Browse Submitted Surnames

Akashi Japanese
From Japanese 明 (aka) meaning "bright" and 石 (shi) meaning "stone".

Akechi Japanese
From Japanese 明 (ake) meaning "bright" and 智 (chi) meaning "wisdom, intellect".

Akehashi Japanese
This surname combines 昭 (ake) meaning "shining, bright" and 橋 (hashi) meaning "bridge".

Akehisa Japanese
Ale means "bright" and hisa means "long time ago, lasting".

Akemi Japanese
Ake means "bright" and mi means "mindset, view".... [more]

Akibara Japanese
This surname combines 昭 (shou, aki) meaning "shining, bright", 秋 (shuu, aki, toki) meaning "autumn" or 穐 with the same sounds and meaning with 原 (gen, hara) meaning "field, meadow, original, plain, prairie, primitive, tundra, wilderness."

Akimaru Japanese
Aki can mean "bright, luminous" or "autumn". Maru means "circle, round".

Akishima Japanese
Aki can mean "autumn" or "bright" and shima means "island".... [more]

Akita Japanese
This surname can be used as 秋田, 明田, 穐田, 飽田 or 阿北 with 秋/穐 (shuu, aki, toki) meaning "autumn," 明 (mei, myou, min, a.kari, aka.rui, aka.rumu, aki.raka, a.keru, -a.ke, a.ku(ru), a.kasu) meaning "clear," 飽 (hou, a.kiru, a.kasu, a.ku, aki) meaning "boredom," 阿 (a, o, omone.ru, kuma) meaning "corner, nook," 田 (den, ta) meaning "rice field" and 北 (hou, kita) meaning "north."... [more]

Akitani Japanese
Aki can means "bright" or "autumn" and tani means "valley".

Akiyoshi Japanese
Aki can mean "bright" or "autumn", and yoshi can mean "good luck, fortune".

Albios Filipino (Rare)
It derives from the Latin term "Albio" which means "white" or "bright". It has also been linked to geographical locations like "Albion" an ancient and poetic name for Britain. In Celtic mythologies Albio is associated with ancient Gods and Deities often embodying traits like nobility and guardianship.

Alegre Spanish, Portuguese
Nickname from alegre "bright, merry" (Latin alacer).

Apaydın Turkish
Means "very bright, well lit" in Turkish.

Apaydin Turkish
Means "very bright".

Ayan Turkish
Means "evident, clear, manifest" in Turkish.

Bart German, English, Dutch, French, Polish, Sorbian, Low German, Slovak
Either a German variant of Barth meaning "beard". From the personal name Bart a short form of ancient Germanic names based on the element bert "bright brilliant" as for example Barthold... [more]

Bertarelli Italian
Probably from a given name containing the Germanic root behrat "bright" or Celtic berta "to carry, to bear".

Bertin French
From the given name Bertin a diminutive of the ancient Germanic personal name Berhto a short form of various compound names formed with berht "bright famous".

Bertwig Swedish (Rare)
Derived from the forename elements beraht meaning "bright", and wig, meaning "war, battle".

Betschla Romansh (Archaic)
Derived from the Germanic name element beraht "bright". The name was replaced by the Italianized form Bezzola in the 18th century.

Blank German, Dutch, Jewish
Means "white, pale, bright", a nickname for a person with white or fair hair or a pale complexion. As a Jewish name, it’s ornamental.

Blankenbühler German
Possibly means "from the bare hill", from blanken "bare, bright" and bühl "hill".

Brecht German
From a short form of any of various personal names formed with Germanic element berth " bright" "famous".

Bright English
From a Middle English nickname or personal name, meaning "bright, fair, pretty", from Old English beorht "bright, shining".

Brightwen English
From either of the two Old English given names Beohrtwine (a masculine name which meant "bright friend") or Beohrtwynn (a feminine name which meant "bright joy").

Bunrueang Thai
From Thai บุญ (bun) meaning "merit" and เรือง (rueang) meaning "bright, brilliant".

Buttram English (American, Rare), English (British, Rare)
Possibly derived from the German cognate Bertram, from the Germanic elements beraht (meaning "bright"), and hrabn (meaning "raven")... [more]

Chaemchamrat Thai
From Thai แจ่ม (chaem) meaning "bright, clear, shining" and จำรัส (chamrat) meaning "brilliant, radiant, prosperous".

Chaemsai Thai
Means "clear, without clouds" in Thai.

Chanrueang Thai
Means "bright moon", from Thai จันทร์ (chan) meaning "Moon" and เรือง (rueang) meaning "bright; glowing; brilliant".

Chiaki Japanese (Rare)
Depending on the kanji used can mean different things. Chi means "thousand" or "wisdom" and aki means "bright", "autumn", "sparkle", "crystal ball" or "shining". This is the last name of Naomi Chiaki, a Japanese singer... [more]

Chiaramonte Italian
Italianized from of the French surname Clermont, using Italian chiaro "bright, clear" and monte "mountain". It was brought to Sicily from Picardy, France, by a branch of the House of Clermont in the 11th century, and several locations were subsequently named after them... [more]

Chishiya Japanese
From Japanese 千 (chi) meaning "thousand", 地 (chi) meaning "earth, land", 智 (chi) meaning "wisdom, intellect" 散 (chi) meaning "scatter", 梓 (shi) meaning "Japanese cherry birch", 塩 (shio) meaning "salt", 沙 (shi) meaning "sand", 司 (shi) meaning "to take charge of; to control; to manage", 史 (shi) meaning "history", 四 (shi) meaning "four", 士 (shi) meaning "samurai, warrior", 子 (shi) meaning "child", 市 (shi) meaning "market", 志 (shi) meaning "purpose, will, determination, aspiration, ambition", 氏 (shi) meaning "a family; a clan", 糸 (shi) meaning "thread", 紙 (shi) meaning "paper", 紫 (shi) meaning "purple; violet", 至 (shi) meaning "to reach; to arrive", 詩 (shi) meaning "poetry, poem", 資 (shi) meaning "money; fund; wealth; capital", 汐 (shi) meaning "evening tide; night tides; ebb", 心 (shi) meaning "heart, mind, soul" or 清 (shi) meaning "clear; limpid", and 也 (ya) meaning "also" or 哉 (ya), an exclamation... [more]

Chitsawangdi Thai (Rare)
From Thai จิตต์ (chit) meaning "mind; heart; soul; spirit; mentality", สว่าง (sawang) meaning "bright; shining", and ดี (di) meaning "good".

Clairmont English
Means "bright hill."

Claremont French
Means "clear hill" in French, from the Latin clarus "clear" and French mont "mountain", A cognate of Clairmont.

Claret Catalan
Diminutive of clar meaning "clear, bright". This is the name of various towns in Catalonia. A famous bearer of this surname is Catalan saint and missionary Antonio María Claret (1807-1870).

Clermont French
Habitational name derived from Old French cler "bright, clear" and mont "mountain".

Cloud French
From the Germanic personal name Hlodald, composed of the elements hlod "famous, clear" and wald "rule", which was borne by a saint and bishop of the 6th century.

Culbert English, Scottish, Irish
Meaning and origin are uncertain. Possibly derived from an unattested given name composed of beorht "bright" and an uncertain first element, or an altered form of Cuthbert... [more]

Daoheuang Lao
Means "marigold" (literally "bright star") in Lao, from the words ດາວ (dao) meaning "star" and ເມືອງ (huang) meaning "bright, clear, beautiful".

De Clermont French
Means "of the bright hill" from the French de meaning "of" and clair, cler 'bright', 'clear' + mont 'hill'

Derakhshan Persian
Means "bright, brilliant" in Persian.

Duru Turkish
Means "clear, pure, limpid" in Turkish.

Dzhioty Ossetian
Most likely related to Sanskrit उज्ज्वल (ujjvala) meaning "bright, radiant, luminous".

Elenbaas Dutch
Reinterpretation of Elenbos or Elebaers (see Elbert), or from another Germanic personal name composed of the elements aljaz "other" or agil "point or edge (of a sword)" combined with berht "bright"... [more]

Engelbrecht Afrikaans
The name Engelbrecht has multiple translations, including "Angle Glorious" and "Bright Angel".

Euteneuer Medieval German
From German "euten," meaning "to burn" or "to clear by burning" suggesting a name for those involved in land clearance through controlled burning.

Flick German
Nickname for a quick and lively person. From Middle High German vlücke meaning "awake, bright, energetic".

Gerbracht German, Dutch
From a form of the given name Gerbert, meaning "bright spear".

Ghiocel Romanian
From Romanian ghiocel meaning "snowdrop" (flower).... [more]

Gladney English
Probably means "bright island", from the Old English element glæd "bright" (cf. Glædwine) and the English element ney "island" (cf.... [more]

Gloster English
habitational name from the city of Gloucester. The place originally bore the British name Glevum (apparently from a cognate of Welsh gloyw "bright") to which was added the Old English element ceaster "Roman fort or walled city" (from Latin castrum "legionary camp")... [more]

Gloucester English
habitational name from the city of Gloucester. The place originally bore the British name Glevum (apparently from a cognate of Welsh gloyw "bright") to which was added the Old English element ceaster "Roman fort or walled city" (from Latin castrum "legionary camp")... [more]

Gobert French, German, English
From the given name Gobert a compressed form of Godebert composed of the ancient Germanic elements god "good" or god/got "god" and berht "bright famous".

Guppy English
English habitational name from a place in Wootton Fitzpaine, Dorset, Gupehegh in Middle English. This is named with the Old English personal name Guppa (a short form of Guðbeorht "battle bright") + (ge)hæg "enclosure"... [more]

Imbert French
From the medieval French personal name Imbert, of Germanic origin and meaning literally "vast-bright".

Iparragirre Basque
Derived from Basque ipar "north; north wind" and ageri "open, clear, prominent" (see Aguirre).

Iwaaki Japanese
From Japanese 岩 (iwa) meaning "cliff" and 明 (aki) meaning "bright". ... [more]

Jumawan Filipino, Cebuano
Derived from Cebuano hawan meaning "bare, clear".

Khalsa Indian (Sikh), Punjabi
Derived from Arabic خلص (khalasa) meaning "pure, clear". This is also the term used to refer to initiated Sikhs.

Kiyofuji Japanese
From Japanese 清 (kiyo) meaning "clear, pure, clean" and 藤 (fuji) meaning "wisteria".

Kiyono Japanese
From Japanese 清 (kiyo) meaning "clear, pure, clean" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".

Kiyoura Japanese
Combination of the Kanji 清 (kiyo, "clear, pure, refreshing, clean") and 浦 (ura, "bay, inlet"). A famous bearer of this surname was Japanese Prime Minister Kiyoura Keigo (清浦 奎吾; 1850–1942).

Klaar Estonian
Klaar is an Estonian surname meaning "clear" or "ready". Ultimately, from the German word "klar", meaning "clear".

Klaarwater German
"Clear water."

Klarerstein German
German surname meaning "Clear stone".

Klarwasser German
"Clear water."

Lambros Greek
Alternate transcription of Greek Λαμπρος (see Lampros), derived from Greek λαμπρός (lampros) meaning "bright, shining, brilliant"... [more]

Lichtenstein German, Jewish
habitational name from any of several places called Liechtenstein from Middle High German lieht "bright" and stein "stone rock"... [more]

Light English
Nickname for a happy, cheerful person, from Middle English lyght, Old English lēoht "light (not dark), bright, cheerful".

Macalino Pampangan
From Pampangan makalino meaning "to make clear, to make transparent".

Magarang Filipino, Maranao
Means "bright, sharp" in Maranao.

Maliwanag Filipino, Tagalog
Means "bright, clear" in Tagalog.

Neubert German
Derived from the German word “neu,” meaning “new,” and the word “Bert,” which is a shortened form of the Germanic given name “Berthold,” meaning “bright ruler.” So, it means “new bright ruler”.

O'Galvin Irish
Anglicized form of Ó Gealbháin, which means "descendant of the bright, fair one", derived from the Gaelic elements geal "bright" and ban "fair, white". A known bearer of the original form of the surname is Ciarán Ó Gealbháin, former signer of the Irish traditional music band Danú.

Olmert Jewish
Possibly from a Germanic given name of uncertain meaning. It could be derived from the Old High German elements ol meaning "ancestor" and mert, a diminutive of merida meaning "fame" or "bright"... [more]

Paglinawan Filipino, Tagalog, Cebuano
Means "to clarify" or "to make clear" in Tagalog and Cebuano.

Parlak Turkish
Means "bright, brilliant" in Turkish.

Philbert English
From the medieval French male personal name Filibert, of Germanic origin and meaning literally "very bright, very famous".

Rainbird English
From the Old French male personal name Rainbert, of Germanic origin and meaning literally "counsel-bright" (cf. Raginbert). The modern form of the name has been influenced by English rainbird "plover".

Rambeau French (Rare), Frankish
Altered spelling of the southern French family name Rambaut, from an Old French personal name, Rainbaut, composed of the Germanic elements ragin "counsel" + bald "bold", "brave", or alternatively from the Germanic personal name Hrambehrt or Hrambald, composed of the elements hramn "crow" & berht "bright" or bald "bold", "brave".

Redenbacher German (Americanized)
Habitational name for someone from any of several places in Bavaria and Austria called Rettenbach, derived from German bach "stream" and an uncertain first element; possibly Old Germanic retten "swamp, moor", reudan "to clear (land), clearing", or roden "to redden, become red".

Reepalu Estonian
Reepalu is an Estonian surname, possibly derived from "ere" ("bright" or "vivd") and "palu" ("sandy heath" and "heathy woodland".)

Rothacker German
Either a topographic name based on a field name derived from Middle High German riuten roten "to clear land (for cultivation)" and acker "field"... [more]

Rueangsi Thai
From Thai เรือง (rueang) meaning "bright, brilliant" and ศรี (si) meaning "glory, honour, splendour".

Rumfelt German, Dutch
Altered spelling of German Romfeld, derived from Middle Low German rüm- meaning "to clear (land)" and feld meaning "open country, field", hence a topographic name or possibly a metonymic occupational name for a person engaged in clearing woodland, or in some cases a habitational name for someone from Romfelt in the Ardennes... [more]

Saeki Japanese
From Japanese 冴 (sae) meaning "clear, serene" and 木 (ki) meaning "tree, wood".

Saengkrachang Thai
From Thai แสง (saeng) meaning "light, ray, beam" and กระจ่าง (krachang) meaning "clear, bright, brilliant".

Saengsawang Thai
From Thai แสง (saeng) meaning "light, ray, beam" and สว่าง (sawang) meaning "bright, shining, brilliant".

Seabright English
Derives from the Old English name Sæbeorht from sæ meaning "sea" and beorht meaning "bright". Related to Seabert.

Sebert German, French
From a German personal name composed of the elements sigi meaning "victory" + berht meaning "bright", "famous".

Seino Japanese
From Japanese 清 (sei) meaning "clear, pure, clean" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".

Selge Estonian
Selge is an Estonian surname meaning "clear".

Sengsavang Lao
From Lao ແສງ (seng) meaning "light" and ສະຫວ່າງ (savang) meaning "light, bright, dawn".

Seol Korean
From Sino-Korean 薛 (seol) meaning a type of marsh grass or 偰 (seol) meaning "clear".

Sherrard English
Probably from a medieval nickname based on Middle English shere "bright, fair", with the derogatory suffix -ard.

Sherrell English
This surname is of English locational origin, from the place in Devonshire called Shirwell. The placename is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Sirewelle, and by 1242 as Shirewill... [more]

Sherwood English
From a place name meaning "bright forest", derived from Old English scir meaning "bright" and wudu meaning "tree, wood".

Shimmyo Japanese
From 新 (shim) meaning "new, fresh" and 明 (myo) meaning "bright, enlighten".

Shircliff English
Habitational name from Shirecliff in Sheffield (Yorkshire) from Old English scir "bright" and clif "cliff bank".

Shukla Indian, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi
Derived from Sanskrit शुक्ल (shukla) meaning "white, bright, pure".

Sibounheuang Lao
From Lao ສີ (si) meaning "majesty, glory, splendour" or "color", ບຸນ (boun) meaning "happiness, prosperity, goodness" and ເຮືອງ (heuang) meaning "bright, clear, beautiful".

Sibunrueang Thai
From Thai ศรี (si) meaning "glory, honour, fame" combined with บุญ (bun) meaning "merit" and เรือง (rueang) meaning "bright, glowing, brilliant".

Sirueang Thai
From Thai ศรี (si) meaning "glory, honour, splendour" and เรือง (rueang) meaning "bright, brilliant".

Splendente Italian
From Italian splendente "bright, shining", supposedly given to an infants abandoned at orphanages on sunny days.

Subasinghe Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit शुभ (shubha) meaning "splendid, bright, auspicious" and सिंह (sinha) meaning "lion".

Suguitan Tagalog
From Tagalog sugit meaning "intelligent, bright, clever".

Suksai Thai
Means "bright, brilliant, radiant" in Thai.

Sumita Japanese
From Japanese 澄 (sumi) meaning "clear, pure" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".

Talbert English, French
From a continental Germanic personal name composed of the elements tal "valley" and berth "bright".

Te Poki Maori
The word Te means "the." The word Poki possibly means "to clear the garden." This was the name of a Ngati Mutunga tidewaiter and constable on what is now the Chatham Islands named Toenga Te Poki.

Tomokiyo Japanese
From 友 (tomo) meaning "friend, companion" and 清 (kiyo) meaning "clear, pure, clean".

Uraraka Popular Culture
In the case of the character Ochako (Ochaco) Uraraka (麗日 お茶子) from 'My Hero Academia', her surname is made up of the adjective 麗らか (uraraka) meaning "bright, clear, beautiful, glorious" and 日 (ka) meaning "day."

Van Blankenberg German, Belgian, Dutch
Means "from Blankenberg", a toponym from any of various places so called, in particular in Hennef and Gelderland, or from Blankenberge in West Flanders, Belgium. Probably derived from blanken "white, pale, bright" or "bare, blank" and berg "mountain, hill".

Vedriš Croatian
Derived from vedro, meaning "bright".

Wibisono Javanese
The name ꦥꦶꦱ꧀ꦗꦶꦢꦺꦴꦏ (Wibisono) is a Javanese surname that is derived from two words: "wibi," which means "clarity" or "bright," and "sono," which means "essence" or "core." Together, the name represents someone who is bright and clear at their core, someone who is true to themselves and radiates positivity.

Yasevich Belarusian
Possibly derived from ясна (yasna), meaning "clear" in Belarusian.