190+ Good Last Names 2026 (With Meanings)

Good last names: A good last name adds character to a person’s identity and strength, as well as adding elegance to your name.

The right surname has the potential to create an identity that will last throughout a lifetime and will serve as a reminder of heritage.

Surnames can carry a great deal of history and meaning (culturally) or represent something powerful, such as honor, beauty, strength, or intellect, through their meanings.

You will find a list of many good last names that you may find interesting or provide inspiration in searching for a way to identify yourself.

Good Last Names

Anderson – son of Andrew; strong and manly lineage

Bennett – blessed; fortunate and kind

Carter – transporter of goods; hardworking and reliable

Dawson – son of David; beloved lineage

Ellis – kind; benevolent and noble

Foster – caretaker; one who nurtures

Griffin – strong in faith; mythical strength

Harrison – son of Harry; ruler of the home

Irwin – friend of the sea; calm and wise

Jackson – son of Jack; God is gracious

Kingston – king’s town; royal and powerful

Lawson – son of Lawrence; crowned with honor

Mitchell – who is like God; humble and strong

Nelson – son of Neil; champion lineage

Owens – noble-born; well-respected

Parker – park keeper; protector of land

Quincy – estate of the fifth son; orderly and refined

Reed – red-haired; energetic and lively

Sullivan – dark-eyed; strong and observant

Turner – maker; skilled craftsman

Underwood – beneath the forest; grounded and calm

Vaughn – small; humble yet strong

Walker – one who walks; steady and reliable

Xavier – new house; bright and modern

Young – youthful; lively and fresh

Zimmerman – carpenter; builder and creator

Adler – eagle; sharp and powerful

Baker – bread maker; provider and skilled

Coleman – charcoal burner; resilient worker

Dalton – valley town; peaceful and grounded

Evans – son of Evan; God is gracious

Fletcher – arrow maker; precise and skilled

Garrett – strong spear; brave protector

Hunter – one who hunts; focused and determined

Ingram – angel raven; wise and watchful

Jordan – flowing down; calm and strong

Keller – cellar master; organized and reliable

Lane – path; direction and journey

Mason – stone worker; builder and strong

Nolan – noble; famous and respected

Ortega – from the nettle field; resilient

Porter – gatekeeper; protector and guardian

Quinn – wise; intelligent and calm

Riley – courageous; spirited and kind

Sawyer – woodcutter; hardworking and practical

Taylor – tailor; skilled and creative

Usher – guide; helpful and leading

Vega – meadow; peaceful and natural

Weston – western town; grounded and strong

York – from the yew estate; ancient and stable

Zane – God is gracious; unique and strong

Archer – bowman; focused and sharp

Blake – dark or fair; adaptable and strong

Collins – victorious; strong lineage

Duncan – dark warrior; brave and bold

Edwards – wealthy guardian; protector

Franklin – free landowner; independent and noble

Gibson – son of Gilbert; bright promise

Holland – wooded land; natural and calm

Iverson – son of Ivar; warrior lineage

Jennings – little John; humble and kind

Kendall – valley of the River Kent; peaceful

Lennox – elm grove; calm and resilient

Monroe – mouth of the river; flowing strength

Nash – by the ash tree; grounded and natural

Osborne – divine bear; strength and protection

Prescott – priest’s cottage; spiritual and calm

Ramsey – wild garlic island; unique and fresh

Sinclair – holy light; pure and bright

Tanner – leather worker; skilled and strong

Upton – upper town; elevated and refined

Valentine – strong; healthy and loving

Whitaker – white field; pure and peaceful

Yates – gatekeeper; guardian and strong

Zimmer – room; home and comfort

Ashford – ash tree ford; strength and nature

Brighton – bright town; cheerful and lively

Caldwell – cold stream; calm and steady

Donovan – dark warrior; strong and fearless

Emerson – brave; powerful and bold

Fairfax – fair-haired; beautiful and noble

Grayson – son of the steward; responsible

Hawkins – son of Hawk; sharp and observant

Irving – green water; peaceful and fresh

Jefferson – son of Jeffrey; peaceful pledge

Kingsley – king’s meadow; royal and calm

Langston – long town; enduring and stable

Merrick – ruler of the sea; powerful and calm

North – direction; guidance and strength

Oakley – oak meadow; strong and grounded

Peyton – warrior’s town; brave and firm

Redford – red river crossing; bold and steady

Shelton – shelf town; stable and secure

Thornton – thorn bush town; resilient

Ulrich – noble ruler; powerful leader

Vance – marshland; adaptable and calm

Warren – park keeper; protector

Xander – defender of people; strong and brave

Yardley – enclosed meadow; peaceful and safe

Zeller – dweller; grounded and steady

Abbott – father; spiritual leader

Alden – old friend; wise and loyal

Ashby – ash tree farm; natural and grounded

Atkins – son of Adam; strong lineage

Barrett – strong as a bear; brave and bold

Barton – barley town; peaceful and fertile

Baxter – baker; provider and skilled

Beckett – little brook; calm and flowing

Bellamy – beautiful friend; kind and warm

Benson – son of Ben; blessed lineage

Bishop – overseer; wise and respected

Blackwell – dark stream; deep and calm

Bradford – broad ford; stable and strong

Branson – son of Bran; strong and noble

Brock – badger; determined and tough

Buckley – deer meadow; gentle and free

Burton – fort town; secure and strong

Carlson – son of Carl; free man lineage

Carver – sculptor; creative and skilled

Chandler – candle maker; light bearer

Clayton – clay settlement; grounded and steady

Conrad – brave counsel; wise and bold

Crosby – cross settlement; peaceful and rooted

Davenport – market town; active and lively

Denham – valley village; calm and stable

Dudley – people’s field; community and strength

Eaton – river town; peaceful and flowing

Ellington – elder town; wise and enduring

Elwood – old forest; natural and strong

Everett – brave boar; fearless and bold

Ferguson – son of Fergus; strong and manly

Finley – fair warrior; brave and just

Fordham – river crossing town; steady and reliable

Gaines – clever; intelligent and sharp

Gardner – gardener; nurturer and patient

Garrison – stronghold; protector and defender

Gilmore – servant of Mary; faithful

Goodwin – good friend; kind and loyal

Granger – farm steward; responsible and grounded

Halstead – manor place; stable and noble

Hampton – home town; comfort and belonging

Harding – strong; resilient and firm

Harlan – rocky land; strong and enduring

Hensley – high meadow; peaceful and elevated

Hollis – near holly trees; calm and natural

Howell – prominent; notable and respected

Hudson – son of Hugh; intelligent lineage

Jamison – son of James; reliable and steady

Jarvis – skilled with a spear; brave

Kaufman – merchant; business-minded

Keaton – place of hawks; sharp and observant

Kincaid – battle chief; strong leader

Kirkland – church land; spiritual and calm

Lambert – bright land; shining and clear

Landry – ruler; powerful and noble

Langley – long meadow; peaceful and open

Leighton – meadow town; calm and soft

Lindsey – island of linden trees; serene

Lockwood – enclosed forest; protected and calm

Lowell – young wolf; strong and clever

Maclean – son of the servant; humble and loyal

Maddox – fortunate; blessed and strong

Marsh – wetland; adaptable and calm

Mercer – merchant; practical and skilled

Merritt – boundary gate; guardian and steady

Middleton – middle town; balanced and stable

Milton – mill town; hardworking and steady

Montgomery – mountain of power; strong and noble

Morton – town by the moor; grounded

Norton – north town; direction and strength

Osborn – divine bear; protective and strong

Palmer – pilgrim; traveler of faith

Parsons – son of a priest; spiritual lineage

Patton – noble; dignified and strong

Pearson – son of Piers; steadfast and loyal

Phelps – son of Philip; lover of horses

Preston – priest’s town; calm and rooted

Radcliffe – red cliff; bold and striking

Randolph – shield wolf; brave protector

Rawlings – son of Rawlin; strong lineage

Richmond – strong hill; powerful and stable

Rockwell – rocky spring; firm and refreshing

Rutledge – red stream; vibrant and steady

Sampson – sun child; bright and strong

Sanders – defender; protector and brave

Shepherd – caretaker; guardian and guide

Sherwood – bright forest; natural and calm

Spencer – steward; responsible and noble

Stafford – landing place; stable and strong

Sterling – excellent; pure and valuable

Sutherland – southern land; grounded and vast

Thatcher – roof maker; skilled and practical

Trenton – Trent’s town; stable and rooted

Tucker – cloth worker; skilled and diligent

Vernon – alder grove; peaceful and natural

Walden – valley of woods; calm and deep

Walton – wall town; protected and secure

Waverly – meadow of quivering aspens; serene

Webster – weaver; creative and skilled

Winslow – friend’s hill; peaceful and strong