Submitted Surnames Starting with S

usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Souphanthavong Lao
From Lao ສຸ (sou) meaning "good, beautiful", ພັນທະ (phantha) meaning "connect, join, tie, obligation" and ວົງ (vong) meaning "lineage family".
Souris French
Means "mouse" in French.
Sourn Khmer
Alternate transcription of Khmer សួន (see Soun).
Souta Japanese
From Japanese 颯 (sō) meaning "sudden, sound of the wind" and 太 (ta) meaning "thick, big, great". This name can also be formed of other kanji combinations. Also used as a given name.
Souter English, Scottish
Occupational name for a cobbler or shoemaker, derived from Middle English soutere, from Old Norse sutare, ultimately derived from Latin sutor meaning "to sew".
South English
From Middle English south, hence a topographic name for someone who lived to the south of a settlement or a regional name for someone who had migrated from the south.
Southam English
habitational name primarily from Southam (Warwickshire) and occasionally from Southam (Gloucestershire) from Old English suþ "south southern" and ham "village homestead" meaning "the southern farmstead".
Southammavong Lao
From Lao ສຸ (sou) meaning "good, beautiful", ທຳມະ (thamma) meaning "dharma, virtue, righteousness" and ວົງ (vong) meaning "lineage, family".
Southern English
Topographic name, from an adjectival derivative of South.
Southland English
It means "south land".
Southwark English (British)
A near-extinct surname. It is derived from the name of a borough in London located on the south bank of the River Thames.
Southwell English
English surname meaning "From the south well"
Southwick English
An English/Scottish locational name from a variety of places, including, Southwick in Northamptonshire, England, and Southwick in Gloucestershire, Sussex, Durham, Hampshire. ... [more]
Southworth English
Means "southern enclosure".
Souto Portuguese, Galician
Portuguese and Galician cognate of Soto.
Soutomaior Galician
This indicates familial origin within the eponymous council in the Province of Pontevedra.
Soutome Japanese
Variant transcription of 早乙女 or 五月女 (Sōtome).
Soutzos Greek
The surname belonged to a Phanariot family of Aromanian descent. The name of the family derives from the Turkish word "sütçü".
Souvanh Lao
Means "gold" in Lao, ultimately from Sanskrit सुवर्ण (suvarna).
Souvannavong Lao
From Lao ສຸ (sou) meaning "good, beautiful", ວັນນະ (vanna) meaning "color, caste" and ວົງ (vong) meaning "lineage, family".
Sovereign French
Translation of the French surname Souverain which is derived from Old French souverain meaning "high place".
Sovereign English
Occupational surname for a leader or supervisor, derived from the English word sovereign meaning "possessing supreme or ultimate power".
Sovern English, French, German, Dutch
Sovern is a modified spelling of Sovereign meaning a ruler or monarch.
Sovin Russian
Derived from Russian сова (sova) meaning "owl". This may have been a nickname for a night person. This is a Russian noble surname.
Sovine French (Americanized), French (Swiss, Americanized)
Americanized form of Sauvain or the later Sovain, the name of a commune in France.
Sow Western African, Fula
Meaning uncertain.
Sowa Japanese
From 宗 (so) meaning "religion, sect, denomination, main point, origin, essence" and 和 (wa) meaning "harmony, Japanese style, peace, soften, Japan".
Sowerby English
Habitational name from any places so-called in Northern England. Named from Old Norse saurr, 'mud, filth' and by, 'farm, estate'.
Soydan Turkish (Modern)
Soy, "lineage, ancestry" and dan "from"; One who has come down from good ancestry (a good family)
Soyer French
French surname (Alexis Benoist Soyer is a famous bearer).
Soylu Turkish
Means "noble" in Turkish.
Soysa Sinhalese
Sinhala form of Sousa.
Soysal Turkish
Means "noble, highborn" in Turkish.
Sozio Italian
Nickname from socio "companion", "ally".
Spaans Dutch
Either a patronymic from the archaic given name Spaan, of uncertain etymology, or an occupational name derived from Middle Dutch spaen "wood chip, piece of wood; spoon, spatula".
Špaček Czech
Means "tipcat". Pronounced "sh:pah-CZEK".
Spacek Polish
This is the surname of American actress Sissy Spacek (born December 25, 1949).
Spackman English
English variant of Speakman.
Spadafora Italian
Variant form of Spatafora. Spadafora is the younger out of the two surnames and yet the most common of the two, which might partly be because it is a little bit more italianized... [more]
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-).
Spages Irish
Most likely an Irish surname. It was used in the 1976 movie Alice, Sweet Alice.
Spagna Italian
From Italian spagna "Spain" for a Spaniard or someone who had connections to Spain. Also from the female given name of the same meaning, Italian cognitive of Spain.
Spah German (?), English (American)
Spah (sometimes spelt Späh) is last name found most commonly in the US that is believed to be of German origin. Unsure of the meaning.
Spain English, Spanish (Anglicized)
Derived from a geographical locality. 'of Spain.' A very early incomer.
Spalla Italian
Means "shoulder".
Spallone Italian
From spalla "shoulder, back", indicating someone who carried things on their shoulders. The modern translation is "smuggler". Alternately, may be an elaboration of Spalla.
Spangler German
Spangler is an occupational surname for "metal worker" having derived from the German word spange, meaning a clasp or buckle of the sort such a craftsman might have designed.
Spanier German
Means "Spaniard" in German.
Spanjer German
One who came from Spain, a Spaniard.
Spargo Cornish
Cornish: habitational name from Higher or Lower Spargo, in the parish of Mabe, so named from Cornish spern ‘thorn bushes’ + cor ‘enclosure'.
Spark English, German
Northern English: from the Old Norse byname or personal name Sparkr ‘sprightly’, ‘vivacious’.... [more]
Sparrow English
English: nickname from Middle English sparewe ‘sparrow’, perhaps for a small, chirpy person, or else for someone bearing some fancied physical resemblance to a sparrow.
Spasova f Bulgarian, Macedonian
Feminine form of Spasov.
Spasovska f Macedonian
Feminine form of Spasovski.
Spasovski m Macedonian
Means "son of Spase".
Spatafora Italian
This surname originates from the Italian island of Sicily, where it was first borne by a noble family of Byzantine origin, which had settled on the island in the 11th century AD. Their surname was derived from the Greek noun σπάθη (spathe) "blade, sword" (akin to Latin spatha "broad sword with a double edge") combined with Greek φορεω (phoreo) "to carry, to bear", which gives the surname the meaning of "he who carries the sword" or "sword-bearer"... [more]
Späth German
Derived from Middle High German spæte "late".
Spaugh German
Was originally "Spach," was changed when first introduced into America
Speakman English
English (chiefly Lancashire) nickname or occupational name for someone who acted as a spokesman, from Middle English spekeman ‘advocate’, ‘spokesman’ (from Old English specan to speak + mann ‘man’).
Speare English
Variant of Spear.
Speca Italian
From a variant of spiga "spike, ear (of grain)"
Speck German
Variant of Specker as well as a locational surname from one of various places called Speck, Specke and Specken in northern Germany and Spöck in southern Germany, as well as an occupational surname derived from German Speck "bacon" denoting a butcher who sepcialized in the production of bacon, as well as a derisive nickname for a corpulent person.
Spector Jewish
From Polish szpektor meaning "teacher's assistant (in a Jewish school)", ultimately from inspektor meaning "supervisor".
Speed English
A nickname for a fortunate person, from Middle English sped, "success".
Speer German, Dutch, English
German and Dutch cognate of Spear, as well as an English variant of the same surname.
Speicher German
occupational name for someone in charge of a granary. From middle high German spicher meaning "grain store".
Speier Germanic
Habitational name from Speyer.
Speiser German
German cognate of Spencer.
Spellbody Literature
Used in Jill Murphy's books, The Worst Witch, as well as the 2017 television adaptation for the surname of Maud Spellbody. It is a combination of "spell" and "body".
Spelling English, Irish, Jewish
Occupational name for a scholar, speaker or a story teller, derived from Middle English spellan meaning "to tell or relate". It could also be a variant of Irish Spillane or Jewish Spellman... [more]
Spender English
Occupational name for a paymaster or someone in charge of finances, from Old English spendan "to spend" and Latin expendere "to pay out".
Spendlove English
From a medieval nickname for someone who spread their amorous affections around freely. A different form of the surname was borne by Dora Spenlow, the eponymous hero's "child-wife" in Charles Dickens's 'David Copperfield' (1849-50).... [more]
Spengler German
Occupational surname literally meaning “metal worker” or “tin knocker”.
Spens Scottish
Variant of Spence.
Speranza Italian
Means "hope" in Italian.
Sperber German, Jewish
From a nickname for a small but belligerent person from Middle High German sperwære "sparrow hawk" (Old High German sparwāri a compound of sparw "sparrow" and āri "eagle").
Spering English
There is a fish in Germany or Austria names "Spering or Spiering fish" it is in the meat Isle of Germany orAustrian fish.... [more]
Spero Jewish
Jewish (Ashkenazic) variant of Spiro.
Speroni Italian
Either a Plural form of sperone "spur" an occupation for a spurrier or from the given name Gaspare.
Sperry English
Variant of Spear.
Spezia Italian
Means "spice, drug" in Italian. It was used to denote someone who worked as a spicer or apothecary.
Sphrantzes Greek (Latinized, Rare), History (Rare)
Possibly a Latinized form of Frantzis. George Sphrantzes was a late Byzantine Greek historian and Imperial courtier.
Spice English
From Middle English spice meaning "spice", referring to a spice dealer or an apothecary.
Spicer English, Jewish, Polish
English: occupational name for a seller of spices, Middle English spic(i)er (a reduced form of Old French espicier, Late Latin speciarius, an agent derivative of species ‘spice’, ‘groceries’, ‘merchandise’).... [more]
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").
Spiegelman German (Germanized, Rare, Archaic), Jewish (Germanized, Rare, Archaic)
The name Spiegelman is a name with both German and Jewish origins. In German the word "Spiegel" translates to "mirror". Also "Mann" translates to "man". So one could interpret the name to mean "mirror man" or less often "man of the mirror"... [more]
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.
Spiek Dutch
Possibly a variant of Spijk.
Spielberg Jewish, German
From Old High German spiegel "lookout point" or German Spiel "game, play" and berg "mountain". Locational surname after a town in Austria. A famous bearer is American director Steven Spielberg (1946-present).
Spieler German, Jewish
Occupational Name For A Tumbler Or Jester German Spieler ‘Player’ Middle High German Spilære An Agent Derivative Of Spiln ‘To Play To Jest To Sport’.
Spier English
An English surname, meaning "the one who watches".
Spies German
While it translates to the plural of "spy" in English, Spies is a semi-common name found throughout Germany and the surrounding nations. This surname is also popular throughout states with a high German population.
Spijk Dutch
Possibly a habitational name from any of several locations called Spijk, derived from Old Dutch spich "headland, spit".
Špiljak Croatian
Possibly derived from špilja, meaning "cave".
Spillane Irish
Irish: reduced form O’Spillane, an Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Spealáin or ‘descendant of Spealán’, a personal name representing a diminutive of "speal" "‘scythe’"... [more]
Spillman English
From the medieval male personal name Spileman, literally "acrobat" or "jester" (from a derivative of Middle English spillen "to play, cavort").
Spina Italian
Means "thorn" in Italian, originally a topographic name for someone who lived by a thorn bush or a habitational name from any of various locations called Spina.
Spinazzola Italian
From a place named Spinazzola in Italy.
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".
Spinelli Italian
Variant of Spina, of uncertain etymology: could be related to several place names in Italy, to given names such as Crispino, or to the crown of thorns placed on the head of Jesus.
Spínola Portuguese
Portuguese topographic name from a diminutive of espinha ‘thorn’, ‘thorn bush’.
Spinola Italian
Italian (Liguria) diminutive of Spina. Italian topographic name for someone living by Monte Spinola in the province of Pavia.
Spinosa Italian
Most likely from Italian spinosa meaning "prickly, thorny, spiny, ticklish, touchy".
Spinster American (Rare)
A presumably extinct English occupational name, derived from the occupation of spinning.
Spiridonov Russian
The surname was formed by adding the patronymic suffix -ov to the ancient Greek ecclesiastical name of the founder of the family, Spiridon (possibly from the Latin word meaning "illegitimate").
Spiridovich Russian
Possibly from the Greek given name Spiridon.
Spiteri Maltese
The surname Spiteri is derived from the Latin word "hospitalieri" meaning hospitaliers. It was initially given to babies born to mothers who worked as nurses at the Knights' hospital during the 16th century where the babies' fathers were usually knights who had been treated at said hospital.
Spjut Swedish
Taken directly from Swedish spjut "spear".
Spjuth Swedish
Variant of Spjut.
Splain Irish
Irish: reduced form of Spillane.
Splendente Italian
From Italian splendente "bright, shining", supposedly given to an infants abandoned at orphanages on sunny days.
Splinter Low German, German
From Low German splinter ‘splinter’; probably a metonymic occupational name for a woodworker.
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]
Spokony Russian (Anglicized, ?)
comes from the english version of the pronunciation of the Russian word for calm
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).
Spoonapple Popular Culture
Edwina Spoonapple is a fictional character and the titular character from the Off-Broadway musical "Dear Edwina" (2008). She is a 13-year-old girl who wants proof of her accomplishments, just like her siblings... [more]
Spoor English, Dutch
From Middle Dutch and Middle English spoor "spur", an occupational name for a maker or seller of spurs.
Spoors English
From Middle English spoor "spur", an occupational name for someone who made spurs, or perhaps a nickname for someone known for wearing them.
Spradlin English (British)
Originally Spradling, mean one who spreads seed
Sprague English
English from northern Middle English Spragge, either a personal name or a byname meaning "lively", a metathesized and voiced form of "spark."
Sprenger German
German form of the surname Springer
Spring German
From Middle High German sprinc, Middle Low German sprink "spring, well", hence a topographic name for someone who lived by a spring or well, or habitational name from Springe near Hannover.
Springall English
Means (i) "operator of a springald (a type of medieval siege engine)" (from Anglo-Norman springalde); or (ii) from a medieval nickname for a youthful person (from Middle English springal "youth").
Springborn German
Derived from Middle Low German sprinkborn meaning "spring, well", hence either a nickname for someone who lived by a spring or a water well, or from various place names in Germany.
Springer German, English, Dutch, Jewish
Nickname for a lively person or for a traveling entertainer, from springen "to jump, to leap". A famous bearer was Ludwig der Springer (AKA Louis the Springer), a medieval Franconian count who, according to legend, escaped from a second or third-story prison cell by jumping into a river after being arrested for trying to seize County Saxony in Germany.
Springer English
An occupational name for a dancer, or perhaps a hunter, from either Old English springen "to leap" or Middle English springe "snare, trap".
Springfield English
Dusty Springfield 1939-1999
Sprout English
This name is derived from the name of an ancestor, meaning "the son of Sprot".... [more]
Spruance English
Possibly a variant of Spruce. A notable bearer was Raymond A. Spruance (1886-1969), a United States Navy admiral during World War II.
Spruce English
Altered form of Prowse.
Spruijt Dutch
Means "sprout" in Dutch, originally a nickname for a young person or a descendant of a wealthy, powerful or important family.
Spruit Dutch
Variant of Spruijt.
Spruyt Dutch
Variant of Spruijt. This surname is especially common in Belgium.
Spry English
Was apparently a nickname for an active, brisk, or smart person. The word spry is of obscure origin.
Spurgeon English
Unexplained meaning.
Spurrell English (British, Rare), English (British)
Most likely from a place called Spirewell in southern Devon.
Spurrier English
Derived from the Old French word “esperonier,” meaning “to spur on”. It was likely given as a nickname to someone who was known for encouraging or motivating others. The name could have also referred to someone who was skilled at using spurs to control horses.
Spurrill English (British, Rare)
Most likely from a place called Spirewell in southern Devon.
Squarepants Popular Culture
The surname of the famous cartoon character "SpongeBob SquarePants" from the entitled show.
Squibb English
Nickname for an irascible, unpredictable or petty person, derived from Middle English squibbe meaning "firework, firecracker". A famous bearer is the American actress June Squibb (1929-).
Squire English
Surname comes from the occupation of a Squire. A young man who tends to a knight.
Squires English
Surname is plural of Squire. A young person that tends to his knight, also someone that is a member of a landowner class that ranks below a knight.
Šramko Belarusian
Belarusian Latin spelling of Shramko.
Sretenović Serbian
Means "son of Sreten".
Sriboonruang Thai
Alternate transcription of Thai สีบุญเรือง (see Sibunrueang).
Sriboonrueang Thai
Alternate transcription of Thai สีบุญเรือง (see Sibunrueang).
Sriboonrueng Thai
Alternate transcription of Thai สีบุญเรือง (see Sibunrueang).
Sribunruang Thai
Alternate transcription of Thai สีบุญเรือง (see Sibunrueang).
Sribunrueang Thai
Alternate transcription of Thai สีบุญเรือง (see Sibunrueang).
Sribunrueng Thai
Alternate transcription of Thai สีบุญเรือง (see Sibunrueang).
Srikam Thai
Alternate transcription of Thai ศรีคำ (see Sikham).
Srikham Thai
Alternate transcription of Thai ศรีคำ (see Sikham).
Srimongkhon Thai
Alternate transcription of Thai ศรีมงคล (see Simongkhon).
Srimongkol Thai
Alternate transcription of Thai ศรีมงคล (see Simongkhon).
Srimuang Thai
Alternate transcription of Thai ศรีเมือง (see Simueang).
Srimueang Thai
Alternate transcription of Thai ศรีเมือง (see Simueang).
Srinivasan Indian, Tamil
Tamil variant of Shrinivas.
Sriram Sanskrit
Meaning "The God 'Ram'" in Sanskrit.
Sriruang Thai
Alternate transcription of Thai ศรีเรือง (see Sirueang).
Srirueang Thai
Alternate transcription of Thai ศรีเรือง (see Sirueang).
Srisook Thai
Alternate transcription of Thai ศรีสุข (see Sisuk).
Srisuk Thai
Alternate transcription of Thai ศรีสุข (see Sisuk).
Srisuvan Thai
Alternate transcription of Srisuwan.
Srisuwan Thai
From Thai ศรี (si) meaning "glory, honour, splendour" combined with สุวรรณ (suwan) meaning "gold".
Srithong Thai
Alternate transcription of Thai ศรีทอง (see Sithong).
Sritong Thai
Alternate transcription of Thai ศรีทอง (see Sithong).
Srivastav Indian, Hindi
Alternate transcription of Shrivastav.
Srivastava Indian, Hindi
Alternate transcription of Shrivastav.
Srna Croatian
Means ''doe''.
Sroka Polish
From the Polish word sroka, meaning "magpie".
Staaf Swedish
Derived from various place names beginning with stav- or staf-, often meaning "boundary marker" when used in place names. Other meanings are possible. Also found occasionally as a soldier's name pre-20th century... [more]
Staal Dutch
From Old Dutch stal meaning "steel", a metonymic occupational name for a steelworker or blacksmith.
Stach Polish
From the given name Stach.
Stachura Polish
Derived from the given name Stanisław
Stackhouse English
habitational name from Stackhouse in Giggleswick (Yorkshire) from Old Norse stakkr "stack pile rick" and hus "house".
Stadtmueller German
From Middle High German stet meaning "place", "town" + müller meaning "miller", hence an occupational name for a miller who ground the grain for a town.
Staffieri Italian
Means "footman, groom", ultimately from staffa "stirrup".
Ståhl Swedish
Variant of Stål.
Stahl German, Danish
Metonymic occupational name for a smith or armorer, from Middle High German stahel "steel, armor".
Ståhlberg Swedish, Finnish
Variant of Stålberg. A notable bearer was Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg (1865-1952), the first President of Finland.
Stähle German
Variant of Stahl.