Konings Dutch
Patronymic form of Koning.
Kooij Dutch
From Dutch kooi meaning "cage", often referring to a pen or duck decoy (a plot of land with a pond set aside to lure in ducks). Occupational name for someone who raised or hunted ducks, or who made cages.
Kooistra West Frisian, Dutch
Variant form of Kooij, using the Frisian habitational suffix -stra.
Koolhof Dutch
Denoted someone from the Dutch neighbourhood Koolhof, derived from koolhof "vegetable garden".
Koonings Dutch
Means "of the king", related to Koning.
Koop West Frisian
From the given name Jakob, a form of Jacob.
Koop Estonian
Derived from Estonian koopa, the genitive form of koobas meaning "cave; hole, burrow".
Koop German, Dutch
From kopen "to buy".
Koopmans Dutch
Patronymic form of Koopman.
Koops Dutch, Low German
Patronymic from the given name Koop, a diminutive form of Jakob. Alternatively, a variant of German and Dutch Koop.
Koot Dutch
Possibly derived from Middle Dutch kuut "coot (bird)".
Kopel Jewish
From a Yiddish diminutive of the given name Jacob.
Korbee Dutch
From the French surname Corbé, which might derive from courbet "bent, bowed", a nickname based on a crooked posture or manner of walking, or from corbeau "crow, raven".
Körmös Hungarian
From Hungarian köröm "nail, claw", indicating someone with long or dirty nails, or perhaps someone aggressive.
Kormos Hungarian
Means "sooty" in Hungarian. Most likely a nickname for someone with dark hair or a shabby appearance, but may also be an occupational name for a house painter who used soot as a raw material. ... [more]
Kort Dutch
Means "short" in Dutch, a nickname for a short person.
Kortazar Basque
Habitational name derived from Basque korta "stable, stall, yard; farm" and zahar "old".
Korver Dutch
Derived from Dutch korf meaning "basket", an occupational name for someone who either made baskets or used them, such as a fisherman.
Kotkas Estonian
Means "eagle" in Estonian.
Kraan Dutch
Means "crane" in Dutch, referring to both the bird and the machine. Usually a nickname for a tall or long-legged person, but can also be an occupational name for someone who worked a mechanical crane, or a habitational name from a place containing the element kraan.
Kraanvelt Estonian (Rare)
Possibly derived from Middle High German krane "crane (bird or machine)" and velt "field". Pre-dates widespread use of surnames in Estonia.
Krabbe German, Dutch, Danish
Means "crab, shrimp", either a metonymic occupational name for someone who caught or sold shellfish, or a nickname based on someone’s way of walking.
Krahn German
Nickname for a slim or long-legged person, from Middle Low German krane "crane". Compare Kranich.
Krane Dutch, Low German
Variant of Dutch Kraan or German Krahn.
Kranich German
Nickname for a long-legged or tall and slender person, from Middle High German kranech "crane".
Kreek Estonian
Means "damson (plum)" in Estonian.
Kremer German, Dutch, Jewish
Variant of German Krämer or Dutch Kramer.
Kreton Dutch (Rare)
Possibly an altered form of Kriebel.
Kreul German
From Middle Low German krouwel "hook, claw; three-pronged fork, trident, meat hook", a metonymic name for someone who made such tools, or a nickname for someone who used them.