The Meaning Of Surnames.


SURNAME TYPE MEANING NOTES
ABBOTT Patronymic Servant of Father
ABEL Patronymic Son of "Son" Hebrew
ABRAHAM Patronymic Son of "Father of a multitude" Hebrew
ACKERMAN Occupational A farmer (acre man)
ACLAND Locative At Acca's lane Anglo Saxon
ADAM Patronymic Son of "Red" Hebrew
ADAMS Patronymic Son of "Red" Hebrew
ADCOCK Patronymic Son of Cocky Adam (Red) Hebrew
ADDISON Patronymic Son of Addie (little Adam, Red) Hebrew
AIKMAN Occupational A farmer (acre man)
AIRD Locative At the hummock Gaelic (Scots)
AITKEN Patronymic Son of little Adam (Atkin) Gaelic (Scots)
ALBURY Locative At the old fortification Anglo Saxon
ALCHIN Patronymic Son of Ealh-wine (Temple-Friend) Germanic
ALCOCK Patronymic Son of Cocky Alan (sometimes Aethel or Aelf)
ALDER Locative At the alder tree Anglo Saxon
ALEXANDER Patronymic Son of "Defender of Men" Greek
ALFREY Patronymic Son of Aelf-frith (Elf-Peace) Germanic
ALLAN Patronymic Son of Alan (all men) Breton
ALLE Locative At the lane
ALLEN Patronymic Son of Alan (all men) Breton
ALLPORT Locative At the old market town
ALLSOP Locative At Aelle's Valley (All or Noble?)
ALLY Locative At the lane
AMOS Patronymic Son of Carried Hebrew
ANDERSON Patronymic Son of Andrew (Manly) Greek
ANDREW Patronymic Son of Andrew (Manly) Greek
ANDREWS Patronymic Son of Andrew (Manly) Greek
ANGUS Patronymic Son of One Choice Gaelic (Scots)
ANSTEE Locative At the single track (one path)
ANTHONY Patronymic Son of Antonius (meaning unknown) Latin
ANTONSSON Patronymic Son of Antonius (meaning unknown)
APPAIN Patronymic Son of Pagan (country person) Welsh
APPLEBY Locative At the apple farm Norse
APSE Locative At the aspen tree
ARMITAGE Locative At the hermitage
ARMOUR Occupational An armourer
ARMSTRONG Nickname Strong Arm
ARNALL Patronymic Son of Earn-weald (Eagle-Power) (Arnold) Germanic
ARNOLD Patronymic Son of Earn-weald (Eagle-Power) Germanic
ARTHUR Patronymic Son of Artorius Latin
ASHDOWN Locative At the ash tree hill
ASHE Locative At the ash tree
ASHER Occupational A spearman (made from ash wood)
ASHLEY Locative At the ash tree glade, clearing
ASHTON Locative At the ash tree place, farm
ASHWOOD Locative At the ash tree wood
ASSENDER Locative From Ashendon, Oxrordshire
ASSENDER Patronymic Son of Alexander (Defender of Men)
ATKINS Patronymic Son of little Adam (All men)
ATKINSON Patronymic Son of little Adam (All men)
ATTRIDGE Patronymic Son of Aethel-ric (Noble-Rule) Germanic
ATTWOOD Locative At the wood
ATWAY Locative At the road.
AULIFF Patronymic Son of Aethel-gifu (Noble-Gift) Germanic
AUSTIN Patronymic Son of Augustine Latin
AVANS Locative Dweller by the fen (Fann)
AYERS Patronymic Son of the heir
BACKHOUSE Locative At the bakehouse
BACON Occupational A bacon seller, pork butcher
BAILEY/BAILY Occupational A bailiff
BAINES Patronymic Son of the bath attendant
BAIRD Occupational A singer
BAKER Occupational A baker
BALAAM Locative Fron Baleham
BALDWIN Patronymic Son of Beald-wine (Bold-Friend) Germanic
BALKIN Patronymic Son of Beald-Cyne (Bold-Family) Germanic
BALL Nickname Bald
BALMAIN Nickname Beautiful hands Norman French
BALTZER Occupational Crossbowman (Ballister)
BAMPTON Locative From Bampton
BANISTER Occupational A basket maker
BANNON Patronymic Grandson of white (Ó Banain) Gaelic (Irish)
BARBER Occupational A barber (including surgeon & dentist)
BARCLAY Locative At the birch wood
BARDEN Locative At the barley clearing, valley
BARKER Occupational A tanner (using tree bark)
BARLOW Locative At the barley hill
BARNARD Patronymic Son of Bern-heard (Bear-Brave) Germanic
BARNES Locative At the barn (barley house)
BARNETT Patronymic Son of Bern-hardu (Bear-Hard) (Diminutive) Germanic
BARNIDGE Nickname Noble (Baronage)
BARR Locative At the bar (gateway to fortified town.)
BARRACLOUGH Locative At the dell with a grove
BARRATT Nickname Cunning Norman
BARRETT Nickname Cunning Norman
BARRY Locative At the height in the field Gaelic (Scots)
BARRY Locative At the rampart, area below the rampart French
BARRY Patronymic Cambro-Norman name (de Barra)
BARRY Patronymic Grandson of fair-topped (Ó Baire) Gaelic (Irish)
BARTHOLOMEW Patronymic Son of Talmai (abounding in furrows) Hebrew
BARTLETT Patronymic Son of little Bartholomew (abounding in furrows) Hebrew
BARTON Locative At the barley place, farm
BARTRIM Patronymic Son of Beorht-hrafn (Bright-Raven) Germanic
BASFORD Locative From Basford, Notts, Stafford or Chester
BASSETT Nickname Little Bass (short, dwarfish) Norman
BATCHELOR Occupational A young knight, novice at arms
BATES Patronymic Son of little Bartholomew (abounding in furrows) Hebrew
BATESON Patronymic Son of little Bartholomew (abounding in furrows) Hebrew
BATH Patronymic Son of Atha (Ap Atha) Welsh
BATTEN Patronymic Son of little Bartholomew (abounding in furrows) Hebrew
BATTLE Locative From Battle, Sussex.
BATTY Patronymic Son of little Bartholomew (abounding in furrows) Hebrew
BAUER Occupational Husbandman German
BAULCOMB Locative From Balcombe (Sussex)
BAUNTON Locative At the place, farm
BAWDEN Locative At Baldwin's Hollow
BAX Patronymic Son of Black
BAXTER Occupational A baker
BAYLDON Locative a hill
BAYLEY Occupational A bailiff
BAYTON Locative At the place, farm
BEALE Locative At the bee hill
BEALE Nickname Beautiful (Belle) Norman
BEARD Nickname Bearded
BEAVAN Patronymic Son of Evan (Ap Evan) Welsh
BEAVER Locative At the beautiful view (Belvoir) French
BEAVIS Nickname Dear son (bel fiz) French
BEAVIS Nickname Handsome French
BECK Locative At the stream Scandinavian
BECKHAUS Locative At the bakehouse
BEDDOWS Patronymic Son of Meredith
BEECH Locative At the beech tree
BEECHING Locative Dweller by the beech tree (becca) Anglo Saxon
BEECHING Locative Dweller by the stream (baece)
BEER Locative At the swine pasture
BEGGS Patronymic Son of Little.
BEK Locative At the small stream
BELL Patronymic Mac Giolla Mhaoil Gaelic (Irish)
BELL Patronymic Son of Isabel (Elizabeth)
BELLAMY Nickname Handsome Friend Norman
BELLINGHAM Locative A manor near Hastings.
BENBOW occupational An archer (bend bow)
BENDALL Locative At the bean nook
BENE Patronymic Son of Benjamin (South) Hebrew
BENGE Patronymic Son of Benjamin (South) Hebrew
BENJAMIN Patronymic Son of South Hebrew
BENNEDICK Patronymic Son of Blessed Latin
BENNETT Patronymic Son of little Benedict (Blessed) Latin
BENNETTS Patronymic Son of little Benedict (Blessed) Latin
BENNIE Patronymic Son of little Benedict (Blessed) Latin
BENSON Patronymic Son of little Benedict (Blessed) Latin
BENTLEY Locative At the bent grass glade, clearing
BENTON Locative At the place, farm in the bent grass
BERESFORD Locative A manor near Astonfield, Staffordshire
BERGFELS Locative At the mountain crag German
BERIMAN Occupational A servant at the manor
BERKELEY Locative At the birch glade, clearing
BERKIN Locative From Birkin (Yorkshire)
BERNARDIN Patronymic Son of Bern-hardu (Bear-Hard) (Diminutive) Germanic
BERRIMAN Occupational A servant at the manor
BERRY Locative At the fort, manor
BERTHELSEN Patronymic Son of little Bright Scandinavian
BERTOCCI Patronymic Son of little Bright Italian
BESSEN Nickname Rich (Gold coin from Byzantium)
BEST Nickname Beast
BETHUNE Locative From Bethune, Artois
BETTANNY Nickname Betony (a plant)
BETTS Patronymic Son of Beaton (little Beatrice) (Bringer of joy)
BEVEGE Locative Beveridge, At the beaver's edge
BEVERIDGE Locative At the beaver's edge
BEVERIDGE Nickname Drink
BEWLEY Locative At the beautiful glade, clearing
BICE Occupational Bee keeper Anglo Saxon
BIDNER Locative Dweller by the down Anglo Saxon
BIGGS Patronymic Son of Big, Strong
BILLINGHURST Locative At the wooded hill of Swollen/Incensed
BIRCH Locative At the birch tree
BIRD Nicneme Like a bird
BIRKITT Locative At the birch covered hill
BIRLESON Patronymic Son of a butler
BIRMINGHAM Locative At the homestead of Beorma's people Germanic
BISAK Locative From Bessacar Yorkshire
BISCHOFF Occupational A bishop German
BISHOP Occupational A servant of the bishop
BISSAKER Locative From Bessacar Yorkshire
BLABER Nickname Gossiper
BLACK Nickname Black haired, dark complexioned
BLACKMORE Locative At the dark moor, forest
BLACKTOP Locative From Blacktoft Yorkshire
BLACKWELL Locative At the black spring, stream
BLAIR Locative At the heath
BLAKE Nickname Pale (bleak) or black
BLANCHARD Nickname Whitish
BLAXALL Locative From Black hall
BLINMAN Nickname Blind man
BLOOMFIELD Locative From Blonville-sur-Mer in Calvados
BLUNDELL Nickname Little fair haired Norman
BLUNDEN Nickname Little fair haired Norman
BLUNT Nickname Fair Haired Norman
BOEF Occupational A butcher (boef = beef) Norman
BOFFO Locative From Beaufour Calvados (Beaufoy) French
BOGGS Locative At the bog Gaelic (Irish)
BOHN Locative From Bohun, St. Lo
BOLTON Locative At the place with buildings, village
BONDEN Patronymic Son of the little peasant (bond man)
BOOKLASS Nickname Able to read (Boklaes) Norse
BOON Nickname Good
BOOTH Locative At the hut, shed, shelter Norse
BOOTS Locative At the shoemakers
BORRODALE Locative From Borrowdale, Cumberland (fortress valley)
BORROW Locative At the fortification
BOSIMWORTH Locative a homestead
BOSTON Locative At St. Botulf's stone
BOTHAM Locative At the valley bottom, dell
BOUFFIER Occupational A butcher French
BOUGHAM Locative At the river meadow with a bridge (bow, arch)
BOULTON Locative At the place, farm of Bola (bull)
BOUNDY Patronymic Son of the peasant (bond man)
BOURKE Locative At the fort, manor Norman
BOVEY Locative At the River Bovey
BOW Locative At the bridge (bow, arch)
BOWDEN Locative At the arched hill
BOWEN Patronymic Son of Owen (Ap Owen) Welsh
BOWENS Patronymic Son of Owen (Ap Owen) Welsh
BOWER Occupational A servant at the womans room
BOWERING Patronymic Of the bowmakers people
BOWES Locative At the river bend
BOWIE Nickname Yellow haired Gaelic (Scots)
BOWLER Occupational A bowl maker
BOWMAN Occupational An archer
BOXSHALL Locative From Boxhulle, Sussex
BOYCE Locative At the wood French
BOYD Nickname Yellow haired Gaelic (Scots)
BOYLAND Locative At the land by a river bend
BOYLE Patronymic Grandson of vain pledge (Ó Baoighill) Gaelic (Irish)
BOYS Locative At the wood French
BRABANT Locative From Brabant
BRABOURNE Locative From Brabant
BRACKEN Locative At the bracken
BRADBURY Locative At the fort made of boards
BRADFORD Locative At the broad crossing
BRADLEY Locative At the broad glade, clearing
BRADSHAW Locative At the broad copse, thicket
BRADSTREET Locative At the broad road
BRADY Locative Dweller by the broad island
BRADY Patronymic son of spirited (Mac Brádaigh) Gaelic (Irish)
BRAHE Locative At the brow of the hill
BRAIN Nickname Mad, furious (brinnan to burn) Anglo Saxon
BRAMLEY Locative At the glade, clearing with broom
BRASH Nickname Brash
BRAUND Nickname a sword, firebrand (Devon)
BRAY Locative At the brow of the hill
BRAYSHAW Locative At the broad copse, thicket (Yorkshire)
BRAZIER Occupational A brassfounder
BREADMORE Locative At Brid's moor
BREEN Locative At the hill Welsh
BREEN Patronymic Grandson of sorrow (Ó Braoin) Gaelic (Irish)
BRENNAN Patronymic Grandson of sorrow (ó Braonáin) Gaelic (Irish)
BRENNAN Patronymic Son of Ernest Norse
BRETHERTON Locative At the place, farm
BRETT Locative From Brittany
BREWER Occupational A brewer
BREWIN Nickname A bear
BRIAN Patronymic Son of Brian (hill?) Keltic
BRIDGE Locative At the bridge
BRIDGET Patronymic Son of Bride
BRIESE Patronymic Son of Britius or follower of St. Britius Celtic
BRIGGS Locative At the bridge
BRIGHT Nickname Handsome
BRIMS Patronymic Son of Brim (renowned) Anglo Saxon
BRINDLE Locative At the place cleared by burning
BRINKWORTH Locative From Brinkworth, Wiltshire
BRISBANE Nickname Break bone
BRISTOW Locative Assembling place at the bridge
BRITTON Locative From Brittany
BROAD Nickname Stout
BROADBENT Locative At the broad place with bent grass
BROADFOOT Nickname Broad foot
BROCK Locative At the brook
BROCK Nickname Badger (O.E.) Young stag (O.F.)
BRODERICK Patronymic Son of Roderick (Ap Roderick) Welsh
BRODIE Locative From Brodie, Nairn
BROKENSHIRE Locative From Birkenshaw Yorkshire
BROMLEY Locative At the glade, clearing with broom
BROOKE Locative At the brook
BROOKER Locative Dweller at the brook
BROOKES Locative At the brook
BROOKMAN Locative Dweller at the brook
BROOKS Locative At the brook
BROUGHTON Locative From Broughton, Stafford
BROWN Nickname Brown haired, brown skinned
BROWN Patronymic son of the brehon (judge) (Mac an Bhreithiún) Gaelic (Irish)
BROWNING Nickname Little brown
BRUCE Locative From Briouze, Nomandy or Le Brus, Calvados
BRUCKSHAW Locative At the brook with a copse, thicket
BRUMBY Locative From Brumby Lincolnshire Norse
BRYAN Patronymic Son of Brian (hill?) Keltic
BRYANT Patronymic Son of Brian (hill?) Keltic
BRYEN Patronymic Son of Brian (hill?) Keltic
BRYETT Patronymic Son of Brian (hill?) Keltic
BUCHANAN Locative At the low ground belonging to the canon
BUCKINGHAM Locative At the river meadow of Bucca's people
BUCKLAND Locative At the land held by charter (book land)
BUCKLES Occupational Son of the Buckle maker
BUCKLEY Locative From Buckley, Cheshire
BUCKLEY Patronymic Grandson of cow herd (ó Buachalla) Gaelic (Irish)
BUCKMAN Occupational A goat, stag keeper
BUDDEN Patronymic Son of Budda (a bud) Germanic
BUDGE Occupational A messenger (bote) Germanic
BULL Nickname A bull
BULLEY Locative From Bulley, Gloucester
BULLOCK Nickname A bullock
BULLY Locative From Bulley, Gloucester
BUNT Occupational Maker of sieves
BURCHETT Patronymic Son of Burg-heard (Fort-Brave) Germanic
BURDEN Locative At the fort hill
BURFORD Locative At the ford by a fort, manor
BURGE Locative At the bridge
BURGESS Occupational A citizen, free man
BURGMANN Locative Mountain man German
BURKE Patronymic from Richard de Burgh (de Búrca) Gaelic (Irish)
BURKIT Locative At the birch covered hill
BURKIT Patronymic Son of Burg-heard (Fort-Brave) Germanic
BURLEY Locative At the glade, clearing belonging to the fort/manor
BURLINGTON Locative At the place, farm of Bret's people
BURNABY Locative At the farm by a spring Norse
BURNETT Nickname Brownish
BURNS Locative At the stream
BURRELL Nickname Coarse woolen cloth
BURROWS Locative At the fort/manor
BURT