Browse Submitted Surnames

This is a list of submitted surnames in which the usage is English or American.
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Lansing English
Derived from the name of Lancing, a place in West Sussex, which was composed of the Old English personal name Wlanc and -ingas meaning "family of" or "followers of".
Lanzo English (?), German (?)
From the given name Lanzo
Lapish English (British)
Derives from the surname Lapage, referring to a "law-page", that is, someone who worked as a servant.
Laplander English
A surname referring to someone who had immigrated from Lapland, northern Scandinavia.
Lapsley Scottish, English, Medieval English
Combination of Old English læppa ”end of a parish” and leah ”woodland clearing”. Another meaning could be possible.
Laramie English
From the French la ramée "the small wood, the arbour".
Large French, English
Originally a nickname derived from Middle English and Old French large "generous".
Lark English
From the name of the bird, a nickname for a singer or a cheerful person, or perhaps someone who caught and sold larks. Alternatively, could be a shortened form of the personal name Larkin.
Larkey American (Modern, Rare, ?)
It is my grandmother's maiden name
Larkin English
From a diminutive of Laurence (see Larkin).
Larrison English
This surname means “son of Larry”.
Larry English
From the given name Larry.
Larter English
From the old Teutonic word 'lahtro' which is to do with a place that animals bear their young. This was modifed in several dialects to be 'lahtre', 'lattr', 'lauchter' and 'lawchter'. ... [more]
Lasher English
Their are many possible meanings. 1. One who lashes ropes together. 2. One who lashes or wipps. 3. One who lashes out in anger.
Laslett English
Family surname from England, Kent.
Laster English
Occupational name for a shoemaker, or for someone who made lasts, a wooden tool in the shape of a foot used for stretching and shaping leather when making boots.
Laster English
Variant spelling of Lester.
Latham English (British)
Habitational name from any of the places in England named with the Old Norse word hlaða meaning "barn".
Latimer English
English occupational name for a clerk who could translate documents to and from Latin and/or other languages, from Anglo-Norman French latinier, latim(m)ier.
Laudenslager English (American)
Americanized form of German Lautenschläger. This spelling is not used in German at all.
Laughton English
Habitational name from any of the numerous places in England so called. Most of them, as for example those in Leicestershire, Lincolnshire (near Gainsborough), Sussex, and West Yorkshire, are named with Old English leac ‘leek’ + tun ‘enclosure’... [more]
Launder English
From English launder, itself from French lavandier both meaning "washerman".
Laurence English, French
From the given name Laurence.
Laurie English, Scottish
From a diminutive of the given name Laurence 1.
Lavender English, Dutch
Occupational name for a washerman or launderer, Old French, Middle Dutch lavendier (Late Latin lavandarius, an agent derivative of lavanda "washing", "things to be washed"). The term was applied especially to a worker in the wool industry who washed the raw wool or rinsed the cloth after fulling... [more]
Laver English
Occupational name for a washer, from French laveur (see Lavers). Also the name of a parish in Essex, England.
Laverick English
Derived from Old English lāferce meaning "lark", making it a cognate of Lark.
Lavers English
English (chiefly Devon and Cornwall): Medieval English and occupational, from pre-10th century Old French "lavandier". Introduced by the Normans after 1066, originally described a worker in the wool industry, and was a metonymic or nickname for a person employed to wash raw wool or rinse the cloth after fulling... [more]
Lavey American
Form of Levey used most famously by Anton Szandor LaVey and his children.
Lavine English
1 English: variant of Lavin 2.... [more]
Lawford English
From any of several places in England called Lawford, derived from the personal name Lealla (cognate with Old High German Lallo), and ford "ford, river crossing".
Lawless English
Without reign of law.... [more]
Lawman English
Derived from Middle English lagman or lagheman "lawyer".
Lawton English
Habitational name, common in Lancashire and Yorkshire, from Buglawton or Church Lawton in Cheshire, or Lawton in Herefordshire, named in Old English as ‘settlement on or near a hill’, or ‘settlement by a burial mound’, from hlaw ‘hill’, ‘burial mound’ + tun ‘enclosure’, ‘settlement’... [more]
Laxton English
The lake town.
Laybourn English
Habitational name from Leyburn in North Yorkshire, High Leybourne in Godalming in Surrey, or Leybourne in Kent. The North Yorkshire name may derive from Old English hlēg “shelter” and burna “spring, stream”... [more]
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]
Layden English
Variant of Laden.
Layman English
Habitational name for someone living near a meadow. Derived from Middle English leye. ... [more]
Lazenby English
From a place name which was derived from leysingi and byr, two Norse words meaning "freedman" and "settlement" respectively.
Leachman English
Occupational name for a physician’s servant, from Leach 1 + Middle English man ‘manservant’.
Leadbeater English
Variant spelling of Ledbetter.
Leaf English
Derived from Old English lēof "dear, beloved".
Leah English
It means "clearing".
Leal English
Derived from Old French leial "loyal, faithful (to obligations)", this name was occasionally used as a nickname for a trustworthy person.
Leamon English
From an Old English word leof related to love and in this case meaning "beloved" plus the word man.
Leanne English, Irish
means "gracious plum" in english
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]
Learn English (American)
The surname Learn is traced to an 18th-century settler and his family who lived in what is now Tannersville, Pa. It is an Anglicized version of the Germanic "Loehrner," which name the settler and his family also used.
Leather English, Scottish
A metonymic occupational name for a leatherworker or seller of leather goods, and derived from Middle English and Old English lether meaning "leather".
Leavis English
Possibly from the Gallo-Roman name Laevius meaning "left", related to Levy.
Leckey Scottish, English, Irish
Originally Scottish, but also found in England, Northern Ireland and Ireland. Possibly derives from the barony of Leckie (meaning "place of flagstones", from Gaelic leac, "flagstone") in Stirlingshire.
Ledger English
From the given name Leodegar or Legier. Alternatively, could be an occupational name for a stonemason, ultimately derived from Old English lecgan "to put, place, lay (down)".
Ledwick English
A variation of the given name Ludwig.
Leech English, Scottish
A physician.
Leeds English
From the city of Leeds in Yorkshire. The name was first attested in the form Loidis in AD 731. In the Domesday Book of 1086, it is recorded as 'Ledes'. This name is thought to have ultimately been derived from an earlier Celtic name... [more]
Leelyn English
Locational surname denoting a person from Leyland, in Lancashire.
Leeming English
Habitational name from either of two places, in West Yorkshire near Keighley and in North Yorkshire near Northallerton. Both are named with a river name, derived from the Old English word lēoma "gleam, sparkle".
Lees English
Possibly a variation of the surname Lee 1.
Leeson English
Means "son of Lee".
Leighty English
Perhaps an altered spelling of the English family name Laity .
Leith English
From the name of a Scottish town (now a district of Edinburgh), which is derived from Gaelic lìte "wet, damp". It is also the name of the river that flows though Edinburgh.
Leivars English
Variant of Lever.
Leland English
derived from the Old English elements leah "wood, clearing, meadow" or læge "fallow" and land "land, area"... [more]
Lemmon English, Irish, Scottish
Variant spelling of Lemon. A famous bearer was the American actor Jack Lemmon (1925-2001).
Lemon English, Northern Irish, Scottish
English: from the Middle English personal name Lefman, Old English Leofman, composed of the elements leof ‘dear’, ‘beloved’ + mann ‘man’, ‘person’... [more]
Lemon African American
This surname is a Middle English personal name Lefman, Old English Leofman, composed of the elements leof ‘dear’, ‘beloved’, and mann ‘man’, person. This surname came to be used as a nickname for a lover or sweetheart, from Middle English Lemman.
Lemons English
Variant of Lemon
Lenton English
Habitational name from Lenton in Nottinghamshire, which is named from the river on which it stands, the Leen (see Leen) + Old English tun 'settlement', 'enclosure'.
Leo English
From the Old French personal name Leon.
Leopold English, German, Dutch
From the given name Leopold.
Lepley English
From a byname for a cobbler.
Lesatz English
Unknown origin (I mean by I don't know its origins). Popular in Michigan during the early 20th century.
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".
Letcher English
Topographic name for someone who lived beside a stream. From Old English læcc, plus the suffix -er denoting an inhabitant.
Lethbridge English
Believed to have derived from a location in Devonshire around the 16th century.
Levan French, English
Comes from le vent, meaning "the wind."
Levant English
Derived from the Italian word levante, meaning "rising" and the French word levant, meaning "to rise". The term entered the English language in 1497 and was used to describe the "Mediterranean lands east of Italy" by referring to the rising of the sun in the east... [more]
Lever French, English
Nickname for a fleet-footed or timid person, from Old French levre "hare" (Latin lepus, genitive leporis). It may also have been a metonymic occupational name for a hunter of hares.
Lever English
Topographic name for someone who lived in a place thickly grown with rushes, from Old English lǣfer "rush, reed". Compare Laver. Great and Little Lever in Greater Manchester (formerly in Lancashire) are named with this word, and in some cases the surname may also be derived from these places.
Lever Dutch, English
Possibly from personal name composed of the elements leof "dear, beloved" and here "army" or hard "strong", such as Leofhere or Leffert.
Leverett English
Diminutive of Lever, from the Middle English personal name Lefred, Old English Leofræd, composed of the elements leof ‘dear’, ‘beloved’ + red ‘counsel’.
Leverich English
The surname Leverich was first found in West Yorkshire at Liversedge, a township that dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed as Livresec, a manor belonging to Radulf, a vassal of Ilbert de Lacy... [more]
Leverock English
Archaic form of Lark. Compare Laverick.
Leverton English
This surname combines the Old English personal female name Leofwaru or the Old English word læfer meaning "rush, reed" with another Old English word tún meaning "enclosure, field, farm, dwelling." The etymology with the female name addition fits in with the town of the same name in Berkshire while the etymology with the word addition fits in with the one in Lincolnshire.
Levinson English, Jewish
Means "son of Levi".
Lewison English
Means "son of Lewis".
Ley English (British)
Variant of Lye, which is given to someone who lives near a meadow
Libby English
From the given name Libby.
Lickfold English
Derives from a hamlet in West Sussex, England. All known holders, worldwide, of this rare surname can be traced back to Lickfolds who lived within 20 miles of Lickfold in the 16th century.
Liddell English
From the Liddel river, which takes its name from Okd English hl̄de “loud” + dæl “valley”.
Liddiard English
From Celtic place names in England meaning "gray hill".
Liddington English, Scottish (Rare)
This surname is derived from a geographical locality. "of Liddington", a parish in Rutland, near Uppingham; a parish in Wiltshire, near Swindon.
Lieber English, German, Polish, Jewish
From the given name Lieber.
Liell English (British)
Meaning: from the isle, from an island. Early versions of the name can be traced back to the Norman invasion in 1066, and a variation (de Insula) can be found in the Domesday Book... [more]
Light English
Nickname for a happy, cheerful person, from Middle English lyght, Old English lēoht "light (not dark), bright, cheerful".
Lightfoot English
English (chiefly northern England, especially Liverpool): nickname for a messenger or for a fast runner, from Middle English lyght ‘light’, ‘nimble’, ‘quick’ (Old English lioht) + fote ‘foot’.
Lighthall English
A habitational name from a place called Lightollars in Lancashire, so named from Old English leoht ‘light-colored’ + alor ‘alder’. The surname, however, is not found in current English sources.
Ligne English
A variation of the names Ling, Lin and others.
Lilley English
Variant of Lilly.
Lillicrap English
From a medieval nickname for someone with very fair hair (literally "lily-head").
Lillingstone English
It indicates familial origin within either of 2 villages in Buckinghamshire: Lillingstone Dayrell or Lillingstone Lovell.
Lillis Irish, English
Metronymic from Lilly.
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]
Lillywhite English
From a medieval nickname for someone with very fair hair or complexion. It was borne by English cricketers James Lillywhite (1842-1929), first captain of England, and William Lillywhite (1792-1854), pioneer of overarm bowling, uncle of James... [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]
Lindbergh Swedish (Rare), English (Rare)
Rare variant spelling of Lindberg. A famous bearer was American aviator Charles Lindbergh (1902-1974) who was the first person to fly non-stop from America to mainland Europe in 1927.
Lindell English
Derived from various places in England named with Old Norse lind "lime tree" and dalr "valley".
Linderman English (Rare)
From the given name Lynn, combined with the surname mann.
Lindley English, German
English habitational name from either of two places in West Yorkshire called Lindley, or from Linley in Shropshire and Wiltshire, all named from Old English lin ‘flax’ + leah ‘wood’, ‘glade’, with epenthetic -d-, or from another Lindley in West Yorkshire (near Otley), named in Old English as ‘lime wood’, from lind ‘lime tree’ + leah ‘woodland clearing’... [more]
Line English
Americanized form of German Lein: occupational name for a grower of or dealer in flax from Middle High German līn, meaning “flax”.... [more]
Lineker English
From a place name composed of Old English lin meaning "flax" and æcer meaning "field". A famous bearer is retired English soccer player Gary Lineker (1960-).
Linford English
habitational name from Great and Little Linford in Buckinghamshire or Lynford in Norfolk. The former may have Old English hlyn "maple" as its first element; the latter is more likely to contain lin "flax" or alternatively the first element may relate to the river Lynn... [more]
Ling English, German
Variant of Link.
Lingard English
Habitational name from Lingart, Lancashire, or Lingards Wood in Marsden, West Yorkshire.
Lingerfelt American (South)
Americanized spelling of German Lingenfeld, a habitational name from a place so named in the Palatinate.
Lininger English
Americanized version of German surname Leininger
Link English
Comes from Old English word "hlinc"
Linley English
This surname can be derived from a place of the same name in Shropshire, which is derived from Old English lín meaning "flax, linen" and leah meaning "clearing." As a modern surname, it can also be a variant of Lindley (Lindley is used in 2 places in Yorkshire), which is derived from Old English lind meaning "lime tree" and leah.
Linn Scottish, English
Variant of Lyne or Lynn.
Linnane Irish, English
Anglicized form of O'Lennon.
Linnett English
Derived from a diminutive of the medieval feminine given name Line, which was a short form of names such as Cateline, Adelina, Amelina and Lecelina.
Linney English
From an Old English female personal name Lindgifu, Lindgeofu, composed of the elements lind ‘lime (wood)’, i.e. ‘shield’ (a transferred sense) + gifu, geofu ‘gift’.
Linzey English
This is a variant of Lindsey.
Lions English
Variant of Lyons influencd by the spelling of the word lion
Lippincott English
A habitational name meaning "of Luffincott," a parish in Devon, England. Named from Old English uncertain first element + cot ‘cottage’.
Lisle Norman, English, French
English (of Norman origin) and French: variant spelling of Lyle.
Litchfield English
locational origin either from Lichfield, south east of Stafford in Staffordshire, or from Litchfield in Hampshire... [more]
Littlefield English
It means "small field".
Littleford English
It means "small ford".
Littlejohn Scottish, English
Distinguishing epithet for the smallest of two or more bearers of the common personal name John. Compare Meiklejohn... [more]
Littlewood English (British)
This surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and may be either a locational or topographical surname. If the former, it derives from any of several minor places in West Yorkshire, such as Littlewood in Wooldale near Holmfirth, all of which are so called from the Olde English pre 7th Century "lytel", little, small, and "wudu", wood... [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]
Lively English
Nickname from Middle English lifly, "lively", "nimble".
Livermore English
Derived from Old English lifer "rush reed, muddy water" and mere "lake".
Liverpool English
Derived from Old English lifer "rush reed, muddy water" and pol "pool".
Livingston English, Scottish
This surname is thought to be derived from Middle English Levingestun meaning "Leving's town" or "Leving's settlement."
Loafman English (American)
Americanized spelling of German Laufmann.
Loam English
1 English and Scottish: unexplained. The name is recorded in both England and Scotland. It may be a variant of Scottish Lour, a habitational name from Lour, formerly a part of the parish of Meathielour.... [more]
Lobato American (Hispanic)
Lobato variant of Lovato, a Hispanic last name originating from Spanish colonial New Mexico and Colorado. That surname is common with Native New Mexicans... [more]
Lock English, Dutch, German
Habitational name from any of various places derived from Old English loca meaning "(locked) enclosure, stronghold".
Locke English, German
From Old English or Old High German loc meaning "lock of hair, curl".
Locke English, German
Variant of Lock.
Locke English
Occupational name for a locksmith.