American Submitted Surnames

American names are used in the United States. See also about American names.
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Nice English
From the English word 'nice', meaning "kind".
Nickerson English
Means "son of Nicholas".
Nicks English, German
From the nickname of Nicholas.
Nickson English
Variant of Nixon, patronymic from the given name Nicholas.
Niggeman English
Meaning unknown. Possibly means "new man"
Nigh English
Variant of Nye.
Night English
Variant of Knight.
Nightingale English
Nickname for someone with a good voice from Middle English nightegale "nightingale" (Old English nihtegale, ultimately from niht "night" and galan "to sing").
Nighy English
Pet form of Nigh.
Nikolas English, Greek
From the given name Nikolas.
Nine English (American)
Americanized spelling of German Nein or Neun, from Middle High German niun meaning "nine".
Noah English
Derived from the biblical name Noah.
Noar English
This surname is thought to be derived from nore which could mean "shore, cliff." This could denote that someone might have lived in a shore or cliff. It may also be used as a surname for someone who lived in the now 'diminished' village of Nore in Surrey.
Nobbs English
Derived from Hob, a Medieval English diminutive of Robert.
Noble English, Scottish, Irish, French
Nickname from Middle English, Old French noble "high-born, distinguished, illustrious" (Latin nobilis), denoting someone of lofty birth or character, or perhaps also ironically someone of low station... [more]
Nock Celtic, English
Dweller at the oak tree; originally spelt as "Noake" evolved into "Nock".
Nocte American
Means "night" in Latin.
Noggy English (American, Rare)
Perhaps a variant of Hungarian Nagy.
Noice English
Variant spelling of Noyce.
Noon English
Either (i) from a medieval nickname for someone of a sunny disposition (noon being the sunniest part of the day); or (ii) from Irish Gaelic Ó Nuadháin "descendant of Nuadhán", a personal name based on Nuadha, the name of various Celtic gods (cf... [more]
Norcross English
It indicates familial origin in Norcross near Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire.
Nordeen English (American)
Perhaps an anglicization of Nordin or Nordén.
Nordick English
Habitational name from a place so named near Bocholt, in the Lower Rhine area.
Norey English
Variant of Norrie and Norry.
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]
Norrington English
Norrington is the name given to a person from the eponymous place.
Norrison English
Means "son of Norris".
Norsworthy English
Habitational name from Norseworthy in Walkhampton, Devon.
Northam English
habitational namefrom Northam (Devon) Northam Farm in Brean (Somerset) Northam in Southampton (Hampshire) or a lost Northam in Redbridge Hundred Hampshire. The place names derive from Old English north "north northern" and ham "village homestead" or hamm "water meadow".
Northcote English
English: variant of Northcutt.
Northcott English
Derived from the Old English words "norð," meaning "north," and "cot," meaning a "cottage," or "shelter."
Northern English
Topographic name, from an adjectival form of North.
Northey English
habitational name from Northay in Hawkchurch Devon... [more]
Northland English
Meaning "North land".
Northrup English (?)
Variant of Northrop
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 north "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]
Norway English
From the country in Europe.
Norwel English
English surname meaning "From the North Spring"
Norwell English
Means, "from the North Spring"
Nottage English
Nickname referring to the nuthatch bird, derived from Middle English notehache meaning "nuthatch".
Nourse English
Variant of Norris 2, from norice "nurse".
November English (American)
From the name of the month.
Noxon English
Variant of Nixon. It is derived from the personal name Nicholas, which was Nik, or Nikke in Old English.
Noy English
Either (i) from the medieval male personal name Noye, the English form of the Hebrew name Noach "Noah"; or (ii) an invented Jewish name based on Hebrew noy "decoration, adornment".
Noye English
Patronymic form of the biblical male given name Noah.
Nugent English, Irish, French
An English, Irish (of Norman origin) and French habitational surname derived from any of several places in northern France (such as Nogent-sur-Oise), From Latin novientum and apparently an altered form of a Gaulish name meaning "new settlement".
Numan English, German (Anglicized)
Variant of Neumann. A famous bearer is English musician Gary Numan.
Nunn English
Means someone who is a nun
Nunnallys English (American)
A common surname in America, belonging to 4058 individuals. Nunnally is most common among White (63.36%) and Black/African American (30.93%) individuals.
Nurse English
Variant of Norris 2, from Old French norice "nurse".
Nute Anglo-Saxon, English
Derived from the given name Cnute. Alternatively, it may be of nickname origin, from the Old English word hnutu, which meant brown, and would have been given to someone with a brown complexion.
Nuttall English
English: habitational name from some place named with Old English hnutu ‘nut’ + h(e)alh ‘nook’, ‘recess’. In some cases this may be Nuthall in Nottinghamshire, but the surname is common mainly in Lancashire, and a Lancashire origin is therefore more likely... [more]
Nutter English
Means either (i) "scribe, clerk" (from Middle English notere, ultimately from Latin notārius); or (ii) "person who keeps or tends oxen" (from a derivative of Middle English nowt "ox")... [more]
Nyce English
Variant of Nice.
Nygard English (American), Norwegian (Rare)
Form of Nygård mostly used outside Scandinavia, as well as a (rare) Norwegian variant.
Oak English
Topographic surname for someone who lived near an oak tree or in an oak wood, from Middle English oke "oak".
Oakden English
A variant of Ogden, from a place name derived from Old English āc "oak" and denu "valley". Famous bearers include British diplomat Edward Oakden and English cricketer Patrick Oakden.
Oakes English, Irish
English: Topographic name, a plural variant of Oak.... [more]
Oakland English
This surname is derived from Old English āc and land and it, obviously, means "oak land."
Oakleaf English (American)
Probably an Americanized (translated) form of Swedish Eklöf.
Oaks English
English variant spelling of Oakes and Americanized form of Jewish Ochs.
Oakwell English
Probably either from the former village of Oakwell-in-the-Blean in the county of Kent, or Ockwell Manor, and again a former village, near Bray, in Berkshire
Oates English
Patronymic from the Middle English personal name Ode (see Ott).
Oatfield English
Means "oat field". Cognate of Haberfeld
Oatis English
Altered spelling of Otis, itself a variant of Oates.
Oatridge English
From an unidentified place called Oatridge apparently named with Old English hrycg ‘ridge’ as the final element.
Oats English
Variation of Oates.
Oberg English
Anglicized form of either Åberg or Öberg.
Oberley English
Of debated origin and meaning; theories include an Anglicized form of Oberle.
Obesus American
Means "obese" in Latin.
Obscurite English
A word which means "darkness" in French language.
Odd English
Variant of Ott.
Odham English
Variant of Odom, altered by folk etymology as if derived from a place name formed with -ham.
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).
Office English (Modern)
Occupational name for a person who works in an office.
Officer English (Canadian), English (American, Rare)
Occupational name for the holder of any office, from Anglo-Norman French officer (an agent derivative of Old French office ‘duty’, ‘service’, Latin officium ‘service’, ‘task’).
Ogier French, English
From the given name Ogier.
Ogilvie Scottish, English
From the ancient Barony of Ogilvie in Angus, Northeast Scotland. The placename itself is derived from Pictish ocel, 'high' and fa, 'plain'.
Ogle Scottish, English, Northern Irish
Habitational name from a place in Northumbria, named with the Old English personal name Ocga + Old English hyll 'hill'.
Oglethorpe English
It indicates familial origin within the civil parish of Bramham cum Oglethorpe in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
Oglethorpe English
From Oglethorpe Hall in Bramham (WR Yorks) which is recorded as Ocelestorp in 1086 and Okelesthorp in 124 The place-name derives from the Old Scandinavian personal name Oddkell and Old Scandinavian or Old English þorp "secondary settlement outlying farmstead" meaning "Oddkell's village" the surname derived from oddr "point of a weapon" and ketill "cauldron".
Okey English
Location name meaning "lives near oak trees".
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.
Oldham English
habitational name from Oldham in Lancashire. The placename derives from Old English ald "old" and Old Norse holmr "island water meadow" or eald "old" and ham "farmstead" meaning either "old lands" or "old farm".
Oldknow English
Originally "Oldknoll"; deriving from the word knoll meaning ''hill''.
Oldroyd English
Derived from Old English euld meaning "old" and royd meaning "clearing".
Olds English
English: patronymic from Old .
Oldshield English
Probably came from the occupation of being a shielder
Oleson English
Anglicized form of Olesen
Oley English
Was my mother's fathers name. Also my mother's brother.
Olin English, Dutch
English or Dutch name meaning either "from a low lying area" or from the word Hollander meaning "one from the Netherlands" a country well known for a low lying landscape.
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.
Olivia English
From the given name of Olivia
Ollis English
Unexplained surname found in records of Bristol and Bath.
Ollson English
Variant of Olsson or Olsen.
Olwell English
possibly a habitational name from Ulwell in Swanage Dorset named with Old English ule "owl" and wille "stream".
Olyphant English, Scottish, French, German
Variant form of Oliphant. A famous bearer is American actor Timothy Olyphant (1968-).
Oman Arabic, English
From the place Oman.
Ong English
Variant of Yong
Onge English
Variant of Ong or Yonge
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.
Ophel English
19th century name from the Cambridgeshire area. Probably derived from Oldfield. Variants include Opheld, Oful and Offel.... [more]
Opie English, Cornish
From the medieval personal name Oppy or Obby, a diminutive of such names as Osbert, Osborn, and Osbald... [more]
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]
Orbison English
From a village in Lincolnshire, England originally called Orby and later Orreby that is derived from a Scandinavian personal name Orri- and the Scandinavian place element -by which means "a farmstead or small settlement."
Orchard English, Scottish
English: topographic name for someone who lived by an orchard, or a metonymic occupational name for a fruit grower, from Middle English orchard.... [more]
Orcutt English
Perhaps a much altered spelling of Scottish Urquhart used predominantly in Staffordshire, England.
Ord English, English (American)
Ord is an English descent surname that also has Gaelic roots. It's also short for many English surnames that end with "Ord". people include US Army general Edward Ord who practiced in California and had many street names after him.
Ordwald English
English name meaning "spear strength".
Ore English
Habitational name from Woore (Shropshire, England).
Oregon English (American, Rare)
From the state of Oregon. Meaning “River of the west”
Organ English
Metonymic occupational name for a player of a musical instrument (any musical instrument, not necessarily what is now known as an organ), from Middle English organ (Old French organe, Late Latin organum ‘device’, ‘(musical) instrument’, Greek organon ‘tool’, from ergein ‘to work or do’).
Organ English
From a rare medieval personal name, attested only in the Latinized forms Organus (masculine) and Organa (feminine).
Orley Dutch, Flemish, English
A surname of uncertain origin found among the Dutch, Flemish and English. In England the name is primarily found in Yorkshire and Devon. Orley may be an adapted form of a French name D'Orley or a nickname for Orlando... [more]
Ormay English (American)
Believed to be the Americanization of the last name Ormoi from Hungary.
Orpin English
Means "herbalist" (from Middle English orpin "yellow stonecrop", a plant prescribed by medieval herbalists for healing wounds). A variant spelling was borne by British painter Sir William Orpen (1878-1931).
Orry English
1 English: unexplained.... [more]
Osbaldeston English
From a town from England called Osbaldeston derived from the name of a king named Osbald and tun "town".
Osborn English
From the given name Osborn.
Oscar English
From the given name Oscar.
Osgood English, Jewish
English: Old Norse personal name Asgautr, composed of the elements as'god'+the tribal name Gaul. This was established in England before the Conquest, in the late old English forms Osgot or Osgod and was later reinforce by the Norman Ansgot.... [more]
Osler English
Possibly derived from Ostler (from the the Norman 'Hostelier') meaning clerk or bookkeeper. First used in England after the Norman invasion of 1066. Surname of a 19th cent... [more]
Osmar English
Variant of Hosmer.
Osmond English
From the given name Osmond
Oss English (American)
Americanized Varient of Aas
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]
Ostrom English (Anglicized)
Anglicized form of Swedish Öström.
Ostrum English (Anglicized)
Anglicized form of Swedish Öström.
Oswalt English
From the given name Oswald.
Osward English
From the Medieval English given name Osward.
Otter English
An otter is a type of animal
Ottoway English
From the Norman male personal names Otoïs, of Germanic origin and meaning literally "wealth-wide" or "wealth-wood", and Otewi, of Germanic origin and meaning literally "wealth-war".
Overbeck Low German, German (Modern), English (American, Americanized), Anglo-Saxon
From Low German over meaning "über" (over as a direct english translation) and beck meaning "Bach" (creek, stream). As opposed to many other germanic names it doesn't stem from someone's occupation rather from their address, with the exact meaning being something like "über dem Bach" (over the creek)... [more]
Overfelt English
Derived from the Old English "ofer," meaning "seashore," or "riverbank" and "felt" meaning "field".
Overson English
Derived from the Old French name Overson, meaning "dweller by the river-banks". The name was probably brought to England in the wake of the Norman conquest of 1066.
Overstreet English
A notable bearer is Chord Paul Overstreet.
Owner English
From English owner meaning "a person who owns something".
Owsley English
Habitational name form a now lost place name in Southern England. Possibly derived from the name of the river name Ouse and Old English -leah meaning "wood".
Oxby English
fortification where oxen are kept (From the Old English words “oxa” and “burh”)
Oxendine English
From an English place name meaning "valley of the oxen", which was derived from Old English oxa "ox" (genitive plural oxena) and denu "valley".
Oyaski English (American)
A surname created by Michael Oyaski (formally Michael O'Yaski). The surname is currently known to only be used by one particular branch of the O'Yaski family tree. The surname means "Dragon Rider of the West" according to members of the Oyaski family.
Pacey English
"Habitation name from Pacy-sur-Eure" which took its name from the Gallo-Roman personal name Paccius and the local suffix -acum.
Packard English, Norman, Medieval English, German (Anglicized)
English from Middle English pa(c)k ‘pack’, ‘bundle’ + the Anglo-Norman French pejorative suffix -ard, hence a derogatory occupational name for a peddler. ... [more]
Packman English
Variant of Pack.
Packwood English
Habitational name from a place in Warwickshire, so named from the Old English personal name Pac(c)a + wudu ‘wood’.
Paddington English
Believed to mean "Pada's farm", with the Anglo-Saxon name Pada possibly coming from the Old English word pad, meaning "toad".
Paddock English
Derived from Middle English parrock meaning "paddock, small enclosure", hence a topographic name for a dweller by a paddock or an enclosed meadow. It could also be a nickname for a person who resembled a toad or frog in some way (derived from Middle English paddock meaning "toad, frog"), or denote a person hailing from one of the many places in England that bear this name, for example the town and civil parish of Paddock Wood in Kent.
Paden English
Derivative of the surname Paddon
Padgett English
Diminutive form of Page, which is of Old French origin, and an occupational name for a young servant, a personal attendant in a noble's house, from the Old French, Middle English "page", ultimately deriving from the Greek "paidion", a boy, child... [more]
Padgham English
A habitational name.
Padley English
A habitational name from a place named Padley, which was probably named with the Old English personal name Padda and lēah meaning ‘glade, woodland clearing’. Alternatively, the first element may have been padde, meaning ‘toad’.
Paine English
From the Middle English personal name Pain(e), Payn(e) (Old French Paien, from Latin Paganus), introduced to Britain by the Normans. The Latin name is a derivative of pagus "outlying village", and meant at first a person who lived in the country (as opposed to Urbanus "city dweller"), then a civilian as opposed to a soldier, and eventually a heathen (one not enrolled in the army of Christ)... [more]
Painter English, Medieval French, German
English: from Middle English, Old French peinto(u)r, oblique case of peintre ‘painter’, hence an occupational name for a painter (normally of colored glass). In the Middle Ages the walls of both great and minor churches were covered with painted decorations, and Reaney and Wilson note that in 1308 Hugh le Peyntour and Peter the Pavier were employed ‘making and painting the pavement’ at St... [more]
Paish English
From Pasci, a department in Euce, Normandy
Paiton English
Locational surname derived from the village of Peyton in Essex, England; Variant of Peyton
Pakenham English
From the parish of Pakenham in Suffolk, meaning "Pacca's settlement" from Old English ham "estate, settlement".
Palacio American
Surname of author R.J. Palacio, who wrote the book Wonder (2012)
Paley English
English surname, either a habitational name denoting a person from a lost or unidentified place in Lancashire or Yorkshire (which was apparently named with Old English leah "woodland, clearing" as the final element), or derived from the Old Danish personal name Palli, from Old Danish páll meaning "pole"... [more]
Palfreyman English
Occupational name for a man responsible for the maintenance and provision of saddle-horses.
Palin English
(i) "person from Palling", Norfolk ("settlement of Pælli's people") or "person from Poling", Sussex ("settlement of Pāl's people"); (ii) from the Welsh name ap Heilyn "son of Heilyn", a personal name perhaps meaning "one who serves at table"
Palliser English
Means "maker of palings and fences" (from a derivative of Old French palis "palisade"). In fiction, the Palliser novels are a series of six political novels by Anthony Trollope, beginning with 'Can You Forgive Her?' (1864) and ending with 'The Duke's Children' (1880), in which the Palliser family plays a central role.
Pally English
Variant of Paley.