ING(E) (English). Place in England - name may stem from tribal name "Gigingas" (=people of Giga).

INGERSOLL (English). "Limper's hill" or "Ingvarr's hill," or possibly "monks' field," name of place in Derbyshire.

INGRAM (English). "Pastureland homestead/river-meadow"; or, from Germanic Angleramn/Ingilramn (=angel raven).

INGRAM (English). "Pastureland, homestead/river-meadow".

IRVINE (English). "Green, fresh river".

ISHAM (English). "Homestead on the River Ise" (Old Welsh, Old English), place in England.

IVE (English). "Yew" (Germanic); Saint Ive.

IVERS (English). "Son of Ivor."

IVERS (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'h-Iomhair".

J back to top

JACK (English). Diminuitive of John or James.

JACKSON (English). "Son of Jack."

JACOB (English, Jewish). "He supplanted" (Hebrew).

JAGGER (English). "Carter, hawker."

JAMES (English). Form of Jacob made popular by the two Apostles.

JAMISON (English). "Son of James (=he supplanted)" (Hebrew).

JARVIS (English). "Spear servant".

JAY (English). "Jay," either 'as beautiful as a' or 'as chattering as a' (Old French).

JENKINS (English). Double diminuitive of "John."

JENNINGS (English). "Son of (diminuitive) John."

JOHN (Universal). "Yahweh has favored" (Hebrew).

JOHNSON (English). "Son of John."

JOHNSTON (Universal). "From John's place."

JOINER (English). "Joiner" (Old French).

JOLSON (English). "Son of Joel."

JONES (English). "Son of John." The most common surname in Wales.

JONES (English). "Son of John (God has favored)" (Hebrew).

JORDAN (English). "Flowing down".

JOSEPH (English, Jewish). "May Yahweh add" (Hebrew)

K back to top

KANE (English). Form of Cain(e).

KAPPELMAN (German). "Churchman, church keeper" (German).

KASNER (German). Form of Kastner.

KAST (German). Kaste-Kastanie, "chestnut" (German).

KASTNER (German). "Chest maker" (Germanic).

KAVANAGH (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Caomhain".

KAVANAUGH (English). ). "Associated with St. Caomhan (=tender)" (Irish).

KAYSER (German). "King (Caesar)" (Germanized Latin).

KEARNEY (English). "Descendant of Victorious" (Irish).

KEEFE (English). "Gentle/Tender/Beautiful" (Irish).

KEEGAN (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "MacCiochain".

KEELAN (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "MacCailleachain".

KEELE (English). "Cows' hill," place in England.

KEENE (English). "Brave, astute."

KELCHER (German). Place in Germany.

KELLEHER (English). "Wise, prudent".

KELLER (English, German). "Salt-keeper" (Old English), or "distributor of provisions" (German).

KELLOGG (English). "Kill hog," for a slaughterman.

KELLY (English). "Descendant of War" (Irish).

KEMBLE (English). "Chief war" (Old Welsh).

KEMP (English). "Warrior, champion, athlete."

KEMPLE (English). Form of Kimball.

KENDRICK (English). "Chief man/hero".

KENNEDY (English). "Ugly head" (Irish and Scots Gaelic) or "helmeted head" (Celtic).

KERN (English). From O'Ciarain (Gaelic), "descendant of the black-haired one".

KERN (German). "Kernal" (Germanic).

KERR (English). Scottish form of Carr.

KERRIGAN (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Ciaragain".

KEVIN (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Caomhain".

KEYES (English). "Rejoicing" or "quay, wharf" (Welsh).

KIDD (English). "Kid, young goat".

KIDDER (English). "Woodman, firewood-seller."

KILPATRICK (English). "Church of St. Patrick."

KIMBALL (English). "Chief war" or "bold family" or ). "royal hill".

KING (English). "King," nickname based on appearance, being 'king' of a festivity, or service in the royal household.

KIRBY (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Ciarmhaic".

KIRK (English, German). "Church" (Old Norse).

KIRKHOFF (German). "Churchyard" (Germanic).

KIRKPATRICK (English). "Church of St. Patrick," places in England.

KITTS (English). "Son of 'fatty'."

KLUG (German). "Wise or smart".

KNIGHT (English). "Mounted warrior," or for a worker in a knight's household.

KNOWLES (English). Form of Knollys. "At the hilltop."

KNOX (English). "At the knock (hill, sandbank)" (Irish and Scots Gaelic).

KOCH (German). "Cook".

KOPP (German). Form of Jacob.

KYLE (Scottish)

L back to top

LACEY (English). "Of Lassy, France (='home of the man from the Lacian District of Italy')." Or, form of Lacy.

LACY (French). "Learned" (Old French). Or, form of Lacey.

LAKE (English). "Stream."

LAMB (English). "Lamb, from tending lambs".

LAMBERT (English). "Land bright" (Germanic); through St. Lambert.

LAMERTON (English). "Farm on a lamb-washing stream," place in Devon.

LAMBIN (English). "Dweller at the Lamb Valley".

LAMONT (English). "Lawgiver" (Scots Gaelic from Old Norse).

LAMPH(IER) (English). "Owner of large enclosure."

LANE (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Laoghain".

LANGLEY (English). "Long wood clearing".

LANGWORTHY (English). "Long ford".

LARKIN (English). "Of Laurentum," an Italian town named for its bay trees (Latin).

LARKIN (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Lorcain".

LARRISY (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Learghusa".

LATHAM (English). "At the barn".

LATTIMORE (English). "Clerk, keeper of records".

LAURENCE (English). Double-diminuitive of Laurence.

LAURENCE (English). "Of (Italian town of) Laurentum" (Latin).

LAUTERS (German). "Swamp" (German).

LAVARS (English). "Dweller by the wild iris."

LAVELLE (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Mullaville".

LAW (English). Diminuitive of Laurence.

LAY (English). "Wood, glade, clearing, field, pasture".

LEA (English). "Lea."

LEARY (English). "Descendant of Calf-keeper" (Irish).

LEATHER (English). "Leather worker/seller".

LEDGER (English). "People spear" (Germanic); usually through Saint Leger. May also be a deliberate variation of "Leacher" or "Lecher", for obvious reasons.

LEE (English). Alternate spelling of Lea.

LEECH (English). "Doctor, physician." (doctors were named leech prior to the bloodsucking creatures)

LEEK (English). "Stream".

LEGGOTT (English). "Legate, ambassador or deputy".

LEIGH (English). "Wood, glade, clearing, field, pasture."

LENNON (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Leannain".

LENNOX (English). "People of the district around the River Leven (=elmwater)" (Scots Gaelic); name of place in Scotland.

LEONARD (English). "Lion hardy" (Germanic); patron saint of prisoners.

LESLIE (English). "Court/garden of hollies by the pool" or "the grey fort" (Scots Gaelic); name of place in Scotland.

LESLIE (English). "Court garden by the pool, or of hollies" (Gaelic).

LETT (English). Diminuitive of "Lettice (=Joy)" (Latin).

LEWIS (English). "Reknowned, famous battle" (Germanic normanized).

LINDERMANN (German). "Lives near the swamp" (Germanic).

LINDLEY (English). "Flax field"; name of places in England.

LINDSEY (English). "Lincoln island".

LINKLETTER (English). "Sloping ridge" (Scots Gaelic).

LISTER (English). "Dyer."

LITTLE (English). "Little or small".

LIVINGSTONE (English). "Dear Friend's place"; name of place in England.

LLOYD (English). "Grey, hoary" (Welsh).

LOANE (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Luain".

LOCHER (German, Magyar, Swiss). "Locksmith."

LOCKREY (English). "Lock maker".

LOCKWOOD (English). "Enclosed wood"; name of place in England.

LODDER (English). "Beggar", or "loader, carrier"; or, "dweller at the drain." In Dorset, may be named after stream called Lodre by the Celts.

LOGAN (English). "Little hollow" (Scots Gaelic); name of places in Scotland.

LONG (English). "Long, tall".

LONSDALE (English). "Valley of the river Lune".

LOODY (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Luachduibh".

LORENTZ (German). Often named after St. Larentius.

LOTT (German). Farmer/worker on an allotted piece of land.

LOVAT (English). "Rotting, putrefying place" (Scots Gaelic); "muddy place, swamp" (Pictish).

LOVE (English). "Love"; or, "she-wolf" (Old French).

LOVELADY (English). ). "Dear lady."

LOVEN (German). "Lion, mountain" (Germanic).

LOWERY (English). Diminuitive of Lawrence.

LUCAS (English). Form of Luke.

LUCE (English). From Latin family name and female first name Lucia; after St. Lucia.

LUDDEN (English). "Pasture with a shelter" or "dweller in the meadow valley".

LUKE (English). "Man from Lucania" (Greek); or, "from Lucca, Italy."

LUTHER (English). "Flute player" (Old French).

LYNCH (English). "Hill".

LYNN (English). "Lake/pool" (Celtic).

LYONS (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Liathain"

M back to top

MACAVEE (English - Irish).

MACCARRICK (English).

MACDERMOTT (English - Irish).

MACNEIL (English).

MACOWEN ((English - Irish).

MACTAVISH (English - Irish)."MacGillatSamhais".

MADDEN (English). "Descendant of Dog" (Irish).

MAGEE (English).

MAGILL (English).

MAGUIRE (English). Form of McGuire.

MAHAFFEY (English). From Mac-Dhuibhshithe (Gaelic), "son of the dark, peaceful one".

MAHER (English). Form of Meagher.

MAHONEY (English). "Descendant of Bear" (Irish).

MAIN (English). "Strong" (German).

MAJOR (English). Form of Mauger.

MALCO(L)M (English). "Devotee of Saint Columbia (colm the Irish form of Latin Columba 'dove')" (Scots Gaelic).

MALONE (English). "Descendant of the devotee of St. John" (Irish).

MALONY (English - Irish).

MALTBY (English). "Malti's farm".

MAN(N) (English, German). "Servant, vassal, bondsman."

MANTLE (English). "Overcoat."

MARCH (English). "Boundary."

MARCHAM (English). "Homestead where wild celery grows"; name of place in England.

MARK (English). Commonly from the Biblical Mark (derived from Mars, the god of war); or, "boundary".

MARKER (German). "Mark=St. Mark, name of a pope" (Germanic).

MARKHAM (English). "Homestead on the boundary," place in England.

MARMADUKE (English). "Servant of Madoc" (Irish).

MARR (English). "Marsh, pool" (Old Norse); or, member of ancient tribes Marsi of Italy or Marsigni of Bohemia.

MARROW (English). "Mate, chum, sweetheart" (Middle English).

MARSTON (English). "Place by marsh".

MARTIN (English). Diminuitive of "Mars"; through Saint Martin.

MASON (English). "Stonemason" (Old French).

MASSEY (English). Diminuitive of "Matthew"; or, after locations in France (massif=hill, range).

MASTERS (English). "Son at the house of the master".

MATTHEW (English). "Gift of God" (Hebrew); through Mark the Apostle.

MATTHIAS (English). Form of Matthew.

MAULE (English, French). "Mall"; or, "from Maule, France."

MAYNARD (English). "Strength hardy" (Germanic).

MAYNOR (English). Form of Maynard.

McALEAR (English). Form of McAlery.

McALERY (English). Form of McChlery.

McAULEY (English). "Son of Olaf (relic of the gods)".

McAWLEY (English). Form of McAuley.

McBAIN (English). "Son of Bean" (Irish).

McBRIDE (English). "Son of the devotee of St. Bridget" (Irish).

McCabe (English). "Son of Cap/ Hood" (Irish).

McCAFFERTY (English). "Son of Steed Rider" (Irish).

McCALL (English). "Son of Cathal (=battle mighty)" or "son of Cathmhaol (=battle chief)" (Irish).

McCALLUM (English). "Son of the devotee of Saint Columba" (Scots Gaelic).

McCHESNEY (English). "Oak grove".

McCLELLAN (English). "Son of the devotee of St. Imchad" (Gaelic).

McCLUNG (English). ). "Son of Ship" (Scots Gaelic).

McCORMICK (English). "Son of Chariot Lad" (Irish and Scots Gaelic).

McCOTTER (English). "Wood estuary".

McCULLOCH (English). "Son of Boar" (Scots Gaelic).

McDONALD (English). "Son of Donald (world mighty)" (Gaelic).

McDOWELL (English). "Son of the swarthy foreigner" (Irish).

McDUFF (English). "Son of Dark Man" (Irish).

McEWEN (English). "Son of Ewan (='Well-born')" (Scots Gaelic).

McGEE (English). "Son of Aodh" (pronounced Hugh?).

McGOVERN (English). From Maf-Shamhradhain (Gaelic), "son of the man born in summertime".

McGUFFEY (English). Form of McDuff.

McGUIRE (English). "Son of Dun-Coloured" (Irish).

McILROY (English). "Son of the red-haired lad" (Scots Gaelic and Irish).

McINTI(Y)RE (English). "Son of the carpenter" (Gaelic).

McINTYRE (English). "Son of the carpenter/wright" (Irish and Scots Gaelic).

McKAY (English). "Son of Aodh" (Irish and Scots Gaelic).

McKEE (English). Form of McKay.

McKENNA (English). "Son of Cionaedh" (Scots Gaelic).

McKIE (English). Form of McKay.

McKILLOP (English). "Son of Philip, fond of horses".

McKINNEY (English). From Mac-Cionaodha (Gaelic), "son of the fire-sprung one".

McKINNON (English). "Son of Fair-born".

McKINNON (English). "Son of Fairborne, stream in the ferns" (Gaelic).

McLAUGHLIN (English). "Son of Lauglin, lake/fjord land" (Irish).

McMASTER (English). "Son of the master" - either a schoolmaster or a courtesy title (Scots Gaelic).

McREYNOLDS (English). "Power, power".

MEAGHER (English). Originally O Meagher -- "descendant of Hospitable" (Irish).

MEDLEY (English). "Aggressive person".

MEEHAN/O'MEEHAN (English, Irish). A modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'h-Emeachain"
MEEHAN originally appeared in Gaelic as O MIADHACHAIN - derived from the word "miadhach", meaning honorable.  First found in the county Leitrim where they held a family seat from ancient times.

MEEK (English). "Meek, humble, gentle".

MELVIN (English). From Maol-mhin (Gaelic), "suave leader"; From Mael-wine "protective swordsman".

MERCER (English). "Merchant, especially a dealer in luxury fabrics" (Old French).

MERRI(O)T (English). ). "Boundary gate" or "famous Geat" (Geats are the Swedish tribe which Beowulf belonged to).

MERRY (English). "Cheerful, amusing, pleasant."

MIDDLETON (English). "Middle place/farm," many places in England.

MILES (English). "Merciful" (German).

MILFORD (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Mulfover".

MILLAR (English). Scottish form of Miller.

MILLARD (English). Form of Millward.

MILLER (English). "Miller," (Latin), also found as Anglicized version of German or other forms.

MILLICENT (English). "Work strong" (Germanic).

MILLS (English). "Miller".

MINER (English). "Miner" (Old French), or "military sapper."

MINOR (English). Form of Miner.

MINTER (English). "Moneyer, coiner."

MITCHEL(L) (English). Common form of Michael; also, "big."

MIZE, MICE or MEISE (English). "One who sings like a bird, bird handler or from the tableland or flatlands".

MOLINA (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Maoilfhiona".

MOLLISON (English). ). "Son of Moll."

MOLOHAN (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Maoilaithin".

MONAGHAN (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Muineog".

MONDAY (English). From being born on Monday, or "holder of Mondayland" - land which required the tenant to work for the lord each Monday.

MONTGOMERY (English). "Hill of (an Anglo-Saxon called) Man Powerful" (Old English + Germanic).

MOONEY (English). "Descendant of Dumb" (Irish).

MOORE (English). "The Moor, darkie" (Old French); or, "moor, fen"; in Ireland, may be an Anglicized form of O More.

MOORE (English). "The Moor or darkie".

MOOS (German). "Mossy area" (Germanic).

MORA (Spanish). "Dweller at the moor/heath or black mulberry tree".

MORAN (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Mughroin".

MORELL (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "MacMurchada".

MORGAN (English). "Sea bright" (Celtic).

MORGESON (English). "Sea + bright".

MORIARTY (English). (Irish) "Descendant of Mariner".

MORRIS (English). "Dark, swarthy" (Latin).

MORRISON (English). "Son of Morris."

MORROW (English). "Sea commander."

MORTIMER (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "Murtagh".

MORTON (English). "Moor/fen farm," name of many places in England.

MOSELEY (English). "Marsh/mouse clearing," places in England.

MOSIER (English). "Swamp dweller".

MOTT (English). "Someone living by a fortified stronghold".

MOTT (French). Diminuitive of Montanus (of the mountain).

MULLINAR (English). "Miller" (Old French).

MULLINAX. Possibly a form of Mullinar.

MULLINS (English). From Molinus (late Latin), "flourmill owner; or from O'Maolain (Gaelic), "young, bald one".

MUNRO(E) (English). "Mouth of the River Roe."

MURDOCH (English). "Mariner (literally 'sea warrior/belonging to the sea')" (Scots Gaelic).

MURPH(E)Y (English). "Descendant of Sea Warrior" (Irish).

MYER (English). "Marsh" (Old Norse); or, "physician" (Old French)

N back to top

NASH (English). "At the ash tree."

NEAL(E) (English). "Champion" (Irish).

NEEDHAM (English). "Poverty homestead, misery farm"; name of places in England.

NEILL (English). "Champion" (Irish).

NEILSON (English). "Son of Neal (champion)" (Old Norse).

NELSON (English). "Son of Nell" (form of Neal), or form of Nilsson.

NESS (English). "Headland, projecting ridge" (Old English, Old Norse), name of places in England.

NEUMANN (English). "New man, settler, newcomer".

NEUMEIER (German). "New farmer" (German).

NEVEN (English). "Little saint" (Irish).

NEWARK (English). "New building," name of places in England.

NEWBY (English). "New town" (Old English + Old Norse).

NEWELL (English). "Someone living at a new hall" or ). "someone working in one".

NEWELL (English). "New hall/manor house" or "new well."

NEWTON (English). "New place/homestead/farm/village"; name of many places in England.

NIGHTINGALE (English). "Nightingale (literally night-singer)," for a sweet voice.

NILSEN (Norwegian). Scandinavian form of Neilson.

NILSSON (Scandinavian). Scandinavian form of Neilson.

NIPPS (German). "Dweller near water" (German).

NIXON (English). "Son of Nicolas (victory people)".

NOBLE (English). "Notable, noble".

NOLAN (English). "Descendant of Noble" (Irish).

NOONE (English). "Derived from Nuadha, personal name of many ancient Gaelic gods" (Irish).

NORMAN (English). "From Normandy, France."

NORRIS (English). "Northerner" (Old French) or ). "nurse" (Old French).

NORTH (English). "Newcomer from the north, dweller to the north of the village."

NORTON (English). "Northern or north-facing place/farm/village," name of places in England.

NOTT (English). "Bald, cropped."

NOWELL (English). "Hurray!" (Old French); or, "news" (from French nouvelles).

NUGENT (English). "New settlement" (Gaelic).

NUNN (English). "Nun" - either recording a scandalous birth, or a nickname for a prissy man.

NYE (English). "At the island," place in England.

NYLAND (English). "At the island," place in England

O back to top

O'BRIEN (English-Irish).

O'DOWDA (English-Irish).

O'HARE (English-Irish).

O'MARA (English-Irish).

OAKLEY (English). "Oak wood clearing".

ODGER (English). "Wealth spear" (Old French, Germanic).

OLDHAM (English). "Long or formerly cultivated river flat".

OLIVER (English). "Elf army" (Germanic), usually after Charlemagne's peer.

OLSEN (Scandinavian). From Oleifr (Old Norse), "son of Olaf".

ORCHARD (English). "Orchard," name of places in England.

ORR (English). "Of the border/shore/hill/ridge"; or, "the pale person."

ORTT (German). "Place of land or point of a sword/spear" (Germanic).

OSBORNE (English). "Pagan god man/warrior."

OSGOOD (English). "Pagan god god," or from Old Norse Asgautr.

OSWELL (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Hease".

OWENS (English)

P back to top

PAGE (English). "Page" (Old French).

PAGET (English). "Little page" (Old French).

PALMER (English). "Pilgrim" (Old French) - one who had brought back a palm branch from the Holy Land.

PARIS (English). "Paris (the tribe Parisii)" (Old French, Gaulish).

PARKER (English). "Park-keeper, park-ranger" (Old French).

PARMENTER (English). "Tailor".

PARMLEY (English). Form of Parmenter.

PARR (English). Diminuitive of "Piers (=Peter)."

PARSONS (English). "Of the parson," the S probably implies 'servant of' rather than 'son of' (Old French).

PARTRIDGE (English). "Partridge" nickname; or, occupational name of one who catches them.

PASCALL (English). "Connected with Easter" (Latin); Saint Paschal.

PATTEN (English). "Pattern/clog maker".

PATTERSON (English). "Son of Patrick."

PATTON (English). Double diminuitive of "Patrick"; the "on" suffix is Old French.

PAYNE (English). "Villager or country dweller".

PEEL (English). "Stockade, castle" (Old French).

PENNINGTON (English). "Farm paying a penny in rent".

PEPPER (English). "Pepperer, a dealer in pepper and spice."

PEPPIN (English). "Tremble" (Germanic); through Frankish kings.

PERRY (English). "Pear tree."

PETERS (English). "Son of Peter."

PETERSON (English). "Son of Peter."

PHELPS (English). Form of Philip.

PHILIP (English). "Fond of horses" (Greek); Philip the apostle.

PHILLIPS (English). "Son of Phillip" (Greek).

PIC(K)ARD (French). "Of Picardy, France."

PICKETT (English). From Picquet (Old French), "young spearman".

PIERCE (English). Form of Piers.

PIKE (English). "Peak, point, hilltop"; or, "pike, pick-axe," for a pikeman; or, "pike (fish)," for a fishmonger (Old French).

PILCHER (English). "Maker of pilches" (a pilch is similar to a pelt).

PILGRIM (English). "Pilgrim," probably to either the Holy Land or Rome.

PLATT (English). "Plot, patch".

PLOWMAN (English). ). "Ploughman."

POOLE (English). ). "Pool, tidal stream."

POPE (English). For an strict man, or one who worked in the Pope's service.

PORTER (English). "Gate-keeper, door-keeper" (Old French) or "carrier, porter" (Old French).

POW - PEW - de POU

POWERS (English). From Pou-caer (Old French), "home on a small beautiful site" or Poore, "poorman".

POWERS (English). "Poor" (Old French); or, "from Poix, France" (Old French); or "herald" (because heralds were empowered to perform certain acts).

PRENTICE (English). "Apprentice."

PRICE (English). "Son of Rhys" or "fixer of prices" (Welsh).

PRINCE (English). (Latin) "First, chief" or for playing the part in a pageant.

PRITCHARD (English). "Son of Richard (=powerful, brave)" (German).

PROUD (English). "Proud."

PURCELL (English). "Young pig."

PURDY (English). "By god!" (literally 'for god'), from a favorite expression.

PUTZ (German). "Dweller near the well" (Germanic)

Q back to top

QUEEN (English). "Chiene, bitch" (Norman).

QUICK (English). "Clever, swift."

QUIGLEY (English).

QUINN (English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Cuinn".