Last Names & Their Meanings
Discover the meaning, origin and history behind surnames from around the world — whether a name comes from a trade, a place, a father’s name or a personal trait.
Browse last names by origin
English Last Names
28 surnames →
Japanese Last Names
25 surnames →
Italian Last Names
24 surnames →
Spanish Last Names
24 surnames →
German Last Names
23 surnames →
Russian Last Names
23 surnames →
Irish Last Names
22 surnames →
French Last Names
22 surnames →
Korean Last Names
20 surnames →
Chinese Last Names
19 surnames →
All surnames A–Z
clan name
Ahn
Peace (安) · Korean
patronymic Alekseev
Son of Aleksey · Russian
patronymic Alvarez
Son of Álvaro · Spanish
patronymic Andreev
Son of Andrei · Russian
clan name Baek
White (白) · Korean
occupational Bailey
Bailiff, steward · English
occupational Baker
Baker · English
occupational Barbieri
Barbers · Italian
occupational Bauer
Farmer · German
occupational Becker
Baker · German
descriptive Belov
White, fair · Russian
toponymic Berger
Mountain dweller · German
patronymic Bernard
Brave as a bear · French
descriptive Bianchi
White, fair · Italian
descriptive Blanc
White, fair · French
patronymic Boyle
Descendant of Baoghal · Irish
descriptive Braun
Brown · German
patronymic Brennan
Descendant of Braonán · Irish
descriptive Brown
Brown-haired or -complexioned · English
descriptive Bruno
Brown · Italian
patronymic Byrne
Descendant of Bran (raven) · Irish
patronymic Callaghan
Descendant of the bright-headed · Irish
toponymic Castillo
Castle · Spanish
occupational Chapman
Merchant, trader · English
clan name Choi
Lofty (崔) · Korean
occupational Clarke
Clerk, scribe · English
patronymic Connolly
Fierce as a hound · Irish
other Conti
Of a count’s household · Italian
occupational Cook
A cook · English
occupational Cooper
Barrel maker · English
toponymic Costa
Coast, slope · Italian
patronymic Daly
Descendant of Dálach · Irish
patronymic Davies
Son of David · English
patronymic De Luca
Of Luca (Luke) · Italian
clan name Deng
An ancient state (鄧) · Chinese
patronymic Diaz
Son of Diego · Spanish
patronymic Doyle
Dark stranger · Irish
toponymic Dubois
Of the wood · French
patronymic Duffy
Descendant of the dark one · Irish
toponymic Dumont
Of the mountain · French
descriptive Durand
Enduring, firm · French
toponymic Duval
Of the valley · French
descriptive Esposito
Foundling (“exposed”) · Italian
occupational Fabbri
Smith · Italian
occupational Faure
Smith · French
patronymic Fernandez
Son of Fernando · Spanish
occupational Ferrari
Blacksmith, ironworker · Italian
occupational Fischer
Fisherman · German
occupational Fletcher
Arrow-maker · English
other Flores
Flowers · Spanish
patronymic Flynn
Descendant of Flann (ruddy) · Irish
toponymic Fontaine
By the spring · French
toponymic Fontana
Fountain, spring · Italian
descriptive Fox
Cunning, or red-haired · English
descriptive Gallo
Rooster · Italian
clan name Gao
Tall, high (高) · Chinese
patronymic Garcia
Of debated, likely Basque origin · Spanish
patronymic Garnier
Army guard · French
patronymic Girard
Brave with a spear · French
patronymic Gonzalez
Son of Gonzalo · Spanish