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

Fairfax – Fair hair

Fairley – Beautiful meadow

Falconer – Falcon trainer

Faraday – Traveler

Farnham – Fern meadow

Farrell – Brave man

Farrow – Piglet

Faulkner – Falcon keeper

Fawcett – Small falcon

Fell – Hill or mountain

Fenton – Marsh town

Ferguson – Son of Fergus

Fielding – Field dweller

Finch – Small bird

Fisher – Fisherman

Fitzroy – Son of the king

Fleming – Person from Flanders

Fletcher – Arrow maker

Flint – Hard stone

Ford – River crossing

Forrest – Forest

Foster – Forest guardian

Fowler – Bird catcher

Fox – Fox

Francis – Free man

Franklin – Free landowner

Fraser – Strawberry

Freeman – Free person

French – From France

Frost – Cold or frost

Fry – Free

Fuller – Cloth cleaner

Gaines – Joy or strength

Gale – Cheerful or lively

Gardiner – Gardener

Garfield – Spear field

Garner – Grain store

Garrett – Spear strength

Garrison – Son of Garrett

Gates – Near the gate

Gaylord – Cheerful lord

Gibbs – Son of Gilbert

Gibson – Son of Gib

Gilbert – Bright pledge

Giles – Young goat

Gill – Valley or ravine

Glover – Glove maker

Godfrey – Peace of God

Goodman – Good man

Goodwin – Good friend

Gordon – Spacious fort

Gould – Gold

Granger – Farm bailiff

Grant – Great or large

Graves – Grove or thicket

Greenwood – Green forest

Gregory – Watchful

Griffin – Strong lord

Grimes – Mask or helmet

Groves – Small woods

Hale – Healthy

Halliday – Holy day

Hampton – Home town

Hancock – Son of John

Harding – Brave or strong

Hardy – Bold or courageous

Hargreaves – Hare grove

Harper – Harp player

Harrington – Town of hares

Hartley – Deer meadow

Hastings – Town of Hæsta’s people

Hawkins – Son of Hawk

Hawthorne – Hawthorn bush

Hayes – Enclosure or hedged area

Heath – Open uncultivated land

Henderson – Son of Henry

Henson – Son of Hen

Herbert – Bright army

Hicks – Son of Richard

Higgins – Son of Hugh

Hillman – Man from the hill

Hinton – High town

Hobson – Son of Hob

Holden – Deep valley

Hollis – Near the holly trees

Holmes – Island or river meadow

Holt – Wood or forest

Hopkins – Son of Hop

Horton – Muddy settlement

Howard – High guardian

Howell – Prominent or eminent

Hudson – Son of Hugh

Hughes – Son of Hugh

Hunt – Hunter

Hunter – Huntsman

Hurst – Wooded hill

Hutchinson – Son of Hugh

Hyde – Land measure

Ingram – Angel raven

Irving – Green river

Ives – Yew wood

Jarvis – Spear servant

Jefferson – Son of Jeffrey

Jenkins – Son of John

Jennings – Little John

Jensen – Son of Jens

Jervis – Spear man

Jobson – Son of Job

Johnston – John’s town

Jordan – Flowing down, river name

Joyce – Lord

Judge – Judicial officer

Keaton – Shed town

Kelsey – Ship’s island

Kemp – Champion or warrior

Kendall – Valley of the river Kent

Kenyon – White-haired

Kerr – Marsh dweller

Kershaw – Church wood

Key – Wharf or landing place

Kidd – Young goat

Kirk – Church

Kirkland – Church land

Kirkpatrick – Church of Saint Patrick

Kirkwood – Church forest

Knight – Mounted soldier

Knowles – Hilltop

Lacy – From Lassy

Lamb – Lamb

Lambert – Bright land

Lancaster – Roman fort on the river Lune

Lane – Path or road

Langdon – Long hill

Langley – Long meadow

Larkin – Son of Lawrence

Lawson – Son of Lawrence

Leach – Physician

Leighton – Meadow town

Lester – Fortified place

Levine – Joined or attached

Lewis – Famous warrior

Lindsay – Island of linden trees

Little – Small

Livingston – Leofwine’s town

Lloyd – Gray

Locke – Enclosure

Longley – Long meadow

Lovell – Little wolf

Lowell – Little wolf

Lucas – Light

Ludlow – Hill by the river

Lynch – Lake

Lyon – Lion

Maddox – Son of Madoc

Maitland – Meadow land

Mallory – Unfortunate

Mann – Man

Manning – Son of Mann

Marsh – Wetland

Marshall – Horse servant

Martin – Dedicated to Mars

Mason – Stone worker

Mathews – Son of Matthew

Maxwell – Great stream

Maynard – Brave strength

Meadows – Grass fields

Mercer – Merchant

Merrick – Fame, power

Middleton – Middle town

Miles – Soldier

Milford – Mill ford

Millar – Miller

Milner – Miller

Milton – Mill town

Mitchell – Who is like God

Montague – Pointed hill

Moody – Brave spirit

Mooney – Wealthy

Morton – Moor town

Moss – Bog or marsh

Muir – Moorland

Mullins – Son of Mullin

Munro – Mouth of the river Roe

Nash – At the ash tree

Neal – Champion

Nesbitt – Nose-shaped hill

Newby – New farm

Newell – New hall

Newman – New man

Newton – New town

Nicholls – Son of Nicholas

Noble – Noble

Noel – Christmas

Nolan – Noble or famous

Norris – Northerner

North – Northern direction

Norton – North town

Nye – Near the island

Oakley – Oak tree meadow

Oakes – Oak trees

Oakley – Oak meadow