Browse Submitted Surnames

Itzstein German
Topographic surname that originated from broad regions around the river Itz in Thuringia, Germany. The word "Stein" (German word for stone) historically was also used to describe castles on a hill or at a river, thus a possible meaning of the name is "castle at the river Itz".

Jadallah Arabic
Means "the generosity of Allah" in Arabic.

Jātnieks Latvian
Means "the rider".

Jaunzemis Latvian
Means "Of the new land".

Jay English, French
Nickname from Middle English, Old French jay(e), gai "jay (the bird)", probably referring to an idle chatterer or a showy person, although the jay was also noted for its thieving habits.

Jayathilaka Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit जय (jaya) meaning "victory, conquest" and तिलक (tilaka) meaning "mark (on the forehead), dot, ornament".

Jeglič Slovene
"The Slovenian word for the Carniolan primrose." This name would likely have been given to people who inhabited the meadows of northwestern Slovenia where this flower is endemic.

Jewson English (British)
A patronymic (also potentially matronymic) surname that means "the son of Jull", coming from the element Jull, a diminutive form of the personal name Julian or Juette from Iovis, the Roman god of thunder and the sky combined with the suffix of son.

Jingūji Japanese
formed with 神 (Shin, Jin, Kami, Kan, Kou) meaning "God" and 宮 (Kyuu, Guu, Ku, Kuu, Miya) meaning "Palace". and 司 (Shi, Ji) meaning "Director". Which means the surname could possible come out as “God’s Palace of the Director”

Jõesuu Estonian
Jõesuu is an Estonian surname meaning "mouth of the river".

Jonda Spanish (Latin American, Japanized), American (Hispanic)
Jondá means Slingshot and hole in Spanish and is a surname in some Latin American countries and Americans with Hispanic heritage. It is a Japanized form of the surname Honda... [more]

Judge English, Irish
occupational name for an officer of justice or a nickname for a solemn and authoritative person thought to behave like a judge from Middle English Old French juge "judge" (from Latin iudex from ius "law" and dicere "to say") which replaced the Old English term dema... [more]

Juel Danish, Norwegian, Swedish
Alternate form of Juhl. This variant of the name can be traced back to the 14th century and is the name of a Danish noble family sometimes referred to as "Juel med stjernen" meaning "Juel with the star" in reference to their coat-of-arms, as a way to distinguish them from another Danish noble family - the Juul-family - who in turn are known as "Juul with the fleur-de-lis"... [more]

Juul Danish, Norwegian
Alternate form of Juhl. This variant of the name can be traced back to the 13th century as the name of a Danish noble family still alive today. The family is sometimes referred to as "Juul med liljen" meaning "Juul with the fleur-de-lis" in reference to their coat-of-arms, as a way to distinguish them from another Danish noble family - the Juel-family - who in turn are known as "Juel with the star"... [more]

Kaʻanāʻanā Hawaiian
This Hawaiian surname means The Black Magic.... [more]

Kahale Hawaiian
"The house".

Kajitani Japanese
Rare Japanese surname, roughly meaning "to add to the field; extend field boundaries".

Kalahasthi Sanskrit
It is derived from the Sanskrit words “kala,” which mean “time”, and “hasthi,” which means “elephant”. Together, the name means “the elephant of time,” which is a reference to the goddess Kali, who is often depicted riding on the back of an elephant... [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]

Kalay Turkish
Means "tin (the metal)" in Turkish.

Kallweit German (East Prussian)
East Prussian German (and thus heavily Lithuanian influenced) name meaning "smith; blacksmith; farrier", derived from Old Prussian kalt "to forge; to hammer" and Old Prussian kalweitis "the village smith".

Kalogeropoulos Greek
Means "son of the monk" in Greek, derived from Greek καλόγερος (kalógeros) "monk, friar".

Kamakawiwo'ole Hawaiian
From ka maka wiwo'ole, which means "the fearless eye, the bold face" in Hawaiian.... [more]

Kamaliazad Pakistani, Persian
It's derived from the words Kamali meaning "Ascetic's blanket" & aazaad meaning "free or independent", or even kamaal-i-aazaad meaning "perfection of the free, or independent".

Kandimaa Estonian
Kandimaa is an Estonian surname derived from "kandis" ("neck of the woods") and "land".

Kaneki Japanese
This surname is used as 金城, 金木, 金気, 金喜, 兼城, 兼木 or 鹿子木 with 金 (kin, kon, gon, kana-, kane, -gane) meaning "gold," 兼 (ken, ka.neru, -ka.neru) meaning "and, concurrently," 城 (jou, shiro, ki) meaning "castle," 木 (boku, moku, ki, ko-) meaning "tree, wood," 気 (ki, ke, iki) meaning "air, atmosphere, mood, mind, spirit," 喜 (ki, yoroko.basu, yoroko.bu) meaning "rejoice, take pleasure in," 鹿 (roku, ka, shika) meaning "deer" and 子 (shi, su, tsu, ko, -ko, -ne) meaning "child, sign of the rat (1st sign of the Chinese zodiac)."

Kartashyan Armenian
Means "son of the stonemason" from Armenian քարտաշ (kʿartaš) meaning "stonecutter, stonemason".

Karunachandra Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit करुणा (karuna) meaning "compassion, mercy" and चन्द्र (chandra) meaning "moon".

Karunathilaka Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit करुणा (karuna) meaning "compassion, kindness, mercy" and तिलक (tilaka) meaning "mark (on the forehead), dot, ornament".

Kashiwako Japanese
Kashiwa means "oak" and ko means "child, sign of the rat".

Katzir Hebrew
Occupational name derived from Hebrew קָצִיר (qatsiyr) meaning ""harvesting, reaping", ultimately from קָצַר (qatsar). A famous bearer was the Israeli president and scientist Ephraim Katzir (1916-2009), born Efraim Katchalski.

Kauhane Hawaiian
Literally, "the spirit". Ka being "the" and Uhane being "spirit".

Keel English
English habitational name from Keele in Staffordshire, named from Old English cy ‘cows’ + hyll ‘hill’, or from East and West Keal in Lincolnshire, which are named from Old Norse kjolr ‘ridge’... [more]

Kensit English
A surname of Old English, pre-7th-century origins. It derives from a locality, probably either Kingsettle in Somerset, which translates as "the seat of the King", and is believed to relate to Alfred the Great, or possibly Kingside in Cumberland, or to some now lost village or town with a similar spelling.

Kenworthy English (British, Anglicized, Rare)
his interesting surname of English origin is a locational name from a place so called in Cheshire, deriving from the Old English pre 7th Century personal name Cyna, a short from of the various compound names with the first element "cyne" meaning "Royal", or, Cena, a byname meaning "Keon", "Bold" or a short form of various compound personal names with this first element plus the Old English pre 7th Century "worthing" "enclosure"... [more]

Keokanya Lao
From Lao ແກ້ວ (keo) meaning "jewel, gem" and ກັນຍາ (kanya) meaning "September" or "Virgo (the constellation)".

Khalimbekov Kazakh
This surname is derived from the Kazakh given name Khalimbek, which combines the elements Khalim ("generous") and Bek ("ruler" or "leader"). Therefore, Халимбеков (Khalimbekov) would roughly mean "descendant of Khalimbek" or "belonging to the family of Khalimbek".

Khrueachan Thai
From Thai เครือ (khruea) meaning "family" and จันทร์ (chan) meaning "moon".

Khumalo Zulu, Ndebele, South African
Zulu and Ndebele clan name meaning "descendant of the fish tribe".

Khutsishvili Georgian
Means "son of the priest" from Georgian ხუცესი (khuts'esi) meaning "priest".

Kierkegaard Danish
Means "farm near the church" from elements kirke meaning "church" and gaard meaning "farm." A famous bearer is Søren Aabye Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher, theologian, poet, social critic and religious author who is widely considered to be the first existentialist philosopher.

Kikyo Japanese
This surname is used as 桔梗, 喜京, 木京 or 鬼京 with 桔 (kitsu, ketsu, ki), which is used in plant names, 梗 (kyou, kou, oomune, fusagu, yamanire) meaning "close up, flower stem, for the most part", 喜 (ki, yoroko.basu, yoroko.bu) meaning "rejoice, take pleasure in", 木 (boku, moku, ki, ko-) meaning "tree, wood", 鬼 (ki, oni, oni-) meaning "devil, ghost" and 京 (kyou, kin, kei, miyako) meaning "capital."... [more]

Kilbride Irish, Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Giolla Bhrighde "son of the devotee of Saint Brigid" (cf... [more]

Kilcoyne Irish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Giolla Chaoine "son of the servant (i.e. devotee) of Saint Caoin" or from Mac Giolla Chaoin "son of the gentle lad"... [more]

Kiley Irish, English
Anglicized form of the Old Gaelic "O' Cadhla" meaning "son of Cadhla". Cadhla means meaning graceful or beautiful; hence, "descendant(s) of 'the graceful one'".

Kilmartin Irish (Anglicized), Scottish (Anglicized)
shortened Anglicized form of Irish Gaelic Mac Giolla Mhártain or Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Màrtainn, "son of the servant of (Saint) Martin"... [more]

Kingsbury English
Habitational surname derived from several places in England with the same name, for example in northwest London (formerly Middlesex), Somerset, and Warwickshire. These are mostly named in Old English as cyninges burh meaning "the king’s stronghold", but the last mentioned is cynesburh meaning "stronghold of Cyne" (cyne is a short form of any of various compound names with cyne- meaning "royal" as the first element).

Kingswell English
An English surname meaning "Lives by the King's spring"

Kino Japanese
Of unknown meaning. A notable name bearer is a fictional character "Makoto Kino" in the "Sailor Moon" anime.

Kiplin English
A locational surname that takes its name from the hamlet of Kiplin in the English county of North Yorkshire. In turn, the hamlet is said to derive its name from Old English Cyppelingas, which means "the people of Cyppel", as it consists of the Old English personal name Cyppel with the Old English word ingas meaning "people".

Kisaragi Japanese (Rare)
如月 (Kisaragi) can be translated as "February" and "second month of the lunar calendar" (obsolete term) and the kanji means (如月 = likeness; like; such as; as if; better; best; equal | month; moon)... [more]

Kishioka Japanese
formed with 岸 (Kishi, Gan) meaning "Beach" and 岡 (Oka, Kō) meaning "Mount; hill; knoll”. So the mean it could be interpreted as “Hill of the Beach” or “Beach Hill”

Kitley English
Derived from a place name in Devonshire, England, and was first recorded in the form of Kitelhey in 1305.... [more]

Kizuki Japanese
Kizuki has various spellings. It combines 木 (ki) meaning “tree”, 気 (ki) meaning “spirit”, 稀 (ki) meaning “rare”, 希 (ki) “hope, rare” and 妃 (ki) meaning “princess” with 月 (tsuki) meaning “moon, month”... [more]

Klingbeil German
From Middle High German klingen "to ring or sound" and bīl "axe", literally "sound the axe", an occupational nickname for a journeyman, carpenter, shipwright (or any occupation involving the use of an axe)... [more]

Knapke German
A relative of mine has said this surname means “over the hill” and that it is of German origin.... [more]

Knapp English
Topographic name for someone who lived by a hillock, Middle English "nappe, Old English cnæpp, or habitational name from any of the several minor places named with the word, in particular Knapp in Hampshire and Knepp in Sussex.

Knott English
Either from the Middle English personal name Knut, or denoting a person who lived "at the knot", which is the summit of a rocky hill.

Kogane Japanese (Rare)
This surname is used as 黄金, 小金, 古金, 子金, 故金 or 小賀根 with 黄 (ou, kou, ki, ko-) meaning "yellow", 小 (shou, o-, ko-, sa-, chii.sai) meaning "little, small", 古 (ko, furu-, furu.i, -fu.rusu) meaning "old", 子 (shi, su, tsu, ko, -ko, -ne) meaning "child, sign of the rat (1st sign of Chinese zodiac", 故 (ko, furu.i, moto, yue) meaning "cause, circumstances, consequently, especially, happenstance, intentionally, reason, the late, therefore", 賀 (ga) meaning "congratulations, joy", 根 (kon, ne, -ne) meaning "head (pimple), radical, root" and 金 (kin, kon, gon, kana-, kane, -gane) meaning "gold."... [more]

Konvalinka Czech
Means "lily-of-the-valley" in Czech.

Koonings Dutch
Means "of the king", related to Koning.

Korutürk Turkish
Nickname meaning "protector of the Turks", derived from the Turkish verb korumak "to protect". This name was acquired by Turkish president Fahri Korutürk (1903-1987). It was given to him by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey (the verb korumak refers to Atatürk's expectation of Korutürk to preserve his legacy).

Kotsuki Japanese
It means "above moon".

Kozuki Japanese
It is written as 上 (Ko) meaning "above" and 月 (tsuki) meaning "month, moon".

Kporaro Nigerian (Rare)
The name Kporaro translates into the English language as "PROGRESS" (literally Kpo which is "Go", Ra which is "OF" and Aro which is "FRONT" in which case the Ra implies "For" or "Of" thus Kporaro is literally "Go Of Front" or more properly "Move Forward")... [more]

Kuilart Dutch
Derived from Dutch kuil "pit, hole in the ground", probably part of a toponym.

Kuopus Finnish
A house name in Pudasjärvi Oulu Finland... [more]

Kuriakose Syrian, Aramaic
Kuriakose is a common male first name and surname among Saint Thomas Christians, mainly from central part of the state of Kerala in India and surrounding areas.... [more]

Kuroko Japanese (Rare)
Kuro means "black" and ko means "child, sign of the rat". ... [more]

Kurşun Turkish
Means "lead (the element), bullet, projectile" in Turkish.

Kurtoğlu Turkish
Means "son of the wolf" from Turkish kurt meaning "wolf".

Kushwaha Indian
Kushwaha (sometimes, Kushvaha) is a community of the Indo-Gangetic plain which has traditionally been involved in agriculture. The term has been used to represent at least four subcastes, being those of the Kachhis, Kachwahas, Koeris and Muraos... [more]

Kuusinen Finnish
A surname originating from Eastern Finland, comprised of the elements “kuusi” meaning “six” or “moon”, and the suffix “-nen” which is typical of Eastern Finnish surnames. A notable bearer of this name is the Finnish-Soviet politician and writer Otto V. Kuusinen, one of the original founders of the Finnish Communist Party.

Kuwako Japanese
Kuwa means "mulberry tree" and ko means "child, sign of the rat, first of the Chinese zodiac."

Labonté French (Quebec), Haitian Creole, Mauritian Creole
From French la bonté meaning "(the) kindness, (the) goodness", originally used as a soldier's name and perhaps also as a nickname for a benevolent person. This surname is rare in France.

Labrie French
Topographic name from l’abri meaning "the shelter", or a habitational name from a place named with this word.

Lachica Spanish (Philippines)
Derived from Spanish la chica meaning "the girl", either used as a nickname or a habitational name.

Laflamme French (Quebec)
Means "The Flame" in French.

Laflash French (Quebec, Anglicized)
Anglicization of the name "Richer dit Laflèche." Richer comes from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements ric ‘power(ful)’ + hari, heri ‘army.' Laflèche is a reference to La Flèche, a town in historical Anjou, France... [more]

Lafleur French, French (Caribbean)
from la fleur "the flower" used as a soldier's name and also as a servant's name; it was one of the most common nicknames (noms de guerre) among French soldiers.

Lafontaine French
Means" The fountain" in French.

Lafuente Spanish
Means "the fountain" in Spanish derived from fons "fountain" with fused definite article la. Variant of Fuentes and cognate to Lafontaine.

Lahiffe Irish (Rare)
From Irish Ó Laochdha meaning "descendant of the hero" or "descendant of the heroic", ultimately from laoch "warrior, hero".

Lahmar Arabic (Maghrebi)
Means "the red (one)", derived from Arabic الأحمر (al-ʾaḥmar).

Laîné French
distinguishing epithet from French l'aîné "the eldest (son)", used to identify the older of two bearers of the same name in a family.

Lalaurie French (Cajun)
A French surname meaning "the laurel".

Lambillotte French (Modern)
Currently, a common name in Wallonia, Belgium with some descendants in USA. Believed to be derived from three terms..."lamb" "ill" "otte". The first term has remained unchanged from early Germanic term; the second is latin for "of the" and the third a dimiuative or feminine form suffix... [more]

L'amoreaux French
French surname meaning "The Lovers"

Lamoree French
From the nickname "the loved one" derived from the French word amour meaning "love" from (Latin amor).

Lamour French
From Old French l'amour "(the) friendship bond" used as a nickname for a kindly individual derived from the French word amour "love" (from Latin amor).

Lamoureaux French
Means "the lover" in French. It would be the nickname of an amorous person.

Langevin French
From French l'Angevin meaning "the Angevin", denoting a person from the French province of Anjou.

Langwade English
From an English village Langmead, in the county of Devon. It was used to refer to those individuals who lived at the lang-mead, which literally means "the long meadow".

Laramie English
From the French la ramée "the small wood, the arbour".

Lasaga Spanish, French, Basque
From Basque Latsaga, a widespread place name in Basque Country meaning "at the creek".

Laskaris Greek
From ancient and medieval Greek laskaris, a kind of soldier, from Persian laeshkaer "army". This is the same word as Urdu lascar "sailor" and Arabic el-askari "the army", "the troops".

Latulippe French (Quebec, Modern)
Means "the tulip" in French.

Lavalle French
means "of the valley" in english.

Laveau French (Cajun)
A Cajun surname meaning "the calf".

Laycock English
The name comes from a small village in England called "Laycock" and has something to do with "the place of the birds."... [more]

Lazrak Arabic (Maghrebi)
Derived from Arabic الأزرق (al ʾazraq) meaning "the blue (one)", from أَزْرَق (ʾazraq) "blue". It is chiefly used for Moroccan Arabic.

Lear English
Means (i) "person from Leire", Leicestershire ("place on the river Leire", a river-name that may also be the ancestor of Leicestershire); or (ii) "person from Lear", any of several variously spelled places in northern France with a name based on Germanic lār "clearing"... [more]

Lebesgue French
Means "the stammerer" in French, denoting a person with a stammer, from Old French beguer "stuttering, stammering", from Middle Dutch beggen “to chat”.

Lebon French
Approbatory (or ironic) nickname from le bon "the good" a variant of Bon with fused masculine definite article le.

Le Borgne French
Means "the one-eyed" in French.

Le Bras Breton
Altered form of Breton Ar Brazh meaning "the great, the imposing" or "the big, the fat", ultimately from Proto-Celtic *brassos "great, violent".

Lechat French
Means "The Cat" in French.

Lecourt French
Means "the short" in French.

Ledoux French
Means "the amiable" from French doux meaning "sweet, soft, gentle".

Lefils French, Haitian Creole
Derived from French le "the" and fils "son". This was originally a nickname to distinguish a son from his father with the same given name.

Lefort French, Walloon
Either a nickname from French le fort "the strong" (see Fort ). It is also found in Germany where it is probably of Alsatian origin (compare Lefor ) and in Haiti where it most likely originates from the nickname Lefort... [more]

Lefrançois French
From the given name François. It may also mean "the Frenchman", probably used to denote someone who came from the region of Île de France in France.

Le Gall French
From a nickname which means “the Gaul”.

Legault Norman (Gallicized)
From the French "le Gaul," meaning simply "the Gaul." Gaul refers to the northern part of modern-day France.

Le Guet French
Variant of Guet with the article le "the".

Lehigh German, Irish
Derived from a Native American word "Lechauwekink", meaning "where there are forks in the stream". Variant of Lechau .

Leleu French
From old French le leu a Picard form of old french le loup "the wolf".

Leloup French
Means “the wolf” in French.

Lemaître French
Means "the master" in French, either used as a nickname for someone who behaved in a masterful manner or an occupational name for someone who was a master of their craft.

Lemass French, Irish
Meaning uncertain. It may be derived from Old French maistre meaning "master", ultimately from Latin magister (see Masterson). Another theory holds that it comes from Irish Gaelic Laighmheasa, a given name meaning "dispatch"... [more]

Le Monnier French
Occupational surname for a miller, literally meaning "the miller" in French.

Lenglet French
Means "The Englishman".

Le Pen Breton
Le Pen is a Breton surname meaning "the head", "the chief" or "the peninsula".

Lepère French
Means "the father" in French.

Leprince French
Means "the prince" from Old French prince (Latin princeps).

Lepsy Slavic (Rare), Turkish (Rare)
Possibly dating back to the Ottoman Empire's invasion of Europe, the original Turkic meaning is veiled in mystery, and possibly meant "one who comes from the edge of the lake." ... [more]

Lessard French
Name for someone who lived in a clearing, derived from French l'essart meaning "the assart" (a term for cleared forest land used for agriculture). It is also a habitational name for someone from any of various locations named Lessard or Lessart, of the same origin and meaning.

Lester English
Habitational name from Leicester which is recorded as Ligeraceastre in the 10th century. The placename derives from an Old English folk name Legore "the dwellers by the river Legor (a lost river name)" and Old English ceaster "city Roman fortification" (from Latin castrum) "camp fortress".

Lesueur French
Means "the shoemaker" in French.

Létourneau French
Nickname for a chatty, gregarious person or an occupational name for a birdcatcher, derived from French l'étourneau meaning "the starling".

Levan French, English
Comes from le vent, meaning "the wind."

Levana Hebrew
From the given name Levana 1, means "white" or "moon" in Hebrew.

Levert French
Means "the green", from French vert "green".

L'Heureux French
Means "the happy one" in French.

Lhuyd Welsh
Edward Lhuyd has been called "the first Welsh archaeologist".... [more]

Lilly English
Derived from Lilly, a pet name for Elizabeth. It was also used as a nickname for someone with fair skin or hair, and is derived from Old English lilie meaning "lily (the flower)"... [more]

Lily English
Derived from Lily, a pet name for Elizabeth. It was also used as a nickname for someone with fair skin or hair, and is derived from Old English lilie meaning "lily (the flower)"... [more]

Litchfield English
locational origin either from Lichfield, south east of Stafford in Staffordshire, or from Litchfield in Hampshire... [more]

Lively English
A modern English surname possibly derived from a lost village called Laefer-leah which would give it the meaning "the farm by the lake".... [more]

Lobianco Italian
Derived from the words lo "the" and bianco "white".

Lo Guasta Italian
Variant of Guasti, literally "the broken". Probably used as a nickname for someone with a twisted or deformed limb, used in at least one case for a foundling.

Loia Italian
Most likely a variant of Aloia. May alternately be related to Italian loggia "atrium, open-roofed gallery", Greek λεώς (leos) "the people", or Tuscan loia "dirt, filth on clothes or skin", perhaps a nickname for someone with a profession that often made them dirty, such as mining.

Loiseau French
Means "The Bird" in French.

Lo Màglio Italian
Literally means "the hammer." However, "the" would normally be represented as "il" in Italian, in this case.

Loop Dutch
Habitational name from de Loop, meaning "the watercourse", in the province of Antwerp.

Lorang French
Surname of uncertain origin. Might be derived from:... [more]

Lord French
Nickname from Old French l'ord "the dirty one".

Lovchikov m Russian
Means "son of the catcher", from Russian ловчик (lovchik), meaning "catcher".

Loven Norwegian (Rare), American (Rare)
From a farm (later renamed to Låvi) in Aurland municipality in Sogn og Fjordane fylke.... [more]

Loya Basque, Spanish
From a location in Navarre, Spain, probably means "the mud", derived from Basque lohi "mud, mire".

Lunashko Ukrainian, Russian
Derived from луна (luna), meaning "moon" in Russian.

Lunatici Italian
A nickname for a quirky or temperamental person, ultimately from Latin lunaticus "of the moon, moonstruck".

Lunavelasco Spanish (Latin American, Rare)
Un-hyphenated combination of the last names, Luna, and Velasco forming its’ own name. Luna meaning “the moon” in Latin as well as multiple languages. Velasco meaning “crow” or “raven”.

Lupescu Romanian
Possibly means "son of the wolf", from Romanian lup ("wolf").

Mac An Airchinnigh Irish
It literally means "son of the hereditary steward of church lands".

Mac An Easpaig Irish
It means "the son of the bishop" in Irish Gaelic.

Mac An Fhailghigh Irish
Means "son of the poor man". From the word failgheach meaning "poor man" in Irish

Mac An Fhilidh Irish
Meaning, "son of the poet."

Mac An Tiompánaigh Northern Irish
It means "son of the drummer" in Irish Gaelic from County Derry.

Mac An Tsámhaigh Irish
It means, "son of the peaceful man".

Mac A' Phearsain Scottish
Means "son of the parson" in Scottish Gaelic.

Mac Clingan Scottish (Archaic), Scottish Gaelic (Anglicized, Archaic)
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Gilla Fhinnéin meaning "son of the servant of Saint Finnian". The original Gaelic surname was also Anglicized as Mac Alingen.

Mac Con Charraige Irish
Means "son of the hound of the rock" in Irish, from Irish cú "hound" and carraig "rock".

Mac Con Chathrach Irish
Means "son of the hound of the fortress" in Irish, from Irish cú "hound" and cathair "castle, fortress".

Mac Con Mhaoil Irish
Means "Son of the short haired warrior''.

Macduff Scottish Gaelic
From the ancient Scottish Gaelic Mac duib meaning "son of the black/dark man." This name may have originated as a ethnic term about the native Scots used by Viking conquestors during the later half of the First Millenium... [more]

Mac Gille Mhearnoch Irish
Means "son of the servant of Mernoch".

MacGillis Scottish
The MacGillis surname is a very rare surname from Scotland. It means "Mac Giolla Iosa", and translates to "son of the servant of Jesus". The surname was first found in Perthshire in central Scotland.... [more]

MacGillivray Scottish
Anglicisation of Scottish Gaelic Mac Gillebhràth meaning "son of the servant of judgement".

Macginty Irish
Patronymic surname from the original Irish Gaelic form 'mac an tsaoi' meaning "son of the scholar". Notable namesake is Irish rugby player Alan Leon "AJ" MacGinty.

Mac Giolla Iasachta Irish
Means "son of the strange youth", from Irish Gaelic iasachta "loan" "foreign", hence denoting to a boy who transferred to another family for fosterage, a common custom in ancient Ireland.

Mac Giolla Phóil Irish
Means "son of the servant of Pól"

Mac Giolla Uidhir Northern Irish
It literally means "the son of the pale youth" or "the son of Odhar's servant."

Macgrath Irish
First found in County Clare, on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from ancient times.... [more]

Mac Laoidhigh Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McAlea, which comes from the word laoidh, which means "a poem;" or from Mac Giolla Íosa, which means "son of the devotee of Jesus."

Macnicol Scottish
A Scottish surname meaning "Son of the conquering people"

MacShanley Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Seanlaoich. Seanlaoich comes from Gaelic "the old hero."

Madlang-awa Tagalog
From Tagalog madlang awa meaning "mercy for the community".

Madlangbayan Filipino, Tagalog
From Tagalog madlang bayan meaning "the general public".

Madrigal Spanish
"Madrigal" comes from from the Venetian madregal "simple, ingenuous," from Late Latin matricalis "invented, original," literally "of or from the womb," from matrix (gen. matricis) "womb."

Maebara Japanese
Maebara is an uncommon Japanese surname that has more than one meaning, depending on the characters used to write it. The first and most common spelling is with the characters for "Before" (前) and "Original" (原)... [more]

Mäepea Estonian
Mäepea is an Estonian surname meaning "hill head" ("top of the hill").

Maghribi Arabic (Maghrebi)
Derived from Arabic المغرب (al-Maghrib) meaning "the west", also referring to the country of Morocco. It could be used to refer to a Moroccan person or (in English) someone from the Maghreb region of Northern Africa.

Maguadok Chamorro
Chamorro action word for "to dig a hole (in the ground)".

Mag Uiginn Irish
Original Gaelic form of Kiggins means "son of the Viking" Uiginn meaning "Viking". (See Higgins).

Maides English
Maides is an almost extinct surname which has decreased significantly in popularity since the 19th century, though has always been relatively uncommon. The surname is today most popular in Leicestershire but the family bearing the surname from that area seem to have originated from the south of Warwickshire... [more]

Malloch Scottish
Reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic MacIain Mhalaich "son of Ian of the bushy eyebrows", which was the family name of the MacGregors of Balhaldie. The Ian from whom the name is derived died in the early 16th century.

Mallows English
From Anglo-Saxon origins, meaning "The cross or mark on the hill". This surname is taken from the location 'Mallows Green' in England.

Manhattan English
From the name of the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City, in the U.S. state of New York. Derived from the Munsee Lenape language term manaháhtaan (where manah- means "gather", -aht- means "bow" and -aan is an abstract element used to form verb stems), meaning "the place where we get bows" or "place for gathering the (wood to make) bows"... [more]

Manlanget Chamorro
Chamorro for "all the heavens". Man- is a pluralization and Langet means "sky/heaven".

Mansfield English
Means "open land by the River Maun", from the Celtic river name combined with the Old English word feld "field".

Mantchev Bulgarian (Russified)
"Alternate Transcription of the form Manchev"

Manton English
Locational surname, derived from old English "the dweller near the chalky or sandy earth."

Manzoni Italian
Of uncertain origin: could be derived from a nickname given to those who raised and took care of bullock, or from the medieval terms manso or mansueto, denoting a gentle person.... [more]

Marcet Catalan
Marcet is a name that roughly translates to "Seven Seas" or "The Sea and the Sky" in the Catalan language. The name is unusual in the United States but very common in areas of Spain such as Barcelona, and in neighboring France.

Masihuddin Arab
The name Masih Uddin combines Masih, meaning “Messiah” (a title for Jesus Christ in Christian and Islamic traditions), and Uddin, meaning “of the faith” or “of the religion.” The name can be understood as “Messiah of the Faith”.

Mast German, Dutch
Derived from Middle High German and Middle Dutch mast "mast (fodder made of acorns and beechnuts); the process of fattening livestock", an occupational name for a pig farmer or a swineherd. In some cases, however, the German name may also have been derived from Middle High German mast, mastic "fat, stout".

Masterman English
occupational name meaning "servant of the master" from Middle English maister "master" (Latin magister "teacher, master, leader") and mann "man".

Masuko Japanese
From 益 (masu) meaning "profit, benefit" and 子 (ko) meaning "child, sign of the rat".

Mattingly English (British)
This name dates all the way back to the 1200s and research shows that Mattingly families began immigrating to the United States in the 1600s and continued until the 1900s. However, the place name (Mattingley, England) dates back to the year 1086, but spelled as Matingelege... [more]

Mcadory Northern Irish (Rare)
Anglicized form of Northern Irish Mac an Deoraidh meaning "son of the stranger", derived from Old Irish déorad "stranger, outlaw, exile, pilgrim".

Mcalinden Irish
From Irish Gaelic Mac Giolla Fhiontáin "son of the servant of (St) Fiontán", a personal name derived from fionn "white".

McAnulty Northern Irish (Anglicized), Irish (Anglicized)
Meaning "son of the Ulidian", from the Irish surname Mac an Ultaigh, from mac, meaning son, and Ultach, denoting someone from the Irish province of Ulster.

Mcateer Irish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac an tSaoir "son of the craftsman" (cf. McIntyre)

Mcbroom Scottish
Means "son of the judge".

Mcclure Scottish, Irish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Gille Uidhir (Scottish), Mac Giolla Uidhir (Irish), "son of the sallow lad".... [more]

McElhatton Scottish, Irish, Northern Irish
Derived from Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Chatain meaning "son of the servant of Saint Catan".

McElmurry Irish (Anglicized)
From Gaelic Mac Giolla Muire meaning "son of the servant of Mary". It is more commonly Anglicized as Gilmore.

Mcelwee Irish, Scottish
Of Gaelic origin, found in Ireland and Scotland. Derives from Mac Giolla Ruaidh, meaning "son of the servant of the red-haired youth", possibly a reference to a Dane or Norseman.

Mcevoy Irish (Anglicized)
Anglicized form of Mac Giolla Bhuidhe "son of the yellow-haired lad", from giolla "youth, page, boy" and buide "yellow".

McGillan Irish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Giolla Eoin meaning "son of the servant of Eoin".

McGinty Irish
Anglicized form of Mac an tSaoi, meaning "son of the scholar".

McHaffie Irish, Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Gille Chathbhaidh "son of the servant of (Saint) Cathbhadh".

Mchedlishvili Georgian
Means "son of the blacksmith" from Georgian მჭედელი (mchedeli) meaning "smith, blacksmith".

McInerney Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Gaelic Mac An Airchinnigh, meaning "son of the overseer (of church lands)".

Mckinstry Northern Irish
From Gaelic Mac an Aistrigh, a reduced form of Mac an Aistrighthigh "son of the traveller".

Mclane Scottish, Irish
Means "son of the servant of St. John".

McLaoidhigh Irish
Means "son of the poet".

McLial Scottish (Anglicized, ?)
"Son of the Blade"

McMunn Scottish
Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Mhunna meaning "son of the servant of Munn".

McNair Irish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac an Oighre "son of the heir". This form is associated mainly with Perthshire.

McNair Irish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac an Mhaoir "son of the steward or keeper".

Mcnicholas Irish
The McNicholas family stretches back through time to the Viking settlers who populated the rugged shores of Scotland in the Medieval era. The name McNicholas was derived from from the personal name, Nicholas... [more]

Mcnulty Northern Irish (Anglicized)
Irish surname historically associated with County Donegal in northwest Ireland meaning "descended of the Ulaid Nation". The surname is derived from an anglicized contraction of the original Irish patronymic Mac "descended" an Ultaigh "Ulaid race".

Mcrayne English, Scottish
Means "son of the queen," combining the surname Rayne with the prefix Gaelic prefix mac, meaning "son."

McStocker Irish (Anglicized)
Anglicized form of Irish Mac An Stocaire meaning "son of the trumpeter", from stocaire "trumpeter".

McTeer Irish, Scottish
This surname is a modern variant of the ancient mhac an t'Saoir which means "the son of the carpenter."... [more]

Mcvicar Scottish, Irish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac á Bhiocair (Scottish) or Mac an Bhiocaire (Irish) "son of the vicar" from Latin vicarius.

Meades English
The name Meades is a plural variation of the name Meade, Mead, Mede, etc., the spelling being rather arbitrary and phonetic in the middle ages (even among the very few scribes, clerics and high-born persons who were literate) and without due consideration of standarized form, hence the various spellings of the name today... [more]

Megarry Irish, English
From the Irish 'Mag Fhearadhaigh', meaning "descendant of the fearless one"

Megrelishvili Georgian
Means "son of the Mingrelian", derived from Georgian მეგრელი (megreli) meaning "Mingrelian".

Melaku Ethiopian, Amharic
From the given name Melaku, meaning "the angel" in Amharic. It is possibly related to Arabic/Hebrew Malak and Turkish Melek 2, also meaning "angel".

Melnichuk Russian, Ukrainian (Russified)
Means "son of the miller".

Mendiburu Basque
Means "top of the mountain" in Basque.

Mendiguren Basque
From the name of a hamlet meaning "edge of the mountain" in Basque.

Michalsky Polish
A variant of Michalski. "Polish and Jewish (from Poland): habitational name for someone from a place called Michale in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship or Michały in Masovian Voivodeship both named with the personal name Michał (see Michal ). Jewish (from Poland): patronymic from the personal name Michal." ... [more]

Middendorf German
"middle of the village"

Miedema West Frisian, Dutch
Derived from West Frisian miede "meadow, hayfield" and the suffix -ma "one of the men of".

Mikazuki Japanese (Rare)
Mikazuki is a one kanji surname that means "crescent moon".

Minghella English (British)
It derives from the Roman (Latin) "Dominicus", meaning "belonging to the lord god", from "dominus", lord or master. The name was given considerable impetus by the fame of the Spanish saint "Dominicus", who founded the Dominican order of monks, although it was already well established.

Mitcham English
Habitational name from Mitcham in Surrey so named from Old English micel "big" and ham "village homestead" or ham "water meadow" meaning either "the great homestead" or "the great meadow".

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]

Mitsugu Japanese (Rare)
This surname is used as 貢, 三次, 三続 or 巳継 with 貢 (ku, kou, mitsu.gu) meaning "finance, support, tribute", 三 (san, zou, mi, mi'.tsu, mi.tsu) meaning "three", 次 (shi, ji, tsugi, tsu.gu) meaning "next, order, sequence", 続 (kyou, kou, shoku, zou, tsugu.nai, tsudzu.ku, tsudzu.keru) meaning "continue, sequel, series", 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]

Molyneux French
Possibly a habitational name from Moulineux, meaning "mill of the waters", or derives from the Old French name De Molines or De Moulins, meaning "mill". The surname has been linked to a large French family that settled in Lancashire from France.

Moncrieffe Scottish
Clan Moncreiffe is a Scottish clan. The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Monadh croibhe which means "Hill of the sacred bough". The plant badge of Clan Moncreiffe is the oak, this presumably comes from the sacred tree.... [more]

Mond German
Either from a short form of an ancient Germanic personal name formed with munt "protection guardianship" making it a cognate of Monday 1 or probably also a topographic or habitational name referring to a house with the sign of a moon from Middle High German mane mone "moon".

Mondschein German, Jewish
topographic or habitational name referring to a house name meaning "moonshine" or a nickname for someone who was bald from the same word Middle High German mōne mān(d)e "moon" and schīn "shine".

Monteleone Italian
From various place names, meaning "mountain lion", or "mountain of the lion".

Morabito Italian
Ultimately from Arabic مُرَابِط (murabit) "holy man, one who preaches in the street; soldier stationed in an outpost", from which comes Sicilian murabitu "moderate, sober" and murabbiu "teetotal".

Morrissey Irish
Morrissey is an Irish name meaning "choice of the sea".

Moskalenko Ukrainian
Means "son of the Russian" from "москаль", a Ukrainian derogatory term for a Russian.... [more]

Mouchtaris Greek
Greek form of Mukhtar, from Arabic mukhtar (مختار) meaning "the chosen".

Mukushina Japanese (Rare)
From Japanese 無垢 (muku) meaning "spiritual purity; freedom from desire or aversion" and 品 (shina), a clipping of 九品 (kokonoshina) meaning "the 9 Stages in Life (in Buddhism)".

Mullarkey Irish
From Irish Gaelic Ó Maoilearca "descendent of the follower of (St) Earc", a personal name meaning literally either "speckled one" or "salmon".

Mullery Irish (Rare)
From Irish Gaelic Ó Maolmhuire "descendant of Maolmhuire", a personal name meaning literally "servant of (the Virgin) Mary".

Murako Japanese (Rare)
Mura means "village, hamlet" and ko means "child, sign of the rat".

Mustafi Albanian, German (Rare)
Means "the chosen one"

Muta Japanese
From Japanese 牟 (mu) meaning "pupil (of the eye)" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".

Nabrotzky German (East Prussian)
The story I was told was:... [more]

Nachtrieb German
It possibly comes from the German name of a nachtrab, which is a "night bird like the owl". Another possible meaning is "night tribe".

Nair Indian, Malayalam
From Nair, the name of a group of Hindu castes concentrated in the Indian state of Kerala. The origin of the word itself is somewhat disputed. Some believe it is derived from nayaka, an honorific meaning "leader of the people", while another theory suggests that is is derived from the Sanskrit नाग (nāgá) "snake, serpent" (a reference to the practice of snake worship)... [more]

Nairn Scottish
Means "person from Nairn", Highland region ("(place at the mouth of the river) Nairn", a Celtic river-name perhaps meaning "penetrating one").

Najaryan Armenian
Means "son of the carpenter" from dialectal Armenian նաջար (naǰar) meaning "carpenter" (of Arabic origin).

Nakamatsu Japanese
This surname combines 中 (chuu, ata.ru, uchi, naka) meaning "centre, in(side), mean (not as in the way a person acts), middle" or 仲 (chuu, naka) meaning "go-between, relationship" with 松 (shou, matsu) meaning "pine tree." One bearer of this surname is inventor Yoshirō Nakamatsu (中松 義郎), also known as Dr... [more]

Nalbandyan Armenian
Means "son of the farrier" from dialectal Armenian նալբանդ (nalband) meaning "farrier" (of Persian origin).

Nanatsuki Japanese
七 (Nana) means "Seven" and 月 (Tsuki) means "Moon, Month".

Nasution Batak
From Mandailing Nan Sakti On or Na Sakti On meaning "the magic one", itself from sakti meaning "mystical, magical" (ultimately of Sanskrit origin). This was a nickname of legendary Mandailing ruler Si Baroar Nan Sakti.

Natsumi Japanese (Rare)
This is occasionally,but rarely used as a last name. Natsu means "Summer",and Mi in this surname means "Look". So the literal meaning of this could be "Look at Summer",or "The Look of Summer"... [more]

Naughton English
Habitational name from a place in Suffolk, named in Old English with nafola meaning "navel" + tūn meaning "enclosure", "settlement", i.e. "settlement in the navel or depression".

Navarre French
The name means "By the sea". Originally a country of its own, located between Spain and France, Navarre became a part of France in 1284 when the Queen of Navarre married King Philip IV of France. After much war, becoming independent once again, and falling into Spanish rule, the Kingdom of Navarre is now split between Spain and France.

Navarrete Spanish
From the town of Navarrete in La Rioja, Spain, meaning "the mountain pass of the Navarrans" or "dun mountain pass". It became particularly popular in the province of Jaen through the Castillian conquest of Baeza.

N’dri Western African (Rare)
The meaning behind N’Dri is “ Nearby the river “

Nectaria Romanian
Feminine version of Nectarie, Greek saint-St.Nectarie from Egina. In Romanian this means "the juice of flowers". Nectaire is probably of the same derivation as the English word "nectar". This is the etymology of nectar (from http://www.etymonline.com/) from negtar > nogalon... [more]

Neji Japanese (Rare)
This surname is used as 子師, combining 子 (shi, su, tsu, ko, -ko, ne) meaning "child, sign of the rat (1st sign of Chinese zodiac)" with 師 (shi, su, nara.u, moromoro) meaning "army, exemplar, expert, master, model, teacher, war."

Nestor Irish
Derived from the surname Mac Girr an Adhastair (sometimes shortened to Mac an Aghastair), meaning "Short man of the halter." The Mac Girr an Adhastair were associated with the local lords, the Ó Lochlainn family.

Nevil English
"Variant of the name Neville"

Newlin English, Irish
An Irish surname meaning "By the the spring"

Nihon Japanese (Rare)
Means "Japan" in Japanese, though originally from 日本 (nihon), a clipping of 日本晴れ (nihombare) meaning "no clouds in the sky". It is a reference to an event in the Edo Period, of a weather forecaster who was asked for the weather and answered 日本晴れ... [more]

Norrell English, German (?)
A locational surname from the Germanic (Old English/Old Norse) term for the north. It either refers to someone who lived in a location called Northwell, lived north of a well, spring or stream (Old English weall)... [more]

Northway English
Habitational name from one or more of the minor places called with Middle English bi northe weie "(place) to the north of the way or road" from the elements norþ "north" and weg "way" including Northway in Monkleigh Widecombe in the Moor and Parkham Norway in Whitestone Narraway in Drewsteignton (all Devon) and Northway in Halse (Somerset)... [more]

Norwel English
English surname meaning "From the North Spring"

Norwell English
Means, "from the North Spring"

Novoselec Croatian
Derived from nov, meaning "new", and selo, meaning "village", so the possible meaning is "the one who's new to the village".

Novoselić Croatian
Derived from nov, meaning "new", and selo, meaning "village", so the possible meaning is "the one who's new to the village".... [more]

Oakenshield English (British), Literature
In J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit", the surname of Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of the Company of Dwarves and the King of Durin's Folk.

Ocampo Spanish, Galician
From the Galician toponym O Campo meaning "the field", also used as a habitational name from a town of the same name in Lugo, Galicia.

Odhiambo Eastern African, Luo
East African surname derived from the given name Odhiambo meaning “born in the evening”.

O'driscoll Irish
A variation of Driscoll, from Irish Ó hEidirsceóil, meaning "descendant of the messenger".

O'duffy Irish
The name O'Duffy originates from the gaelic surname "O Dubhthaigh". Dubh meaning "Black" in Gaeilge. They claim descent from the ancient Heremon kings of Ireland. They descend from "Cahir Mor", the King of Leinster in the second century... [more]

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.

O'grady Irish
Anglicized form of Ó Gradaigh, meaning "descendant of Gradaigh." Gradaigh is a personal name derived from the Irish Gaelic word grada, "the illustrious one."

Ó hÉilidhe Irish
Means "descendant of the claimant". From éilidhe "claimant"

Ó Laighin Irish
Means "of Leinster" or "descendant of the one from Leinster", denoting someone who came from the Irish province Leinster (Laighin in Irish)... [more]

O'Mulvenna Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Gaelic Ó Maoilmheana, meaning "descendant of Maoilmheana" a personal name meaning "chieftain of the main river."

Onslow English
Locational name from a place called Onslow described in Victorian times as being "a place within the liberty of Shrewsbury, in Salop', the original and still confusingly used, name for the county of Shropshire.

Onstad Norwegian, German
Habitational name from the name of any of seven farmsteads mainly in the southeast most of them with names formed from any of various Old Norse personal names plus stathir "farmstead" as for example Augunarstathir from the personal name Auðun (from Auth "wealth" plus un "friend")... [more]

O'prey Irish
From the Irish Gaelic Á Preith or Ó Preith meaning "of the cattle spoil".

Oregon English (American, Rare)
From the state of Oregon. Meaning “River of the west”

Orelias Nigerian (Latinized, Modern, Rare), Italian (Tuscan), Venetian
Means "golden", when coupled with a first name becomes "the golden". Varied from Orelia, "golden".... [more]

Orgerii Jewish, Judeo-Provençal
Aaron Orgerii is listed in the index of names of Jews in France in the late middle ages in Heinrich Gross' book Judaia Gallica. There is also an extent copy of a deed between "the Jew Nathan Orgerii and Johannes Raynaud", written in Arles in Provence in 1366... [more]