100 Popular Australian Last Names
Australian last names give a stark representation of the history and diversity of the nation.
Surnames rooted in the early Aboriginal peoples, European settlers, and various waves of immigrant peoples over the centuries show a blend of traditions, languages, and influences.
Whether British, Irish, or more recent multicultural origins, Australian surnames are a living testament to a wide variety of identity, migration, and adaptation.
In this article, we briefly examine the etymology of some common and interesting Australian last names and how they influenced the cultural history of the nation.
Australian last names
Abbott – From the Old English “abbod,” meaning “father” or “abbot,” often referring to a leader in a monastery.
Adams – A patronymic surname derived from the given name “Adam,” meaning “man” or “earth.”
Baker – Occupational surname for someone who worked as a baker.
Barrett – Derived from the Old French “baron” or “beret,” meaning “brave” or “bear-like.”
Beckett – From the Old English “bece,” meaning “stream” or “brook.”
Bennett – Derived from the Latin name “Benedictus,” meaning “blessed.”
Black – A descriptive surname referring to someone with dark hair, complexion, or clothing.
Blake – From Old English “blac” or “blaca,” meaning “dark” or “fair.”
Brown – A common surname based on a person’s complexion or hair color.
Burke – Derived from the Old French “burc,” meaning “a fortified place” or “town.”
Cameron – Of Scottish Gaelic origin, meaning “crooked nose” or “bent nose.”
Campbell – A Scottish surname meaning “crooked mouth.”
Carroll – Derived from the Gaelic “Cairbre,” meaning “warrior” or “champion.”
Chapman – Occupational surname for a merchant or trader.
Clarke – Derived from the Old English “clerc,” meaning “cleric” or “clerk.”
Cole – A diminutive of the Old English name “Cola,” meaning “swarthy” or “coal-black.”
Collins – Derived from the given name “Colin,” meaning “young dog” or “pup.”
Connors – A patronymic surname derived from the Gaelic name “Conchobhar,” meaning “lover of hounds.”
Curtis – A surname derived from the Old French “curteis,” meaning “polite” or “courteous.”
Davies – A patronymic surname derived from “David,” meaning “beloved.”
Douglas – From the Scottish Gaelic “dubhglas,” meaning “dark stream.”
Evans – A patronymic surname derived from the Welsh name “Ifan,” meaning “young warrior.”
Fitzgerald – Derived from the Old French “fils de Gérald,” meaning “son of Gerald.”
Fletcher – Occupational surname for an arrow maker.
Ford – A topographical surname for someone who lived near a ford or shallow river crossing.
Foster – Derived from the Old French “foster,” meaning “forest keeper” or “woodland dweller.”
Fox – A surname that likely refers to someone who resembled a fox, either in looks or temperament.
Gibson – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Gilbert,” from Old German “gisil” (pledge) and “berht” (bright).
Grant – Derived from the Old French “grand,” meaning “large” or “great.”
Green – A surname referring to someone who lived near a village green or a grassy area.
Griffiths – Derived from the Welsh personal name “Griffith,” meaning “prince” or “strong in faith.”
Harris – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Harry,” with “Harry” itself meaning “army ruler.”
Hawkins – Derived from the medieval given name “Hawkin,” meaning “little hawk.”
Hughes – A Welsh surname meaning “son of Hugh,” from the Old Germanic “hug,” meaning “heart” or “mind.”
Hunter – Occupational surname for someone who hunted game or worked as a huntsman.
Irwin – A surname of Scottish origin meaning “green” or “fresh water.”
Jackson – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Jack.”
Johnson – A common patronymic surname meaning “son of John.”
Jones – A common Welsh surname meaning “son of John.”
Kennedy – Of Gaelic origin, meaning “descendant of Cinnéidigh,” meaning “helmeted chief.”
King – A surname referring to someone with royal or noble connections.
Lawrence – Derived from the Latin name “Laurentius,” meaning “from Laurentum” or “crowned with laurel.”
Lewis – A surname of Old French origin, meaning “famous warrior.”
Martin – A surname derived from the Latin “Martinus,” meaning “of Mars” or “warrior.”
Miller – Occupational surname for someone who worked in a mill.
Moore – A surname derived from the Old French “more,” meaning “dark-skinned” or “swarthy.”
Murphy – An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic “Ó Murchadha,” meaning “descendant of Murchadh,” meaning “sea warrior.”
O’Connor – An Irish surname meaning “descendant of Conchobhar,” meaning “lover of hounds.”
Parker – Occupational surname for someone who worked as a keeper of the park or a park ranger.
Taylor – Occupational surname for someone who worked as a tailor.
Patterson – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Patrick.”
Pearson – Derived from the given name “Peter,” meaning “rock” or “stone.”
Phillips – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Philip,” with “Philip” meaning “lover of horses.”
Price – A Welsh surname meaning “son of Rhys,” with “Rhys” meaning “enthusiasm” or “passion.”
Richards – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Richard,” with “Richard” meaning “powerful leader.”
Robertson – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Robert,” with “Robert” meaning “bright fame.”
Robinson – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Robin,” derived from “Robert.”
Rogers – A surname meaning “son of Roger,” with “Roger” meaning “famous spear.”
Russell – A surname of Old French origin, meaning “red” or “little red one.”
Scott – A surname referring to someone from Scotland, meaning “a Scotsman.”
Shaw – A topographical surname for someone who lived near a small wood or grove.
Simpson – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Sim,” a diminutive of Simon, meaning “he who hears.”
Sullivan – An Irish surname meaning “descendant of Súileabhán,” meaning “little dark-eyed one.”
Taylor – Occupational surname for a tailor, someone who made or altered clothing.
Thompson – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Thomas,” with “Thomas” meaning “twin.”
Turner – Occupational surname for a worker who operated a lathe or turner of wood.
Wallace – A Scottish surname meaning “foreigner” or “Welshman.”
Ward – Occupational surname for a watchman or guardian.
Watson – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Walter,” with “Walter” meaning “ruler of the army.”
Webb – Occupational surname for a weaver, someone who made cloth.
White – A descriptive surname referring to someone with fair skin or light-colored hair.
Wilson – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Will,” with “Will” being a diminutive of William, meaning “resolute protector.”
Wood – A topographical surname for someone who lived near a forest or wooded area.
Wright – Occupational surname for a worker or craftsman, particularly a builder or carpenter.
Young – A surname for a younger person or one who was the son of a father with the same name.
Ziegler – A German surname meaning “brick maker.”
Anderson – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Andrew,” with “Andrew” meaning “manly” or “brave.”
Barton – A place name surname, meaning “barley farm” or “settlement.”
Blanchard – A surname of Old French origin, meaning “white” or “fair.”
Bowen – A Welsh surname meaning “son of Owen,” with “Owen” meaning “noble” or “young warrior.”
Burgess – An occupational surname for a citizen or freeman of a town.
Burns – A surname derived from the Scottish word “burn,” meaning “stream.”
Cameron – A Scottish surname meaning “crooked nose” or “bent nose.”
Carson – A surname of Scottish origin, meaning “son of the marsh-dwellers.”
Chambers – An occupational surname for a servant or chamberlain, someone in charge of household rooms.
Chapman – Occupational surname for a merchant or trader.
Clifton – A topographical surname for someone who lived near a cliff or settlement by the river.
Connell – An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic “Ó Conghaile,” meaning “descendant of Conghal,” a warrior leader.
Craig – A surname derived from the Gaelic word “creag,” meaning “rock.”
Curtis – Derived from the Old French “curteis,” meaning “polite” or “courteous.”
Dawson – A patronymic surname meaning “son of David.”
Donovan – An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic “Ó Donndubháin,” meaning “descendant of Donndubhán,” meaning “dark or brown warrior.”
Ferguson – A Scottish surname meaning “son of Fergus,” with “Fergus” meaning “man of strength.”
Freeman – A surname denoting someone who was free, as opposed to a serf.
Granger – Occupational surname for a farm manager, someone in charge of grain storage.
Hardy – A surname meaning “brave” or “strong,” often a reference to someone resilient.
Harrison – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Harry,” with “Harry” meaning “army ruler.”
Hewitt – A surname derived from the Old English personal name “Hew,” meaning “heart” or “mind.”
Hodges – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Roger.”
Holland – A geographical surname referring to someone from the region of Holland or “hollow land.”
