Browse Submitted Surnames

This is a list of submitted surnames in which the usage is English or American.
usage
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Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Rittman German, English
From Middle High German "riet" and "mann", riet meaning reed.
Rivet French, English
French: from a diminutive of Old French rive ‘(river) bank’, ‘shore’ (see Rives).... [more]
Rivett English, French
English (East Anglia): metonymic occupational name for a metalworker, from Middle English, Old French rivet ‘small nail or bolt’ (from Old French river ‘to fix or secure’, of unknown origin).... [more]
Rivette French, English (American, Rare), English (Canadian, Rare)
Topographic name derived from a diminutive of Old French rive, meaning "(river) bank, shore"; see also Rivet.
Ro English
Possibly a variant of Rowe.
Robards English
Altered form of Roberts. A famous bearer was American actor Jason Robards (1922-2000), as well as his father Jason Robards Sr. (1892-1963) and son Sam Robards (1961-), also noted actors.
Robbs English
This possibly means "Son of Rob(ert)".
Roberta English
One of the n middle name
Robertshaw English
habitational name from a lost place Robertshaw in Heptonstall (Yorkshire) from the Middle English Old French personal name Robert and Middle English shaue shaghe "wood grove thicket" (Old English sceaga) meaning "Robert's wood".
Robertssen English
English variant of Robertsson.
Robeson English
This is possibly a variant of Robson.
Robey English
From a medieval diminutive form of the given name Robert.
Robins English
Southern English patronymic from the personal name Robin.
Roby English
From a medieval diminutive form of the given name Robert.
Rochelle French, English
habitational name from La Rochelle the name of several places in various parts of France especially that in Manche from a diminutive of Old French roche "rock cliff promontory"... [more]
Rochester English
Means "person from Rochester", Kent (probably "Roman town or fort called Rovi"). A fictional bearer of the surname is Mr Rochester, the Byronic hero of Charlotte Brontë's 'Jane Eyre' (1847).
Rochester English
Habitational name from one of three places in Northumberland called Rochester, with names whose early spellings are very similar and sometimes difficult to distinguish from each other... [more]
Rock English
Topographic name for someone who lived near a notable crag or outcrop, from Middle English rokke "rock" (see Roach), or a habitational name from a place named with this word, as for example Rock in Northumberland.
Rockford English
An altered spelling of English Rochford; alternatively it may be an Americanized form of French Rochefort or Italian Roccaforte.
Rockwell English
Means "person from Rockwell", Buckinghamshire and Somerset (respectively "wood frequented by rooks" and "well frequented by rooks"). Famous bearers include American illustrator Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) and Utah pioneer Porter Rockwell (1813-1878).
Rodd English
Locational name for someone "at the rod" of land, from Middle English rodde. Also could come from the given name Rod, or the parish of Rodd in Herefordshire, England.
Rodericks English
From the given name Roderick.
Rodewald German, English (American)
From the Old German elements hruod "fame" and walt "power, authority".
Rodger English
From the given name Rodger.
Rodham English
From Roddam in Northumberland. The name is thought to have derived from Germanic *rodum, meaning 'forest clearing'.
Rodman English
The surname Rodman is an ancient English surname, derived from a trade name, "men who were by the tenure or customs of their lands to ride with or for the lord of the manor about his business". The most famous bearer of this name is the basketball player Dennis Rodman.
Rodrick English
Derived from the given name Roderick.
Rodwell English
Rodwell, a name of Anglo-Saxon origin, is a locational surname deriving from any one of various places in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Kent, England. In English, the meaning of the name Rodwell is "Lives by the spring near the road".
Roe English
Nickname for a timid person, derived from the Middle English ro meaning "roe"; also a midland and southern form of Ray.
Roffey English
There are two small villages named "Roffey". One in England, near Horsham, and one in France, Burgundy. The name is of Norman orgin. First mentioned in (surviving English documents) in 1307 when a George Roffey buys a house... [more]
Rohrlach German (Rare), American
Form a place name, e.g., Rohrlach (Kreis Hirschberg) in Silesia (now Trzcińsko, Poland)
Rolf English, German
Derived from the given name Rolf.
Rolfe English
Variant of Rolf.
Roll Upper German, German, English
German: from Middle High German rolle, rulle ‘roll’, ‘list’, possibly applied as a metonymic occupational name for a scribe.... [more]
Rolle English
Variant of Roll.
Rollin English, German
English: variant of Rolling.... [more]
Rolls English
Possibly derived from the Latin word rotus, meaning "wheel". It would indicate one who built wheels as a living. A famous bearer was American inventor and entrepreneur Charles Rolls (1877-1910), founder of the Rolls-Royce Ltd along with Henry Royce (1863-1933).
Rolston English
English habitational name from any of various places, such as Rowlston in Lincolnshire, Rolleston in Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Staffordshire, or Rowlstone in Herefordshire, near the Welsh border... [more]
Romana Catalan, French, Italian, Polish, English (Rare), German, Hungarian, Romanian, Ukrainian, Belarusian
From the feminine form of the Latin personal name Romanus, which originally meant "Roman".
Romney English
English: habitational name from a place in Kent, so called from an obscure first element, rumen, + Old English ea ‘river’ (see Rye).
Romp English, German
Likely a variant of Rump.
Romsey English
From the town of Romsey in Hampshire, England. The surname itself is derived from Old English rum meaning "broad", and ey meaning "area of dry land in a marsh."
Romwe English
likes to dress up
Ronald English
Derived from the given name Ronald.
Ronalds English
This surname is derived from the given name Ronald.
Ronaldson English
This surname means “son of Ronald”.
Rondelli Italian, English, French
From the medieval name "Rondello" derived from French "rondel" meaning "go around, round" or "rondel", a French old nickname for a round, plump man.
Ronson English
Means "son of Ron"
Rood English
Designating someone who lived near a cross, rood in Middle English
Rook English
From a medieval nickname for someone thought to resemble a rook (e.g. in having black hair or a harsh voice).
Roome English
Variant of Rome.
Roose English, Dutch, German
Variant spelling of Rose 1, Rose 2, Roos or Ross.
Root English
A nickname for a cheerful person, from Middle English rote "glad, cheerful".
Root English
From Middle English and Old French rote, an early medieval stringed instrument similar to a guitar that was played by turning wheels like a hurdy-gurdy.
Roper English
English: occupational name for a maker or seller of rope, from an agent derivative of Old English rāp ‘rope’. See also Roop.
Rosco English
Variant of Roscoe.
Roseland English
Americanized form of Norwegian Røys(e)land; a habitational name from about 30 farmsteads, many in Agder, named from Old Norse reysi ‘heap of stones’ + land ‘land’, ‘farmstead’.
Roseman English
From the Norman feminine name Rosamund.
Rosemary English
From the plant, meaning "dew of the sea".
Rosemont English
From rose "rose" + mont "mount". Also the name of a town in central California, near Sacramento. In 1880, there were 6 Rosemont families in Indiana.
Rosevear Cornish, English
From the name of a Cornish village near St Mawgan which derives from Celtic ros "moor, heath" and vur "big".
Rosewood English
Denoting someone who came from a rose wood or grove.
Rosseau French, American
Variant spelling of Rousseau. Comes from the Old French word rous meaning "red", likely a nickname for someone with red hair or a particularly rosy complexion.
Rossie English
Possibly a variant of Rossi.
Rothwell English
An English surname meaning 'Lives by the red spring"
Roubichou English
French surname that is probably an altered spelling of Robichon or Robicheaux, pet forms of Robert.
Rough English
A topographic name referring to a dwelling with uncultivated ground, ultimately deriving from Olde English ruh meaning "rough".
Round English
Variant of Rounds.
Roundtree English
Variant spelling of Rowntree.
Rouse English
nickname for a person with red hair, from Middle English, Old French rous ‘red(-haired)’
Routh English
From the village and civil parish of Routh in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England (recorded in the Domesday book as Rutha). The place name may derive from Old Norse hrúedhr meaning "rough shaly ground"... [more]
Rover English, German (Anglicized)
This surname is derived from Middle English roof (from Old English hrof) combined with the agent suffix (i)er, which denotes someone who does/works with something. Thus, the surname was originally used for a constructor or repairer of roofs.... [more]
Rowell English
From a diminutive of Rowland or Rolf or a location name meaning "rough hill".
Rowett English
English from a medieval personal name composed of the Germanic elements hrod ‘renown’ + wald ‘rule’, which was introduced into England by Scandinavian settlers in the form Róaldr, and again later by the Normans in the form Rohald or Roald... [more]
Rowlands English
Derived from the given name Rowland.
Rowley English
Anglo Saxon Name- locational, comes from several places in England such as in Devonshire, Yorkshire, County Durham and Staffordshire. It means ' rough wood or clearing', from the Old English 'run' meaning rough and 'leah', meaning clearing in a wood.
Rowling English
From diminutives for the given names Rollo or Rolf. Famous bearer is the author of the Harry Potter series, J. K. Rowling whose initials stand for Joanne Kathleen.
Rowson English (British, Anglicized)
The ancestors of the Rowson family first reached the shores of England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Their name is derived from the Norman given name Ralph. This name, which also occurs as Ralf, Rolf, and Raoul, is adapted from the Old French given name Raol.... [more]
Royal English
From the given name Royal.
Roys English
From the given name Roy.
Royse English
From the medieval female given name Royse the medieval form of Rose. Variant of Rose 2.
Rubble English, Norman
From given name Rumbald or from the English word "rubble"
Rudd English
The surname Rudd is derived from the Old English root "rud-," a component in the words "rudig," which means "ruddy," and "ruddoc," which means "red-breast." The surname was originally a nickname for a ruddy complexioned or red-haired person, or perhaps for someone who habitually wore the color red.
Rudel English
Derived from the location of Ryedale or Rydal
Rudyard English
From the location Rudyard (Staffs) which is recorded as Rudegeard in 100 The place-name probably derives from Old English rude "rue" and geard "enclosure yard".
Ruffin English
From the medieval French male personal name Ruffin, from Latin Rufinus, a derivative of Rufus (literally "red-haired one")... [more]
Rugby English
From Rugby, Warwickshire. Originally named *Rocheberie, from Old English *Hrocaburg, 'Hroca's fort', the name was altered due to influence fort Danish settlers, with the second element being replaced with Old Norse byr, 'farm'.... [more]
Rugeley English
From the name of a town in Staffordshire, England, derived from Old English hrycg "ridge" and leah "woodland clearing".
Rugg English
Nickname for a person associated with the color red, whether through hair color, clothing, or complexion. Accordingly, the name is derived from the Old French word ruge, meaning red.
Rule Scottish, English
Scottish name from the lands of Rule in the parish of Hobkirk, Roxburghshire. The derivation is from the River Rule which flows through the area, and is so called from the ancient Welsh word "rhull" meaning "hasty or rushing".... [more]
Rumbelow English
Means "person from Rumbelow", the name of various locations in England ("three mounds").
Rumble English
Descended from the personal name Rumbald/Rombold, which is composed of the Germanic elements hrom "fame, glory" and bald "bold, brave".
Rumford English
From the parish of Romford in Essex, England. The name means "the wide ford" from Old English rúm "wide".
Rumney English
Variant of Romney.
Rumpole English
A different form of Rumbold (from the Norman personal name Rumbald, of Germanic origin and probably meaning literally "fame-bold"). A fictional bearer of the surname is Horace Rumpole, the eccentric QC created by John Mortimer (originally for a 1975 television play).
Runcie English, Scottish
Derived from Latin runcinus, and related to the Old French "roncin", for a horse of little value. Middle English, Rouncy, as in Chaucer's Cantebury Tales.... [more]
Rundell English
Nickname derived from a diminutive of Middle English and Old French rond, rund meaning "fat, round" (see Rounds), or derived from Rundale, a local place in the village and civil parish of Shoreham in Kent, England, named with Old English rum(ig) meaning "roomy, spacious" and dæl meaning "valley".
Rundle English
Cornish surname of unknown origin, possibly related to Arundel.
Runner English (American)
Probably an altered spelling of German Ronner, annoccupational name for a runner or messenger, a lightly armed mounted soldier. Compare Renner. UK The surname Runner was first found in Lancashire. One of the first records of the family was found in the year 1246 when Alan de Runacres held estates in that shire... [more]
Rusby Scottish, English
Alternative spelling of Busby, a parish in Renfrewshire. A name well represented in the Penistone, and Cawthorne districts of the West Riding of Yorkshire.
Rushe English, Irish
Variant of Rush
Rushen English
Originally denoted a person who lived near a marsh, noted for its rushes (see Rush). A famous bearer of this surname is the American singer Patrice Rushen (b. 1954).
Russ English
Variant of Rouse.
Rust English, Scottish
A nickname to someone with reddish hair or a ruddy complexion.
Ruth English, German (Swiss)
English: from Middle English reuthe ‘pity’ (a derivative of rewen to pity, Old English hreowan) nickname for a charitable person or for a pitiable one. Not related to the given name in this case.... [more]
Ruthven English, Scottish
From the name of a barony in Perthshire, Scotland, which comes from Scottish Gaelic Ruadhainn "Dun uplands".
Rutledge English, Scottish
Origin unknown
Rutt English, German
English: variant of Root.... [more]
Rutter English
Either (i) "player of the rote (a medieval stringed instrument played by plucking)"; or (ii) from a medieval nickname for a dishonest or untrustworthy person (from Old French routier "robber, mugger")... [more]
Ryall English
From any of several places in England named from Old English ryge "rye" + hyll "hill".
Ryals English
English occupational surname.
Ryans English
Variant of Ryan.
Rycroft English
Derived from Rycroft, in the parish of Birstall, Yorkshire
Rydell English (Rare)
Possibly a variant of Riddell.
Ryerson English (American)
Americanized spelling of Swedish Reierson or of any of its cognates, for example Dutch Ryerse, Ryersen or Norwegian and Danish Reiersen.
Ryle English
Habitational name from Royle in Lancashire (see Royle).
Rylo English
Variant of the surname Rilo.
Rymer English
Occupational name for a poet.
Ryser English
Variant of Reiser based on the English word riser.
Sadile English
1 English (mostly Lancashire): probably a variant of Sale .... [more]
Saffeels English (Rare), German (Rare)
Used as a last name a minimum of 82 times in (USA, Germany).
Sage English (Modern)
From the English word sage (see Sage).
Sailer English
Variant spelling of Saylor.
Sailor English
Variant of Saylor.
Sainsbury English
habitational name from Saintbury (Gloucestershire) from the Old English personal name Sæwine (genitive Sæwines from Old English sæ "sea" and wine ‘friend’) plus burg "fortified place".
Saint English, French
Nickname for a particularly pious individual, from Middle English, Old French saint, seint "holy" (Latin sanctus "blameless, holy"). The vocabulary word was occasionally used in the Middle Ages as a personal name, especially on the Continent, and this may have given rise to some instances of the surname.
Saipe English
English: perhaps a habitational name from a minor place in Wiltshire named Stype.
Saise English, Welsh
From the welsh ‘sais’ meaning ‘englishman’.
Saker English
Occupational name for a maker of sacks or bags, derived from an agent derivative of Old English sacc meaning "sack, bag".
Sale English, French
English: from Middle English sale ‘hall’, a topographic name for someone living at a hall or manor house, or a metonymic occupational name for someone employed at a hall or manor house. ... [more]
Salisbury English
Habitational name from the city in Wiltshire, the Roman name of which was Sorviodunum (of British origin). In the Old English period the second element (from Celtic dun ‘fortress’) was dropped and Sorvio- (of unexplained meaning) became Searo- in Old English as the result of folk etymological association with Old English searu ‘armor’; to this an explanatory burh ‘fortress’, ‘manor’, ‘town’ was added... [more]
Salk English (American)
Likely the English form of Schalk, which means "dweller near a willow tree".
Sallis English
A name for someone who lives where sallows grow - sallows being a type of willow, from the Middle English 'salwe'.
Sallow English (Rare)
Sallow comes from the medieval word for willow tree. It is a location surname.
Salt English
Of Anglo-Saxon origin, from the town in Staffordshire.
Salter English
Occupational name for an extractor or seller of salt (a precious commodity in medieval times), from Middle English salt 'salt' + the agent suffix -er.
Salthouse English
Salthouse and other variants come from the place name in Northumberland.
Saltmarsh English
Last name of cricket player Ian Saltmarsh (1901-1970).
Sambourne English
From the name of a hamlet in Warwickshire, England.
Samways English
From a medieval nickname for a fool (from Middle English samwis "foolish", literally "half-wise").
Sand English, Scottish, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, German, Jewish
From the vocabulary word sand. As a Swedish and Jewish name, often ornamental. Otherwise topographic.
Sand English, Scottish
Derived from a short form of Alexander.
Sandburg English (American, Rare)
Americanized from of Swedish Sandberg.
Sandell English
Originated from a name for someone who lived on a sand hill
Sandeman English
Scottish surname of famous merchant family engaged in banking in Scotland and London and in the Port Wine trade in London. The same family were earlier the founders of an obscure Protestant sect the Sandemanians.
Sandhurst English (Rare)
From Sandhurst, the name of places in the English counties of Kent, Gloucestershire and Berkshire, all of which come from the Old English elements sand "sand" and hyrst "hillock, copse".
Sandler English
Norman origin. Habitational name from Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët in La Manche, which gets its name from the dedication of its church to St. Hilary, or alternatively from either of the places, in La Manche and Somme, called Saint-Lô... [more]
Sandwell English
From a place called SANDWELL.
Sangwin English
From Middle English sanguine (blood) ,one of the four humours.
Sankey English, Irish
Habitational name from a place in Lancashire, which derived from the name of an ancient British river, perhaps meaning "sacred, holy." ... [more]
Santee English
A topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree.
Sappingfield American (Anglicized, Rare)
From the German name "Sappenfeld," a small town in Bavaria, Germany. (Pop. 380.) The town itself is named after an early resident named "Sappo;" in English, the name means "Sappo's Field." The name "Sappo" may mean noble (unconfirmed)... [more]
Sard English, French, Spanish, Italian
In the book surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary by Henry Harrison and Gyda (Pulling) Harrison 1912 - Reprinted 1996. The Sard surname (which has been in England, Italy and Europe for a long time) is defined thus on page 136.... [more]
Sarré English
“apologetic”
Sarver English, Jewish
English and Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic) occupational name from Old French serveur (an agent derivative of server ‘to serve’), Yiddish sarver ‘servant’.
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