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

Black, dark · German

Shepherd · English

Clear water (清水) · Japanese

An old clan name (申) · Korean

The quiet one · Russian

Metalworker, blacksmith · English

Of the falcon · Russian

Of the nightingale · Russian

The Song dynasty (宋) · Korean

Grandson, descendant (孫) · Chinese

Bell tree (鈴木) · Japanese

Tall bridge (高橋) · Japanese

Central rice field (田中) · Japanese

The Tang dynasty (唐) · Chinese

Tailor · English

Son of Thomas · English

Towers · Spanish

Worker with a lathe · English

Son of Vasily · Russian

Meadow, fertile plain · Spanish

Of the vineyard · Russian

Bird · German

Of the wolf · Russian

Wagon-maker · German

Fuller of cloth · English

Welshman, foreigner · Irish

King (王) · Chinese

Watchman, guard · English

Ferry crossing (渡辺) · Japanese

Weaver · German

Fair-haired or pale · English

Son of William · English

Son of Will · English

Craftsman, maker · English

An ancient state (吳) · Chinese

To allow (許) · Chinese

Mountain rice field (山田) · Japanese

Mountain entrance (山口) · Japanese

Base of the mountain (山本) · Japanese

Poplar tree (楊) · Chinese

To govern (尹) · Korean

Lucky rice field (吉田) · Japanese

Willow (柳) · Korean

Of the hare · Russian

Draw a bow (張) · Chinese

An ancient state (趙) · Chinese

An ancient state (鄭) · Chinese

The Zhou dynasty (周) · Chinese

Vermilion (朱) · Chinese

Carpenter · German