Browse Submitted Surnames

Adesanya Yoruba
Meaning "first to be born" in Yoruba.

Aganad Filipino, Ilocano
From Ilocano agannad meaning "to be careful, to take care".

Aguon Chamorro
From Chamorro agu, meaning "to change, to vary" and the suffix on meaning "to be able". The term's modern usage refers to the starch portion of a Chamorro meal. In the olden days, the Chamorro meal consisted of fish and vegetables, but the starch portion of the meal would highly depend on what was in season.

Amai Japanese
This surname is used as 天井 or 甘井 with 天 (ten, ama-, amatsu, ame) meaning "heavens, imperial, sky", 甘 (kan, ama.i, ama.eru, ama.yakasu, uma.i) meaning "be content, coax, pamper, sugary, sweet" and 井 (shou, sei, i) meaning "community, town, well, well crib."

Anyayahan Tagalog
Means "to invite, to be invited" in Tagalog.

Beddoes Welsh
“This name derives from Old Welsh name and patronymic surname “Morgetuid / Margetiud”, composed of two elements: “mere” (great, splendid) plus “iudd” (lord). As a personal name the origins are lost in the mists of time but it is certainly pre Roman, however the modern use of the name is commonly taken from Merdydd ap Bleddyn, prince of Powys who died in 1132... [more]

Bian Chinese
Romanization of a Chinese surname, which in Pinyin may be respectively Biàn, Biān or Biǎn. The former, written with the character 卞 means "to be impatient", "to be in a hurry" or "excitable" and is by far the most common... [more]

Boffi Italian
Possibly from buffare "to blow, to be short of breath", or a related term meaning "bloated".

Brzobohatý Czech
Means "soon to be rich" in Czech.

Cehuanocatl Nahuatl
Meaning uncertain, possibly derived from Nahuatl cehua "to be cold, cold weather" or cehualli "shadow, shade cast by something", combined with the suffix -catl indicating affiliation.

Chenai Shona
Chenai means "Be clean, be hygienic or come out clean"

Cly Navajo
From Navajo tłʼaaí meaning ‎"lefty, left-handed one", from the verb nishtłʼa ‎"to be left-handed".

Cugnasca Italian
Meaning uncertain, possibly from Italian cugnata "hatchet" (from Sicilian cugna "wedge"), or cugnata "related, similar; sister-in-law" (from Latin cognata "related by blood"), or cugino "cousin", combined with nascere "to be born, to sprout".

Dimaapi Filipino, Tagalog
Means "cannot be oppressed" from Tagalog di- meaning "no, not" and inaapi meaning "oppressed".

Dimaculangan Filipino, Tagalog
Means "cannot be diminished" from Tagalog di- meaning "no, not" and kulangan meaning "reduce".

Dimalanta Filipino, Tagalog
Means "cannot be withered" from Tagalog di- meaning "no, not" and malanta meaning "fade, wither, wilt".

Dimalibot Tagalog
From Tagalog di malibot meaning "not able to be gone around".

Dimapilis Filipino, Tagalog
Means "cannot be dissuaded" (literally "cannot be twisted") from Tagalog di meaning "no, not" and pili meaning "twisted, contorted".

Dimarucut Filipino, Tagalog
Means "cannot be caught" from Tagalog di meaning "no, not" and dukot meaning "draw out, pull".

Dimatatac Filipino, Tagalog
Means "cannot be marked" from di meaning "no, not" and tatak meaning "imprint, stamp, mark".

Dimatulac Filipino, Tagalog
Means "stubborn" (literally "cannot be shoved") from Tagalog di meaning "no, not" and tulak meaning "push, shove".

Dimaunahan Filipino, Tagalog
Means "champion" (literally "cannot be outdone") from Tagalog di meaning "no, not" and unahan meaning "front, head, first".

Dimawala Tagalog
From Tagalog di mawala meaning "cannot be lost".

Dimayacyac Filipino, Tagalog
Means "cannot be crushed (in a fight)" from Tagalog di meaning "no, not" and yakyak meaning "crushed, trampled".

Dipasupil Filipino, Tagalog
Means "cannot be suppressed" from Tagalog di- meaning "no, not" and supil meaning "subdued, suppressed".

Elhassan Northern African, Arabic
From Arabic حَسُنَ (ḥasuna) meaning "to be good, to be beautiful" (chiefly Sudanese).

Elwell English
Means "person from Elwell", Dorset (probably "spring from which omens can be read").

Eun Korean (Rare)
From Sino-Korean 慇 (eun) meaning "to be kind, to be wealthy".

Farai Shona
Farai means "Rejoice, be happy".

Farand English (Canadian), French (Quebec)
Derived from the given name FARIMOND or from the French word ferrer meaning "to be clad in iron" or "to shoe a horse".

Galland French
Nickname for a cheerful or high-spirited or bold person from Old French galant "lively vivacious" also "bold valiant" (the meanings "gallant" and "attentive to women" developed only in the 16th century) the present participle of Old French galer "to be in good humor to enjoy oneself" a word of ancient Germanic origin... [more]

Gemito Italian
From a misspelling of genito "to be born", given to sculptor Vincenzo Gemito upon being abandoned at an orphanage as an infant.

Gennimatas Greek
Possibly from the Greek verb γεννιέμαι (genniemai) meaning "to be born".

Grell German
Nickname for an irritable or irascible person, from Middle High German, Middle Low German grellen "to be angry".

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]

Gwinyai Shona
Gwinyai means "be strong".

Hasado Japanese (Rare)
From Japanese 挟 (hasa), from 挟む (hasamu) meaning "to insert; to be sandwiched between" and 土 (do) meaning "earth; soil; ground", referring to a soil land where it is very crammed.... [more]

Hua Chinese (Rare)
From Chinese 化 (huà) meaning "to be; to become", as well as a variant transcription of Chinese (Hokkien) 化 (see Hoa 2).

Hwa Korean (Rare)
From Sino-Korean 化 (hwa) meaning "to be; to become", making it the Korean form of Hua 2.

Iori Japanese
This surname is used as 庵, 井居, 井折, 井織, 伊折 or 伊織 with 庵 (an, iori, io) meaning "hermitage, retreat", 井 (sei, shou, i) meaning "well, well crib, town, community", 伊 (i, kare) meaning "Italy, that one", 居 (kyo, ko, i.ru, -i, o.ru) meaning "reside, to be, exist, live with", 折 (setsu, o.ru, ori, o.ri, -o.ri, o.reru) meaning "fold, break, fracture, bend, yield, submit" and 織 (o.ri) meaning "fabric, weave."... [more]

Iwakiri Japanese
From Japanese 岩 (iwa) meaning "boulder, cliff, rocks" and 切 (kiri) meaning "cut, cutoff, to be sharp".

Izumo Japanese
This surname combines 出 (shutsu, sui, i.dasu, i.deru, da.su, -da.su, -de, de.ru) meaning "come out, exit, go out, leave, protrude, put out" with 雲 (un, kumo, -gumo, zumo) meaning "cloud" or 茂 (mo, shige.ru) meaning "be luxuriant, grow thick, overgrown."... [more]

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

Khieu Khmer
Means "to be blue (in colour)" in Khmer.

Kirigiri Popular Culture
This surname is used as 霧切 with 霧 (bu, bou, mu, kiri) meaning "fog, mist" and 切 (sai, setsu, ki.ri, -ki.ri, ki.ru, -ki.ru, ki.re, -ki.re, ki.reru, -ki.reru, -gi.ri, -gi.re) meaning "be sharp, cut(off)."... [more]

Lavender English, Dutch
Occupational name for a washerman or launderer, Old French, Middle Dutch lavendier (Late Latin lavandarius, an agent derivative of lavanda "washing", "things to be washed"). The term was applied especially to a worker in the wool industry who washed the raw wool or rinsed the cloth after fulling... [more]

Macalinga Tagalog
From Tagalog makalinga meaning "to be supported, to be cared for".

Macapugay Tagalog
From Tagalog makapugay meaning "to be saluted".

Macasinag Tagalog
From Tagalog makasinag meaning "to be able to shine".

Macatulad Tagalog
From Tagalog makatulad meaning "to be able to imitate, to be able to copy".

Malalad Tagalog
Means "to be swept away (by a flood), to be washed away".

Mheenak Thai
From Thai มีนัก (Minak) meaning "of Khmer royalty or nobility".... [more]

Mitsugi Japanese
This surname is used as 貢, 三木, 三ツ木, 三津木, 三樹, 三次, 参木, 満木, 見次, 身次 or 巳継 with 貢 (ku, kou, mitsu.gu) meaning "finance, support, tribute", 三 (san, zou, mi, mi'.tsu, mi.tsu) meaning "three", 津 (shin, tsu) meaning "ferry, harbour, haven, port", 木 (boku, moku, ki, ko-) meaning "tree, wood", 樹 (juu, ki) meaning "timber trees, wood", 参 (san, shin, mai-, mai.ru, majiwaru, mitsu) meaning "be defeated, be madly in love, coming, die, going, nonplussed, three, visit, visiting", 満 (ban, man, mi.tasu, mi.chiru, mi.tsu) meaning "enough, full, fullness, satisfy", 見 (ken, mi.eru, mi.seru, mi.ru) meaning "chances, hopes, idea, look at, opinion, see, visible", 身 (shin, mi) meaning "one's station in life, person, somebody", 次 (shi, ji, tsugi, tsu.gu) meaning "next, order, sequence", 巳 (shi, mi) meaning "sign of the snake/serpent (6th sign of Chinese zodiac)" and 継 (kei, tsu.gi, mama-) meaning "graft (tree), inherit, patch, succeed."... [more]

Nascimento Portuguese (Brazilian)
Means "birth, nativity" in Portuguese, from Late Latin nascimentum, a derivative of Latin nasci "to be born". This was originally a religious byname. It was also an epithet of the Virgin Mary (Maria do Nascimento), and was used as a given name for children born on Christmas.

Ōtaka Japanese
This surname combines 大 (tai, dai, oo-, -oo.ini, oo.kii) meaning "big, large" with 高 (kou, taka, taka.i, taka.maru, taka.meru, -daka) meaning "expensive, high, tall," 鷹 (ou, you, taka) meaning "hawk," 孝 (kyou, kou, taka) meaning "child's respect, filial piety," 嵩 (shuu, suu, kasa, kasa.mu, taka.i) meaning "be aggravated, grow bulky, grow worse, swell" or 貴 (ki, tatto.i, tatto.bu, touto.i, touto.bu, taka) meaning "esteem, honour, precious, prize, value."... [more]

Oyekan Yoruba
Means "the next to be crowned" in Yoruba.

Pagdanganan Filipino, Tagalog
Means "to be respected" in Tagalog, from Tagalog dangan "respect, consideration" with object trigger prefix and suffix pag- -an. This surname is mostly found in Bulacan.

Pangandag Filipino, Maranao
Means "to boast, to be proud of" in Maranao.

Pettai Estonian
Pettai is an Estonian surname derived from "petta" meaning "to be up to mischief".

Pronk Dutch
Means "flamboyance" in Dutch, derived from pronken "to show off, to display" or "to sulk, be sullen, be displeased".

Radford English
Habitational name from any of the various places so named, for example in Devon, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, and Hereford and Worcester. Most are named from Old English read "red" + ford "ford", but it is possible that in some cases the first element may be a derivative of Old English ridan "to ride", with the meaning "ford that can be crossed on horseback".

Rushdie Kashmiri (Rare)
Derived from Arabic رَشَدَ (rašada) meaning "to go the right way, to follow the right course" or "to be well guided" (related to the given names Rashad and Rashid)... [more]

Sadulaev Chechen
From the Arabic given name Sadulla meaning “happiness of Allah” from سَعِدَ (saʿida) “to be happy, to be lucky” combined with Allah.

Sahabi Iranian
Possibly from Arabic صَحَابِيّ‎ (ṣaḥābiyy) meaning "companion", from the verb صَحِبَ‎ (ṣaḥiba) "to accompany, to be one's companion".

Salakaya Abkhaz
Mingrelian form of the Abkhaz surname Шакар-ипа (Shakar-ipa) meaning "son of Shakar". The name itself may be derived from Persian شکر (šakar) meaning "sugar" or from Arabic شَكَرَ (šakara) meaning "to be thankful, to be grateful".

Santander Spanish
From the toponymy, it is discussed whether Santander is a derivation of San Emeterio or San Andrés. Due to the proximity of the Basque country (Ander = Andrés) and the tenor of some ancient texts, it can be concluded that it refers to San Andrés... [more]

Seinfeld German, Jewish
From the German word sein "to be" and the word of German Jewish origin feld which means "field". It was a name given to areas of land that had been cleared of forest.

Shazar Hebrew
Referred to someone living near acacia trees that tend to be twisted, derived from Hebrew שָׁזַר (shazar) literally meaning "to twist, to be twisted, to intertwine". A famous bearer was the Israeli president, author and poet Zalman Shazar (1889-1974), who was born Shneur Zalman Rubashov.

Siddu Italian
From Sardinian siddu "seal, brand", or the related siddai/re "to seal, to tighten", from which come the phrases 'siddai is dentis' "to grit one's teeth" and 'siddàu siast ingùnis' "may you be sealed there", the latter of which would have been affectionately said to a child that wouldn't stay still.

Sidiqi Pashto, Persian, Afghan
Means "the veracious" from Arabic صَدَقَ (ṣadaqa) meaning "to be truthful, to be sincere". It is also a variant of Persian Sadeghi.

Sture Old Swedish, Swedish (Rare)
Derived from Old Norse stura "to be contrary". This was the surname of two important families in the 15th and 16th century Sweden. Members of these families served as regents of Sweden during this time... [more]

Suutre Estonian
Suutre is an Estonian surname derived from "suutma" meaning "to be able/capable".

Taitano Chamorro
Meaning "one without land" from Chamorro tai, prefix meaning "to be without", and tano meaning "land".

Værnes Norwegian
Værnes is a village in the municipality of Stjørdal in Nord-Trøndelag county in Mid-Norway. The original spelling of the village's name was Vannes and it is a combination of var "calm, quiet" and nes "headland"... [more]

Vongai Shona
Vongai means "be thankful, or appreciative".

Wadzanai Shona
Wadzanai means "Have fellowship, visit each other, be on good terms". The name may be given as a call to family to come together in fellowship, visiting and being on good terms

Wi Korean (Rare)
From Sino-Korean 偉 (wi) meaning "to be extraordinary".

Xotlanihua Nahuatl
Means "owner of flowering" or "there will be growing" in Nahuatl, probably originating as a personal name.