200+ English Last Names 2026 (With Meanings)

English last names have a long history behind them; they reflect the accumulation of tradition over 100s of years and changes in social structure & culture.

Many surnames were inspired by jobs—e.g., a blacksmith; others were inspired by either where someone lived, their physical appearance, or their family.

Each surname tells a unique story and gives us some insight into what life was like for that person who lived during the time their last name originated.

The beauty of English surnames is that they are timeless, with an indescribable charm, yet have a deep meaning associated with them that carries on through generations.

So whatever you’re doing – searching through your ancestry, finding authentic character names, or just being curious about the meaning of a last name – this compilation of English last names will give you a glimpse into the beauty, diversity, and longevity of the English naming tradition.

English Last Names

Smith – “metal worker;” originally given to blacksmiths who crafted tools and weapons.

Taylor – “tailor;” one who made and repaired clothing in local communities.

Brown – “brown-haired;” describing someone with dark features or complexion.

White – “fair-haired;” often referring to light complexion or hair color.

Walker – “cloth fuller;” someone who treated fabric to make it thicker.

Wright – “craftsman;” a skilled worker such as a carpenter or builder.

Hill – “dweller on a hill;” tied to geographical location.

Green – “village green;” someone living near grassy communal land.

Hall – “dweller by a hall;” associated with large residences or estates.

Wood – “forest dweller;” linked to people living near wooded areas.

Turner – “lathe worker;” one who shaped wood or metal.

Clark – “scholar or cleric;” associated with educated or religious roles.

King – “leader;” possibly given to someone with authority or dignity.

Baker – “bread maker;” a vital occupation in every village.

Carter – “cart driver;” someone transporting goods by wagon.

Cooper – “barrel maker;” responsible for crafting wooden casks.

Ward – “guardian;” one who protected or watched over others.

Lee – “meadow;” referring to open grassy land.

Moore – “marshland;” describing someone from wetland areas.

Brooks – “stream;” associated with small flowing water.

Stone – “rock;” symbolizing strength or residence near stone landmarks.

Reed – “red-haired;” or someone living near reeds.

Cole – “dark;” referring to coal-black hair or complexion.

Price – “son of Rhys;” meaning enthusiasm or passion.

Bell – “bell ringer;” someone responsible for church bells.

Bennett – “blessed;” derived from a personal name.

Bailey – “bailiff;” an official managing estates.

Griffin – “strong lord;” symbolizing power and leadership.

Hayes – “hedged area;” linked to enclosed land.

Ford – “river crossing;” someone living near a ford.

Knight – “warrior;” associated with medieval soldiers.

Shaw – “small wood;” referring to a grove or thicket.

Lane – “path or road;” tied to location.

Marshall – “horse servant;” a high-ranking medieval role.

Parsons – “son of a priest;” connected to religious families.

Foster – “forest guardian;” one who cared for woodland areas.

Webb – “weaver;” a textile craftsman.

Bishop – “church official;” linked to religious authority.

Carpenter – “woodworker;” a builder of structures and furniture.

Sutton – “south town;” indicating geographic origin.

Chapman – “merchant;” a traveling trader or seller.

Harrison – “son of Harry;” a patronymic surname.

Lawson – “son of Lawrence;” tied to laurel or victory.

Dawson – “son of David;” meaning beloved.

Fletcher – “arrow maker;” essential in medieval warfare.

Glover – “glove maker;” a specialized craftsman.

Spencer – “steward;” one who managed estates or supplies.

Barber – “hair cutter;” a grooming professional.

Potter – “pot maker;” one who crafted clay vessels.

Chandler – “candle maker;” producing light sources in earlier times.

Atkins – “son of Adam;” meaning man or earth.

Barker – “tanner;” one who treated animal hides.

Burgess – “town dweller;” a citizen of a borough.

Clayton – “clay settlement;” tied to land features.

Dalton – “valley town;” describing location.

Dennis – “follower of Dionysus;” derived from a given name.

Ellis – “God is my salvation;” rooted in religious meaning.

Gibson – “son of Gilbert;” meaning bright pledge.

Hawkins – “son of Hawk;” possibly linked to birds or traits.

Jefferson – “son of Jeffrey;” meaning peace.

Kendall – “valley of the River Kent;” geographic origin.

Mason – “stone worker;” a builder using stone.

Nichols – “son of Nicholas;” meaning victory of the people.

Osborne – “divine bear;” combining strength and spirituality.

Palmer – “pilgrim;” one who traveled to holy lands.

Parker – “park keeper;” caretaker of land or estates.

Quinn – “wise;” though also used in English contexts.

Rogers – “son of Roger;” meaning famous spear.

Sawyer – “wood cutter;” someone who sawed timber.

Shepherd – “sheep herder;” tending livestock.

Tanner – “leather worker;” processing animal hides.

Underwood – “below the forest;” describing location.

Vaughn – “small;” referring to size or age.

Waller – “wall builder;” one who constructed walls.

Watts – “son of Walter;” meaning army ruler.

Wilkins – “son of William;” meaning protector.

Yates – “gates;” someone living near an entrance.

Young – “youthful;” used for younger family members.

Abbott – “priest;” a religious leader.

Ashby – “ash tree farm;” combining nature and settlement.

Barnes – “near a barn;” linked to farming life.

Barton – “barley farm;” agricultural origin.

Blake – “dark or fair;” depending on context.

Booth – “hut;” referring to a small dwelling.

Briggs – “bridge;” tied to crossing points.

Duke – “leader;” a noble title.

Frost – “cold or born in winter;” seasonal origin.

Hale – “healthy;” describing condition or appearance.

Holt – “wood or grove;” linked to nature.

Ingram – “angel raven;” combining symbolic elements.

Jarvis – “spear servant;” a warrior-related name.

Lloyd – “gray-haired;” describing appearance.

Nash – “by the ash tree;” location-based.

Orton – “river town;” geographic origin.

Pike – “pointed hill;” or related to fishing.

Reeves – “steward;” a manager of land.

Sykes – “ditch or stream;” tied to landscape.

Thorpe – “village;” a small settlement.

Trent – “river;” associated with waterways.

Wade – “river crossing;” one who lived near or used a ford.

Ainsworth – “enclosure by the river Ain;” tied to early settlements near water.

Arkwright – “chest maker;” a craftsman skilled in woodworking.

Ashcroft – “ash tree field;” linked to nature and farmland.

Ashworth – “enclosure near ash trees;” a classic locational surname.

Atwood – “dweller by the wood;” indicating proximity to forests.

Badger – “burrower;” possibly linked to the animal or a miner.

Bainbridge – “bridge over the River Bain;” geographic origin.

Bain – “fair-haired;” describing physical traits.

Barclay – “birch tree meadow;” rooted in natural landscapes.

Beaumont – “beautiful hill;” a name of scenic origin.

Beckett – “little brook;” associated with small streams.

Belcher – “fair face;” describing appearance.

Beverley – “beaver stream;” tied to wildlife and water.

Bexley – “box tree clearing;” a wooded area name.

Birch – “birch tree;” symbolizing renewal and growth.

Blackburn – “dark stream;” referring to water features.

Blackwell – “dark well;” tied to springs or water sources.

Blythe – “happy or carefree;” describing personality.

Bourne – “stream;” common in place-based surnames.

Bracewell – “spring by the bracken;” linked to nature.

Bradshaw – “broad wood;” indicating large forest areas.

Bramwell – “broom plant spring;” tied to natural vegetation.

Brent – “high place;” referring to elevated land.

Bridger – “bridge keeper;” one responsible for crossings.

Bright – “shining;” describing appearance or personality.

Briscoe – “birch wood;” nature-based origin.

Brockhurst – “badger wood;” combining animal and landscape.

Buckingham – “home of Bucca’s people;” ancient settlement name.

Burrows – “small hills or mounds;” tied to terrain.

Byford – “ford near a farm;” geographic origin.

Caldwell – “cold spring;” referring to fresh water sources.

Canterbury – “fortified town;” historic place-based surname.

Carlton – “free men’s town;” linked to social status.

Chadwick – “settlement of Chad;” derived from a personal name.

Chester – “Roman fort;” reflecting ancient history.

Clifford – “ford by a cliff;” combining land features.

Colby – “coal town;” possibly linked to industry.

Colville – “coal village;” another industrial-rooted name.

Cranston – “crane settlement;” tied to bird symbolism.

Cresswell – “watercress spring;” linked to natural growth.

Cromwell – “crooked stream;” referring to winding rivers.

Darby – “deer town;” wildlife-inspired origin.

Denham – “valley settlement;” geographic surname.

Derbyshire – “deer region;” tied to countryside heritage.

Dover – “waters;” linked to coastal geography.

Drayton – “farmstead where carts are used;” occupational tie.

Dunham – “hill settlement;” combining elevation and residence.

Easton – “east town;” directional place-based name.

Eldridge – “old ruler;” combining age and authority.

Ellwood – “elder tree forest;” nature-inspired surname.

Fairfax – “fair hair;” describing appearance.

Fairfield – “beautiful field;” scenic landscape name.

Farnsworth – “fern enclosure;” tied to plant life.

Felton – “field town;” agricultural roots.

Finch – “small bird;” symbolizing lightness and song.

Firth – “estuary;” coastal and river-based origin.

Fleetwood – “wood near a stream;” natural surroundings.

Fordham – “home by the ford;” river crossing location.

Gainsborough – “fortified town of Gain;” historical roots.

Garside – “valley edge;” describing terrain.

Gillingham – “home of Gilla’s people;” ancestral settlement.

Gladstone – “bright stone;” symbolic of clarity and strength.

Gloucester – “bright fort;” tied to Roman influence.

Godwin – “friend of God;” strong religious meaning.

Goodwin – “good friend;” positive personal trait.

Grantham – “gravel town;” land-based origin.

Hadfield – “heath field;” open countryside.

Halstead – “sheltered place;” safe dwelling.

Hampton – “home settlement;” a common place-name origin.

Hanley – “high meadow;” elevated farmland.

Hargreaves – “hare grove;” combining animal and forest.

Hartley – “stag meadow;” wildlife and land combined.

Hastings – “followers of Hæsta;” tribal origin.

Hawley – “hedged meadow;” enclosed farmland.

Henley – “high meadow;” similar to Hanley.

Hensley – “stallion meadow;” linked to horses.

Hollingsworth – “holly tree enclosure;” festive and natural.

Horsley – “horse meadow;” tied to livestock.

Huxley – “Hucc’s meadow;” derived from a personal name.

Inglewood – “English forest;” regional identity.

Ives – “yew tree;” symbolic of longevity.

Keaton – “shed town;” rural settlement.

Kirkland – “church land;” religious connection.

Langford – “long ford;” extended river crossing.

Latimer – “interpreter;” an occupational surname.

Leighton – “leek town;” tied to agriculture.

Loxley – “lynx clearing;” wildlife association.

Ludlow – “loud hill;” possibly echoing terrain.

Marlowe – “driftwood hill;” natural imagery.

Melrose – “bare moor;” open land origin.

Morton – “moor town;” linked to marshy areas.

Neville – “new town;” settlement-based surname.

Norwood – “north forest;” directional geography.

Oakley – “oak meadow;” strong tree symbolism.

Overton – “upper town;” elevated settlement.

Radcliffe – “red cliff;” distinctive landscape feature.

Ripley – “strip of clearing;” agricultural land.

Shelton – “ledge settlement;” hillside living.

Sherwood – “bright forest;” famously linked to legend.

Stockton – “farm settlement;” rural roots.

Whitfield – “white field;” open, pale landscape.