Indigenous American Submitted Surnames

Ac Mayan
From Mayan ak meaning "turtle".

Aca Aztec, Nahuatl
From Nahuatl acatl meaning "cane".

Acahua Nahuatl
Means "owner of reeds", from Nahuatl acatl "reed, cane" and the possessive suffix -hua.

Acatecatl Nahuatl
From Nahuatl acatl "reed, cane" and tecatl "person; inhabitant of a place".

Acatl Nahuatl
From Acatl.

Acatzihua Nahuatl
Possibly from Nahuatl acatl "reed, cane" and tzihuactli, a kind of thorny plant.

Acothley Navajo
Acothley means "cowboy".

Adakai Navajo
From Navajo adikaʼí meaning "gambler, card player".

Aeneas English (Rare), Indigenous American (Anglicized, Rare)
From the given name Aeneas.

Agnagisyak Yupik

Ahuatl Nahuatl
Means "oak tree" in Nahuatl.

Ajactle Nahuatl
Meaning uncertain.

Ajanel Mayan
Means "carpenter" in Kaqchikel.

Akhsakhtikak Yupik (?)

Allooloo Inuit
Surname borne by inuk writer and artist Siku Allooloo and by politician Titus Allooloo.

Amayo Nahuatl
Possibly from Nahuatl amaitl "inlet, estuary; an arm or branch of a body of water", or from atl "water" and -mayo "branches of a tree, foliage".

Amole Nahuatl
From the name of a kind of plant used in the production of soap, ultimately from Nahuatl ahmolli "soap, soap root".

Apale Nahuatl
Possibly means "coloured water", from atl "water" and tlapalli "painting".

Apanecatl Nahuatl
Possibly related to Nahuatl apantli, "canal, channel, water ditch".

Apaza Indigenous American, Quechua (Hispanicized)

Archiquette Oneida

Arica Aymara
Refers to a place in modern day Chile near the border of Peru.

Arotaipe South American, Indigenous American

Asicksik Inuit

Askoak Yupik

Astts Nahuatl, Aztec

Atamaint Shuar, Indigenous American, South American
The surname of a certain indigenous Ecuadorian politician.

Atatuga Yupik (?)

Atcitty Navajo
From Navajo atsidí meaning "blacksmith" or "smithy, pounder, anvil".

Atempa Mexican, Nahuatl (Hispanicized)
Means "on the riverbank" or "on the bank of the lake", derived from Nahuatl atl meaning "water" combined with tentli "bank, shore" and the suffix -pan "in, on".

Atlahua Nahuatl
From Atlahua, the name of an Aztec god.

Ayaqa Yupik (?)

Ayohua Nahuatl
Meaning uncertain, possibly from ayotli "squash, pumpkin" or ayotl "turtle" combined with the possessive suffix -hua, or from ayohua "to fill with water".

Ayotle Nahuatl
Possibly from Nahuatl ayoctle "nothing, no more", or from ayotli "squash, pumpkin".

Ayuluk Yupik

Ayunerak Yupik

Azcatl Nahuatl
Means "ant" in Nahuatl.

Bac Mayan
From Mayan b'aq meaning "bone, needle" or "thin".

Balam Mayan
Means "jaguar" in Mayan.

Batz Mayan
From Mayan b'atz' meaning "monkey", specifically referring to the black howler (Alouatta caraya).

Bayayok Yupik

Begay Navajo
Derived from the Navajo word biyeʼ meaning "his son". This was frequently adopted as a surname among the Navajo when Native Americans were required by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to formally adopt surnames for the purpose of official records.

Begaye Navajo
Variant of Begay.

Benallie Navajo
Variant of Benally.

Benally Navajo
From Navajo binálí meaning "his grandchild", derived from análí meaning "(paternal) grandchild". It was commonly adopted when Native Americans were required to take surnames for record purposes.

Bia Navajo
The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs ("BIA") required all Indians to choose a family name. The Navajo family name Bia is derived from BIA ("Bureau of Indian Affairs")

Bitsilly Navajo
Means "his younger brother", from Navajo bi- meaning "his" and atsilí meaning "younger brother".

Bitsuie Navajo
From bitsóí meaning "his grandchild", a commonly adopted surname when the BIA required Native Americans to take surnames for the purpose of official records.

Black-hawk Indigenous American

Blackhawk Indigenous American

Blackhorse Indigenous American

Blackplume Indigenous American

Blue Rock Indigenous American

Bluerock Indigenous American

Braziel f Indigenous American

Bylilly Navajo
Derived from Navajo bá ‎"for him" and álílee "magic power".

Caamal Mayan
From Mayan ka'amal meaning "twice", also taken to mean "self-conceited".

Cajavilca Quechua
From kaja (cold) and vilca (supreme) meaning supreme cold. Possibly when the inhabitants of upper Chavín had to cross to the Callejón de Huaylas by the pass near Ulta they described this place as being too cold... [more]

Calabaza Spanish, Indigenous American
Nickname from ‘calabaza’ meaning pumpkin squash. This is commonly used by Pueblos (Native Americans) in New Mexico.

Calihua Nahuatl
Meaning uncertain, possibly related to calli "house".

Can Mayan
from the word kaan meaning "snake"

Canché Mayan
From Yucatec Maya ka'anche' referring to the button mangrove (Conocarpus erectus), a type of shrub. Alternately it may be derived from che' meaning "wood, stick, board", referring to a raised seedbed or floorboards used to beat and cut cobs.

Canul Yucatec Maya
Means "protector" in Mayan.

Cayenne French, English, Tupi
Most likely from the city of Cayenne, French Guiana or from the name of the pepper, also known as Capsicum annuum which comes from the Tupi language, specifically the word kyynha, which meant "capsicum" or "hot pepper".

Ceh Mayan
From Yucatec Maya kéej meaning "deer".

Cehuanocatl Nahuatl
Meaning uncertain, possibly derived from Nahuatl cehua "to be cold, cold weather" or cehualli "shadow, shade cast by something", combined with the suffix -catl indicating affiliation.

Changanaquí Quechua
Hispanized form original Quechua Changanacuy meaning "Crossroad"

Chapul Aztec, Nahuatl, Indigenous American
Variant of Chapulin.

Chapulin Aztec, Nahuatl
From Nahuatl meaning grasshopper.

Chee Navajo
From Navajo łichííʼ meaning "red".

Cheeshahteaumuck Wampanoag

Cheucarama Indigenous American
Unknown.

Chiklak Yupik

Chim Mayan
From Yucatec Maya chiim meaning "bag, sack".

Chimalhua Nahuatl
Means "has a shield, possessor of shields" in Nahuatl.

Chincoya Nahuatl
Meaning uncertain.

Chino Indigenous American, Quechua (Hispanicized), Aymara (Hispanicized)
From Quechua/Aymara meaning "girl".

Choque Indigenous American, Quechua (Hispanicized), Aymara (Hispanicized)

Chuckulnaskit Salishan

Citlalpopoca Aztec, Nahuatl
From Nahuatl meaning "smoking star" or "comet".

Clah Navajo
From Navajo nitłʼa meaning "he is left-handed".

Clitso Navajo
From Navajo łitso meaning "yellow".

Cly Navajo
From Navajo tłʼaaí meaning ‎"lefty, left-handed one", from the verb nishtłʼa ‎"to be left-handed".

Colque Indigenous American, Aymara (Hispanicized)
Derived from Aymara qullqi, meaning "silver".

Comanche Navajo

Condori Indigenous American, Aymara (Hispanicized), Quechua (Hispanicized)
Derived from Aymara and Quechua kunturi meaning "condor, vulture".

Coyac Nahuatl
Meaning uncertain, possibly derived from Nahuatl coyahuac "broad, wide" or coyoctic "a hole, something with a hole in it".

Creepingbear Indigenous American, Arapaho (?)
From the English words creeping and bear.

Crowfoot Indigenous American

Cuauhtemoc Nahuatl
From the given name Cuauhtemoc.

Cuautemoc Nahuatl, Aztec
Variant of Cuauhtemoc.

Cuautli Aztec, Nahuatl
From Nahuatl quauhtli meaning "eagle".

Densman Indigenous American

Descheene Navajo
Variant of Deschene.

Deschene Navajo
From deeshchiiʼnii (clan designation, “red-streak people”).

Dull Knife Indigenous American

Dzul Mayan
Mayan name from a term meaning ‘stranger’ also ‘gentleman’.

Echo Hawk Pawnee

Eegeesiak Inuit
inuktitut

Egoak Yupik

Ehecatl Aztec, Nahuatl
From Nahuatl meaning "wind".

Elachik Yupik

Enoksen Norwegian, Greenlandic
Means "son of Enok".

Escuintla Nahuatl
From Nahuatl Itzcuintlan meaning "abundance or place of dogs".

Etcitty Navajo
Variant of Atcitty.

Ettyn Yupik (?)

Filemonsen Greenlandic
Means "son of Filemon".

Fly Greenlandic

Foothill Indigenous American
Combination of "foot" and "hill".

Goodluck Indigenous American

Grasshopper Indigenous American (Anglicized)

Greyeyes Indigenous American
A notable bearer is the Canadian actor Michael Greyeyes.

Guarani Guarani
From Guarani meaning "warrior".

Guujaaw Haida

Hardluck Cherokee

Harjo Creek
From Creek Ha'chō meaning "crazy brave; recklessly brave".

Hatathli Navajo
From Navajo hataałii meaning ‎"medicine man, shaman", literally "singer" (from the verb hataał ‎"he sings, he is chanting").

Huamán Quechua (Hispanicized)
Hispanicized form of Quechua waman meaning "falcon, hawk".

Huanca Indigenous American, Quechua (Hispanicized), Aymara (Hispanicized)

Huehuetenango Nahuatl
Means "place of the ancients" in Nahuatl.

Huitzil Aztec, Nahuatl
From Nahuatl uitsitsillin meaning "hummingbird".

Humetewa Hopi

Ico Mayan

Ignatiussen Greenlandic
Means "son of Ignatius".

Indian Ojibwe

Josytewa Navajo

Kanatiqueli Cherokee
This surname is derived from the Old French surname Cantrell, meaning "small bell" or "treble".

Kanatiquelli Cherokee
This surname is derived from the Old French surname Cantrell, meaning "small bell" or "treble". The first known bearer is a part-Cherokee author.

Karasick Cherokee

Kashatok Yupik

Kassaiuli Yupik

Kavra Yupik (?)

Kaydahzinne Apache

Kieyoomia Navajo

Knife Indigenous American

Kopanuk Yupik

Lightfoot Indigenous American
This surname is of Cherokee origin.

Little Shield Arapaho

Loloma Hopi

Lyberth Greenlandic, Danish

Lyuneut Yupik (?)

Makotrik Yupik (?)

Mamani Indigenous American, Aymara
Means "falcon, hawk" in Aymara.

Mankiller Navajo

Maskwa Cree

Maytwayashing Ojibwe
Unknown meaning, most commonly found in Anishinaabe communities in Manitoba. A notable bearer is Clifford Maytwayashing, a legendary fiddle player.

Mikaelsen Danish, Greenlandic
Means "son of Mikael".

Moccasin Indigenous American

Moctezuma Indigenous American, Nahuatl (Hispanicized)
From the given name Moctezuma.

Moo Mayan
From Yucatec Maya mo' meaning "macaw".

Mungaray Apache, Spanish (Mexican)
Very rare Apache name give to the Apache still in Mexico. We are decents of victorio and the local spa is/ Mexicans gave us this name that we still carry today.

Nakai Navajo
Nakai means 'The one who wanders.' In Hebrew its meaning is "pure, clean " but i personally like the first one more.

Nakazik Yupik

Navajo Navajo

Nequiz Nahuatl
Possibly derived from the Nahuatl word 'Nequiztli' meaning "desirable" which most likely stems from 'Nequi' or "to want/desire."

Nez Navajo
Nez = Tall. One of the most prevalent family names on the Navajo reservation.

Neztsosie Navajo
From nééz, “tall” in Navajo and tsʼósí, “slim” in Navajo

Nic Mayan
From Mayan ‘nik’ meaning “flower”.

Noisecat Indigenous American

Nukusuk Yupik

Nutavgin Yupik (?)

Obonsawin Indigenous American, English (Canadian)

Pale Nahuatl
Possibly a variant of Apale.

Panzacola Indigenous American (Rare)
Named after the tribe meaning "hairy people".

Papaqui Aztec, Nahuatl
From Nahuatl pakini meaning "happy".

Pegahmagabow Ojibwe

Peshlakai Navajo
Derived from the Navajo words béésh "metal" and łigaii "white" meaning “silver”.

Pikyavit Paiute

Pingayak Yupik

Popoca Aztec, Nahuatl
From Nahuatl meaning "to smoke".

Pucuhuaranga South American, Indigenous American

Qillah Greenlandic

Quispe Quechua (Hispanicized)
Hispanicized form of Quechua qispi meaning "free".

Red Breath Bear Sioux

Redlightning Indigenous American, Sioux (?)

Ridesatthedoor Indigenous American

Rideshorse Indigenous American
Variant of Ridesthewhitehippedhorse.

Ridesthehorse Indigenous American
Variant of Ridesthewhitehippedhorse.

Ridesthewhitehippedhorse Indigenous American

Riverwind Indigenous American

Sakagut Zapotec (Anglicized, Rare)
This name is rare and usually given to the "god child."

Salika Yupik (?)

Samøssen Greenlandic, Old Danish

Samøssen Greenlandic, Old Danish
Means "son of Samøs".

Samuelsen Norwegian, Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (Rare)
Means "Son of Samuel"

Schnekler Cherokee

Seesequasis Cree

Sekaquaptewa Hopi

Selyaka Yupik (?)

Selyakin m Yupik (Russified, ?)
Russified form of Selyaka.

Shenandoah Oneida
From the given name Shenandoah.

Sigunylik Yupik (?)

Sioux Indigenous American

Takumjenak Yupik

Tanguma Indigenous American (?), Mexican
Mexican surname of uncertain origin, probably Native American.

Tapachula Nahuatl, Aztec
Means "between the waters" in Nahuatl.

Tapahonso Navajo

Taugelchee Navajo

Tecuanhuehue Aztec, Nahuatl
From Nahuatl meaning "old tiger".

Tenayuca Indigenous American, Mexican (Rare), Comanche (?)
Of uncertain origin. A known bearer was Emma Tenayuca (1916-1999), an American labor leader of Comanche descent.

Tepetl Aztec, Nahuatl
From Nahuatl meaning "hill".

Testawich Cree

Teton Shoshone

Thunderchild Indigenous American

Ticona Indigenous American, Aymara (Hispanicized)

Tigre Shuar

Tlatilpa Nahuatl
Meaning uncertain, possibly derived from a given name.

Tochihuitl Aztec, Nahuatl
Means ‘Rabbit Feather Down’ - ‘down’ as in soft feathers. It’s a combination of tochitl meaning "rabbit" and ihuitl meaning "feather" particularly small ones.

Todachine Navajo
Variant of Todicheene meaning "bitter water people."

Todicheene Navajo
"Bitter water people."

Tomaganuk Yupik

Tomahawk Sioux
The name comes from Powhatan tamahaac, derived from the Proto-Algonquian root *temah- 'to cut off by tool'. Algonquian cognates include Lenape təmahikan, Malecite-Passamaquoddy tomhikon, Abenaki demahigan, all of which mean "axe".

Tsosie Navajo
From the Navajo suffix -tsʼósí meaning "slender, slim", originally a short form of a longer name such as kiitsʼósí "slender boy", hashkétsʼósí "slender warrior", cháalatsʼósí "slim Charlie", dághaatsʼósí "the one with a slender mustache", dinétsʼósí "slender man", or hastiintsʼósí "slender man".

Tuberquia South American, Indigenous American

Tulum Yucatec Maya
Means "wall" in Mayan language.

Tungwenuk Yupik

Tunuchuk Yupik

Tunutmoak Yupik

Tuyuc Mayan

Uentillie Navajo
From Navajo ayóí meaning "very" and áníldííl meaning "husky, large".

Ukiah Indigenous American (?)

Umugak Yupik

Vallad Ojibwe
Name given to dozens of a First Nations Anishinaabek at residential schools.

Voeman Mapuche (Rare), Jamaican Patois (Rare), Yoruba (Modern)
Similar to Roman

Waawaashkeshshi Indigenous American
The name Waawaashkeshshi origin is annishinabe given name it means white tailed deer

Waco Indigenous American, Comanche
Is believed to have a Native American origin and may mean "the chosen ones" in the language of a tribe. However, the exact meaning of the name and the tribe's connection to the modern-day surname is not entirely clear.

Wagamese Ojibwe
Comes from an Ojibway phrase meaning ‘man walking by the crooked water.’

Walking Bear Indigenous American
A notable bearer is Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail, the first Crow individual to achieve a higher education, and one of the first Native American nurses to ever be accepted.

Wallowing Bull Arapaho

Wanbli Sioux
Means "eagle" in the Sioux language.

Wawia Ojibwe

Weekusk Cree
Weekusk ( last name ) meaning “Sweetgrass” in cree.... [more]

Whitehorse Indigenous American

Whiteplume Arapaho
Native Arapaho Wyoming Montana

Wolfblack Indigenous American

Wolfblood Indigenous American

Xotlanihua Nahuatl
Means "owner of flowering" or "there will be growing" in Nahuatl, probably originating as a personal name.

Xuc Central American, Indigenous American

Yahgulanaas Haida

Yazzi Navajo

Yazzie Indigenous American, Navajo
Derived from the Navajo word yázhí meaning "little".

Yellowhair Navajo, Cheyenne
Native American (mainly Navajo; also Yellow Hair): translation into English of a personal name such as Navajo Bitsiiʼ Łitsoii (literally ‘His Yellow Hair’), which is derived from bitsiiʼ ‘his hair’ and łitso ‘yellow’, or Cheyenne Heova'ehe, derived from the prefix heov- ‘yellow’ and the suffix -a'e ‘hair’.

Yellowman Indigenous American
Native American (also Yellow Man): translation into English of a personal name such as Navajo Hastiin Łitso, based on hastiin ‘man’ and łitso ‘yellow’, referring to the color of the complexion or the hair (Juxtapose Yellowhair).

Yellow Robe Indigenous American

Yellowtail Indigenous American

Yupanqui Quechua (Hispanicized)
Hispanicized form of Quechua yupanki meaning "accountant".

Zitalpopopa Aztec, Nahuatl
Variant of Citlalpopoca.

Zuni Indigenous American