Submitted Surnames from Nicknames

usage
source
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Ó Bolguidir Irish
The name Ó Bolguidir has changed considerably in the time that has passed since its genesis. It originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Bolguidir, which likely meant "yellow-belly" (from bolg odhar).
Obuch Medieval Polish (Rare)
Obuch is a surname found in Poland and specifically areas that were part of the Polish-Lithuanian Kingdom. It was the name of a long handled battle hammer and may have denoted someone handy with the weapon or who produced the weapon... [more]
Occhi Italian
From Italian occhio "eye", a nickname for someone with good eyesight, or with distinctive eyes.
Occhibelli Italian
Probably from Italian occhio "eye" and bello "beautiful, good", as a nickname for someone with keen eyesight or attractive eyes. May also originate from a place of the same name.
Occhibianco Italian
Means "white eye" in Italian, most often given to foundlings.
Occhibove Italian
Probably means "ox eyes, cow eyes", from Italian occhio "eye" and bove "ox", perhaps a nickname for someone with large, dark eyes.
Occhilupo Italian
Means "wolf's eye" in Italian.
Occhiochiuso Italian
Probably from Italian occhio "eye" and chiuso "closed, shut", perhaps a nickname for someone who was blind, or known for being lazy.
Occhiodoro Italian
Possibly means "golden eye", from occhio d'oro.
Occhiogrosso Italian
Descriptive nickname meaning "big eye".
Occhionero Italian
From Italian occhio "eye" and nero "dark, black".
Occhiovivo Italian
Probably from Italian occhio "eye" and vivo "vivid, intense; alive", likely given to foundlings.
Occhipinti Sicilian
Derived from Italian occhi "eyes" and pinti "painted", denoting someone with dark eyelashes or with flecked or blood-shot eyes.
Occhirossi Italian
Means "red eyes" in Italian.
Ó Ciaráin Irish
A byname from a diminutive of ciar ‘dark’, ‘black-haired.'
Ó Ciardhubháin Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Kirwan.
Ó Cróinín Irish
It literally means "little saffron-colored one’s descendant".
Odeh Arabic (Mashriqi)
Derived from Arabic عودة ('awdah) meaning "return". This surname is primarily found in the Levant.
Odham English
Variant of Odom, altered by folk etymology as if derived from a place name formed with -ham.
Odisho Assyrian
Means "servant of Jesus" from Syriac ܥܒܕܐ (ʿaḇdā) meaning "servant" and ܝܫܘܥ (Išōʿ) meaning "Jesus".
Odom English
Medieval nickname for someone who had climbed the social ladder by marrying the daughter of a prominent figure in the local community, from Middle English odam ‘son-in-law’ (Old English aðum).
O'Dowd Irish
The original Gaelic form was Dubhda. The first portion of the name comes from the word dubh, which means "black" or "dark-complexioned."
Oechslin German (Swiss)
South German (also Öchslein): from Middle High German ohse ‘ox’ + the diminutive suffix -lin. An occupational name for someone who tended cattle, or for a cattle dealer; or a nickname for a farmer who used oxen for plowing, or for someone perceived to resemble an ox.
Oehm German
Variant of Ohme
Oehme German
Variant form of Ohme.
Oei Chinese (Hokkien)
Hokkien romanization of Huang.
Oey Chinese (Hokkien)
Hokkien romanization of Huang based on Dutch orthography. It is primarily used in Indonesia.
Ó Faircheallaigh Irish
It means "descendant of Faircheallaigh", a personal name meaning super war or Ó Fearghail, "descendant of Fearghail", meaning man of valour.
O'fee Irish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Fiaich "descendant of Fiach".
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.
Ogg Scottish
Anglicized form of a nickname from the Gaelic adjective óg meaning "young", used to distinguish the junior of two bearers of the same personal name.
Oğuz Turkish
From the name of an ancient Turkic people, itself derived from a Turkic word meaning "tribe, clan".
Ó hAngluinn Irish
A patronymic surname meaning "son of Anglninn." This name is, in turn, thought to be derived from Irish Gaelic word anglonn, which means "hero" or "champion."
Óhearcáin Irish
The surname ÓhEarcáin (Harkins) is derived from the Irish nickname of Erc or Earc meaning freckled. The diminutive of Erc or Earc is Ercáin or Earcáin. When the Irish alphabet added the aspirate “h” the name became hErcáin or hEarcáin with the hereditary surname prefixes Uí hErcáin, UahErcáin, ÓhEarcáin and (female)Ní Earcáin that was anglicized as Harkin, Harkan, or Harkins... [more]
Ohm German
Variant of Ohme
Ohms German
Variant of Ohme
Ohnmacht German
Means "powerlessness; helplessness; without power" in German. This was often used to describe someone very weak.
Ohtsuki Japanese
Variant transcription of Otsuki.
Oi Chinese (Hokkien)
Hokkien romanization of Huang.
Õige Estonian
Õige is an Estonian surname meaning "true" or "accurate".
Õigemeel Estonian
Õigemeel is an Estonian surname meaning "fair minded".
Ok Turkish
Means "arrow" in Turkish.
Öksüz Turkish
Means "orphan, motherless child" in Turkish.
Okumuş Turkish
Means "educated, well-read" in Turkish.
Okur Turkish
Means "reader" in Turkish.
Ol Dutch, Flemish
Shortened form of Van Mol.
Ol German
Variant of Alt or Oldt.
Old English
From Middle English old, not necessarily implying old age, but rather used to distinguish an older from a younger bearer of the same personal name.
Oldt Low German
North German: variant of Alt.
O'Lennon Irish
Original form of Lennon. Probably a variant of Ó Leannáin (from a by-name meaning "lover"), but may also be derived from O'Lonain (from lon, "blackbird").
Olgun Turkish
Means "mature, grown" in Turkish.
Oliphant English
Means "elephant" (from Middle English, Old French and Middle High German olifant "elephant"), perhaps used as a nickname for a large cumbersome person, or denoting someone who lived in a building distinguished by the sign of an elephant.
Oll Estonian
Oll is an Estonian surname, possibly derived from the masculine give name "Olev".
Ölmez Turkish
Means "immortal, undying, eternal" in Turkish.
Olorosisimo Spanish (Philippines, Rare)
Derived from Spanish olorosísimo meaning "most fragrant".
Oloroso Spanish (Philippines)
Means "fragrant" or "sweet (having a pleasant smell)" in Spanish.
Olyphant English, Scottish
Variant of Oliphant. A famous bearer is American actor Timothy Olyphant (1968-).
Ó Maoiléidigh Irish
Means "descendant of Maoléidigh" in Irish. This surname was stressed on the penultimate (second-to-last) syllable, and may have been shortened in some cases to give Leddy.
Ó Miadhaigh Irish
Meaning ‘descendant of Miadhach’, a byname meaning ‘honorable’.
Omtzigt Dutch
Derived from Dutch omzicht meaning "cautious, careful, circumspection", ultimately from the verb omzien meaning "to look around". It may have originated in a Dutch village with several farms named Omzicht, or as a nickname for a cautious person... [more]
Onasis Greek
From Turkish oynas which means "Lover".
Öncü Turkish
Means "innovator, pioneer, trailblazer" in Turkish.
Ông Vietnamese
Vietnamese form of Weng, from Sino-Vietnamese 翁 (ông).
Ong English
Variant of Yong
Ong Chinese (Hokkien), Chinese (Teochew)
Hokkien and Teochew romanization of Weng.
Onge English
Variant of Ong or Yonge
Onno Estonian
Onno is an Estonian surname derived from "onu" meaning "uncle".
Onotora Japanese (Rare)
From Japanese 男虎 (onotora) meaning "male tiger", from 男 (o) meaning "male; man", の (no), an unwritten possessive particle, and 虎 (tora) meaning "panthera tigris", referring to someone with qualities of a male tiger.... [more]
Onyilogwu Nigerian (Rare), Igbo (Rare)
Possibly means "he who is invulnerable to dark magic" in Igbo.
Ooi Chinese (Hokkien)
Hokkien romanization of Huang.
Ooms Dutch
Patronymic form of Oom, derived from Dutch oom meaning "uncle". Alternatively, could be from the given name Omaar.
Oorzhak Tuvan
Means "not a thief", derived from Tuvan оор (oor) meaning "thief, burglar" combined with чок (chok) meaning "not, no".
Ooy Indonesian
Indonesian spelling of Huang, based on Hokkien Ooi.
ʻŌpūnui Hawaiian
From the given name ʻŌpūnui.
Or Chinese (Cantonese)
Cantonese romanization of Ke.
Orakzai Pashto
Means "lost son" from Pashto ورک (worak) meaning "lost" and زوی (zoy) meaning "son".
Orange Medieval English, Medieval French, English
Derived from the medieval female name, or directly from the French place name. First used with the modern spelling in the 17th century, apparently due to William, Prince of Orange, who later became William III... [more]
Orekhov Russian
From orekh, meaning "nut".
Orfanelli Italian
Means "little orphans" in Italian, ultimately from Ancient Greek ὀρφᾰνός "without parents; bereft". Given to children raised in an orphanage.
Orfanov Russian
Derived from Greek ὀρφανός (orphanos) meaning "orphan".
Orus-ool Tuvan
Means "Russian boy" in Tuvan, from Tuvan орус (orus) meaning "Russian (person)" combined with оол (ool) "son, boy".
Osako Japanese
From Japanese 大 (o) meaning "big, large" combined with 迫 (sako) meaning "imperative".... [more]
Ó Scannail Irish
Ó Scannail is both the name of a sept in Ireland and a surname. It is derived from the Gaelic term scannal, meaning "contention" or "strife."
Osei Ghanian, Akan
This name is of Ghanaian, Akan, and Fante origin and means "noble, honorable"
Osnovin m Russian
Derived from Russian word основной, meaning "main."
Osterday American (Germanized, Rare)
One day in Germany there was a male infant left on the steps to a church. When someone found the baby on the steps, they decided to name him Oster because that day was the day of Easter. Easter in German is Oster... [more]
Ostrikov Russian
From ostrik, meaning "sharp".
Ōtaka Japanese
From Japanese 大 (ō) meaning "big, great" and 鷹 (taka) meaning "eagle, falcon, hawk".
Ōtomo Japanese
From Japanese 大 (ō) meaning "big, great" and 友 (tomo) meaning "friend".
Otomo Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese 大友 (see Ōtomo).
Ouattara Western African, Manding
From the name of the Wattara or Watara clan of the Dyula people, believed to be derived from a word meaning "prince".
Ouellette French (Quebec)
Canadian spelling of French (Norman and Champenois) Ouilet, from a Frenchified form of Willet, a pet form of William.
Oum Khmer
Alternate transcription of Khmer អ៊ំ or អ៊ុំ (see Um).
Ouwehand Dutch
Means "old hand" in Dutch, originally a nickname for a fisherman, associated with the phrase "old hands at sea". Another theory holds that it comes from a misdivision of the surname Oudeland... [more]
Ovechkin Russian
Patronymic derived from Russian овечка (ovechka) meaning "lamb". A famous bearer is the Russian hockey player Alexander Ovechkin (1985-).
Ovechkina Russian
Feminine transcription of Russian Овечкин (see Ovechkin).
Oven Slovene, German
Derived from Oven "ram, male sheep".
Owner English
From English owner meaning "a person who owns something".
Owusu Western African, Akan
Means "strong-willed, determined" in Akan.
Oy Khmer, Lao
Khmer and Lao form of Huang, based on Hokkien Oi.
Öz Turkish
Means "core, essence" in Turkish.
Ozbekov Kyrgyz
Means "son of an Uzbek".
Özçelik Turkish
From Turkish öz meaning "core, essence" and çelik meaning "steel".
Özden Turkish
Means "from self, from essence" in Turkish.
Özel Turkish
Means "private, personal" or "special, exceptional" in Turkish.
Özer Turkish
From Turkish öz meaning "core, essence" and er meaning "man, male, warrior".
Özlü Turkish
Means "succinct, concise" in Turkish.
Pääsuke Estonian
Means "swallow (bird)" in Estonian.
Pabón Spanish
Variant of Pavón from Spanish pavón "peacock" from Latin pavo.
Paciello Italian
Italian surname for "Little peacemaker"; a diminutive for the Italian word "paciere", meaning Peacemaker.
Pacleb Ilocano
From Ilocano pakleb meaning "to prostrate, to lie prone".
Pacyna Polish
Unflattering nickname from paczyna meaning "clod", "brickbat", or possibly a metonymic occupational name for a boatman, from the same word in the sense meaning "oar", "rudder".
Paek Korean
Alternate transcription of Baek.
Pagác Slovak
Nickname from pagáč meaning "clown", "buffoon".
Pagan English
Variant of Payne.
Paganini Italian
Patronymic form of Paganino.
Paganino Italian
Diminutive of Pagano.
Pagcaliwagan Filipino, Tagalog
From Tagalog pagkaliwagan meaning "too slow (in doing something)".
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.
Pahlavan Persian
Means "hero, strong man" in Persian.
Pahlavi Persian
Means "hero, champion, athletic, strong man", a variant of Pahlavan. It could also refer to a person who came from Parthia, a historical region situated in present-day Iran and Turkmenistan, derived from Persian پهلو (pahlaw) meaning "Parthian, person from Parthia"... [more]
Pahlevanyan Armenian
Means "son of the wrestler" or "son of the champion", ultimately from Persian پهلوان (pahlevân) meaning "strong man, champion, wrestler".
Paia Estonian
Paia is an Estonian surname derived from "pai" meaning "good".
Paik Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul 백 (see Baek).
Paixão Portuguese
Means "passion" in Portuguese, a reference to the Passion, the final period before the death of Jesus commemorated during Holy Week. It was originally used as a nickname for someone born on that day or for someone who had completed a pilgrimage on that day.
Pak Circassian
Circassian name derived from Adyghe пакъ (pāq) meaning "snub-nosed, bluntnose".
Pak Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul 박 (see Park 1).
Pak Chinese (Cantonese)
Cantonese romanization of Bai.
Pakdel Persian
Means "good-tempered, sincere" in Persian.
Pal Indian, Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Marathi, Odia
Derived from Sanskrit पाल (pala) meaning "guard, protector".
Pala Turkish
Means "machete, scimitar, blade" in Turkish.
Paliak Belarusian
Derived from Belarusian паляк (paliak) meaning "Pole, Polish".
Palimeris Greek
Derived from the Italian palmiere meaning "pilgrim".
Paljević Montenegrin, Croatian
Derived from paliti (палити), meaning "to burn, to set of fire".
Pallas German, Polish (Germanized)
Nickname for a small man, from Slavic palac 'thumb'.
Pallino Italian
Possibly from Italian palla "ball".
Pallotta Italian
From Italian palla "ball".
Palmieri Italian
Derived from Italian palmiere meaning "pilgrim".
Pamintuan Pampangan
Means "to obey, to serve" in Pampangan, derived from pintu meaning "respect, restraint, obedience".
Pamparacuatro Spanish
Bread-for-four in Spanish
Pancione Italian
Means "fat person, paunch, big belly" in Italian.
Panda Indian, Odia, Bengali
Derived from Sanskrit पण्डा (panda) meaning "wisdom, knowledge, learning".
Pandit Indian, Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Odia, Nepali
Derived from Sanskrit पण्डित (pandita) meaning "learned, wise" or "scholar, teacher".
Pandya Indian, Gujarati
Derived from Sanskrit पण्डा (panda) meaning "wisdom, knowledge, learning".
Panenka Czech
From Czech meaning "doll". Perhaps a nickname for a petite person.
Panesh Circassian (Russified)
From Adyghe пэ (pă) meaning "nose" and нэшъу (năŝ°) "blind".
Pangan Filipino, Pampangan
Derived from Pampangan mangan meaning "eat".
Panganiban Filipino, Tagalog
Means "careful, cautious", derived from Tagalog panganib meaning "danger".
Panggaga Filipino, Maranao
Means "strong" in Maranao.
Paniágua Spanish, Portuguese
Status name for a servant who worked for his board (pan "bread" and agua "water") and lodging.
Pannekoek Dutch
Means "pancake" in Dutch, possibly a nickname for someone who made or liked to eat pancake. Alternatively, it could derive from a place name, such as an inn or field named for pancakes.
Pantolin Swedish (Rare)
Swedish military name
Panzacola Indigenous American (Rare)
Named after the tribe meaning "hairy people".
Panzeri Italian
Either a nickname from Italian pancia "belly, paunch", referring to someone with a prominent belly (see Panza), or an occupational name for someone who manufactured girdles and armour, from panciere "corset, girdle; paunce (armour covering the belly)", ultimately from the same root.
Panzica Italian
From Sicilian panzicu "pot-bellied, paunch".
Papa Tagalog, Italian, Albanian, Romanian, Greek, Spanish, Portuguese
Means "pope, priest" in various languages.
Papa French
From French meaning "dad, father". Likely given to someone seen as a father figure.
Papas Greek
From Greek meaning "pope, priest".
Papazoglou Greek
Means "son of the priest", derived from the Greek παπάς (papás) meaning "priest" combined with the Turkish oğlu or oğul meaning "son, descendant".
Papin French
Either from Old French papin "pap (for kids)" a noun derivative of paper "to munch or eat" (from Late Latin pappare in origin a nursery word) as a nickname probably referring to a glutton... [more]
Pappalardo Italian
Means "glutton, hypocrite" in Italian, originally a nickname for a gluttonous person or someone who pretended to observe religious fasts while eating meat in secret.
Par Portuguese
Derived from Portuguese meaning "pair, couple, equal".
Paradise English, Scottish
Nickname for someone who "lived by a park or pleasure garden".
Paramar Indian, Gujarati
Means "one who strikes the enemy" from Sanskrit पर (para) meaning "other, alien, foreigner, enemy" and मार (mā́ra) meaning "killing, slaying, destroying".
Paramore French (Rare)
origin is unknown but the meaning of the name is lover used in France and England
Parata Maori
From a transliteration of the English word "brother" or "brothers".
Pardoe English
From a medieval nickname based on the Old French oath par Dieu "by God" (cf. Purdie).
Pardon French
A nickname for someone who had received the royal clemency.
Parfitt English, Welsh
Derived from Middle English parfit meaning "perfect."
Parlak Turkish
Means "bright, brilliant" in Turkish.
Parletti Italian (Rare)
It is a surname of Italian origin, believed to mean "talkative", although few have this surname. Approximately 11 people bear this surname.
Parmar Indian, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Hindi
Derived from Sanskrit परमार (paramara) meaning "slayer of enemies", from पर (para) meaning "enemy, adversary" and मार (mara) meaning "killing, slaying, destroying".
Parmentier French
An occupational surname for a maker of "facings" and "trimmings".
Parsa Persian
Means "pious, devout" in Persian.
Parsi Persian, Indian (Parsi)
Derived from Persian پارسی (pârsi) literally meaning "Persian", though it also refers to the Parsi (or Parsee), a Zoroastrian community in India.
Parson English
Means "priest, cleric, minister" in English, either an occupational name for someone who worked for a parson, a nickname for someone considered particularly pious, or perhaps given to illegitimate children of a priest.
Pasha Albanian, Ottoman Turkish (Anglicized), Turkish (Anglicized)
Pasha or pascha (Ottoman Turkish: پاشا‎, Turkish: paşa), formerly anglicized as bashaw, was a higher rank in the Ottoman Empire political and military system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries and others... [more]
Pashaei Persian
From the Ottoman title pasha, which was used by high-ranking military officers.
Pasqua French
Derived from Pasqua, a nickname for a person born during Easter (which itself is derived from Latin pascua). Famous beaters include Charles Victor Pasqua (1927-2015), a French businessman and a Gaullist politician.
Passe French
Possibly a nickname from passe 'sparrow
Passelewe Medieval English
The medieval name is from Old French passe(r) ‘to pass or cross’ + l’ewe ‘the water’, hence a nickname, probably for a ferryman or a merchant who was in the habit of traveling overseas, or else someone who had been on a pilgrimage or crusade.
Passmore English
Either (i) from a medieval nickname for someone who crossed marshy moorland (e.g. who lived on the opposite side of a moor, or who knew the safe paths across it); or (ii) perhaps from an alteration of Passemer, literally "cross-sea", an Anglo-Norman nickname for a seafarer... [more]
Patacsil Pangasinan
From Pangasinan pataksil meaning "treacherous".
Pater Dutch, German, English, Polish
From Latin pater "father", used as a religious title for a priest in Roman Catholicism. Possibly used semi-literally for a man who worked in the church, or figuratively for a solemn or pompous man.
Patera Czech
Nickname for the illegitimate son of a priest.
Pathak Indian, Hindi, Marathi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Nepali
Derived from Sanskrit पाठक (pathaka) meaning "reader, learner".
Pathan Indian (Muslim), Bengali, Urdu, Pashto
Derived from Hindustani पठान (paṭhān) meaning "a Pashtun (person)", referring to the Pashtun ethnic group inhabiting present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is sometimes used by Pashtuns who ancestrally migrated to India.
Pathiraja Sinhalese
Derived from Sanskrit पति (pati) meaning "husband, lord" and राज (raja) meaning "king".
Pathirana Sinhalese
Possibly from a title derived from Sanskrit पति (pati) meaning "husband, lord" and राणा (rana) meaning "king".
Patiño Spanish, Galician
From a diminutive of Spanish or Galician pato meaning "duck", used as a nickname for a person who waddled.
Patnubay Filipino, Tagalog
Means "guide, companion" in Tagalog.
Päts Estonian
Päts is an Estonian surname meaning "pone" or "loaf".
Patta Italian
Possibly from patta "draw, settlement", perhaps a nickname given to a negotiator. The same term can also mean "heat, warmth of the hearth".
Pauley English, German
English: from a medieval pet form of Paul.... [more]
Pauw Dutch, Flemish
Means "peacock" in Dutch. Could be a habitational name from a sign depicting a peacock, or a nickname for a proud or flamboyant person. In some cases, it can be a shortened form of the patronymic Pauwels "son of Paul".
Pávek m Czech
Diminutive of páv "peacock", hence a nickname for a pretentious or ostentatious person.
Pavek Czech (Americanized)
Americanized spelling of Pávek.
Pavón Spanish
Spanish cognitive of Pavone and variant of Pabón from Spanish pavón "peacock" from Latin pavo.
Pavon Spanish (Latin American)
Nickname for a proud man
Paytas Hungarian, English (American)
From the Hungarian nickname pajtás meaning "comrade, pal". Possibly originates from the Ottoman Turkish word پایداش‎ (paydaş) meaning "partner, sharer". A notable bearer of the surname is the American YouTuber Trisha Paytas.
Payton Irish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Peatáin "descendant of Peatán.
Paznyak Belarusian
Means "late one", from Belarusian пазней (pazniej), meaning "late".
Pazzi Italian
From Italian pazzo "crazy, insane, mad".
Peabody English
Probably from a nickname for a showy dresser, from Middle English pe "peacock" (see Peacock) and body "body, person". Alternatively it may be from the name of a Celtic tribe meaning "mountain men" from Brythonic pea "large hill, mountain" combined with Boadie, the tribe's earlier name, which meant "great man" (or simply "man") among the Briton and Cambri peoples... [more]
Pecchia Italian
Nickname, probably for an industrious person, from pecchia "bee".
Pechanec Czech
Pronounced /Pe-khan-nets/... [more]
Peet Dutch
Means "godparent, godchild" in Dutch, derived from Middle Dutch pete meaning "godfather, godmother, godchild".
Peh Chinese (Hokkien), Chinese (Teochew)
Hokkien and Teochew romanization of Bai.
Peinado Spanish
Derived from peinado meaning "combed" (past participle of peinar meaning "to comb"), hence a nickname for a well-groomed person or for someone with naturally smooth rather than curly hair.
Pelagatti Italian
Probably derives from an old expression meaning "cheat, scoundrel", literally a combination of pela "to skin" and gatti "cats".
Peled Jewish
Derived from Hebrew פלדה (plada) meaning "steel".
Pelekanos Greek
Means woodpecker" from Greek pelekanos "green woodpecker" (cognate with pelekan "pelican"; both come from pelekys "axe" the pelican because its beak is shaped like an axe the woodpecker because it uses its beak like an axe).
Pellegrin French
Unknown. Possibly a variant of Pellegrino. This surname was given to the Chilean named Raúl Alejandro Pellegrin Friedmann (1958-1988; nicknamed José Miguel).
Pellerin French
From Old French pellerin pelegrin "pilgrim" (from Latin peregrinus "traveler") applied as a nickname for a person who had been on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land or to a famous holy site elsewhere... [more]
Pellicano Italian, Sicilian
nickname from dialect pelecanò pelicanò "woodpecker" from modern Greek pelekanos "green woodpecker" (cognate with pelekan "pelican"; both come from pelekys "axe" the pelican because its beak is shaped like an axe the woodpecker because it uses its beak like an axe).
Pelosi Italian
Patronymic or plural form of Peloso.
Peloso Italian
Nickname for a man with long or unkempt hair and beard, from peloso "hairy", "shaggy".
Penney English
Variant of Penny.
Penning English, Dutch, Low German
From early Middle English penning, Low German penning, and Middle Dutch penninc, all meaning "penny". It was used as a topographic surname from the name of a field, or a nickname referring to tax dues of one penny.
Pensa Italian
Possibly from Italian pensa "think", indicating the bearer was known for being thoughtful or intelligent.
Percy English
Either a nickname from Old French percehaie "pierce hedge" (Old French percer "to pierce, penetrate" and haie "hedge, fence"), perhaps with the sense of someone breaking into an enclosure... [more]
Perdikis Greek
A surname derived from the Greek word "πέρδικα", meaning partridge or grouse. It appeared first time in the Byzantine Empire during the 11th century.
Perdue English, Irish, French
English and Irish from Old French par Dieu ‘by God’, which was adopted in Middle English in a variety of more or less heavily altered forms. The surname represents a nickname from a favorite oath... [more]
Pereire Breton (Latinized, Archaic)
This surname is the Gallic (Gaulish) origin and it means wild pear tree. There are also similar spellig in the Iberian Peninsula such as Pereiro, Pereyro, Pereiros, Perero and Pereros. These surnames (last names) correspond to families of the Celtiberian culture.
Pereiri Celtic (Latinized, Archaic)
Pereiri or Pereiro is a Galician surname in the north of Spain. It's a last name belonging to ancient Celtic tribes.
Perepelkin Russian
From perepel, meaning "quail".
Perese Gascon
Meaning the pear tree. It have a second meaning that is Son of Peter and it's a surname of the Christian inspiration. In Catalonia there is a derivative that is Parés (Variations: Pares, Parès, Parè and Pare).
Perla Italian
From perla "pearl".
Perna Italian
Meaning uncertain, possibly from the dialectic word perna "leg", denoting someone with a deformed or missing leg, or a variant of Perla.
Perpich English (American)
Americanized spelling of Croatian and Serbian Prpić. Prporuše was a term denoting young girls who, in the dry season, would visit houses in the village and pray for rain.
Perron Spanish
Spanish (Perrón) : probably from an augmentative of perro 'dog'.
Persia Italian, Spanish
Ethnic name or regional name for someone from Persia (modern-day Iran) or some other country with Persian-speaking peoples or a nickname for someone who had visited or traded with one of these countries (see the given name Persis)... [more]
Peršin Croatian, Serbian
From Croatian peršin meaning "parsley," likely referring to a grower or seller.
Person English
Variant form of Parson.
Pervak Ukrainian, Russian
Derived either from Russian первый (pervy) meaning "first" or directly from colloquial Ukrainian первак (pervak) meaning "firstborn".
Pesado Spanish
From Spanish meaning "heavy, weighty". It was likely given to individuals who were physically large or strong or as a reference to a heavy burden or responsibility.
Peska Czech
From a pet form of the personal name Pešek
Pestana Portuguese
Nickname for a person with prominent eyelashes, from Portuguese pestana "eyelash".
Petitjean French
Nickname for a small or little man, or ironically a large or tall man, derived from Old French petit meaning "small, little" combined with the given name Jean 1... [more]
Petito Italian, Judeo-Italian
Nickname for a small person, derived from a dialectal word ultimately from French petit meaning "small, little".
Petkevich Russian
Russian form of Piatkievič.
Pettie Scottish
Predominantly Scottish form of Petty.
Pettifer English
Nickname for a good infantryman, an old soldier who had lost a foot, or a person who was never tired of walking, derived from Old French pedefer, pied de fer meaning "iron foot".
Pettinati Italian
Diminutive form of Pettinato.
Pettinato Italian
Italian cognate of Peinado.
Petty English, Scottish
Derived from Norman French petit, 'small', thus a nickname for a small or insignificant individual.... [more]
Pettyfer English
Variant spelling of Pettifer. The British actor and model Alex Pettyfer (1990-) is a famous bearer of this surname.
Peverelli Italian
Likely an altered form of Poverelli.
Pfautz German
It was originally given as a nickname for a chubby person.
Pfeffer German, Jewish
Occupational name for a spicer, or a nickname for a person with a fiery temper, for a small man, or for a dark-haired person. Derived from German Pfeffer "pepper".
Pfeil German
From Middle High German pfil ‘arrow’ (from Latin pilum ‘spike’, ‘javelin’), either a metonymic occupational name for an arrowsmith or possibly a nickname for a tall thin man.
Pham Vietnamese
Simplified variant of Phạm.
Phat Khmer
Means "blow, scatter, disperse"; "paint, color, brush" or "repay" in Khmer.
Phénix French (Quebec)
French Canadian variant of Phoenix.
Phenix French (Quebec, Anglicized)
Either (i) an anglicization of French Canadian Phénix, literally "phoenix", probably originally a nickname of now lost import; or (ii) a different form of Fenwick.
Pheonix English
A rare nickname given for someone's appearance of blonde and red hair just as a phoenix has colorful plumage and a tail of gold and scarlet.
Philippart Belgian
In the Medieval period, of Ancient Greek origin, derives from philippos, a compound made of philein meaning "to love", and hippos, a horse, hence "lover of horses".
Phonekeo Lao
From Lao ພອນ (phone) meaning "blessing" and ແກ້ວ (keo) meaning "jewel, gem".
Phonesavanh Lao
From Lao ພອນ (phone) meaning "blessing" and ສະຫວັນ (savanh) meaning "heaven".
Phonevilay Lao
From Lao ພອນ (phone) meaning "blessing" and ວິໄລ (vilay) meaning "splendid, beautiful".
Pi Chinese, Korean
From Chinese 皮 (pí) meaning "skin, hide, leather".
Piatkievič Belarusian
Belarusian Latin spelling of Pyatkevich.
Pica Italian, Catalan
Nickname for a gossipy or garrulous person, from the central-southern Italian word pica ‘magpie’. Compare Picazo.Catalan: habitational name from any of the numerous places called Pica.Catalan: from either pica ‘pointed object’ (weapon, etc.) or a derivative of picar ‘to prick’.
Picazo Spanish
Variant of Picasso, from Latin "pica" meaning magpie.
Piccioni Italian
From Italian piccione, "pigeon".
Piccolo Italian
Nickname from piccolo "small".
Pich Khmer
Means "diamond" in Khmer.
Pichugin Russian
From pichuga, meaning "small bird".
Pickett English
Of Norman origin, from the personal name Pic, here with the diminutive suffixes et or ot, and recorded as Picot, Pigot and Piket. The name is ultimately of Germanic derivation, from pic meaning "sharp" or "pointed", which was a common element in names meaning for instance, residence near a "pointed hill", use of a particular sharp or pointed tool or weapon, or a nickname for a tall, thin person.
Picó Catalan
Probably a nickname from Catalan picó "having a thick upper lip".
Picot French
From Old French picot "pointed object pickaxe" a nickname for someone who used such an implement.
Piednoel French
Modern (and also more common) form of Piénoel.
Piénoel French (Rare)
French surname that possibly refers to the buckled shoes that the original bearer was wearing, in which case it is derived from Old French pié meaning "foot" combined with Old French noiel meaning "buckle"... [more]
Pierahud Belarusian
Derived from Belarusian перагуд (pierahud) meaning "prolonged rumble". This may have been a nickname for a gossip.
Pigg English
Derived from Middle English pigge meaning "young hog".
Pikachu Brazilian
From Japanese ピカチュウ (Pikachuu), derived from the onomatopoeic words ピカピカ (pikapika), a sparkly sound, and チュウチュウ (chuuchuu), a mouse sound. It happens to be a nickname for someone with a short stature who runs super fast according to the famous barrier Yago Pikachu (born Glaybson Yago Souza Lisboa) a Brazilian footballer who plays for Fortaleza.
Pikk Estonian
Pikk is an Estonian surname meaning "long" and "tall".
Pikrammenos Greek
From Greek πικρός (pikrós) meaning "bitter, acrid, embittered". A famous bearer is the Greek judge and politician Panagiotis Pikrammenos (1945-), who was Deputy Prime Minister of Greece... [more]