300+ Surnames Collection 2026 (With Meanings)
Surnames: Apart from identifying and being called by someone’s name, last names represent a part of who we are as people and where we come from,
They tell the stories of our ancestors that have been passed down through generations, revealing our heritage and the history of our ancestors’ occupations, locations, personalities, or bloodlines.
They also give us a sense of belonging and help people know who we are, based on how they pronounce our last names.
People from different backgrounds, cultures, and regions have taken many different journeys to get to where they are today.
Surnames are one way to help us understand those journeys. From common, well-known family surnames to those that are obscure and one of a kind, there are many different types of surnames around the world, each with their own unique qualities.
So whether you want to research your family’s ancestry, choose the right last name for your story characters, or simply be curious about surname meanings, this listing of surnames provides you with a wide variety of naming traditions, cultures, inspiration.
Surnames
Abbott (English) – “father; priest.”
Acevedo (Spanish) – “from the holly tree grove.”
Acosta (Spanish) – “from the coast.”
Aguilar (Spanish) – “place of eagles.”
Aguirre (Basque) – “open field.”
Alvarado (Spanish) – “white land.”
Almeida (Portuguese) – “plateau or tableland.”
Amador (Spanish) – “lover.”
Amos (Hebrew) – “carried by God.”
Andrade (Portuguese) – “from Andrade region.”
Anthony (English) – “priceless.”
Archer (English) – “bowman.”
Armstrong (Scottish) – “strong arms.”
Arroyo (Spanish) – “stream.”
Atkins (English) – “son of Adam.”
Avalos (Spanish) – “apple orchard.”
Ayala (Spanish) – “hillside.”
Ayers (English) – “heir.”
Baird (Scottish) – “poet or minstrel.”
Ballard (English) – “bold or brave.”
Barlow (English) – “bare hill.”
Barrett (German) – “bear strength.”
Barron (English) – “nobleman.”
Bates (English) – “son of Bartholomew.”
Beasley (English) – “bent grass meadow.”
Beltran (Spanish) – “bright raven.”
Benitez (Spanish) – “son of Benito; blessed.”
Bentley (English) – “meadow with coarse grass.”
Berger (German) – “mountain dweller.”
Bernal (Spanish) – “strong as a bear.”
Best (English) – “excellent.”
Blair (Scottish) – “field or plain.”
Boone (French) – “good or blessing.”
Bowen (Welsh) – “son of Owen.”
Boyd (Scottish) – “yellow-haired.”
Bradley (English) – “broad meadow.”
Briggs (English) – “bridge.”
Britt (English) – “from Britain.”
Browning (English) – “little brown one.”
Bryant (English) – “strong or noble.”
Buchanan (Scottish) – “house of the canon.”
Buckley (English) – “deer meadow.”
Bullock (English) – “young bull.”
Burch (English) – “birch tree.”
Burke (English) – “fortress.”
Byers (English) – “cow shed.”
Calderon (Spanish) – “large basin.”
Callahan (Irish) – “bright-headed.”
Cannon (English) – “church official.”
Cardenas (Spanish) – “thistles.”
Carey (Irish) – “dark one.”
Carlson (Scandinavian) – “son of Carl.”
Carney (Irish) – “victorious.”
Carpenter (English) – “wood worker.”
Casey (Irish) – “vigilant.”
Castaneda (Spanish) – “chestnut grove.”
Cervantes (Spanish) – “deer.”
Choi (Korean) – “mountain peak.”
Christian (English) – “follower of Christ.”
Cisneros (Spanish) – “swans.”
Clay (English) – “clay soil.”
Clements (English) – “merciful.”
Cline (German) – “small hill.”
Compton (English) – “valley town.”
Conley (Irish) – “strong will.”
Conrad (German) – “brave counsel.”
Contreras (Spanish) – “opposite land.”
Conway (Irish) – “holy plain.”
Cortez (Spanish) – “courteous.”
Cote (French) – “coast or slope.”
Crawford (Scottish) – “crow ford.”
Cross (English) – “crossroad or crucifix.”
Cullen (Irish) – “handsome.”
Curtis (English) – “courteous.”
Daugherty (Irish) – “descendant of the valiant one.”
Davidson (Scottish) – “son of David; beloved.”
Delgado (Spanish) – “slender.”
Dennis (Greek) – “follower of Dionysus.”
Deleon (Spanish) – “of the lion.”
Dominguez (Spanish) – “son of Domingo; belonging to the Lord.”
Donovan (Irish) – “dark warrior.”
Drake (English) – “dragon or male duck.”
Dudley (English) – “people’s field.”
Duran (Spanish) – “enduring.”
Eaton (English) – “riverside settlement.”
Espinoza (Spanish) – “thorny place.”
Estrada (Spanish) – “road.”
Farley (English) – “fern meadow.”
Farrell (Irish) – “brave man.”
Faulkner (English) – “falconer.”
Figueroa (Spanish) – “fig tree.”
Fitzgerald (Irish) – “son of Gerald; spear ruler.”
Foley (Irish) – “plunderer.”
Forbes (Scottish) – “field.”
Franco (Spanish) – “free.”
Fry (English) – “free-born.”
Fuentes (Spanish) – “springs or fountains.”
Fuller (English) – “cloth cleaner.”
Gaines (English) – “property or wealth.”
Gallegos (Spanish) – “from Galicia.”
Galvan (Spanish) – “bright or shining.”
Smith (English) – “metal worker; blacksmith.”
Johnson (English) – “son of John; God is gracious.”
Williams (English) – “son of William; resolute protector.”
Brown (English) – “brown-haired or dark complexion.”
Jones (Welsh) – “son of John; God is gracious.”
Garcia (Spanish) – “young or brave warrior.”
Miller (English) – “one who works in a mill.”
Davis (Welsh) – “son of David; beloved.”
Rodriguez (Spanish) – “son of Rodrigo; famous ruler.”
Martinez (Spanish) – “son of Martin; dedicated to Mars.”
Hernandez (Spanish) – “son of Hernando; adventurous.”
Lopez (Spanish) – “son of Lope; wolf.”
Gonzalez (Spanish) – “son of Gonzalo; battle genius.”
Wilson (English) – “son of William; strong-willed warrior.”
Anderson (Scottish) – “son of Andrew; manly.”
Thomas (Welsh) – “twin.”
Taylor (English) – “tailor; clothes maker.”
Moore (English) – “dweller near a moor or marsh.”
Jackson (English) – “son of Jack; God is gracious.”
Martin (French) – “of Mars; warlike.”
Lee (English/Chinese) – “meadow; plum tree.”
Perez (Spanish) – “son of Pedro; rock.”
Thompson (English) – “son of Thomas; twin.”
White (English) – “fair or light-haired.”
Harris (English) – “son of Harry; home ruler.”
Sanchez (Spanish) – “son of Sancho; holy.”
Clark (English) – “scholar or cleric.”
Ramirez (Spanish) – “son of Ramiro; wise protector.”
Lewis (English) – “renowned warrior.”
Robinson (English) – “son of Robin; bright fame.”
Walker (English) – “cloth fuller or walker.”
Young (English) – “young person.”
Allen (Celtic) – “handsome or cheerful.”
King (English) – “ruler; leader.”
Wright (English) – “craftsman or builder.”
Scott (Scottish) – “from Scotland.”
Torres (Spanish) – “towers.”
Nguyen (Vietnamese) – “musical instrument; origin uncertain.”
Hill (English) – “dweller on a hill.”
Flores (Spanish) – “flowers.”
Green (English) – “dweller near village green.”
Adams (English) – “son of Adam; man.”
Nelson (English) – “son of Neil; champion.”
Baker (English) – “bread maker.”
Hall (English) – “dweller near a hall.”
Rivera (Spanish) – “riverbank.”
Campbell (Scottish) – “crooked mouth.”
Mitchell (English) – “who is like God.”
Carter (English) – “cart driver.”
Roberts (Welsh) – “son of Robert; bright fame.”
Gomez (Spanish) – “man.”
Phillips (English) – “son of Philip; lover of horses.”
Evans (Welsh) – “son of Evan; God is gracious.”
Turner (English) – “wood or metal worker.”
Diaz (Spanish) – “son of Diego.”
Parker (English) – “park keeper.”
Cruz (Spanish) – “cross.”
Edwards (English) – “son of Edward; wealthy guardian.”
Collins (Irish) – “young warrior.”
Reyes (Spanish) – “kings.”
Stewart (Scottish) – “household guardian.”
Morris (English) – “dark-skinned.”
Morales (Spanish) – “mulberry trees.”
Murphy (Irish) – “sea warrior.”
Cook (English) – “one who cooks food.”
Rogers (English) – “son of Roger; famous spear.”
Gutierrez (Spanish) – “son of Gutierre; army ruler.”
Ortiz (Spanish) – “son of Orti; brave.”
Morgan (Welsh) – “sea-born.”
Cooper (English) – “barrel maker.”
Peterson (English) – “son of Peter; rock.”
Bailey (English) – “bailiff or steward.”
Reed (English) – “red-haired or near reeds.”
Kelly (Irish) – “warrior.”
Howard (English) – “high guardian.”
Ramos (Spanish) – “branches.”
Kim (Korean) – “gold.”
Cox (English) – “rooster.”
Ward (English) – “guardian.”
Richardson (English) – “son of Richard; brave ruler.”
Watson (English) – “son of Walter; army ruler.”
Brooks (English) – “near a stream.”
Chavez (Spanish) – “key.”
Wood (English) – “forest dweller.”
James (English) – “supplanter.”
Bennett (English) – “blessed.”
Gray (English) – “gray-haired.”
Mendoza (Spanish) – “cold mountain.”
Ruiz (Spanish) – “son of Ruy; famous ruler.”
Hughes (Welsh) – “son of Hugh; mind, spirit.”
Price (Welsh) – “son of Rhys; enthusiasm.”
Alvarez (Spanish) – “son of Alvaro; guardian.”
Castillo (Spanish) – “castle.”
Sanders (English) – “son of Alexander; defender.”
Patel (Indian) – “village headman.”
Singh (Indian) – “lion.”
Khan (Central Asian) – “ruler or leader.”
Sharma (Indian) – “joy or comfort.”
Gupta (Indian) – “protected or secret.”
Verma (Indian) – “armor or protector.”
Foster (English) – “forest guardian.”
Long (English) – “tall person.”
Ross (Scottish) – “headland or promontory.”
Powell (Welsh) – “son of Hywel; eminent.”
Perry (English) – “dweller near a pear tree.”
Butler (English) – “wine steward.”
Barnes (English) – “near a barn.”
Fisher (English) – “one who catches fish.”
Henderson (Scottish) – “son of Henry; home ruler.”
Coleman (Irish) – “descendant of Colmán; little dove.”
Simmons (English) – “son of Simon; listener.”
Patterson (Scottish) – “son of Patrick; noble.”
Jordan (Hebrew) – “to flow down.”
Reynolds (English) – “son of Reynold; wise ruler.”
Hamilton (Scottish) – “crooked hill.”
Graham (Scottish) – “gravelly homestead.”
Kimball (English) – “war leader.”
Gibson (English) – “son of Gilbert; bright pledge.”
Hawkins (English) – “son of Hawk.”
Stone (English) – “dweller by a stone.”
West (English) – “from the west.”
Cole (English) – “coal-black or dark.”
Mason (English) – “stone worker.”
Day (English) – “daylight.”
Snyder (German) – “tailor.”
Fleming (English) – “from Flanders.”
Dean (English) – “valley.”
Bishop (English) – “church official.”
Little (English) – “small person.”
Ray (French) – “kingly or wise protector.”
May (English) – “springtime.”
Burns (Scottish) – “stream.”
Vasquez (Spanish) – “son of Vasco; crow.”
Wheeler (English) – “wheel maker.”
Fields (English) – “open land.”
Franklin (English) – “free landowner.”
Lawrence (English) – “from Laurentum; crowned with laurel.”
Weaver (English) – “cloth maker.”
Carr (English) – “marshland.”
Holmes (English) – “river island.”
Johnston (Scottish) – “John’s town.”
Larson (Scandinavian) – “son of Lars.”
Oliver (French) – “olive tree.”
Harper (English) – “harp player.”
George (Greek) – “farmer.”
Greene (English) – “green landscape.”
Burton (English) – “fortified town.”
Porter (English) – “gatekeeper.”
Webb (English) – “weaver.”
Stanley (English) – “stony clearing.”
Hanson (Scandinavian) – “son of Hans.”
Grant (Scottish) – “large or tall.”
Knight (English) – “warrior or servant.”
Riley (Irish) – “valiant.”
Dunn (Irish) – “dark or brown.”
Spencer (English) – “steward.”
Hawthorne (English) – “thorny bush.”
Arnold (German) – “eagle power.”
Warren (French) – “park keeper.”
Rose (English) – “rose flower.”
Hayes (Irish) – “descendant of Aodh; fire.”
Griffin (Welsh) – “strong lord.”
Ford (English) – “river crossing.”
Marshall (English) – “horse servant.”
Owens (Welsh) – “son of Owen; noble.”
Mcdonald (Scottish) – “son of Donald; world ruler.”
Henry (German) – “home ruler.”
Chapman (English) – “merchant.”
Lane (English) – “narrow road.”
Rice (Welsh) – “enthusiasm.”
Stephens (English) – “son of Stephen; crown.”
Gardner (English) – “gardener.”
Payne (French) – “rustic or villager.”
Pierce (English) – “rock.”
Berry (English) – “small fruit.”
Matthews (English) – “son of Matthew; gift of God.”
Arnoldson (Scandinavian) – “son of Arnold.”
Douglas (Scottish) – “dark river.”
Cunningham (Scottish) – “milk pail village.”
Ellis (English) – “Jehovah is God.”
Hudson (English) – “son of Hugh.”
Austin (English) – “great or magnificent.”
Baldwin (German) – “bold friend.”
Beck (English) – “stream.”
Benson (English) – “son of Ben; blessed.”
Black (English) – “dark-haired.”
Brady (Irish) – “spirited.”
Brewer (English) – “beer maker.”
Brock (English) – “badger.”
Burgess (English) – “town dweller.”
Cameron (Scottish) – “crooked nose.”
Carroll (Irish) – “fierce warrior.”
Chandler (English) – “candle maker.”
Clayton (English) – “clay settlement.”
Curry (Irish) – “hero.”
Dalton (English) – “valley town.”
Doyle (Irish) – “dark stranger.”
Elliott (English) – “Jehovah is God.”
Finley (Scottish) – “fair warrior.”
Fletcher (English) – “arrow maker.”
