R RACKLER (English).
"Mound, gulley + wood clearing".
RADLIFF
(English). Form of Radcliff.
RAE (English).
Scottish form of Roe.
RAFFERTY
(English).
RALEIGH
(English). "Red clearing"; name of
place in England.
RALF(E)
(English). "Advice wolf" (Germanic).
RAMSEY
(English). "Wild-garlic island," places
in England.
RAND (English).
Diminuitive of "Randolph"; or,
"border, untilled land on a
river-bank"; name of places in England.
RANDOLPH
(English). "Shield wolf" (Germanic).
RANKIN
(English). Diminuitive of "Randolph".
RASBURY
(English). Form of Raspberry.
RASPBERRY
(English). "Red land with brushwood"
(no connection with the fruit), place in England.
RATCLIFF
(English). "Red cliff".
RAY (English).
"King," nickname based on appearance,
being 'king' of a festivity, or service in the
royal household (Old French); or, "female
deer".
RAYMENT
(English). "Might/counsel protector".
RAYNARD
(French). "fox"; or (Germanic),
"powerful or courageous".
REA (English).
"Someone who lived along the river(s)
Rea".
READING
(English). ). "Clearing (ridding of
trees)", or "folk of Red".
REDGRAVE
(English). "Reedy ditch"; name of place
in England.
REED (English).
"Red faced/haired".
REESE (English).
"Son of Rhys".
REEVE (English).
"Chief magistrate, bailiff".
REGAN (English).
). For O Regan - "descendant of little
king" (Irish).
REID (English).
"Red faced/haired" or
"reed-bed" or "roe headland".
REVERE
(English). "At the slope"; or,
"reaver, pirate"; or from French
surname de Revoire (view).
REYES (Spanish).
"One who plays the part of a king in a
pageant" or "someone who works in the
king's house" (Spanish).
REYNOLD
(English). "Power power" (Germanic).
REYNOLDS
(English). "Son of Renold".
R(H)INEHAR(D)T
(German). "Mighty and powerful one" or
"counsel hard" (Germanic).
RHODE (English).
"Clearings".
RICE (English).
"Ardour" (Welsh).
RICHARD
(English). "Powerful brave" (Germanic).
RICHMOND
(English). "Splendid hill" (Old
French); name of places in England.
RIGBY (English).
"Ridge farm" (Old Norse).
RITTER (German).
"Knight" (German).
ROACH (English).
"Rock".
ROBBINS
(English). "Son of (diminuitive)
Robert".
ROBERT (S)
(English). "Fame bright" (Germanic).
ROBISON
(English). "Son of Robert".
ROCHESTER
(English). "Roof of Roman site," place
in England.
RODDIN
(English). "Barrel or copper maker".
ROE (English).
"Roe (deer)," for speed, shyness,
hunting.
ROEBUCK
(English). "Roe buck," for resemblance
to the animal.
ROGER (English).
"Fame spear" (Germanic).
ROLFE (English).
"Fame wolf" (Germanic).
ROLLIN
(English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient
Irish name "O'Rothlain".
ROLLINGS
(English). "Renown + wolf" (Norman).
ROOKE (English).
Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name
"O'Rourke".
ROSE (English).
From either "cape" (Scots Gaelic),
"wood" (Irish and Scots Gaelic) or
"moor" (Cornish and Welsh). Or from
Germanic feminine name meaning "fame
kind".
ROUSER (German).
"Rush, intoxication" (Germanic).
ROWAN (English).
Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name
"O'Ruidhain".
ROWLAND
(English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient
Irish name "O'Rothlain".
ROWLEY
(English). "Rough wood/clearing,"
places in England.
RUBY (French).
From Rubinus (late Latin), "ruby (from a
jeweller's sign)".
RUMPF (German).
"Maker/seller/user of the sieves used in
gristmills" (Germanic).
RUSHING
(English). "Rush bed or rushes".
RUSSELL
(English). "Red (hair/face)" (Old
French).
RUTLEDGE
(English). "Red ledge".
RYAN (English).
RYDER (English).
"Rider, knight, cavalryman"; or,
"man at the ride (clearing)"
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SALINGER
(English). "Saint Leger," place in
England.
SALTER
(English). "Dealer in salt".
SANDERSON
(English). "Son of Alexander (=defender of
men)".
SANDFORD
(English). "Sandy ford," places in
England.
SANDS (English).
"Sands" (locality), places in England.
SAUL (English).
"Asked for" (Hebrew).
SAVAGE
(English). "Wild savage" (Old French).
SAWYER
(English). "One who saws".
SAXON (English).
"Saxon (race of people of the short
sword)".
SAYER (English).
"Assayer of metals" or "food
taster".
SCARLET
(English). "Scarlet," probably for
favourite clothing, or for clothing made or sold.
SCHELL (German).
"Roan horse/grey horse" (German).
SCHMIDT
(German). "Smith" (Germanic).
SCHMUTZ
(German). or "Dirt, mud" (German).
SCHOEN (German).
From Sconi (Germanic), "handsome one".
SCHOEN (German).
"Beautiful, handsome" (Germanic).
SCHOEN (German).
"Beautiful" (German).
SCHOFIELD
(English). "Field with a hut".
SCHOLES
(German). "Farmer or clodhopper or
soil" (Germanic).
SCHRIVER
(German, Dutch). "Scribe" (Germanic).
SCHUH (German).
"Shoe," for a shoemaker.
SCHULTZ
(German). From Scultheizzo (Germanic),
"village mayor" of "Head of a
village"
SCHULTZ (German)
(Germanic).
SCHWARTZBACH
(German). "Black brook".
SCOTT (English).
"From over the border or tattooed".
SCOTT (English).
Nationality name for Scots.
SEARL(E)
(English). "Armour" (Germanic).
SEBASTIAN
(English). "Man from Sebastia
(=venerable)" (Greek); Saint Sebastian.
SELBEY
(English). "Willow farm" (Old Norse),
places in England.
SELF (English).
"Sea wolf," from Viking settlements in
northeast England.(Germanic).
SEXTON
(English). "Sacristan".
SHARP(E)
(English). "Sharp, keen, smart".
SHARROCK
(English). "Shore/short rock," place in
England.
"Head of a
village or magistrate"SHAW (English).
"Thicket, small wood".
SHAWHAN
(English). Form of Sharman.
SHEA (English).
SHEFFIELD
(English). "Shed-field," or
"sheep-field;" or "Field bordering
the River Sheaf," places in England.
SHELBY
(English). From Scelf-byr (Old Norse),
"village on a ledge".
SHELDON
(English). "Steep-sided valley" or
"flat-topped hill," places in England.
SHELTON
(English). "Place on ledge/plateau
(shelf)," places in England.
SHEP(P)ARD
(English). "Sheep herder, shephard".
SHIPLEY
(English). "Sheep pasture," places in
England.
SHIPMAN
(English). "Shipworker, sailor" or
"sheep-man, shephard".
SHIRLEY
(English). "Bright (thinly-grown)
wood," places in England.
SIBLEY
(English). "Sibyl is Greek, one of the
females acting as mouthpieces for the gods".
SIMON (English).
"Hearkening" or "little
hyena" (Hebrew); Simon Zelotes the Apostle,
real first name of Saint Peter.
SIMPSON
(English). Diminuitive of "son of
Simon".
SIMS (English).
Son of (diminuitive) Simon.
SINCLAIR
(English). Diminuitive of "St. Clair".
SKELTON
(English). "Place on a bank/hill".
SKINNER
(English). "Skinner" (Old Norse).
SKIPPER
(English). "Jumper, dancer" (Middle
English); or, "shipmaster" (Middle
English from Dutch).
SMART (English).
"Smart, brisk, prompt".
SMITH (English).
"Metal worker," also found as
Anglicized version of German or other forms.
SMY (English).
Form of Smythe.
SMYTHE
(English). Form of Smith.
SOMERVILLE
(English). "Sunny/south-facing
village".
SORREL
(English). "Chestnutty, reddish brown".
SOWELL
(English). From Solier (Old French), "place
of one story houses-a town in Normandy,
France".
SPALDING
(English). "Family/folk of a pioneer".
SPARKS
(English). "Sprighty, lively".
SPARROW
(English). "Sparrow".
SPENSER
(English). Possibly a modern form of the ancient
Irish name "MacSpallane or MacSpealla".
SPRINGER
(English). "Jumper, leaper".
STANSFIELD
(English). "Stony, stone's field".
STARKEY
(English). "Firm, tough, stiff, harsh".
STEADMAN
(English). "Farm man" or
"groom/cavalryman (from steed man)".
STEEL(E)
(English). "Steel-worker"; or,
"firm, reliable".
STEPHENS
(English). "Crown, wreath, garland".
STEWART
(English). "Steward, keeper of a
household".
STIEGER
(German). "Climber" (German).
STILES
(English). "Stile/ascent".
STOKES
(English). "Of the stoc (religious
site, outlying settlement)". Stoke is a
place in England.
STONE (English).
"Stone," for a dwelling near a large
rock or cluster or rocks. Places in England.
STONER
(English). "Stone, from a dwelling near a
prominent rock or stone".
STORY (English).
"Big, strong".
STREET
(English). "Roman road" (Old English
from Latin), places in England.
STRICKLAND
(English). "Land for heifers," places
in England.
STROUD
(English). ). "Marshland overgrown with
brushwood".
STUART
(English). "Steward," alternate form
Stewart.
SUCKLING
(English). "Suckling, unweaned infant".
SUMNER
(English). "Summoner, officer summoning
people to appear in court".
SUTHERLAND
(English). "County, south land".
SWAIN (English).
"Boy, servant" (from the Old Norse word
Sveinn); or, "swineherd".
SWEENEY
(English). "Son of Peaceful" (Irish).
SWEET (English).
"Sweet, pleasant".
SYNDER (German).
"Tailor" (Germanic)
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TALBOT
(English). From a Germanic name similar to
"Dalabod" (='dale offer/command').
TARVER
(English). "Maker/seller/user of a talleras,"
which features a targuet.
TARVIN
(English). "Boundary" (from Welsh terfyn),
name of place and river in England.
TATE (English).
Derived from Old English word Tata; could mean
"dear, glad, hilltop, dice, lock of hair,
daddy or teat".
TATOM (English).
From Tatham, place in England.
TAYLOR
(English). "Tailor" (Old French).
TEAGUE
(English). "Poet, philsopher" (Irish).
TENNANT
(English). "Tenant (owner of a
tenement)" (Old French).
TENNYSON
(English).
TENPENNY
(English).
THOMAS
(English). "Twin" (Aramaic); often
named after Thomas Becket.
THOMPSON
(English). "Son of Thomas".
THORN (English).
"Thorn, hawthorn," places in England.
THORNTON
(English). ). "Thorn town".
THORPE
(English). "Farm (especially 'outlying dairy
farm')" (Old English, Old Norse).
TIDWELL
(English). From Tidde-welle, "man of the
people's spring".
TILLMAN
(English). "Tile maker" or
"farmer".
TIMMONS
(English). Diminuintive of "Timothy
(=honored by God)".
TIPTON
(English). From Tipa-tun, "farmstead of the
boldest among the people".
TISDALE
(English). "Flat land on the River
Tees".
TODD (English).
"foxhunter".
TOWER (English).
"Tower" (Old English, Old French); or,
"tawer, leather-dresser" (Old English).
TOWLER
(English). "Toller (one who collects taxes
or tolls)".
TOWNS (English).
"Farm, village, town".
TOWNSHEND
(English). "End of the village/town,
suburb".
TRAVERS
(English). "Crossing, tollgate".
TRAVIS
(English). Form of Travers.
TRENT (English).
"Living on the bank of rivers called Trent,
across + journey".
TRIPPER
(English). "Dancer" (Germanic).
TROY (English).
"Descendant of Footsoldier" (Irish); or
"from Troyes".
TRU(E)MAN
(English). "Trusty, faithful man".
TUCKER
(English). "Fuller," one who fulled and
burled cloth.
TURNER
(English). "Turner (one who worked with a
lathe)" (Old French).
TYNDALE
(English). "Valley of the Tyne (=Keltic for
'river')".
TYRRELL
(English). "Stubborn person, derivative of
to pull"
U back to top
UNDERWOOD
(English). "Below the wood".
UPSHAW
(English). "Upper grove or thicket"
V back to top
VAUGHAN
(English). "Little" (Old Welsh).
VEAL(E)
(English). "Calf" or "old"
(Old French).
VECK (English).
"Bishop" (Old French).
VELDE (Dutch).
"Field" (Dutch).
VERNON
(English). "Alder tree" (Gaulish),
places in France.
VETTERS
(German). "Cousin, kinsman" (Germanic).
VICKERS
(English). "Vicar, substitute parish priest
for the rector or religious house where tithes
are given".
VINES (English).
"Vineyard or worker in one".
VOYLE (English).
"Bald" (Welsh)
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WADDINGTON
(English). "Place of the men from
Waddow," places in England.
WAGNER
(English;German). From Waganari (Germanic),
"wagonmaker; wagon driver".
WAGNER (German).
"Wainright" (Germanic).
WAINSCOTT
(English). "Carterwright or wagon" or
). "someone living in a house with these
signs".
WAINWRIGHT
(English). "Wain (wagon) maker".
WAIT(E)
(English). "Watchman" (Old French).
WALDO (English,
German). "Of the forest" (German); or
"foreign servant/slave" (Old English).
WALDRON
(English). "House in a wood".
WALFORD
(English). "Stream, ford".
WALKER
(English). "Walker" - one who walked on
cloth in troughs as part of the fulling process.
WALLACE
(English). Scottish form of Wallis.
WALLIS
(English). "Celt, Welshman, Breton,
foreigner" (Old French).
WALPOLE
(English). "Pool by a (Roman) wall," or
"pool of the Welsh," places in England.
WALTER(S)
(English). "Rule army/people" (Germanic
normanized).
WALTON
(English). "Place of the
Welsh/slaves/serfs"; or, "place of the
wood/by a wall/with a wall/by a stream
(well)". Wal (foreigner) is the term
invading Anglo-Saxons used to describe indigenous
Britons.
WARD (English).
"Watchman"; or, "guardhouse,
fortress". In Ireland, form of McWard
("son of the bard").
WARE (English).
"Wary, cautious, prudent".
WARNER
(English). "Warin army" (German).
WARNER (German).
"A warner" (Germanic).
WARREN
(English). Common form of Warrenne.
WARRENNE
(English). "From La Varenne (sandy soil,
game preserve)," place in France (Gaulish).
WASHBOURNE
(English). "Stream for washing
clothes/sheep".
WASHINGTON
(English). "Place/farm of the family of
Wassa," places in England.
WATKINS
(English). "From water".
WATSON
(English). "Son of Watt".
WATT (English).
Diminuitive of "Walter".
WEAKLEY
(English). "Wych-elm wood/clearing".
WEATHERFORD
(English). "River crossing for a wether
(neutered ram)".
WEBB(E)(R)(English).
"Weaver".
WEBSTER
(English). "Weaver".
WEEKS (English).
Derived from Wick.
WEEMS (English).
"Caves" (Gaelic).
WELCH (English).
Commoner form of Welsh.
WELSH (English).
"Celtic, Welsh, English, foreign".
WESTLEY
(English). "Western wood/clearing".
WHITAKER
(English). "White field" or "wheat
field"; places in England.
WHITE (English).
"White, of hair or complexion".
WHITLOW
(English). From Hwit-hloew, "white soil hill
or burial mound".
WHITMORE
(English). "White moor/mere".
WHITNEY
(English). "(At the) White Island" or
"White's Island".
WHITTIER
(English). "White tawer, dresser of skins in
white leather".
WILCOX
(English). "William=will/resolve +
Cock=hilltop or jest".
WILKINSON
(English). "Son of (diminuitive) Will".
WILLARD
(English). "Will/resolve bold"
(Germanic normanized).
WILLIAM(S)
(English). "Will/resolve helmet"
(Germanic normanized); William the Conqueror.
WILLIFORD
(English). "Will, desire + helmet
protection" (Norman).
WILLOUGHBY
(English). "Farm in the willows".
WILSON
(English). "Son of Will".
WINN (English).
"Friend".
WINTER
(English). "Winter, being born in a hard
winter or white haired".
WOLF(E)
(English). "Wolf"
WOLFGANG
(Germanic). From Wolf-gang, "advancing
wolf".
WOODRUFF
(English). "Woodruff, snoot scented
herb".
WOODS (English).
"Of the wood" or "crazy".
WOODWARD
(English). "Woodkeeper, forester".
WOOL(L)E(R)Y
(English). "Wolf meadow".
WOOLDRIDGE
(English). "Wolf, powerful".
WOOTTON
(English). "Place/farm in or by the
woods".
WORKMAN
(English). "Workman, builder".
WRIGHT
(English). "Craftsman, builder".
WYATT (English).
"Abode, hamlet".
WYNN(E)
(English). "White" (Welsh); or, form of
Winn
Y back to top
YALE (English).
From Denbighshire
YANCEY
(French/Native American). "Englishman".
YATES (Englis).
Gate-keepper
YAUGER (German).
Form of Jagger.
YORK(E)
(English). English Eburac (=yew tree),
Latinzied, mistranslated by Anglo-Saxons as
Eoforwic (=wild boar Wick), then Scandinavized by
Vikings to "Vorvik", finally became
"York". English city and county.
YOUNG(E)
(English). "Young," perhaps meant as a
synonym to 'junior'
Z back to top
ZELLER
(English). "Seller".
ZIMMERMAN
(German). "Carpenter" (German).
ZURBUCHEN
(German). "By the beech tree"
(Germanic)
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