Submitted Surnames Starting with P

usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Pradhan Indian, Odia, Bengali, Hindi, Marathi, Assamese, Nepali
From a title derived from Sanskrit प्रधान (pradhana) meaning "chief, head".
Pradl Hungarian, German (Austrian)
Meaning unknown. Possibly originating somewhere in Hungary.
Præst Danish
From Danish præst meaning "priest".
Prakapienka Belarusian
Belarusian form of Prokopenko.
Praks Estonian
Praks is an Estonian surname meaning to "crack or "snap".
Pramanick Indian, Bengali
Alternate transcription of Bengali প্রামাণিক (see Pramanik).
Pramanik Indian, Bengali, Odia, Assamese
Derived from Sanskrit प्रामाणिक (pramanika) meaning "genuine, authentic".
Pramantellu Sardinian
This indicates familial origin within the eponymous commune.
Pranno Estonian
Pranno is an Estonian surname derived from the masculine nickname/given name "Pranno".
Prants Estonian
Prants is an Estonian surname possibly derived from "prantsuse" meaning French, or "prantsti/prantsatus" meaning to "slam" and "bang". Could also derived from "prints" meaning "prince".
Praseuth Lao
Means "excellent, magnificent" in Lao.
Prasinos Greek
From Greek meaning "green".
Prat English
Variant of Pratt.
Pratap Indian, Hindi
From the given name Pratap.
Prather Irish
The name Prather derives from the word Praetor which means leader or each of two ancient Roman magistrates ranking below consul.
Pratl Hungarian
Possible variant of Pradl.
Pratley English
Originates from a now "lost" medieval village believed to have been in the south east of England.
Prats Catalan
Habitational name from any of the numerous places in Catalonia called Prats, from the plural of prat ‘meadow’
Pravda Russian
Pravda translates into English as “Truth”.
Pravdić Croatian
Derived from pravda, meaning "justice".
Pravdo Russian
Alt spelling of Russian newspaper Pravda
Pravsha Russian
Means "right-handed" in Russian.
Prawda Polish
From the root Praw, meaning right. Prawda means "truth."... [more]
Precht German
Variant of Brecht.
Preci Italian
Italian origin. Native spelling is Preçi.
Preciado Spanish
Past participle of the infinitive preciar meaning "excellent, precious, of great estimation".
Precio Spanish (Latin American)
From Spanish meaning "price".
Preda Italian
Derived from the first name Prato, meaning "field, meadow".
Preece Welsh (Anglicized), English
Variant of Price. From Welsh ap Rhys meaning "son of Rhys". ... [more]
Prees Estonian
Prees is an Estonian surname meaning "brooch".
Pregler German
Nickname for a chatterer or grumbler, from an agent derivative of Middle High German breglen ‘to chatter’, ‘complain’, ‘yell’, ‘roar’.
Préjano Spanish
It indicates familial origin within the eponymous La Riojan municipality.
Premachandra Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit प्रेम (prema) meaning "love, affection" and चन्द्र (chandra) meaning "moon".
Premadasa Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit प्रेम (prema) meaning "love, affection" and दास (dasa) meaning "servant, slave".
Premakumara Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit प्रेम (prema) meaning "love, affection" and कुमार (kumara) meaning "boy, prince".
Premarathna Sinhalese
Alternate transcription of Sinhala ප්‍රේමරත්න (see Premaratne).
Premarathne Sinhalese
Alternate transcription of Sinhala ප්‍රේමරත්න (see Premaratne).
Premaratna Sinhalese
Alternate transcription of Sinhala ප්‍රේමරත්න (see Premaratne).
Premaratne Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit प्रेम (prema) meaning "love, affection" and रत्न (ratna) meaning "jewel, treasure".
Premasinghe Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit प्रेम (prema) meaning "love, affection" and सिंह (sinha) meaning "lion".
Premasiri Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit प्रेम (prema) meaning "love, affection" and श्री (shri) meaning "diffusing light, radiance, splendour, beauty".
Premawardana Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit प्रेम (prema) meaning "love, affection" and वर्धन (vardhana) meaning "increasing, growing".
Premawardena Sinhalese
Alternate transcription of Sinhala ප්‍රේමවර්ධන (see Premawardana).
Premawardhana Sinhalese
Alternate transcription of Sinhala ප්‍රේමවර්ධන (see Premawardana).
Preminger Jewish
Meaning unknown, possibly a nickname for a person deported to Spain, derived from the name of a location in Portugal.
Prendergast Irish
means "good priest's glen" in Irish
Prentice English
Derived from apprentice.
Preobrazhenskaya Russian
Feminine transcription of Russian Преображенский (see Preobrazhensky).
Preobrazhensky Russian
Derived from the Russian word преображение (preobrazheniye) meaning "transformation" or "transfiguration."
Prepon Jewish
This is the surname of American actress Laura Prepon (born March 7, 1980).
Prescod English
A cognate of Prescott.
Preshaw English (British, Rare)
This surname is a habitational name from a locality near Upham on the slopes of the South Downs. It is entirely within a private estate and has its own chapel.
Presley Scottish
From Persley, a small Scottish hamlet on the River Don, Aberdeenshire, now a suburb of the much larger city of Aberdeen, named perhaps with the Pictish word *pres-, meaning 'bushes' or 'undergrowth'.... [more]
Press English, Jewish
A nickname for a pious individual from the Middle English form of "priest" or possibly someone employed by a priest. In the Jewish sense, one whose occupation was to iron clothes.
Prestwood English
habitational name from any of several places called from Middle English prest priest "priest" and wode "wood" (Old English preost wudu) meaning "dweller by the priest's wood"
Preto Portuguese
comes from the Portuguese word preto meaning "black" or "dark". referring to someone with dark skin and/or hair. possibly a cognate of the spanish surname Prieto
Prett English
Variant of Pratt.
Preüs German
Variant spelling of Preüss.
Preuss German, Jewish
From the German word preussen meaning "Prussia". Indicating someone from Prussia.
Preve Italian
Derives from the Latin "presbyter" with the meaning of "Older". Abundant in the Piedmont region.
Preve Italian
From Greek "πρεσβύτερος" (presbyteros), via Latin "presbyter" with the meaning of "The Old One".... [more]
Prevedoros Greek
From the Italian rank of provveditore "he who sees to things" (overseer) was the style of various local district governors in the extensive, mainly maritime empire of the Republic of Venice.
Prévost French
From Old French prevost meaning "provost", a status name for officials in a position of responsibility.
Prevot French
A prevot was a govenment position during the Ancient Régime
Prewitt English
English surname meaning brave, valor.
Price Irish, Northern Irish
The translated form of the surname O'Luachain, of the Hy-Neill septs of Ulster.
Prideaux Cornish
Means "person from Prideaux, earlier Pridias", Cornwall (perhaps based on Cornish prȳ "clay"). The modern Frenchified spelling is based on the idea that the name comes from French près d'eaux "near waters" or pré d'eaux "meadow of waters".
Pridmore English
unexplained; perhaps a habitational name from a lost or unidentified place. Pridmore has long been a Leicestershire name.
Priel Hebrew
Means "the fruit of god"
Priest English
Derived from the occupation priest, which is a minister of a church. It could also be a nickname for a person who is / was a priest.
Priestland English
From Middle English prest priest "priest" and land "landed property land" (Old English prēost land) meaning "land that belonged to priests"... [more]
Prieur French
from prieur Old French prior "prior" a monastic official immediately subordinate to an abbot (from Latin prior "superior") hence an occupational name for a servant of a prior or an ironic nickname... [more]
Prii Estonian
Prii is an Estonian surname meaning "free".
Priidel Estonian
Priidel is an Estonian surname derived from "prii" meaning "free".
Prikk Estonian
Prikk is an Estonian surname meaning "(ship's) brig".
Primavera Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
Means "spring (the season)" in Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Primeau French
First found in Burgundy France.
Primrose Scottish
From the name of Primrose in Fife, Scotland, a place originally named Prenrhos, literally "tree-moor" in Welsh. This is the family name of the Earls of Rosebery.
Prince English, French
Nickname from Middle English, Old French prince (Latin princeps), presumably denoting someone who behaved in a regal manner or who had won the title in some contest of skill.
Princip Bosnian, Serbian
Probably derived from Latin princeps "leader, initiator, prince", which itself was ultimately derived from primus "first" and capere "to take". The surname may thus have originated as a nickname for someone with a princely appearance, or for someone who was the illegitimate offspring of a prince... [more]
Príncipe Italian, Spanish
From principe "prince, heir" (Latin princeps, genitive principis, from primus "first" and capere "to take"), applied probably as a nickname for someone who gave himself airs and graces or for someone in the service of a prince.
Pringle Scottish
Scottish surname meaning "pilgrim".
Prins Dutch, Jewish
Means "prince" in Dutch, but almost never a surname for a prince. Instead, it's an occupational surname for someone in the service of a prince or a nickname for someone who acted in a regal manner. The surname is also Jewish Dutch and is used as an ornamental adoption of Dutch prins still meaning "prince".
Prinsloo Afrikaans
Prinsloo is an Afrikaans surname. The name is derived from the dutch word Prins (meaning prince), and a loo suffix meaning clearing in the forest. Variant spellings include Prinzloo and Prinslo.
Prior English
Occupational surname for a prior (a high-ranking official in a monastery), ultimately from Latin prior meaning "superior, first".
Prior Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Gaelic Mac an Phríora meaning "son of the prior".
Priore Italian
from Italian priore "prior" either a nickname or occupational name which probably most often originated as a metonymic occupational name for a servant of a prior or some important lay dignitary... [more]
Prisco Italian
From the given name Prisco
Privett French, English, Welsh (?)
French, from the given name Privat (see Privatus). Also an English habitational name from a place so named in Hampshire, derived from Old English pryfet "privet".
Priyankara Sinhalese
From the given name Priyankara.
Procida Italian
Habitational name from Procida, one of the Flegrean Islands off the coast of Naples in southern Italy.
Procopio Italian
Italian (Calabria) and Greek (Prokopios): from the personal name Procopio, Greek Prokopios, from pro ‘before’, ‘in front’ + kopē ‘cut’, actually an omen name meaning ‘success’, ‘prosperity’ but as a Church name taken to mean ‘pioneer’ as it was the name of the first victim of Diocletian's persecutions in Palestine in AD 303... [more]
Proctor English
Occupational name from Middle English prok(e)tour "steward" (reduced from Old French procurateour, Latin procurator "agent", from procurare "to manage"). The term was used most commonly of an attorney in a spiritual court, but also of other officials such as collectors of taxes and agents licensed to collect alms on behalf of lepers and enclosed orders of monks.
Prodan Romanian
Means "foster."
Prodanović Serbian
Means "son of Prodan".
Profitendieu Literature
Used by André Gide in his novel "The Counterfeiters."
Prohaska Croatian
Croatian form of Procházka
Proia Italian
From the name of a place in Italy. The meaning is uncertain, but it might be derived from Greek πρωία (proía) "morning".
Proietti Italian
From Latin proiecto "abandoned, thrown away", given to foundlings and children abandoned at orphanages. The name may have been taken from la ruota dei proietti, or "foundling wheel", that some orphanages and religious institutes in Italy installed for infants to be anonymously abandoned in.
Prokofiev Russian
Means "son of Prokofiy".
Prokopenko Ukrainian, Belarusian
Derived from the given name Prokopiy. It can also be a Belarusian alternate transcription of Prakapenka.
Prokuski Polish
Polish in origin with history in America since at least the early 1900s
Prometta Italian
Promise (prometto), feminine.
Proode Estonian
Proode is an Estonian surname possibly derived from "pruudi", meaning "bridal".
Prööm Estonian
Prööm is an Estonian surname possibly derived from "krööm" meaning "grain".
Proosa Estonian
Proosa is an Estonian surname meaning "prose".
Prophet English, Scottish, French, German
Scottish, English, French, and German: nickname from Middle English and Old French prophete, Middle High German prophet ‘prophet’, ‘seer’, ultimately from Greek prophetes ‘predictor’, from pro ‘before’ + a derivative of phemi ‘to speak’... [more]
Prophète French, Haitian Creole
Originally a nickname (possibly ironic) from French prophète "prophet", making it a cognate of Profeta.
Prorok Polish
The meaning of prorok is prophet. It was the maiden name of my maternal grandmother. It is not a common name. Her family was from the southeastern part of Poland.
Prose German
From a short form of the personal name Ambrose.
Pross German
Variant of "Prosser"
Prosser Welsh
From 'ap Rosser', meaning "son of Rosser".
Protzman German
A habitational name for someone from any of various places in Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, and Luxembourg called Protz.
Proust French
From a nickname derived from French preux meaning "valiant, brave". A famous bearer was Marcel Proust (1871-1922), a French writer.
Provencher French
From the French word for the flower periwinkle. (pervenche) Brought to Canada from France in 1660 by Sebastien Provencher.
Providence English
From the name of the capital city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, derived from Middle English providence meaning "divine guidance, care", ultimately from Latin providentia.
Provodnikov Russian
From Russian проводник (provodnik) meaning "conductor". Means "son of a conductor".
Provost English, French
Derived from the Middle English provost; referring to the person who heads a religious chapter in a cathedral or educational establishment. It was also used as a nickname for a self-important person and is a French variant of Prevost.
Prowse English
Nickname for a person who was proud, haughty, brave or valiant, derived from Old French prous, prou, preux, proz and prouz meaning "proud, brave, valiant". A famous bearer was David Prowse (1935-2020), an English bodybuilder, weightlifter and character actor who portrayed the villain Darth Vader in the Star Wars movies.
Prowze Anglo-Norman
An Anglo-Norman occupational surname used for soldiers or a nickname for someone bold that is derived from the pre-10th-century Old French proz or prouz, meaning "proud" or "brave". It could also be a variant of the surname Prue... [more]
Prozesky Polish
process or court case... [more]
Prude English (American)
This surname comes from the English word prude. The definition for the word prude is a person who is or claims to be easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity.
Prude African American
This surname came from the English word prude. The definition of the word prude is a person who is or claims to be easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity.
Prudencio Spanish
From the given name Prudencio.
Prudhomme French, English, Norman, Medieval French
French (Prud’homme) and English (of Norman origin): nickname from Old French prud’homme ‘wise’, ‘sensible man’, a cliché term of approbation from the chivalric romances. It is a compound of Old French proz, prod ‘good’, with the vowel influenced by crossing with prudent ‘wise’ + homme ‘man’... [more]
Prue English, French
English: nickname for a redoubtable warrior, from Middle English prou(s) ‘brave’, ‘valiant’ (Old French proux, preux).... [more]
Pruett English
Derived from the Middle English word "prou," meaning "brave," or "valiant," with the addition of either of two common diminutive suffixes: "-et" or "-ot." As such, this name is thought to have originally been a nickname for someone small, but brave.
Pruitt English, French
French and English: nickname from a pet form of Old French proux ‘valiant’, ‘brave’, or ‘wise’ (see Proulx, Prue).
Pruna Spanish (Rare)
Possibly a habitational name from a place so named in Spain. It could also be derived from Catalan pruna "plum".
Prusaczyk Polish
means son of Eric
Pruss Estonian
Pruss is an Estonian surname meaning "beam" and "rafter".
Prusseit German (East Prussian)
East Prussian German (and thus heavily Lithuanian influenced) name meaning "a Prussian".
Prutton English (British)
it's a cool name
Pruul Estonian
Pruul is an Estonian surname meaning "brew".
Pruun Estonian
Pruun is an Estonian surname meaning "brown".
Pruus Estonian
Pruus is an Estonian surname, possibly a corruption of "pruss" meaning "beam" and "timber".
Prvulović Vlach
Means "son of Prvul".
Prygatsev Russian
Russian word for "Jump", introduced in 2019.
Pryimak Ukrainian
In Ukrainian means 'adoptee'
Prymak Belarusian
Derived from Belarusian прымак (prymak) meaning "live-in son-in-law (man who marries and lives with his wife's family)".
Prynne English
Derived from an Anglo-Norman form of the Late Latin name Primus. A fictional bearer is Hester Prynne, the protagonist of Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel 'The Scarlet Letter' (1850).
Prys Welsh
From the Welsh personal name Rhys, which also took the forms Rice and Rees. This name was originally derived from the Old Welsh forename Ris, which means ardour.
Prytz Swedish, Norwegian
Swedish and Norwegian surname, possibly of German origin.
Przepiórka Polish
It literally means "quail".
Przespolewski Polish
This indicates familial origin within either of 2 Greater Polish villages in Gmina Ceków-Kolonia: Przespolew Pański or Przespolew Kościelny.
Przybylska f Polish
Feminine form of Przybylski.
Przybylski Polish
A derivative of 'Przybyla', ‘new arrival’, ‘foundling’, with the addition of the surname suffix -ski.
Przychodzeń Polish
There isn't any significant history so far.
Przysługak Polish
Comes from "przysługa" meaning "favor"
Psaila Maltese
Derived from Maltese basla meaning "onion", ultimately from Arabic بَصَل (baṣal).
Psaki Greek
"lying canine", "pack of small dogs"
Psychogios Greek
From the Greek words for soul (ψυχή) and son (γιός), usually means godson.
Psyllos Greek
Means "flea" in Greek.
Ptacek Czech
A name given to a small, birdlike individual, meaning literally "little bird".
Pták Czech
Czech surname meaning "bird".
Ptak Polish
Polish surname meaning "bird".
Pu Chinese
From Chinese 蒲 (pú) meaning "calamus, cattail".
Pua Chinese (Hokkien)
Hokkien romanization of Pan 2.
Pucci Italian
Patronymic derived from the medieval given name Puccio.
Puccini Medieval Italian
Diminutive form of the surname Pucci
Pucheta Basque (Hispanicized)
Castilianized form of Putxeta.
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]
Puddephat English
From a medieval nickname for someone with a roly-poly physique (from Middle English puddy fat "round-bellied vat").
Puddephatt Dutch
Form of Cooper, meaning barrell maker
Puddu Italian
From Sardinian puddu "chicken" (compare Podda).
Pudiwitr Czech
Originally Pudivitr, or Pudivitrova(female only). V was switched to W when the family came to the U.S., though there are both names in the U.S.
Pudwill German
Of Slavic origin, habitational name from Podewils in Pomerania.
Puèg-redond Occitan
This indicates familial origin within the eponymous Provençal commune.
Puente Spanish
Habitational name from any of the numerous places named Puente, from puente ‘bridge’.
Puentes Spanish
Means "bridges" in Spanish. Originated from "puente". The surname was first found in the valley of the Trucios in the Basque region of Spain.However, families with this surname have been present in Catalonia for hundreds of years... [more]
Puerto Spanish
Habitational name from any of the numerous places named Puerto, in most cases from puerto ‘harbor’ (from Latin portus ‘harbor’, ‘haven’).
Puértolas Aragonese
It indicates familial origin within the eponymous municipality.
Puett English (American)
Americinized form of Pütt.
Puetz German
Variant of Putz.
Puff Popular Culture
This is the surname of Mrs. Puff from SpongeBob SquarePants.
Pugachev Russian
From the nickname Pugach which is probably derived from Ukrainian пугач (pugach) meaning "owl". Following this etymology, the nickname was most likely given to someone who was wise or sensible (attributing to the owl as a symbol of wisdom).
Pugacheva Russian
Feminine transcription of Russian Пугачёв (see Pugachev).
Pughe Welsh
Variant of Pugh
Pugina Italian
Most likely derived from the feminine form of the Italian word pugno which means "fist".
Puglia Italian
habitational name from Apulia (Italian Puglia) in southeastern Italy. Variant of Pugliese.
Puglisi Sicilian
Southern Italian variant of Pugliese.
Pugno Italian
The Italian family name Pugno is considered by scholars to be of nickname origin. While the majority of surnames that are derived from a sobriquet or nickname reveal to us some aspect of the physical appearance of the initial bearer of the name or may allude to a characteristic of this person, other nickname family names make reference to a particular piece of clothing or favorite article or indeed a favorite color of the bearer of the name... [more]
Puhar Serbian (Modern, Rare)
The last name of the contestant Mirjana Puhar from America's Next Top Model, who originally was born in Serbia. She died on February 24, 2015, aged 19 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Puhasmägi Estonian
Puhasmägi is an Estonian surname meaning "pure mountain".
Puhm Estonian
Puhm is an Estonian surname meaning "shrub".
Pühvel Estonian
Pühvel is an Estonian surname meaning "buffalo (wisent)" and "bull".
Puigdemont Catalan
Means "top of the hill" or "peak of the mountain". It is derived from Catalan puig meaning "hill, peak" combined with either damunt meaning "on top, above", or munt (a diminutive of muntanya) meaning "mountain", using the preposition d'... [more]