60 Last Names That Mean Death

Last names often carry deep meanings, reflecting ancestry, geography, or significant cultural symbols.

Some surnames, however, are linked to darker themes; such as death. Whether derived from mythology, historical events, or words for “death” in different languages, these surnames can symbolize transformation, legacy, or even reverence for the afterlife.

In many cultures, names associated with death may have been given to warriors, undertakers, or those believed to have a connection with the spiritual world.

In this post, we’ll explore last names that mean “death,” their origins, and the fascinating stories behind them.

Last Names That Mean Death

Morton (English/Scottish) – Derived from Old English mor (dead land) and tun (settlement).

Mortimer (English/French) – From Old French mort (dead) and mer (sea), meaning “dead sea” or “still water.”

Graves (English) – Refers to someone who lived near a grave or burial site.

Tombs (English) – Derived from the word “tomb,” meaning a burial place.

Diehl (German) – Related to diel, which can mean “people’s judge” but is sometimes linked to death and doom.

Tod (Scottish/German) – Means “death” in Scottish dialect and in German.

Lambert (Germanic) – Derived from land-beraht, meaning “land-bright,” but associated with Saint Lambert, who was martyred.

Yarwood (English) – Derived from Old English eorth-weard, meaning “guardian of the dead.”

Le Mort (French) – Means “the dead” or “of death.”

De Ath (English) – A rare surname that sounds like “death” and may have been altered from other names.

Smertin (Russian) – Derived from smert, meaning “death.”

Morozov (Russian) – Derived from moroz, meaning “frost” or “deathly cold.”

Navratil (Czech/Slovak) – Means “one who returned,” often linked to someone who survived death.

Dusza (Polish) – Means “soul” or “spirit,” often linked to the departed.

Kovács (Hungarian) – Means “smith,” but was sometimes associated with the makers of weapons for war and death.

Helman (Swedish/Norwegian) – Derived from Hel, the Norse underworld.

Valhalla (Scandinavian) – Though rare, linked to the legendary hall of the slain in Norse mythology.

Dörr (Swedish/German) – Means “door” and can be metaphorically linked to the “door to the afterlife.”

Niflheim (Norwegian) – A mythical place in Norse mythology associated with mist and death.

Shi (Chinese) – Can mean “corpse” or “death” depending on the character used.

Mori (Japanese) – Though it often means “forest,” it can also be linked to shinigami (death spirits).

Than (Thai/Burmese) – Can mean “death” in some contexts.

Kuro (Japanese) – Means “black,” often associated with mourning and death.

Chết (Vietnamese) – Means “death” in Vietnamese, though rare as a surname.

Azrael (Hebrew/Arabic) – Refers to the Angel of Death.

Mavet (Hebrew) – Means “death” in Hebrew.

Nox (Latin) – Means “night” and is linked to death and darkness.

Thanatos (Greek) – Derived from the Greek god of death.

Necro (Greek) – Derived from nekros, meaning “dead” or “corpse.”

Bane (English) – Means “cause of death” or “ruin.”

Kifo (Swahili, East Africa) – Means “death.”

Mauti (Swahili, East Africa) – Another word for “death” or “passing away.”

Umrani (Hausa, West Africa) – Means “one who outlives others,” often linked to themes of mortality.

Lebone (Sotho, South Africa) – Means “light,” but in some contexts, it refers to spirits of ancestors.

Nzumbi (Kikongo, Central Africa) – Means “spirit of the dead,” related to the word “zombie.”

Owl (Cherokee) – Symbol of death and the afterlife in many Native American cultures.

Tezcatl (Nahuatl, Aztec) – Derived from Tezcatlipoca, an Aztec god of death and destiny.

Mictlan (Nahuatl, Aztec) – Refers to the Aztec underworld.

Wakanda (Sioux) – Means “spiritual power” but is sometimes linked to the spirits of the dead.

Cihuacoatl (Nahuatl, Aztec) – Means “snake woman,” a deity linked to death and war.

Xibalba (Mayan) – The name of the Mayan underworld.

Calaca (Spanish/Mexican) – Means “skeleton” or “grim reaper” in Mexican folklore.

Hualpa (Quechua, Andes) – Means “ashes,” sometimes linked to funeral rites.

Tupa (Guarani, Paraguay) – A spirit associated with the afterlife.

Aymara (Aymara, Bolivia) – Can refer to ancestral spirits.

Qabr (Arabic) – Means “grave” or “tomb.”

Mowt (Arabic) – Means “death.”

Jahanam (Arabic/Persian) – Refers to the concept of the underworld or hell.

Azraeli (Hebrew) – Derived from Azrael, the Angel of Death.

Sheol (Hebrew) – The ancient Hebrew concept of the underworld.

Mrityu (Sanskrit, India) – Means “death” and is linked to Yama, the god of death.

Yamraj (Hindi/Sanskrit) – Means “king of death,” referring to the Hindu god of the underworld.

Nashya (Sanskrit) – Means “destruction” or “death.”

Kaal (Sanskrit) – Means “time” but is also associated with death and fate.

Maran (Tamil) – Means “death” in Tamil.

Mate (Māori) – Means “death” or “sickness” in Māori.

Wairua (Māori) – Means “spirit” or “soul of the dead.”

Tupapau (Tahitian) – Refers to ghosts or spirits of the deceased.

Tagi (Fijian) – Means “to weep” or “mourning.”

Manu’a (Samoan) – Linked to an ancient burial place of chiefs, signifying the afterlife.

Closing Remarks

That’s all for “last names that mean death.” I hope you enjoyed reading our article and keep visiting our website for more such content.