Submitted Surnames from Occupations

Given Name   Occupation   Location   Nickname   Ornamental   Other
usage
source
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Bernius German (Latinized), Lithuanian
German-Latinized form of Berner.... [more]
Berretta Italian
From berretta, originally meaning ‘hooded cloak’ (Latin birrus), later ‘headdress’, ‘bonnet’, hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker of such headgear or a nickname for an habitual wearer.
Berruti Italian
From Late Latin berrutum "cart", indicating someone who drove or made carts.
Berryann Medieval English (Rare)
The name is pre 7th century Olde English and later Olde French. It derives from the word burri or berri, translating as a fortress or castle and means 'one who dwelt at the castle'. The suffix 'man' also indicates that it was job descriptive for a guard or keeper of the castle... [more]
Berryhill English
A name for someone who worked as a servant at the manor house.
Bertagni Italian
Bertagni has a lineage in Genoa and one in Lucca. Possibly derives from Gothic, Lombard and Germanic names containing the root germanica bertha (bright) or the celtic bert (bearer).
Besemer German
Occupational name meaning "broom maker".
Beste French, English
Nickname from Middle English beste Old French beste "beast animal" (especially those used for food or work) applied either as a metonymic occupational name for someone who looked after beasts such as a herdsman or as a nickname for someone thought to resemble an animal... [more]
Bhandari Indian, Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Nepali
Derived from Sanskrit भाण्डागारिक (bhandagarika) meaning "storekeeper, treasurer", ultimately from भाण्डागार (bhandagara) meaning "storeroom, storehouse, treasury".
Bhaumik Bengali, Indian
Variant transcription of Bhowmik.
Bhowmick Bengali, Indian
Variant transcription of Bhowmik.
Bhowmik Indian, Bengali
Means "landowner, landlord" in Bengali, ultimately derived from Sanskrit भूमि (bhūmi) "earth, soil, ground".
Bhuiyan Indian, Bengali, Hindi
Alternate transcription of Bhuyan.
Bhuyan Indian, Bengali, Assamese, Odia
Means "landlord, chieftain", derived from Sanskrit भूमि (bhumi) meaning "earth, soil".
Bickel German, German (Swiss), Jewish
German: from bickel ‘pickaxe’ or ‘chisel’, hence a metonymic occupational name for someone who made pickaxes or worked with a pickaxe or for a stonemason. South German: from a pet form of Burkhart... [more]
Bickerman English
The toponym Bickerton is derived from the Old English beocere, which means bee-keeper, and tun, which originally denoted a fence or enclosure.
Biddle English, Irish
Variant of English BEADLE or German BITTEL. The name is now popular in the north east region of America, where it was brought by English and Irish immigrants.
Biehl German
From Middle Low German bil "hatchet", Middle High German biel; given to someone who made or used hatchets.
Bieler German, Jewish
Jewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name from any of the many places in eastern Europe whose name incorporates the Slavic element byel- ‘white’.... [more]
Bier German, Jewish
from Middle High German bier "beer" German bier Yiddish bir a metonymic occupational name for a brewer of beer or a tavern owner or in some cases perhaps a nickname for a beer drinker.
Bierbrauer German
occupational name for a brewer German bierbrauer. Derived from the elements bier "beer" and brauen "to brew".
Bikić Croatian
Occupational name for someone who raised bulls.
Binderman German
From an occupation, a variant of Binder.
Bindschädler German (Swiss)
Derived from German binden "to bind" and Swiss German schädlen "to make wood vessels", this is an occupational surname referring to a cooper, a barrel maker.
Binger English
Derived from the Old English name Binningas, which was a name for someone who lived near stables.
Birge Hungarian
Occupational name for a shepherd, from birga, a variant spelling of birka 'sheep'.
Birne English, German, Jewish
Means "pear" in German, making it the German equivalent of Perry 1, perhaps originally referring to a person who harvested or sold pears... [more]
Biscotti Italian
An occupational surname for someone who sells or bakes biscotti.
Bispo Portuguese
Means "bishop" in Portuguese, ultimately from Greek ἐπίσκοπος (episkopos).
Bitar Arabic
Means "farrier, blacksmith, smith" in Arabic.
Bittenbinder German
Occupational name for a cooper, from Middle High German büte(n) "cask", "(wine) barrel" + binder "binder" (agent derivative of binden "to bind").
Bizzell English
a corn merchant; one who made vessels designed to hold or measure out a bushel.
Blach Polish
Alternatively perhaps a metonymic occupational name from Old Polish blach ‘skeet iron’, ‘metal fittings’.
Blacksmith English
Occupational name for a blacksmith, a smith who work with iron. The name is rare in England and mostly found in North America, suggesting that it's a translation of a non-English name meaning "blacksmith" (see Kowalski, Raudsepp and Lefèvre for example).
Blade English
Metonymic occupational name for a cutler, from Middle English blade "cutting edge, sword".
Blakesmith German (Anglicized)
Derived from the German, Blechschmidt, it means "tin smith", and/or, blacksmith.
Bleecker Dutch
Occupational name for a bleacher of textiles, a launderer, or the owner of a public bleaching ground.
Bleeker Dutch
Occupational name for a bleacher of textiles, from Middle Dutch ble(e)kere.
Blesse English (British), Filipino, Indian, French
The last name Blesse was first discovered in Oxfordshire and held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. In the Philippines, Blesse means "a blessing in the family." In India, Blesse means "bless you."
Blöcker German
Occupational name for a jailer.
Blogg English
The name is most likely Anglo-Saxon or early medieval English in origin. ... [more]
Blonder Dutch
Occupational name for a brewer.
Blood English
Evidently from Old English blod ‘blood’, but with what significance is not clear. In Middle English the word was in use as a metonymic occupational term for a physician, i.e. one who lets blood, and also as an affectionate term of address for a blood relative.
Bloom English
Metonymic occupational name for an iron worker, from Middle English blome ‘ingot (of iron)’.
Bluemel German
Diminutive of the Middle High German bluome meaning "flower." The name is believed to be an occupational name.
Boatfield English
Occupational name for a person who worked on the deck of a ship.
Bobrownik Polish
From bobrownik, meaning "beaver hunter" or "beaver breeder."
Bodeman German
Bodeman is an occupational name meaning "adherent of the royal messenger".
Bodnaru Romanian
Romanian form of Bodnár.
Boehner German
Variant form of Bohner.
Boen Dutch
Occupational name for a bean grower, from Middle Dutch bone, boene "bean".
Boettcher German
Occupational name for a cooper, from Middle High German botecher, bötticher, bütticher, an agent derivative of botech(e), bottich, bütte "vat", "barrel".
Bohner German
Occupational name from an agent derivative of Middle Low German bönen meaning "to board, to lay a floor", and a topographic name for someone who lived in a loft, derived from a variant of Bohne combined with the suffix -er, denoting an inhabitant.
Bojārs Latvian
Derived from the Slavic title boyar.
Bojaxhiu Albanian
Derived from Albanian bojaxhi meaning "painter". This was the surname of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, better known as Mother Teresa (1910-1997), who was born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojiaxhiu.
Bolloqui Basque
Means "mill place."
Bolsonaro Portuguese (Brazilian)
Brazilian Portuguese cognate of Bolzonaro; in the case of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro (1955-), his Italian great-grandfather had the spelling changed from Bolzonaro upon emigrating to Brazil in the late 19th century.
Bolt English
From Middle English bolt meaning "bolt", "bar" (Old English bolt meaning "arrow"). In part this may have originated as a nickname or byname for a short but powerfully built person, in part as a metonymic occupational name for a maker of bolts... [more]
Boltz German
May designate a creator of bolts for crossbows or bowmen. May also be a short form of Baldwin.
Bolzonaro Italian
Occupational name for a person who operated a battering ram, derived from Italian bolzone literally meaning "battering ram".
Bomba Portuguese, Spanish, Polish, Ukrainian, Czech, Slovak
From bomba "bomb", (Latin bombus), hence probably a nickname for someone with an explosive temperament, or a metonymic occupational name for an artilleryman.
Bonal French
This is a surname formed from the Latin root "bonus" (= good) and the Germanic "wald" (waldan = govern). Bonwald meaning good governor.
Bonba Basque, Spanish
From Basque bonba meaning "bomb", (Latin bombus), hence probably a nickname for someone with an explosive temperament, or a metonymic occupational name for an artilleryman.
Bonde Swedish, Old Swedish, Danish
From Old Norse bóndi "farmer". Used as both a last name and a (rare) given name in Sweden (see Bonde for the given name and Bondesson as an example of a patronymic derived from this name)... [more]
Bonde English
Variant of Bond.
Bonds English
Variant of Bond.
Bonecutter English
Likely from someone who's job was to work with deceased people.
Bonnerjee Bengali
Different spelling of Banerjee.
Bontrager German
Coming from the Old German, Bonträger or Bornträger, meaning 'water carrier'.
Booker English
Occupational name for a maker of books, a scribe or a binder of books, from Old English bocere.
Boomgarden German, Dutch (?)
Either an occupational name for an orchard worker or a topographic name for someone who lives in or by an orchard.
Boone Dutch
Variant of Boen.
Boot English, Dutch, German
English: metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of boots, from Middle English, Old French bote (of unknown origin).... [more]
Boots English, Dutch, German
A variant of Boot meaning "shoemaker" in English or "boatman" in Dutch or German.
Borrero Spanish
Occupational name from borrero 'executioner'.
Bortnick Ukrainian, Jewish
Occupational name for a beekeeper, Ukrainian bortnik.
Bortnik Russian
Means "beekeeper" in Russian, used as an occupational name.
Bortnyk Ukrainian
Ukrainian cognate of Bortnik.
Bosser Breton
Bosser means butcher in Breton.
Bossier French
Occupational name for a cooper, from an agent derivative of Old French bosse 'barrel'.
Bostancı Turkish
Means "vegetable gardener" in Turkish.
Boswachter Dutch
Dutch for "forester."
Boteler English
Variant of Butler, from Old French bouteillier “bottler”.
Bottai Italian
From bottaio "cooper, barrel-maker".
Bottaio Romansh (Archaic)
Derived from Italian bottaio "cooper".
Bottaro Italian
Possibly from Italian bottaio "cooper, barrel-maker".
Botticelli Italian
Etymology uncertain. It can derive from the Italian word botte meaning "barrel" and from the occupation bottaio meaning "cooper". In the case of Sandro Botticelli it has probably another origin... [more]
Boudreaux French
Variant of Beaudreau. Originated in ancient area known as Languedoc, where the family was established. Comes from having lived in Languedoc, where the name was found since the early Middle Ages.
Boulanger French
Means "baker" in French.
Boulier French
Occupational name for a maker of balls or the organizer of a game of boules, from French boule meaning "ball".
Bouthillette French
Diminutive form of Boutilier.
Boutilier French
Name for a butler or sommelier of a medieval household.
Bovary French
It is the surname of the famous fictional character Emma Bovary protagonist of Gustave Flaubert's novel.
Bowe Medieval English, English, Irish (Anglicized)
There are three possible sources of this surname, the first being that it is a metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of bows, a vital trade in medieval times before the invention of gunpowder, and a derivative of the Old English boga "bow", from bugan "to bend"... [more]
Bower English, Scottish
Scottish: occupational name for a bow maker, Older Scots bowar, equivalent to English Bowyer. ... [more]
Bowerman English, English (American)
1. English: occupational name for a house servant who attended his master in his private quarters (see Bower). ... [more]
Bowker English
A surname of French origin, from the occupational term for 'butcher' (boucher). Some theories have it that it derives from OE 'bocer', meaning a scribe, but the former is more likely and is more widely affirmed.
Bowyer English
English: occupational name for a maker or seller of bows (see Bow), as opposed to an archer. Compare Bowman.
Boyajian Armenian
Alternate transcription of Boyajyan.
Boyajyan Armenian
Means "son of the painter" from Armenian պոյաճի (poyači) meaning "dyer, painter".
Braley English (American)
A New England variant spelling of Brailey. French: from a diminutive of Brael, from Old French braiel, a belt knotted at the waist to hold up breeches; presumably an occupational name for a maker of such belts... [more]
Branner Danish, German, English
Danish variant of BRANDER and German variant of BRANTNER.
Brashear French (Anglicized)
Americanized spelling of French Brasseur or Brassier "brewer."
Brasseur French
French and English (of both Norman and Huguenot origin): occupational name for a brewer, from Old French brasser ‘to brew’. See also Brasher.
Braunershrither German, Dutch, English
This name mean Leather (Tanned) Knight, or a fighter of leather armor, or in Dutch, Leather writer, one who branded print on leather
Breaux French (Cajun)
Originally from the region of Poitou.
Brenn German
Variant of Brenner.
Brenner German, German (Austrian), Jewish
Derived from Middle High German brennen "to burn". Both as a German and a Jewish name, this was an occupational name for a distiller of spirits. As a German surname, however, it also occasionally referred to a charcoal or lime burner or to someone who cleared forests by burning.
Bresser English
The surname is derived from the old English word brasian, meaning to make out of brass. This would indicate that the original bearer of the name was a brass founder by trade. The name is also derived from the old English Broesian which means to cast in brass and is the occupational name for a worker in brass.
Breuer German, Jewish
occupational name for a brewer of beer or ale from Middle High German briuwer "brewer". Cognitive of Brewer.
Breunig German, German (Austrian), American
Origin probably in Frankfurt am Main... [more]
Breyer German (Americanized)
Americanized variant of Brauer.
Briatore Italian
This surname originates from the province of Cuneo in the Piedmont region of Italy. It is probably derived from Piedmontese brijador meaning "postilion, coachman", which itself is ultimately derived from Piedmontese bria meaning "bridles, reins".... [more]
Bridon French (Rare)
Patronymic surname derived from French bride "bridle, harness", this name used to denote a maker or merchant of bridle, harness or horse-gear and more generally a saddler.
Broccoli Italian, Sicilian
From the Italian plural for “The flowering crest of a cabbage”. Best known as the surname of the (Calabrian-originated) Sicilian American family who made James Bond internationally famous, by making movies (loosely) based on the books where the titular antihero himself appeared.
Broker English
Name given to someone who worked as a broker, an agent for the sale and purchase of goods and services. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Anglo-French word brocour, which has the same meaning as the English word broker
Brook German, Jewish
Americanized spelling of German Bruch and Jewish Bruck.
Brookman English, American
English: variant of Brook. ... [more]
Brot Alsatian
Derived from German Brot "bread", this surname was given to someone who sold or baked bread.
Brottman German
Dr Mikita Brottman
Brouwers Dutch
Possibly means "brewer; brewers" relating to one who brews beer.
Broward English
Probably a variant of Brower.
Bruck Jewish
From Polish, Belorussian, or Yiddish bruk "pavement", possibly an occupational name for a paver.
Brucker Jewish
From Polish brukarz or Yiddish bruk "pavement", possibly an occupational name for a paver.
Bruckman German, English
German (Bruckmann): variant of Bruck, with the addition of the suffix -mann ‘man’. ... [more]
Brueckman Low German
it means "bridge man" or one who cares for a bridge
Brueckner German, German (Silesian)
German (Brückner): from Middle Low German brugge, Middle High German brugge, brücke, brügge ‘bridge’ + the agent suffix -ner, hence a topographic name for someone living by a bridge, an occupational name for a bridge toll collector, or in the southeast (Silesia for example) a bridge keeper or repairer... [more]
Brueggemann Low German, German
North German (Brüggemann): topographic name for someone who lived near a bridge or a metonymic occupational name for a bridge keeper or street paver, Middle Low German brüggeman (see Bruckman, Brueckner).
Bruegger Low German
North German (Brügger): occupational name for a bridge keeper, paver, or road builder, Middle Low German brügger. Compare Brueggemann.
Brueggert Germanic (Anglicized)
Translated literally, the name means "bridge-man," and referred to the occupation of taking toll at bridges. The name was found most frequently in Frankfurt in the 12th and 13th centuries. North German (Brügger) and South German: occupational name for a bridge keeper paver or road builder... [more]
Brüggemann German
Name for someone who worked as a street paver or bridge keeper, or someone who lived near a bridge. From Middle Low German brügge "bridge" or brüggeman "street paver".
Brugger German, American
South German variant or Americanized spelling of North German Brügger (see Bruegger). habitational name for someone from any of various (southern) places called Bruck or Brugg in Bavaria and Austria.
Brugman Dutch, Swiss
Dutch: topographic name for someone who lived near a bridge or a metonymic occupational name for a bridge keeper, from Dutch brugge ‘bridge’ (see Bridge); in some cases, it is a habitational name for someone from the Flemish city of Bruges (or Brugge), meaning ‘bridges’... [more]
Bublik Ukrainian, Belarusian, Russian
From bublik, a bagel-like bread roll.
Buckman English
Occupational name for a goatherd (Middle English bukkeman) or scholar (Old English bucman "book man"). It could also be a shortened form of Buckingham or a variant of BUCKNAM.
Buechler German
From the common field name Büchle 'beech stand', the -er suffix denoting an inhabitant. from buchel 'beech nut', hence a metonymic occupation name for someone who owned or worked in an oil mill producing oil from beech nuts.
Buehman German
Variant of Bauer.
Buermeister German
North German: status name for the mayor or chief magistrate of a town, from Middle Low German bur ‘inhabitant, dweller’, ‘neighbor’, ‘peasant’, ‘citizen’ + mester ‘master’.
Buffet French
Occupational name for a maker of furniture, derived from Old French buffet meaning "table, cupboard". It could also be a nickname for an angry and violent man, from Old French buffet meaning "slap in the face"... [more]
Buffett French (Anglicized), English
Americanised form or a variant of French Buffet, or probably an English variant of Bufford. Famous bearers of this name include the Americans Warren Buffett (1930-), a businessman, investor and philanthropist, and Jimmy Buffett (1946-), a musician.
Buffo Italian
Character in an Opera Buffa; clown, jester, comedian, buffoon.
Buonopane Italian
Nickname for a person who is "as good as bread", or possibly a metonymic occupational name for a baker, derived from buono meaning "good" and pane meaning "bread".
Burel French
metonymic occupational name for a worker in the wool trade or perhaps a nickname for someone who habitually dressed in brown from Old French burel borel a diminutive of boure "frieze" a type of coarse reddish brown woolen cloth with long hairs (from Late Latin burra "coarse untreated wool").
Burgmeier German
Occupational name for the tenant farmer of an estate belonging to a castle or fortified town, from Middle High German burc "(fortified) town, castle" and meier "tenant farmer" (see Meyer).
Burl English
Old English occupational name originally meaning "cup bearer" or "butler" for one who dispensed wine and had charge of the cellar. Eventually the name came to mean the chief servant of a royal or noble household and was replaced by the French language inspired named 'Butler,' akin to the world "bottler".
Burmeister German
North German: status name for the mayor or chief magistrate of a town, from Middle Low German bur ‘inhabitant, dweller’, ‘neighbor’, ‘peasant’, ‘citizen’ + mester ‘master’.
Burruchaga Spanish, Basque
From "Pais Vasco" in Spain.
Bushi Japanese
Bushi means "warrior, smaurai".
Busse German, English
German: variant of Buss. ... [more]
Butkereit German (East Prussian)
Derived from Prussian-Lithuanian butkėrė (Standard Lithuanian butkėrė), a Balticized form of German Böttcher "cooper, barrel maker" combined with the East Prussian German patronymic suffix -eit.
Butter English, German
1. English: nickname for someone with some fancied resemblance to a bittern, perhaps in the booming quality of the voice, from Middle English, Old French butor ‘bittern’ (a word of obscure etymology)... [more]
Buttermann German
An occupational name for a dairyman or seller of dairy produce. See Butter.
Buttery English (British)
The baker in Old English.
Buttiġieġ Maltese
From Maltese bu t-tiġieġ literally meaning "father of chickens", referring to a poulterer or someone who owned chickens.
Buttigieg Maltese
Unaccented form of Buttiġieġ.
Büttner German
Occupational name for a cooper or barrel-maker, an agent derivative of Middle High German büte(n) "cask", "wine barrel". This name occurs chiefly in eastern German-speaking regions.
Caan Scottish, German, Jewish
Altered spelling of Jewish Cohen, or probably denoted a person from the city of Aberdeen in Scotland. Famous bearers of this surname include American actor James Caan (1940-2022), as well as his son Scott Caan (1976-), also a noted actor.
Caba Spanish, Catalan
Variant of Cava.
Caballo Spanish, Spanish (Latin American)
Derived from the Spanish word cabello, ultimately derived from the Latin word caballus, meaning "horse". This denoted someone who worked in a farm that took care of horses, or someone who had personality traits attributed to a horse, such as energetic behaviour.
Cabell Catalan, English, German
As a Catalan name, a nickname for "bald" from the Spanish word cabello. The English name, found primarily in Norfolk and Devon, is occupational for a "maker or seller of nautical rope" that comes from a Norman French word... [more]
Cable English
English: metonymic occupational name for a maker of rope, especially the type of stout rope used in maritime applications, from Anglo-Norman French cable ‘cable’ (Late Latin capulum ‘halter’, of Arabic origin, but associated by folk etymology with Latin capere ‘to seize’).... [more]
Cacciatore Italian
Derived from Italian cacciatore meaning "hunter, huntsman", ultimately derived from cacciare meaning "to hunt".
Caesar Ancient Roman, English
An Ancient Roman political title that indicated a military leader. A famous bearer was Julius Caesar, Roman general, dictator, and politician. In modern times, the surname is used to refer to an individual with a tyrannical attitude, which references the connotative meaning of the word "caesar", meaning "a dictator".
Caird Scottish
Derived from Scottish Gaelic ceard meaning "craftsman, artist mechanic, travelling tinker".
Cajöri Romansh
Derived from Romansh casa "house" and, by extension, "household, family" and the given name Jöri.
Cake English
From the Middle English cake denoting a flat loaf made from fine flour (Old Norse kaka), hence a metonymic occupational name for a baker who specialized in fancy breads. It was first attested as a surname in the 13th century (Norfolk, Northamptonshire).
Calamari Italian
From Latin calamarius "relating to a writing reed, ink pen", a name for a scribe, or perhaps a fisherman from the Italian descendant calamaro "squid, calamari".
Caldeira Portuguese
Name given to a maker of kettles or other cooking vessels.
Caldeira Portuguese
Portuguese cognate of Caldera.
Caldeirao Portuguese
From Portuguese meaning "cauldron".
Calderone Italian
From the Latin word Caldaria "cauldron". Given to someone who worked as a tinker or tinsmith. Italian cognitive of Calderón.
Calero Spanish
Metonymic occupational name for a burner or seller of lime, from calero ‘lime’.
Calger Romansh
Derived from Romansh chalger "cobbler; shoemaker".
Callender English
Occupational name for a person who finished freshly woven cloth by passing it between heavy rollers to compress the weave. From Old Franch calandrier, calandreur.
Calliari Italian (Latinized, Archaic)
This is an Italian surname, in the north of Italy. Calliari is the result of the deformation of the graphically Calligari, where you can clearly see excision of the letter or character D, which is located in the middle of the surname... [more]
Calzadilla Spanish
habitational name from any of the places called (La) Calzadilla, named with a diminutive of calzada 'paved road'
Cámara Spanish
Occupational name for a courtier or servant who could access the private quarters of a king or noble, from Spanish cámara meaning "room, chamber".
Câmara Portuguese
Portuguese cognate of Cámara.
Cambareri Italian
Variant of Cammareri, an occupational name from Sicilian cammareri meaning "servant".
Camerlengo Italian
From Italian camerlengo "chamberlain".
Camilleri Maltese, Italian
Derived from Italian cammelliere meaning "camel driver".
Cammareri Sicilian, Italian
Means "servant, waiter" in Sicilian.
Cancino Spanish
A name for a person who first held the position of Chancellor.
Cancio Spanish
A name for a person who first held the position of Chancellor.
Cancrini Italian
Diminutive of Cancro.
Cancro Italian
Derived from Italian cancro "cancer". Probably an occupational name for a person who catches, cooks, sells crabs.
Candela Spanish, Italian, Sicilian, Catalan
Either an occupational name for a chandler (a candle maker or candle seller) or a nickname for a tall thin person, derived from candela meaning "candle" (from Latin candela).
Candy English
perhaps from Middle English candi "crystallized cane sugar" (via French from Persian qand "sugar") and used as a metonymic occupational name for a sugar merchant... [more]
Canela Spanish
Derived from the word 'canela' meaning cinnamon in Spanish. It Could also be a variant of the Catalan surname Candela.
Cannavaro Italian
Probably from a nickname used to refer to rope makers or hemp growers. This surname is most famously borne by brothers Fabio (1973–) and Paolo Cannavaro (1981–), former football players.
Cannella Italian
Derived from the word "Cinnamon" in Italian meaning someone who was a baker and or made cinnamon.
Cant English
Means "singer in a chantry chapel", or from a medieval nickname for someone who was continually singing (in either case from Old Northern French cant "song").
Cantor Spanish
Occupational name for a singer.
Cantore Italian
From cantore "cantor, singer", itself from Latin canto "sing; enchant, call forth by charms".
Canul Yucatec Maya
Means "protector" in Mayan.
Caplan Jewish
Variant of Kaplan
Caplin English
Means "singer in a chantry chapel" (from Old Northern French capelain, a variant of standard Old French chapelain (cf. Chaplin)).
Caporale Italian, Sicilian
From caporale, meaning "corporal"
Cappellano Italian
From cappellano "chaplain".
Capra Italian
From the Latin word capra meaning "nanny goat." This was a name originally borne by shepherds / goat herders.
Capraro Italian
Occupational name for a goatherd, derived from Italian capra meaning "goat".
Caprio Italian
from Latin caprae ‘goats’ or possibly from Greek kapros "(wild) boar" and so a metonymic occupational name for a goatherd or swineherd or a nickname for someone thought to resemble a goat or boar.
Caraballo Spanish
Occupational name for a knight or a knight's servant.
Caradine English, German (Anglicized)
Americanized form of German Gardein, itself a Germanized spelling of French Jardin. It could also denote someone from the village and civil parish of Carden in Cheshire, England.
Caramella Italian
Name given to a chalumeau player. Italian version of the French surname Caramelle.
Caramelle French
Name given to a chalumeau player, derived from the old French chalemel, calamel or chalemie, which in turn were derived from the Latin word calamus meaning "reed". Italian variations of the surname are: Caramella, Caramelli, Caramello (diminutive: Caramellino) and Caramelo.
Carandang Filipino, Tagalog
Occupational name for someone who dried things using fire, derived from Tagalog dangdang meaning "heating, toasting, drying through exposure to fire or glowing coals".
Caraway English
Probably means "spice merchant" (from Middle English carewei "caraway").
Carbonaro Italian
From carbonaro "charcoal burner".
Carbrey Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Gaelic Ó Cairbre and Mac Cairbre meaning "descendant of Cairbre", a given name meaning "charioteer".
Card English
English: metonymic occupational name for someone who carded wool (i.e. disentangled it), preparatory to spinning, from Middle English, Old French card(e) ‘carder’, an implement used for this purpose... [more]
Cardamone Italian
Occupational name for a spicer.
Cardenal Spanish, Spanish (Latin American)
Spanish cognitive of Cardinal. This surname is common in Nicaragua.
Cardinal English, French
from Middle English, Old French cardinal "cardinal", a church dignitary (Latin cardinalis, originally an adjective meaning "crucial")... [more]
Cardinale Italian, Italian (Tuscan), French, English
Italian cognate of Cardinal, as well as an English and French variant. A known bearer is the Italian actress Claudia Cardinale (1938-).
Cardon French
from the name of several places in southern France called (Le) Cardon. Or from Old Norman French cardon "thistle" (a diminutive of carde from Latin carduus) hence a topographic name for someone who lived on land overgrown with thistles an occupational name for someone who carded wool (originally a process carried out with thistles and teasels) or perhaps a nickname for a prickly and unapproachable person... [more]
Care English
Occupational name for a locksmith, Middle English keyere, kayer, an agent derivative of keye.
Carganico Italian
Possibly from cargar, an Italic descendent of Latin carrico "to load", indicating someone who carried or loaded items for transport for a living.
Ĉaristo Esperanto
Occupational name for a charioteer, from ĉaro, meaning "a chariot, wagon, or cart", and -isto, a suffix used for professions.
Carlan Irish
Anglicized form of Irish O'Carlain or O'Caireallain, from the Irish carla meaning a "wool-comb" and an meaning "one who" which roughly translates as "one who combs wool"... [more]
Carneiro Portuguese, Galician
Means "ram" in Portuguese and Galician, either used as an occupational name for a shepherd or a habitational name for someone from any of various places called Carneiro.
Carnell English
A crossbowman or archer who protected castles and fortresses.
Carosella Italian
From carosello "carousel, merry-go-round", possibly a nickname for a farmer, as a carousel was an allotment of grain collected by farmers. Also a type of jousting tournament.
Carpenito Italian
This surname derives from a person who had worked as a "carpenter".
Carpentieri Italian
Italian cognate of Carpenter, from carpentiere "carpenter".
Carpintero Spanish
Means "carpenter" in Spanish.
Carradine English, German (Anglicized)
Variant spelling of Caradine. This name is borne by members of the Carradine family of actors, notably the American actor John Carradine (1906-1988).
Carrel French
French: from Old French quar(r)el ‘bolt (for a crossbow)’, hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker of crossbow bolts or a nickname for a short, stout man. The word also meant ‘paving slab’, and so it could also have been a metonymic occupational name for a street layer... [more]
Carrell English
English: from Old French carrel, ‘pillow’, ‘bolster’, hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker of these. In some cases perhaps an altered spelling of Irish Carroll... [more]
Carrier English
An occupational name meaning someone who transports goods.
Cartier French, Norman
Original Norman French form of Carter. A notable bearer was Breton-French explorer Jacques Cartier (1491-1557), who is known for discovering the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Cartman Popular Culture
Means a man who pulls a cart. A famous bearer is Eric Cartman, Villain Protagonist of the adult cartoon South Park
Carville French, Irish
As a French location name it comes from a settlement in Normandy. As an Irish name it derives from a word for "warrior".
Carvoeiro Portuguese
Derived from the Portuguese word "carvão," which means "coal." It likely originated as a surname for someone who worked with or lived near coal, or it could have been a nickname based on physical characteristics or personal attributes associated with coal.
Casella Italian
From casa "house" (Latin casa "hut, cottage, cabin"), perhaps originally denoting the occupier of the most distinguished house in a village. Italian chef Cesare Casella (1960 - ) is one such bearer of this name.
Caslari Jewish (Archaic), Judeo-Provençal, Judeo-Catalan, Judeo-French
Abraham ben David Caslari was a Catalan-Jewish physician. Abraham Caslari (presumably a different man) is also listed in the index of known Jews in France in the late middle ages in the book Judaia Gallica by Heinrich Gross.
Cassel English, French, German
A surname derived from the Latin military term castellum "watchtower, fort". A variant spelling of the word castle. Denoted someone hailing from the commune of Cassel in the Nord départment in northern France or the city of Kassel (spelled Cassel until 1928) in Germany... [more]
Castagna Italian
From Italian castagna "chestnut" (from Latin castanea) for someone who worked with chestnuts. Variant of Castagno and Italian cognitive of Chastain.
Catapano Italian
Means "catapan, governor of a catepanate", ultimately from Byzantine Greek κατεπάνω (katepánō) "the one placed at the top, or the topmost".
Catchpole English
Meant "bailiff, especially (originally) one who could seize domestic animals in lieu of tax or debt" (from Anglo-Norman cachepol, from cacher "to chase" + pol "chicken").
Cauchon French, Norman, Picard
Metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of slippers, derived from French chausson literally meaning "slipper".
Caulfield Irish
Comes from the Irish Gaelic Mac Cathmhaoil, which was Anglicized to McCawell and then morphed into Caulfield. Mac Cathmhaoil comes from a word meaning "chieftan".
Cava Italian, Catalan, Spanish, Portuguese
From cava ‘cave’, ‘cellar’ (from Latin cavea), hence a metonymic occupational name for someone employed in the wine cellars of a great house, a topographic name for someone who lived in or near a cave, or a habitational name from any of numerous places named with this word.
Cavadenti Italian
From Italian cava ("to extract, to pull out") and denti ("teeth"), an occupational name for a dentist.
Cavagnaro Italian
Means "basket-weaver."
Cavalcanti Italian
Means "riding" in Italian. An occupational surname for people who worked with horses.
Cavalera Italian
A bearer of this name is Brazilian metal musician Max Cavalera, whose father was Italian.
Cavaleri Italian, Sicilian
occupational name from Sicilian cavaleri "rider mounted soldier knight". It was also used as a patrician title. See Cavaliere.
Cavallaro Italian, Sicilian
either a variant under Spanish influence of Cavaliere or an occupational name for a keeper or dealer in horses Sicilian cavaddaru.
Cavallini Italian
The surname comes from the words "cavallaro," which means a horse dealer; or from "cavalieri," meaning a horseman, rider or knight.
Cave Norman, French, English
A name of various possible origins. As a Norman French name Cave can mean "bald" from cauf or it can mean "worker in a wine cellar" or "one who dwelt in or near a cave". As an English name Cave refers to a Yorkshire river whose fast current inspired the name meaning "swift".
Caylor English
Anglicized form of Kaylor.
Cazan Romanian
From Romanian meaning "cauldron".
Ceasar African American, German (Americanized)
Possibly derived from the given name Ceasar (a variant of Caesar), or an Americanized form of German Zieser.
Ceaușescu Romanian (Rare)
Derived from Romanian ceauș "doorman, courier, usher" (ultimately derived from Ottoman Turkish çavuş "messenger, sergeant"). A notable bearer of the surname is the infamous Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu.
Ceesay Western African, Manding
Gambian surname of Mandinka origin, which originally indicated a descendant of a marabout, i.e. a West African Muslim teacher and religious leader.... [more]
Čelar Serbian, Croatian
Derived from čelar (челар), meaning "beekeeper".