Submitted Surnames Starting with G

usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Grewe German, Low German
Low German form of Graf via Middle Low German grave / greve.
Greyeyes Indigenous American
A notable bearer is the Canadian actor Michael Greyeyes.
Grgurić Croatian
Means "son of Grgur".
Gribben Irish
This surname is of Old Gaelic origin, and is a variant of "Cribben", which itself is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic name "MacRoibin", meaning "son of (mac) Robin", a patronymic from the Anglo-Norman French given name "Robin"... [more]
Griebe German
Occupational name for a butcher or fat dealer from Middle High German griebe griube "rendered bacon pieces crackling".
Grieg Norwegian
Derived from the Scottish surname of Greig.
Griego Spanish
Means "from Greece" in Spanish
Grieser Upper German
topographic name for someone living on a sandy site, from Middle High German griez ‘sand’ + -er suffix denoting an inhabitant.
Griezmann German (Rare)
This is the surname of French professional footballer Antoine Griezmann.
Griff Welsh
Short form of Griffith.
Griffeth Welsh
Altered spelling of Griffith.
Griffin Irish (Anglicized)
Anglicized (part translated) form of Gaelic Ó Gríobhtha "descendant of Gríobhtha", a personal name from gríobh "gryphon".
Griffioen Dutch
Dutch cognate of Griffin 2.
Griffo Italian
From grifo "gryphon" (Latin gryphus, Greek gryps, of Assyrian origin), hence a nickname for someone thought to resemble the mythical beast.
Griffon French
From a diminutive of Old French griffe "claw", hence a nickname for a grasping or vicious person, or perhaps for someone with a deformed or otherwise remarkable hand.
Grigahcine Berber (Rare, ?)
Meaning unknown, perhaps of Kabyle origin. A known bearer is DJ Snake, who was born William Grigahcine (1986-), an Algerian-French musician.
Griggs English
Means "son of Grigg", Grigg being a short form of Gregory.
Grignon French
From French 'grignard' meaning "angry" and "contemptuous", and Old French (of Germanic origin) 'grignier' "to grit the teeth" or "curl the lips".
Grigore Romanian
From the given name Grigore.
Grigoriadis Greek
Means "son of Grigorios".
Grigorian Armenian
Alternate transcription of Grigoryan.
Grigoriev Russian
Variant transcription of Grigoriyev.
Grigoriou Greek
Means "son of Grigorios".
Grigoriu Romanian
Derived from the given name Grigore.
Grigoriyev Russian
Means "son of Grigoriy".
Grigoryev Russian
Means "son of Grigoriy".
Grijalva Spanish, Central American
Spanish: habitational name from any of various places called Grijalba in particular the one in Burgos province. The placename is from iglesia 'church' + Old Spanish alva 'white'.
Grill German
From a nickname for a cheerful person, from Middle High German grille "cricket" (Old High German grillo, from Late Latin grillus, Greek gryllos). The insect is widely supposed to be of a cheerful disposition, no doubt because of its habit of infesting hearths and warm places... [more]
Grimaldo Spanish, Italian
From the given name Grimaldo.
Grimes English
Patronymic derived from Grime.... [more]
Grimké German (Americanized)
Americanised form of the German surname Grimk or Grimke with French inspiration. This was the name of a prominent American family of abolitionists.
Grimm English, German, Danish, Swedish (Rare), Norwegian (Rare)
From a nickname for a stern and forbidding individual, derived from the Old High German word grim "stern, severe". Or possibly from the given name Grímr derived from Old Norse gríma "mask, helmet"... [more]
Grimme German
Variant of Grimm.
Grimmie English
American variant of Grimm.
Grimshaw English
A habitational surname originating from the hamlet of Grimshaw in Lancashire, derived from Old English elements grīma "mask" and sċeaga "copse". Famous bearers of this surname include , English Victorian-era artist John Atkinson Grimshaw and Irish writer Beatrice Grimshaw, as well as the Grimshaw family in Coronation Street.
Grindstaff German (Anglicized)
Americanized form of German Frenzhof or Grenzhof, a place near Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg or Granzow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany.
Grindy German (Modern), French
I have seen elsewhere explanations about this name being German or French in origin. Sorry, I do not have the sources to hand
Griner German (Anglicized), Jewish
Americanised form of German Greiner. It could also denote a person who came from various German places called Grüna or Grünau. In Jewish, it is a topographic name for someone who lived in a green of leafy area, derived from Yiddish grin meaning "green" or Middle High German gruene meaning "greenery".
Grinfelder Croatian
Derived from German grün, "green", and feld, "field".
Grisch Romansh
Derived from Romansh grisch "grey".
Grischott Romansh
Variant of Grisch by way of combining it with the diminutive suffix -ott.
Griscom Welsh
from phrase gris-y-cwm, welsh for 'steps of the valley'. Root word 'grisiau' meaning steps or stairs. A place name from an extant village in Wales.
Grisel French, French (Swiss)
Derived from the Old French adjective grisel, a variant of gris meaning "grey". It was a nickname for a person with grey hair a grey complexion or who habitually wore grey.
Grishin Russian
From the given name Grisha.
Grissom English
From a diminutive of Grice, which was originally a nickname for a grey-haired man, derived from Middle English grice, gris meaning "grey" (itself from Old French gris, apparently of Germanic origin).
Griswold English
meaning: from the gray forest.
Grīva Latvian
Means "creek".
Grixti Maltese
Grixti is entirely of Maltese origin and is thought to mean "rough".
Grjotheim Norwegian (Rare)
Combination of Norwegian (Nynorsk) grjot "stone, rock" and heim "home".
Grob Jewish, Yiddish
From Yiddish grob. May also mean "fat".
Grob German
A nickname for a strong, heavy man, or for a lout, from Middle High German g(e)rop "coarse".
Grodsky Polish, Jewish
Altered spelling of Polish Grodzki, a habitational name from Grodziec or Grodzie, places named with gród ‘castle’, ‘fortification’ (cognate with Russian grad)... [more]
Groenewoud Dutch
Derived from a place name meaning “green wood”.
Grogan Irish
Derived from the native Gaelic O'Gruagain Sept that was initially located in County Roscommon but which became widely dispersed. The name is derived from a Gaelic word meaning 'fierceness'.
Grohl German
Meaning uncertain, but likely a variant of Groll.
Groll German
Derived from grollen, 'to be angry', often used as a nickname for an angry or sulky individual.
Grond Romansh
Variant of Grand.
Gronkowski Polish
Originally indicated a person who came from Gronków, a village in southern Poland.
Grönlund Swedish, Finnish
Combination of Swedish grön "green" and lund "grove".
Groover English (American)
Americanized form of German Gruber.
Grosch German
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".
Grosjean French, French (Belgian)
Derived from French gros "large" and the given name Jean 1. As a nickname, it is sometimes applied to a person who is perceived as stupid.
Großkreutz German
From German "groß" meaning big and "kreutz" meaning cross.
Grossman Jewish
Jewish nickname for a large man.
Grosvenor English
English surname of Norman origin meaning ‘the master huntsman’. Derived from Le Grand Veneur, this title was held by Hugh d'Avranches who accompanied William the Conqueror in the Norman invasion of England in 1066.
Groulx French
French spelling, often found in Canada, of Groult, Grould, possibly reduced forms of Gréoul, a personal name of Germanic origin, composed of the elements gred "hunger" + wolf, wulf "wolf".
Grove German
Form of Grob.
Grove English, American
Americanized spelling of the French surname Le Grou(x)or Le Greux (see Groulx)
Grove German
Variation of Graf.
Grove German
Name from any of several places named Grove or Groven, which derive their name from Middle Low Germany grove ‘ditch’, ‘channel’. In some cases the name is a Dutch or Low German form of Grube.
Grove English
Name for someone who lived by a grove or thicket, Middle English grove, Old English graf.
Grow English
Likely from the English word "grow".
Grozdanova Bulgarian, Macedonian
Feminine form of Grozdanov, which means "son of Grozdan".
Grube German
Name for someone who lived in a depression or hollow, from Middle High German gruobe "pit", "hollow". See also Gruber.
Grube German
From the personal name Grubo.
Gruber Jewish
A nickname from an inflected form of Yiddish dialect grub meaning ‘rude' or 'impolite’.
Gruezo Catalan, Spanish (Latin American)
From Catalan meaning "thick".
Gruffudd Welsh
Derived from the Welsh name Gruffudd
Grullon Dominican, Mexican, French
Possibly from a derivative of Spanish grulla 'crane' presumably applied as a nickname for tall thin person; in Mexico however grulla denotes a crafty person
Grumbach German (Swiss), Alsatian
From the name of various places in Switzerland and Germany, for example the municipality of Grumbach in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Grumpy English, English (American)
Grumpy was english name possibly origin of Germanic languages and other spoken languages or other European languages
Grün German, Jewish
from Middle High German gruoni "green fresh raw" hence a nickname for someone who habitually dressed in green a topographic name for someone who lived in a green and leafy place or a habitational name for someone from a place called with this word such as Gruna Grunau in Silesia... [more]
Grünbaum German, Jewish
from Middle High German gruoni "green" and boum "tree" probably a topographic or habitational name referring to a house distinguished by the sign of a tree in leaf... [more]
Grundin Swedish
Combination of Swedish grund "shallow (water)" and the surname suffix -in.
Grundy English
Probably a Middle English metathesized form of the Old French personal name Gondri, Gundric (see Gundry).
Grünfeld German, Jewish
Habitational name from any of several places in northern and central Germany named Grünfeld named with elements meaning "green open country" derived from the elements gruoni "green" and feld "field"... [more]
Grunwald German, German (Swiss), Jewish
German and Swiss German (Grünwald): habitational name from any of various places named Grün(e)wald, from Middle High German gruene ‘green’ + walt ‘wood’, ‘forest’. ... [more]
Grushkin Russian
From grushka, meaning "pear tree".
Gruszka Polish
Means "pear".
Gruzinsky Russian, Georgian
Means "Georgian" in Russian.
Grylls English (Rare)
There was an old and distinguished family of Grylls of Tavistock (Devon) and Lanreath (Cornwall) in the 17th century; two high sheriffs of the county then bore the name. The manor of Gryils (commonly mispronounced Garles), near the rocks called the Gryils or Garles, from which they probably derive their name, is in the parish of Lesneweth in that county.
Grynszpan Polish
Polish form of Greenspan.
Grzegorczyk Polish
Derived from the given name Grzegorz.
Grzegorzewski Polish
habitational name for someone from Grzegorzowice or Grzegorzewice, both named with the personal name Grzegorz, Latin Gregorius
Grześkowiak Polish
Patronymic surname derived from Grzesiek, a diminutive of the given name Grzegorz.
Grzib Polish (Rare, Expatriate)
Variant of Grzyb, mostly used outside of Poland.
Grzyb Polish
Meaning "mushroom", a nickname for an old man or simpleton, or signifying someone whose profession involved mushrooms.
Grzybacz Polish
From Grzyb (literally "mushroom") with the suffix -acz.
Grzybała Polish
From grzyb meaning "mushroom" with suffix -ała.
Grzybalski Polish
From Grzybała with suffix -ski based on habitational names.
Grzybczyk Polish
From Grzybek with the suffix -yk or Grzyb with the suffix -czyk, both ultimately from grzyb meaning "mushroom".
Grzybek Polish
From Grzyb (literally "mushroom") with the suffix -ek as a patronymic, or from grzybek meaning "little mushroom".
Grzybiński Polish
Habitational name from Grzybiny or Grzybina.
Grzybko Polish
From Grzyb with suffix -ko, possibly from Belarusian or Russian Gribko.
Grzybowski Polish
Habitational surname from Grzybów, Grzybowa or Grzybowo, all ultimately from grzyb meaning "mushroom".
Gschwendtner German (Austrian)
From the German word "schwenden", which means "swidden agriculture" in English
Gu Korean (Anglicized)
A Korean surname, meaning "tool, device, utensil". Derived from the Chinese surname 具, (Jù)
Gu Chinese
From Chinese 顾 (gù) referring to the ancient state of Gu, which existed during the Xia dynasty in what is now Henan province.
Gu Chinese
From Chinese 辜 (gū) meaning "crime, wrong, sin".
Gu Chinese
From Chinese 谷 (gǔ) referring to the ancient fief of Qin Gu, which existed in what is now the province of either Gansu or Shaanxi. Alternately it may come from the name of the fief of Jia Gu, which was part of the state of Qi during the Zhou dynasty.
Gu Chinese
From Chinese 古 () possibly derived from Kucheng (古成 or 苦城), the name of an ancient fief that may have existed during the Zhou dynasty in what is now Henan province... [more]
Guadagnino Italian
It came from Italian word guadagno which means "earnings" and has a diminutive suffix ino which is also an occupation suffix.
Guadalajara Spanish
habitational name from Guadalajara in Castile named with Arabic wādī-al-ḥijāra (واد الحجرة o وادي الحجرة) "river of the stones".
Guajardo Spanish
Spanish: unexplained. Perhaps a habitational name from a place so named in Estremadura. This name is common in Argentina, Chile, and Mexico. ... [more]
Gualtieri Italian
From the given name Gualtiero.
Guanzon Filipino
From Hokkein 关孫 (guān-sun), derived from 关 (guān) meaning "frontier pass" and 孫 (sun) meaning "grandchild."
Guaporá Popular Culture
The surname of a fictional Amerindian family in the telenovela Bicho do Mato.
Guapurú Popular Culture
The surname of a fictitious Amerindian family in the Brazilian telenovela Uga Uga.
Guardado Spanish
The surname Guardado means save, protect, and guard in Spanish
Guàrdia Catalan, Spanish, Italian
Catalan, Spanish, and Italian from Catalan guàrdia, Spanish and Italian guardia ‘guard’, ‘watch’, a topographic name for someone who lived by a watch place, an occupational name for a member of the town guard, or a habitational name from any of the numerous places named (La) Guardia.
Guardiola Catalan
Habitational name from any of the numerous places named Guardiola, from guardiola, a diminutive of guàrdia meaning "guard".
Guarino Italian
From the given name Guarino.
Guarracino Italian
Nothing is known of this family name other then they grew up in Manhattan, New York, other states and cities too but most can from boats and had to be quertied at Ellis Island, New York
Guarracino Italian (Americanized, Modern)
from a diminutive of a personal name derived from Guerra ‘war’.
Guasti Italian
Meaning uncertain, may denote someone from the town of Guasto. Alternately, it may be an occupational name from gastaldo "chamberlain", from Latin gastaldus "manager, bailiff, steward", or be a nickname from guasto "broken, crippled".
Guay French
Variant of Guyet or Guet.
Guay French
Variant of Gay.
Gubanov Russian
From guban, meaning "big lips".
Gubler German (Swiss)
Means "Of the Mountains"... [more]
Güç Turkish
Means "power, strength, force" in Turkish.
Gucci Italian
Patronymic or plural form of the given name Guccio, a late medieval Italian diminutive of various names ending in go, such as Arrigo (via Arriguccio) or Ugo (via Uguccio)... [more]
Gucciardo Italian
From the personal name Gucciardo, a revival of French Guichard, of Germanic origin, probably composed of the elements wig 'battle' or wisa 'experience' + hard 'strong', 'brave', 'hardy'.
Gucciardo Italian, Sicilian
from the given name Gucciardo a cognate of French Guichard of ancient Germanic origin probably composed of the elements wig "battle" or wisa "experience" and hard "strong brave hardy"... [more]
Guccione Italian, Sicilian
Derived from the given name Guccio, a diminutive of Arriguccio, Uguccio and other names ending in guccio.
Guchetl Adyghe (Russified)
From Circassian гъукӏэ (ġ°č̣̍ă) meaning "blacksmith" and лӏы (ḷə) meaning "man".
Guchol Micronesian
Means "turmeric" in a Micronesian language.
Güçlü Turkish
Means "powerful, strong" in Turkish.
Gudaitis Lithuanian
Ethnic name from gudas meaning "Belorussian".
Gudgeon English
from Middle English gojon, gogen, Old French gougon ‘gudgeon’ (the fish) (Latin gobio, genitive gobionis), applied as a nickname or perhaps as a metonymic occupational name for a seller of these fish... [more]
Gudkov Russian
From gudok, meaning "hooter".
Guendica Basque (Hispanicized)
Castilianized form of Gendika.
Guengerich German (Americanized)
Potentially from German “junge” and “reich,” meaning “rich at a young age.” Anglicized by immigrants as either Guengerich or Gingrich.
Guenther German
German: from a Germanic personal name composed of gund ‘battle’ + hari, heri ‘army’.
Guercio Italian
Probably a variant of Guerzoni, though it may derive from a Germanic given name.
Guereña Basque (Hispanicized)
Castilianized form of Gereña.
Guerino Italian
From the given name Guerino.
Guerlain French
Derived from the given name Guerlain.
Güero Spanish (Latin American, Rare)
A given nickname in latin America of a person with light features.... [more]
Guerre French
French Cognitive of Guerra, from the element werra "war".
Guerrer Catalan
It literally means "warrior".
Guerrier French, Haitian Creole
Nickname for an aggressive person or occupational name for a soldier, from Old French guerrier "warrior". Cognate of Guerrero and Guerriero.
Guerry French
From the Germanic given name Wigric derived from the elements wig "battle" and ric "powerful".
Guertin French
A French surname that evolved from the Old Germanic given name, Warin, "meaning to guard", or "protection". This surname was often given as an occupational name for a guard, or someone who served as a protector in their community.
Guerzoni Italian
From guercio "cross-eyed, one-eyed; blind in one eye".
Guest English
Nickname for a stranger or newcomer to a community, from Middle English g(h)est meaning "guest", "visitor" (from Old Norse gestr, absorbing the cognate Old English giest).
Guet French
French - From Old French guet "lookout, watchman".
Guevara Spanish
Hispanicized form of Gebara. A notable bearer was Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara (1928-1967), who was born Ernesto Guevara.
Guevarra Spanish (Philippines)
Variant of Guevara primarily used in the Philippines.
Guevera Spanish
means "protector"
Guèye Western African, Wolof
Variant of Gueye influenced by French orthography.
Gueye Western African, Wolof
From a clan name of uncertain meaning.
Gug Korean
From korean hanja 國, 菊, or 鞠. A surname for 19 000 koreans
Guglielmi Italian
From the given name Guglielmo.
Guglielmo Italian
From the given name Guglielmo.
Gugliuzza Italian
Derivative of the personal name Guglia.
Guha Bengali
From Bengali গুহা (guha) meaning "cave" (figuratively "mind" or "heart"), ultimately derived from Sanskrit गुहा (guha).
Gui Chinese
From Chinese 桂 (guì) referring to the ancient state of Gui, which existed during the Han dynasty in what is now Guangxi province.
Gui Chinese
From Chinese 归 (guī) referring to the ancient state of Gui, which existed during the Zhou dynasty in what is now Anhui province.
Guichard French
From the medieval name Guichard derived form the Germanic name Wighard... [more]
Guidetti Italian
Derived from the given name Guido.
Guido Italian, German
From the given name Guido.
Guidry French (Cajun), Louisiana Creole
Derived from the given name Witeric. This surname is particularly associated with Cajuns in Louisiana, United States, who seem all to be descended from Claude Guédry dit Grivois, who arrived in Acadia before 1671.
Guignard French
from the old Germanic name Winhard composed of the elements win "friend" and hard "hard strong".
Guijarro Spanish
Spanish: nickname from guijarro 'pebble' perhaps applied to a man who sold pebbles (used for paving the streets).
Guilbeau French
Possibly from Ancient Germanic wil, meaning "will, power", and Latin bellus, meaning "beautiful".
Guilbert French, Guernésiais
Either from the given name Guilbert the French form of Wilbert or a variant of Gilbert.
Guilder English
Occupational name for someone who worked in gold. The derivation is from the Old English pre 7th Century "gyldan" and the Old High German "gold", a refiner, jeweller, or gilder.
Guiles French
Of uncertain origin; it could be a variant of French Guill or of English Guile or Giles .
Guilfoyle Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Gaelic Mac Giolla Phoil
Guiling Filipino, Maranao
Possibly from Maranao giling meaning "revolve, spin".
Guillard French
From the given name Willihard and French cognitive of Willard.
Guilleaume French, German
Possibly related to the French given name Guillaume.
Guillem Catalan
From the given name Guillem
Guillén Spanish
From the given name Guillén.
Guillen Spanish
Unaccented form of Guillén.
Guillermo Spanish
From the given name Guillermo