English Last Names

Five real English last names per press, each with its kind and the origin its dictionary entry gives.

English Last Names

FullerFrom fuller.
SouterFrom souter (“shoemaker”).
BlacksmithFrom blacksmith.
ElveyFrom the Old English personal name Ælfwīġ, which is composed of the elements ælf (“elf”) and wīġ (“war, battle”).
WoodwardOccupational surname from woodward.

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How it works

These English last names are real: 568 surnames of English origin, sorted by how the name arose: a trade, a father's name, a nickname or a place. Fletcher made arrows; Lightfoot was a nickname for a fast runner.

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Four kinds of English surname

The dropdown, Kind, keeps the 193 names from a trade (Smith, Turner, Draper), the 257 from a father's or given name (Johnson, Rogers), the 122 from a nickname (Brown, Armstrong) or the 9 from a place.

Anglo-Saxon last names: roots in Old English

Under More filters, Root keeps the names a dictionary traces to one language. Old English, the speech of the Anglo-Saxons, gives 53: Clark from clerc, Wainwright from wægnwyrhta. Middle English gives 159, Old French or Norman 33 and Old Norse 7.

Tips

For unique British last names, try the nickname kind: Goodgame, Lightfoot and Makepeace are all real.
No count from England is used here, so no card says how common a name is in Britain.

Questions and answers

Are English last names the same as British or UK last names?

No. British last names take in Scottish and Welsh names as well as English ones: MacDonald and Campbell, for example, come from Scottish Gaelic. This list keeps to names a dictionary gives an English origin; the Scottish and Irish lists are linked below.

Is this an English last name generator?

Yes, and a British last name generator for names of English origin: each press deals five real surnames at random, and a filter narrows the draw to a kind, a root or one letter.

How do I get an Old English last name?

For an Old English last name generator, choose Root in Old English under More filters. The draw is then 53 names such as Brixey, from an Old English personal name made of bryht, bright, and siġe, victory.

Why are some common English surnames missing?

A name is listed only when its dictionary entry states a kind and gives an origin that could be read as one plain sentence, so some familiar names with long entries are not here. Nothing was added from memory.

All 568 last names

From a trade 193

Abbott An occupational surname for someone employed by an abbot.
Ackerman From acker (“field”) + -man.
Alderman Occupational surname for a member of the governing body of a city, from alderman.
Arkwright From arkwright, an occupational surname for a chest maker.
Bailey A surname for a steward or official, or for someone who lived by a bailey (the outer wall of a castle).
Bannister English surname of Norman origin, from the archaic noun banaste (“basket, wickerwork”).
Baxter From Middle English bakster, bakestre, from Old English bæcestre (“baker”), equivalent to bake + ster.
Bearman From bear + man, an occupational surname for a keeper of a dancing bear.
Beeman From beeman, an occupational surname for a beekeeper.
Bishop From bishop.
Blacksmith From blacksmith.
Blower From blower, an occupational surname for someone who operated a bellows, or alternatively for someone who blew a horn.
Boatwright From boatwright.
Bolt As an English surname, from the noun bolt, for a maker of bolts, or a nickname for a short and heavy person.
Bolter From bolter, an occupational surname for a sifter of flour, or for a maker of bolts.
Bond As an English occupational surname, from the noun bond, bondman, reinforced by Old Norse bóndi (“peasant, farmer”).

Show all 568 last names (552 more)

From a trade, continued

Bosher Metonymic occupational surname from Middle English bossher, bussher (“wood seller”), itself from Old French boschier, buschier (“wood seller”).
Boteler From Middle English boteler, from Old French boutellier.
Boutcher Derived from butcher, of Norman influence.
Callender Occupational surname for a calender.
Canner Occupational surname for a maker or seller of cans, from can + er.
Carpenter From carpenter, from Latin carpentarius.
Carter As an English name, from the occupation carter.
Cartwright English surname, from the nouns cart + wright (“maker, crafter”).
Cater Occupational surname, from cater, obsolete form of caterer.
Causer Probably an occupational surname for a maker of leggings or other apparel for legs and feet, from Old French chausse (“footwear, leggings”) + -er.
Chalker From an agent derivative of Old English geċealcian (“to whiten”).
Challoner Occupational surname for a maker or seller of blankets, from Middle English chaloun (“blanket”) + -er.
Chaplin An occupational surname for a chaplain, from Middle English and Old French chapelain.
Chapman From Middle English chapman, chepman, meaning merchant or trader; equivalent to cheap + man.
Cheeseman From cheeseman.
Chipman An occupational surname for a merchant.
Churchward An occupational family name, a contraction of churchwarden, in turn from Old English cyrce weard a "churchwarden" or "sacristan".
Clark From Old English clerc (“clergyman; learned man”), whence also clerk.
Clarke From Clark, from Old English clerc (“cleric, clerk”).
Clarkson From clerc (“cleric”) + -son, equivalent to Clark + -son.
Clay From a Middle English occupational name for a clay worker, or a habitational name, from Old English clǣġ (“clay”).
Clevenger From claviger, an occupational surname for a keyholder.
Cogger From cog (“ship of burden”) + er, hence an occupational surname for a boat or cog builder or, more likely, for a sailor or master of a cog.
Collier Derived from the name of occupation collier (“charcoal burner”).
Cook From cook.
Coppersmith Occupational surname for a maker of copper goods, from coppersmith.
Coulthard From Middle English colthard (“someone who looks after horses”), from colt (“colt”) + herde (“herdsman”).
Coward From Old English cūhierde (“cowherd”).
Cowherd From cowherd.
Creamer Occupational surname for a seller of dairy products, from an agent derivative of Middle English creme (“cream”).
Creelman From creelman, an occupational surname for someone who used a creel for catching or storing fish.
Crocker From crocker (“potter”).
Crowder From crowder, an occupational surname for someone who played the crwth.
Crowner Occupational surname for a coroner, from Middle English crouner.
Cutler Occupational surname from cutler.
Day From day as a word for a "day-servant", an archaic term for a day-laborer; also from a medieval diminutive of David.
Dempster From deemster.
Doughman Possibly an altered spelling of Dowman or an occupational surname for a baker, from dough + -man.
Draper English occupational surname, from the noun draper.
Dyer As an English surname, from dyer (“one who dyes”).
Earl From earl (“nobleman”).
Elman From Middle English oyle (“oil”), referring to a person who sold oil.
Farrah Variant of Farrar, from Middle English ferreor (“iron worker, smith”).
Fisher From fisher (“fisherman”).
Fisk English occupational surname for a fisherman or fish seller, or a cognominal surname for someone thought to resemble a fish.
Fletcher English occupational surname from the noun fletcher (“arrow-maker”).
Forster As an English surname, from the noun forester.
Foster English surname, reduced from Forster; also from the noun foster.
Fowler From fowler.
Fryer From friar.
Fuller From fuller.
Gage An occupational surname from Middle English gage, guage (“measure”) for an assayer, or gage (“pledge”) for a moneylender.
Garland English surname, from the noun garland.
Goldsmith From goldsmith.
Granger From granger, from grange.
Grayson From Middle English greyve (“steward”) + son, for a son of a steward.
Grazier By proprialization from grazier, as an occupational surname for someone who reared or grazed cattle.
Harrow From harrow, an occupational surname for a harrower.
Hayward From hayward.
Hillier As an English occupational surname for a roofer, from the noun hellier (“one who heles, thatches”).
Hornblower From horn + blower.
Horner From Middle English hornere.
Horseman From horseman.
Huntsman From huntsman.
Hurd From herd.
Ironmonger Occupational surname for an ironmonger.
Judge From judge.
Justice From justice.
Kidman From kid + man, an occupational surname for a goatherd or someone in charge of young livestock.
Kitchener From kitchener, from kitchen + er.
Knight From Middle English knyghte, from Old English cniht (“youth; servant”).
Latimer From latimer (“interpreter, speaker of Latin”).
Ledder English surname, from a derivative of lead.
Letcher From Middle English leche (“physician”).
Lister English occupational surname from the archaic noun litster (“dyer”).
Lockyer Occupational surname for a locksmith, from an agent derivative of lock.
Machin From machun, from Anglo-Norman machun, masson, from Frankish *makjo (“maker; builder; see make”).
Marriner From mariner.
Marshall As an English surname, from the noun marshal.
Masterman From masterman.
Mather From the Old English mæþere.
Miller English surname, capitalization of miller.
Millward From mill + ward, an occupational surname for someone in charge of a mill.
Milner As an English surname, variant of Miller, retaining the -n- of Middle English mylnere (“miller”).
Nailor An English occupational surname for a maker of nails.
Naismith Variant of Nesmith.
Napier An occupational surname for someone who sold table linen, or was in charge of the linen of a great house.
Naylor An English occupational surname for a maker of nails.
Nesmith Occupational surname for a maker of knives or nails, from Middle English knyf (“knife”) or nayl (“nail”) + smith.
Nutter From nutter, the occupation of nut-gatherer.
Page From page.
Painter From the noun painter.
Parsons An occupational surname for a child or a servant of a parson.
Pastor From the noun pastor.
Pedler From Middle English pedlere, altered form of peddere (“hawker, peddler”), an occupational surname for a hawker or huckster.
Pilcher English surname, from pilch + er.
Porter From Middle English Porter, from porter (“porter”).
Portman From port + man.
Poucher From pouch + er, an occupational surname for a maker of bags and purses.
Prentice From prentice.
Prior From Middle English Prior, Priur, from Middle English prior, priour (“prior”).
Pryor From Middle English Prior, Priur, from Middle English prior, priour (“prior”).
Quilter Occupational surname, from quilter.
Reaves A patronymic form of the occupational name Reeve.
Reeve As an English surname, from the noun reeve.
Reeves As an English surname, variant of Reeve with excrescent -s.
Rider As an English surname, from the noun rider.
Roper As an English surname, from the noun roper.
Salter As an English surname, from the noun salter.
Sawyer As an English occupational surname, from sawyer (“one who saws”).
Sayers A patronymic form of the occupational name Sayer, from Middle English and Old English, and of a Norman given name of uncertain etymology.
Saylor From Old French sailleor (“dancer, acrobat”).
Sclater From Middle English sclater (“slater”).
Seaman From seaman.
Server Occupational surname from server.
Shepherd From shepherd.
Sheppard From Middle English, from schepherde (“shepherd”).
Shepperd From shepherd.
Sherman From Middle English schereman, scherman; equivalent to shear + man.
Shipman Either from sheep + man, or from shipman.
Shipp Occupational surname, from ship.
Shoemaker By proprialization from shoemaker.
Shoesmith From shoesmith, an occupational surname for a blacksmith who either specialized in shoeing horses or in making and fitting iron blades known as shoes.
Silversmith From silversmith.
Singer From singer.
Skinner The family surname is occupational in origin, meaning "one who prepares skins".
Slater From Middle English Slatere, Slatare, Sclatere, from Middle English sclater (“slater”).
Smith From smith or Middle English Smith (“a surname”), alternative form of Smyth, itself from smyth (“smith”).
Smithson From smith + son.
Smyth Variant of Smith, from Middle English Smyth.
Souter From souter (“shoemaker”).
Spear From Middle English spere (“spear”), from Old English spere (“spear”), variously intending a spearman.
Speare Variant form of Spear, from Middle English spere (“spear”), from Old English spere (“spear”), variously intending a spearman.
Spearman From spear + man, an occupational surname for a soldier armed with a spear.
Spears From Spear + s.
Spencer An occupational surname from Middle English Spenser, Spencer, Spensier.
Spenser From Middle English Spenser, from Middle English spenser (“spencer”), from spense (“spence”).
Spurrier English surname, from the noun spurrier (“maker of spurs”).
Staver Occupational surname for a stave maker, from stave + er.
Steele From Middle English stele (“steel”); either a metal worker or a person considered to be as hard as steel.
Steward From steward.
Stott From Middle English stott (“bull”), a nickname or a metonymic occupational surname for a cattleman.
Sumner From Middle English sumner (“summoner”).
Sumpter From Middle English sumpter (“carrier, or driver of pack animals”).
Taylor From tailor.
Tennant From tenant, an occupational surname.
Thacker Variant of Thatcher.
Thain Status surname for a noble retainer or attendant, from Middle English theyn (“thane; noble”).
Thatcher From thatcher.
Tiller Capitalization of tiller.
Tinner Occupational surname from tinner.
Tipper Probably an occupational surname for a maker of arrowheads, from an agent derivative of Middle English tippe (“head, tip”).
Todman Occupational surname for a fox hunter, from tod + man.
Tranter From tranter, an occupational surname for a peddler.
Travers From Anglo-Norman traverser (“to cross”), an occupational name for a toll collector.
Travis From an Old French word meaning "to cross over," related to traverse.
Turner From Middle English Turner, an occupational surname for a turner or tumbler.
Tyler From Middle English Tyler, from Middle English tiler (“tiler”).
Venner Occupational surname for a huntsman, from Old French veneor (“huntsman”).
Wagoner From wagoner.
Wagstaff From Middle English waggen (“to move up and down”) + staff (“staff, rod”), an occupational surname for an official who carried a staff.
Wainman Occupational surname for a cartwright, from Middle English wayn (“wagon, cart”) + man.
Wainwright From Old English wægnwyrhta, equivalent to wain (“large wagon for farm use”) + wright (“worker; maker”).
Waite English surname for a watchman of Norman origin, from the verb wait.
Ward As an English surname, from the noun ward and related cognates such as warden, guard etc.
Waterworth Occupational surname for a water bailiff, from Middle English water (“water”) + ward (“guard”).
Wayne An occupational surname for a cartwright, Old English wægen (“wagon”).
Weaver An occupational surname for a weaver.
Whipp From whip.
Whitcher From Old English hwiċċe, an occupational surname for a maker of chests.
Whitter English occupational surname for a whitewasher, caulker or bleacher, from Middle English whitere, an agent derivative of Old English hwītian (“to whiten”).
Wile From Middle English wile, an occupational surname for a trapper or a nickname for a wily person.
Wileman Occupational surname for a trapper, from wile + man.
Winder From winder, an occupational surname for a winder of wool.
Woodward Occupational surname from woodward.
Yeaman Variant of Yeoman.
Yeoman From yeoman.

From a place 8

Ainsworth From Old English Ægen + -es and worþ or worð, meaning "Aegen's enclosure".
Cavendish From the English village: "Cāfna's enclosure", from the Old English personal name *Cāfna + edisċ (“pasture”).
Garton From Old English gāra (“triangular plot of land”) + tūn (“enclosure; settlement, town”).
Harlow From Old English hær (“rock”) or here (“army”) + hlæw (“hill”).
Ivory The surname is habitational from Ivry in Normandy, and in some cases patronymic from a diminutive of Ivor.
Lum As an English surname, from Middle English Lumb, from Old English Lumm, from lumm (“pool”).
Ramsdale Habitational, in some cases at least likely a variant of Ramsden as dale is equivalent to Old English dene (“valley”); compare Baxendale.
Ramsden Probably from Old English hramsa (“onion, garlic”) + dene (“valley”).

From a father's or given name 255

Abbs Patronymic from a shortened form of the personal name Abel.
Adcock From a diminutive of Adam + cock as a medieval masculine diminutive suffix.
Addison A patronymic surname from a medieval diminutive form of Adam + son.
Ade The surname derives from medieval forms of Adam or Adrian.
Adey From a diminutive of the given name Adam.
Adie Derived from Adam.
Adkin From a medieval diminutive of Adam, formed with -kin.
Alcock From a hypocoristic form of several given names beginning with Al-, like Alan and Alexander, + the Middle English diminutive suffix -cok.
Allday From the unrecorded Old English personal name *Ǣþeldæġ, which is composed of the elements ǣþel (“noble”) and dæġ (“day”).
Allinson From the personal name Allen + son.
Allnutt From the Middle English personal name Alnoth, from Old English Æþelnōþ, which is composed of the elements æþele (“noble”) and nōþ (“daring, courage”).
Amberson Patronymic surname, from Ambrose + son.
Atkinson From Atkin or Atkins + -son.
Aylward From either of two Old English personal names, Æþelweard, which is from æþele (“noble”) + weard (“guard”), or Ælfweard, from ælf (“elf”) + weard (“guard”).
Babcock A pet form of the Middle English personal name Babb.
Bartholow From Bartholomew.
Bartlett From a pet form of Bartholomew.
Bate From a diminutive form of Bartholomew.
Batson From a diminutive form of Bartholomew + son.
Battey From Batte, a Middle English pet-form of Bartholomew.
Batts Variant of Bates, from the given name Bartholomew.
Beatson Patronymic from the personal name Beat.
Brixey From an Old English personal name composed of the elements bryht (“bright”) + siġe (“victory”).
Bronson From Middle English Brun (“a man named Brown's”) + son.
Bryans Patronymic from Bryan.
Copson Perhaps from a short form of the personal name Jacob + son.
Coxon Patronymic surname from Cocke + son.
Cutbirth Altered form of the personal name Cuthbert.
Dakin From a Middle English short form of David + kin.
Daniels From Daniel + -s.
Daw As an English surname, from a Middle English short form of David.
Dawe From a Middle English short form of David.
Dawkins From Dawkin + -s (“patronymic suffix”).
Daykin From a Middle English short form of David + kin.
Dodgin From a medieval diminutive of Dodge, from the given name Roger.
Dodson From Dodge + son and from Dodd + son.
Doidge Southern English variant of Dodge, a medieval diminutive of Roger.
Dwight Probably from a Middle English female name Diot, a pet form of Dionysia, the feminine form of Dionysius.
Elliott English surname derived from a Middle English diminutive of Elie, Old French form of Elias or Elijah, meaning "my God is Yahweh".
Elvey From the Old English personal name Ælfwīġ, which is composed of the elements ælf (“elf”) and wīġ (“war, battle”).
Elwood From the Middle English personal name Elwald, Elwold, Alwold, which is composed of the Old English elements ælf (“elf”) and weald (“rule”).
Emery From medieval Germanic personal names, either a variant of Amory or of Henry.
Emmott From a Middle English diminutive of the female given name Emma.
Empson From a reduced form of the personal name Emmett + son.
Ferris English surname, from Norman Ferrers, from the toponymic Ferrières, from French fer (“iron”).
Ferriss Variant of Ferris.
Filkin From a medieval diminutive of the given name Philip.
Filkins From Filkin (“a medieval diminutive of Philip”) + -s (“genitive (mainly patronymic) suffix”).
Filson From Phil, a diminutive of Philip + -son.
Fitzhenry From Fitz- + Henry.
Fitzmaurice From Fitz- + Maurice.
Frankson From Frank + son.
Freelove From the Old English personal name *Friþulāf, which is composed by the elements friþ (“peace; refuge”) and lāf (“survivor”).
Gibb Derived from a Middle English diminutive of the name Gilbert.
Gillard From a Middle English diminutive of the male given name Giles.
Gladwin From an Old English personal name *Glædwine, which is composed of the elements glæd (“shining; joyful”) and wine (“friend”).
Goodwin From Old English gōd (“good”) + wine (“friend”).
Harriot From a medieval diminutive of Henry.
Harvey From Haerviu, name of a Breton saint, from Old Breton hoiarn (“iron”) + viu (“blazing”).
Hedgecock Variant of Hitchcock.
Herriot From a medieval diminutive of Henry.
Hicken From a medieval diminutive of Hick.
Hickin From a medieval diminutive of Hick.
Hicklin From a medieval diminutive of Hick.
Higgin From a Middle English diminutive of Hick, from Richard.
Hipkins Patronymic from Hipkin.
Hiscock Variant of Hitchcock.
Hitch From a medieval diminutive of the male given name Richard.
Hitchcock From Hitch + -cock as a medieval male diminutive suffix.
Hitchen From a medieval diminutive form of Hitch.
Hobbins From a medieval double diminutive form of the given name Robert + the patronymic suffix -s.
Hodgen From a medieval diminutive of Hodge, from the given name Roger.
Hodgeson From Hodge + son.
Hodgin From a medieval diminutive of Hodge, from the given name Roger.
Hodgson From Hodge + son.
Hodkin Variant of Hodgkin from the given name Roger.
Hodson From Hodge + son, from the given name Roger.
Howells From the given name Howell + patronymic suffix -s.
Hutchens Patronymic from a pet form of the personal name Hugh.
Hutchinson From a medieval diminutive of the given name Hugh + son.
Icke Variant of Hick, a medieval diminutive of Richard.
Ide From the medieval male (and less often female) given name Ida.
Ijames Apparently an elaboration of James.
Impson Patronymic surname from an unclear personal name.
Inglett From the Middle English personal name Ingelot, a hypocoristic form of any of various names such as Ingelbald, Ingelbert, or Ingelard.
Iveson From the personal name Ives + son.
Jacobson From Jacob + -son.
Jaggard From the personal name Jackard, a pejorative form of Jack.
Jamison Son of Jamie.
Jarrett Variant of Garrett, a medieval form of Gerard and Gerald.
Jasperson From Jasper + son.
Jeffcoat From a pet form of the personal name Jeffrey.
Jenkin Either transferred from the surname Jenkins or derived from the medieval given name Jankin, the pet form of Jan.
Johnson A patronymic surname from John + -son, literally “son of John”.
Judd From a Middle English short form of the given name Jordan.
Judkins Possibly a patronymic surname from a pet form, with intrusive -d-, of Juk.
Julson Patronymic surname from a short form of Julian + son.
Knott From Middle English Knut, a male given name from Old Norse Knútr.
Larned The surname is a variant of the personal name Leonard.
Lieurance Altered respelling of Lawrence.
Lockett From Middle English, a diminutive of the given name Luke.
Lowrey From a pet form of the personal name Lawrence.
Luck From the given name Luke.
Luckett From Middle English, a diminutive of the given name Luke.
Luckman From the given name Luke + man, "servant of Luke".
Lucks From the given name Luke.
Luffman From the Middle English personal name Lefman.
Lugg English surname, from the given name Luke, Lucas.
Lukeman From the given name Luke + man, "servant of Luke".
Lukes From the given name Luke.
Mace As an English surname, from the personal name Masse, probably shortened from Matthew.
Malkin Matronymic surname, from a diminutive form of the medieval personal name Malle, a pet form of Mary.
Mallinson Metronymic surname from Malin + son.
Maton From a pet form of the personal name Matthew, or directly borrowed from French Maton.
Matts Patronymic surname from a hypocoristic form of Matthew.
Maycock From the Middle English personal name Maycok, a diminutive of May, itself a pet form of Mayhew.
Mitchell From a Middle English vernacular form of the Old French given name Michel (“Michael”), or in some cases from a Middle English nickname muchel (“big”).
Mogg From the medieval female given name Magge, a reduced form of Margaret.
Moxon Matronymic surname from Magge (“a medieval reduced form of Margareth”) + son.
Myall For the surname, from Middle English Mighel, Mihel, variant of Michel (“Michael”).
Nicholls From a medieval vernacular form of the given name Nicholas + the patronymic suffix -s.
Nichols From Nichol, medieval vernacular form of the given name Nicholas + the patronymic suffix -s.
Nicholson From Nicholas + son.
Nickens Apparently a patronymic from the personal name Nick.
Nickless Variant spelling of the given name Nicholas.
Nicklin From a hypocoristic form of the personal name Nicholas.
Nixon From Nick + son, an alteration of Nickson, originally a patronymic meaning "son of Nicholas".
Orris English surname from a vernacular form of the personal name Horace.
Orrison Apparently a patronymic surname from Orris + son.
Osborn Variant of Osborne.
Osborne From a medieval given name influenced by, or possibly derived from, Old Norse Ásbjǫrn, from áss (“god”) + bjǫrn (“bear”).
Owens From Owen + -s.
Parkin From a Middle English pet-form of Peter, from Per + kin.
Parkins From Parkin + the patronymic suffix -s.
Parkyn Variant of Parkin.
Parlett Double diminutive of the personal name Per.
Parratt Variant of Parrott.
Parrell From a Middle English diminutive form of Peter, from Old French.
Parren Variant of Perrin.
Parrett A variant of Perrett.
Parrott From a Middle English diminutive form of Peter, from Old French Perrot.
Paulet From a medieval diminutive of the given name Paul.
Pauley From a medieval diminutive of the given name Paul.
Paulin From a Middle English form of the Latin saint's name Paulīnus.
Paull From the given name Paul.
Paulley From a medieval diminutive of the given name Paul.
Pawling A variant of Paulin.
Pearce From Piers, the medieval vernacular form of Peter.
Pears A variant of Piers.
Pearse A variant of Piers.
Pearson From Piers + son.
Peat From a Middle English pet-form of Peter.
Peate From a Middle English pet-form of Peter.
Peattie From a Middle English pet-form of Peter.
Pedrick From the given name Petrock.
Peet From a Middle English pet-form of Peter.
Peirce A variant of Piers.
Pells From a Pell as a pet-form of Peter + the patronymic suffix -s.
Pelly From a Middle English pet-form of Peter.
Perce A variant of Piers.
Perot Variant of Parrott.
Perret Variant of Perrett or borrowed from French Perret.
Perrett From a Middle English diminutive form of Peter, from Old French Pierre.
Perrin From a Middle English pet-form of Peter, from an Old French diminutive of Pierre.
Perring Variant of Perrin.
Perrins From Perrin + the patronymic suffix -s.
Perris A variant of Piers.
Perrott Variant of Parrott.
Peterkin From a medieval pet-form of the given name Peter + kin.
Petherick From the given name Petrock.
Pethers From a Pether + the patronymic suffix -s.
Pethick From the given name Petrock.
Petre From a medieval spelling variant of Peter.
Phelps From Philip + genitive (mainly patronymic) suffix -s.
Philcox Phil (“short form of Philip”) + Middle English cock (“a male diminutive suffix”) + -s (“genitive (mainly patronymic) suffix”).
Philipps From Philip + genitive (mainly patronymic) suffix -s.
Philips From Philip + genitive (mainly patronymic) suffix -s.
Philipson From Philip + son.
Philley From a hypocoristic form of the personal name Philip.
Phillpott From Middle English Philipot, a diminutive of Philip.
Phillpotts From Middle English Philipot, a diminutive of Philip + genitive (mainly patronymic) suffix -s.
Philp From the given name Philip.
Philpot From Middle English Philipot, a diminutive of Philip.
Philpott From Middle English Philipot, a diminutive of Philip.
Philpotts From Middle English Philipot, a diminutive of Philip + genitive (mainly patronymic) suffix -s.
Philps From Philip + genitive (mainly patronymic) suffix -s.
Philson From Phil, a diminutive of Philip + -son.
Phippen From a Middle English diminutive of Phipp, a pet form of Philip.
Phipps From Middle English Phipp, a diminutive of Philip + genitive (mainly patronymic) suffix -s.
Piers A Middle English vernacular form of Peter, from Old French Piers, from Latin Petrus.
Pierse A variant of Piers.
Pierson From Piers + son.
Pollard From Middle English poll (“head”) + the pejorative suffix -ard (“person characterized by or associated with something, often in a negative way”).
Porrett Variant of Perrett.
Porritt Variant of Perrett.
Powley From a medieval diminutive of the given name Paul.
Rainer Variant of Rayner, a patronymic surname from a medieval given name from Proto-Germanic *raginą (“counsel by the gods”) + *harjaz (“army”).
Ralphs Patronymic from the personal name Ralph.
Rawls Patronymic from a medieval form of the personal name Ralph.
Rayson A patronymic surname, from Ray + son.
Rich From Richard.
Richie From Richard.
Rick From the male given name Richard.
Rickard From a medieval variant of Richard.
Rickett From a medieval diminutive of Richard.
Ritch From Richard, and from rich as a nickname.
Ritchie From Richard.
Robeson From Middle English; equivalent to Rob + son.
Robson From Rob + son.
Rogers From Roger + -s, equivalent to Rogerson.
Rollo Latinization of the Old French equivalent of the English Rolf.
Rowson Patronymic from Rowe + son.
Sandercock From a pet form of Sander, a reduced form of Alexander.
Seager From the Old English personal name Sǣgar, which is composed of the elements sǣ (“sea”) and gār (“spear”).
Selway From the Middle English personal name Salewi.
Selwyn From the Middle English form of Latin Silvanus.
Sim From Middle English Sym, diminutive of Simeon and Simon.
Simms From Sim, the short form of Simon + -s.
Sims From Sim, the short form of Simon + -s.
Simson From Sim, the short form of Simon + -son.
Stephens From the given name Stephen + the patronymic suffix -s.
Summerson From Summer + son.
Syme From Sim, the short form of Simon.
Syms From a short form of the personal name Simon.
Tamblin From a medieval diminutive form of the given name Thomas.
Tambling From a medieval diminutive form of the given name Thomas.
Tamblyn From the Middle English personal name Tamlin, a double diminutive of Thomas.
Tamlin From a medieval diminutive form of the given name Thomas.
Tamlyn From a medieval diminutive form of the given name Thomas.
Tamplin From a medieval diminutive form of the given name Thomas.
Tate From Middle English *Tate, partially from Old English Tāta, from Proto-West Germanic *tait, from Proto-Germanic *taitaz (“radiant, glad, cheerful, tender”).
Thom From Thomas.
Thompson Variant of Thomson, from Tom + -son, originally meaning "son of Thomas".
Thomson From Tom + son, originally meaning "son of Thomas".
Thorburn From a Northern Middle English personal name Thorbern, Thurbern, from Old Norse Þórbjǫrn, which is composed of the elements Þórr (“Thor”) and bjǫrn (“bear”).
Timblin From a pet form of the personal name Timothy.
Tipping From a pet form of the Old English *Tippa, a personal name of uncertain origin.
Tomblin From a medieval diminutive form of the given name Thomas.
Tomlin From a medieval diminutive form of the given name Thomas.
Tompkin From a medieval diminutive form of the given name Thomas.
Tompsett From a medieval diminutive form of the given name Thomas.
Tonkin From a medieval diminutive form of the given name Thomas.
Trimnell From the Middle English personal name Trimenel, a double diminutive of Trim.
Tyson A patronymic English surname, variant of Dyson, from Dennis + son.
Valentine From Latin Valentīnus, a patronymic from Valēns, itself nominalized from vālens (“strong, healthy”) + -īnus (“-ine”).
Waldo English surname, from the obsolete English given name Waltheof.
Walters From Walter + -s.
Watkins From a medieval diminutive of the given name Walter + the patronymic suffix -s.
Watts Patronymic surname from the Middle English given name Wat, derived from Walter, equivalent to Watt + -s.
Williams Variant of William with genitival or post-medieval excrescent -s.
Willmott From a diminutive form of the personal name William.
Willock A pet form of the personal name William.
Winfrey From a medieval variant of Winfred.
Wolf From wolf.
Woolner From the Old English personal name Wulfnoþ, a compound of wulf (“wolf”) + noþ (“daring, courage”).

From a nickname 112

Armstrong By surface analysis, arm + strong.
Badman English occupational surname for the servant of someone called Badd or Batt, but possibly, in some cases, a nickname for a reprobate, from bad + man.
Bassett From bassett, basset, from French basset.
Black From Middle English blak (“black”).
Blacklock A nickname for someone with dark hair, from Middle English blāk (“black”) + lok (“lock, tuft of hair”).
Blyth From Old English blīþe.
Brown From Middle English Broun, originally a nickname for someone with brown hair or a dark complexion.
Buck For both the English surname and given name, originally a nickname for someone who resembled a buck.
Budd From Old English Budda, a nickname of uncertain meaning.
Bunting From bunting, a nickname for someone who resembled the songbird.
Chaffin A nickname for a bald man, from Middle English chaffin, a diminutive of Old French chauf (“bald”).
Cockayne From Middle English cokayne (“cloud-cuckooland, Cockaigne”), a nickname for an idle dreamer.
Cogbill Unclear, but possibly a nickname from either Middle English cok (“cock, rooster”) + bill (“beak”) or Middle English cokebelle (“small bell”).
Coote From Middle English cote (“coot”), a nickname for a bald or stupid person.
Cubit From Middle English cubite (“cubit; elbow”), probably applied as a nickname for someone with strong or remarkable forearms.
Cuppett Alteration of the surname Coppett, from Middle English coppet, copped (“peaked, headed”), an adjective which also had the secondary meaning of "haughty".
Curtis From Old French corteis and curteis (Modern French courtois (“polite, courteous”)).
Darling From darling.
Diffey Perhaps a nickname from Anglo-Norman defieu (“faithless, disloyal”).
Dodrill From dotterel, a nickname for a foolish person.
Doughty From doughty, a nickname for a powerful and brave man, especially a champion jouster.
Drake As an English surname, from both senses of the noun drake, meaning "male duck" and "dragon".
Drinkwater From drink + water, a nickname given to a pauper or miser.
Eagle As an English surname, from the noun eagle.
Fairfax Equivalent to fair + fax, “beautiful tresses”: originally a nickname for someone with long fair hair.
Farson A nickname from Middle English fayr (“fair”) + sone (“son”).
Fayne A nickname, from Middle English fain (“joyful, happy”).
Filley From Middle English filli (“filly, young female horse”), perhaps a nickname for a temperamental or skittish person.
Fish From fish, a metonymic occupational surname for a fish seller or a nickname for someone who resembled a fish.
Fitt From Middle English fit (“proper, suited”), a nickname for a polite and amiable person.
Frank From Middle English Frank, partially from Old English Franca (“a Frank”); and partially from Old French Franc, and/or Latin Francus (“a Frank”).
Franklin From Middle English frankelein (“freeholder”), see franklin.
Freel Nickname, from Middle English freil (“frail, weak”).
Frogge From Middle English frogge (“frog”), a derogatory nickname for someone who looked like a frog in some way.
Geary As an English surname, from gar (“spear”), as well as a nickname derived from Middle English gery (“unpredictable”).
Gildon From Old English gylden (“golden”), perhaps a nickname for someone with golden hair.
Gladman From glad + man, a nickname for a cheerful person or a surname for the servant of a man called Glad.
Goodbody From good + body, a nickname for a good person.
Goodgame Nickname for a merry or sporty person, from Middle English good (“good”) + game (“entertainment, sport”).
Goodsell A nickname from Middle English good (“good”) + saule (“soul”).
Goodyear Probably a nickname from Middle English good + year, bestowed on someone who frequently used the expression.
Greathead From great + head, a nickname given to someone with a large head.
Halfpenny From halfpenny, a nickname for a tenant.
Hardy As an English, Scottish, and French surname, from Middle English hardy, hardi, from Old French hardi (“hardy, daring, stout, bold”).
Hare As an English surname, from the noun hare, originally as a nickname.
Heathcock A nickname, from heath cock.
Keats From a Middle English byname meaning “kite” (bird), from kete, from Old English cȳta (“kite, bittern”), from Proto-Germanic *kūtijô, diminutive of *kūt (“bird of prey”).
Langhorne From Middle English lang (“long”) + horn (“horn”), a nickname for a horn blower, or it may have referred to some physical characteristic.
Laverick From Middle English laverke (“lark”), perhaps a nickname for a good singer.
Lawless From Middle English laweles (“lawless”).
Legg English surname, from a nickname derived from leg.
Lightfoot From light + foot, a nickname for a messenger or fast runner.
Longstaff From long + staff, perhaps a metonymic occupational surname for a tipstaff or beadle or, alternatively, a nickname for a tall, thin man.
Lord Originally a nickname for someone who either acted as if he were a lord or had worked in a lord's household.
Lovelace From Middle English lufeless (“loveless”).
Lyon From Middle English lyon (“lion”), as a nickname.
Makepeace A nickname, from make peace.
Marter A nickname from Middle English martren (“marten”).
Moneypenny From money and penny, originally a nickname for a miser.
Mowell From Middle English moul, older form of mule (“mule”), a nickname for a stubborn person.
Nail From nail, hence a metonymic occupational surname for a maker of nails, or a nickname for a tall and slender person.
Nead From Middle English nede (“need, poverty, distress”), presumably used as a nickname for a poor or needy person.
New As an English surname, from the adjective new.
Newman From new + man: a "newcomer".
Norman From Middle English Norman, from Old English Norman (a variant of Norþman) and Old French Normant.
Orgill From Middle English orgel (“pride”), probably a nickname for an arrogant person.
Outlaw From outlaw, a nickname for someone who no longer had the protection of the law.
Palmer From Middle English palmer (“a pilgrim from the Holy Land”), from Old French.
Peabody From Middle English Pebody, equivalent to pea (“peacock”) + body (“body, person”).
Peacock From peacock, a nickname for a vain and conceited person.
Picken Either a nickname from Old French picon (“woodpecker”), or a patronymic surname from the personal name Picon, apparently from picon (“pointed object”).
Pickerill From Middle English pikerell (“young pike”), a nickname for a sharp and aggressive person.
Pocock Variant of Peacock.
Pontiff From pontiff, a nickname for someone who had played the role of the pope in a medieval religious play, or for a vain and pompous person.
Pope From pope, originating as a nickname.
Postle Nickname from a reduced form of Middle English apostle.
Pride From pride, a nickname for a vain or haughty person, or a nickname from Welsh prid (“precious, dear”).
Quant Nickname from Middle English cwointe (“intelligent, smart, cunning”), the origin of quaint.
Ray As an English surname, from pet forms derived from the root of Raymond.
Roe From a Middle English nickname meaning a roe.
Russell Middle English Russel, from Anglo-Norman Russel.
Sadd From Middle English sad (“considered, thoughtful, serious”), a nickname for a serious or solemn person.
Sage As an English and French surname, from sage, a nickname for a wise person.
Sheldrake From sheldrake, a nickname for a vain or showy person.
Smallman From small + man, either a nickname for a short person or a feudal term denoting a subtenant.
Speed As an English surname, from Middle English sped (“good fortune”).
Stalworth Nickname for a well-built or brave person, from Middle English stalworth (“physically strong, hardy, robust; brave, courageous”).
Strutt English surname of uncertain origin, but probably from the Old Norse byname Strútr.
Swan From swan, the bird.
Swann Variant of Swan.
Tait From Middle English Tayte, Tayt, Teyt, from Middle English tayt, teyte (“cheerful, merry”), from Old Norse teitr (“cheerful, glad”).
Teal From teal, a nickname given to someone considered to resemble this duck.
Titmus From Middle English titmose (“titmouse”), a nickname given to someone who resembled the bird.
Todhunter A nickname for a hunter of foxes, from tod + hunter.
Toogood Apparently a nickname from too + good, perhaps ironic in application.
Totten Possibly from a diminutive of the nickname totte (“simpleton, fool”).
Tricker From tricker, a nickname for a deceiver or trickster.
Troth From troth, a nickname for someone who was inclined to take oaths.
Turnbull From turn + bull, originally a nickname for someone who was strong enough to turn a bull.
Venters From Middle English aventurous (“bold, venturesome”), a nickname for a daring person.
Waghorn From Middle English waggen (“to wag”) + horn (“horn”), a nickname for a hornblower.
Waker Either from waker, a nickname for a watchful person, or a variant of Walker.
Wallace An Old English byname for a Welshman or Breton, from Anglo-Norman waleis (“foreign”); see wǣlisċ.
Wallis The surname is an Old English byname for a Welshman or Breton, from Old French waleis (“foreign”).
Walshe Middle English Walsch, from Old English wælisc, variant of wīelisċ, from Proto-West Germanic *walhisk, from Proto-Germanic *walhiskaz.
Wanless Nickname from Middle English wanles (“hopeless, luckless”).
Welch Middle English Welich, variant of Walsch, from Old English welisc, wīelisċ, from Proto-West Germanic *walhisk, from Proto-Germanic *walhiskaz.
Welsh From Middle English Walsch, Welische, from Anglian Old English wǣlisċ (“Briton; Roman; Celt”).
Whall From Old English hwæl (“whale”), a nickname for a corpulent person.
White As an English surname, from Middle English White, as a nickname for someone with white hair or pale complexion; in some cases from a personal name of the same meaning.
Woodcock From Old English wuducoc (“woodcock”), a nickname for a stupid or gullible person.
Yapp Nickname for a clever or cunning person, from Middle English yap (“deceitful, shrewd”), from Old English gēap (“crooked, bent; devious, cunning”).

How this list was compiled: A list by a written rule, built on 2 October 2026. A surname is listed when English Wiktionary files its English entry under one of four kinds (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:English_surnames: 'English surnames from occupations', 478 entries that day; 'from given names', 568; 'from nicknames', 256; 'from place names', 29), the entry gives an origin for the surname that could be read plainly, that origin does not open with another language's name (German, Irish, Scottish, French and so on, which belong to other lists), and the spelling is in the US Census Bureau's 2020 file of last names (https://www2.census.gov/topics/genealogy/2020surnames/Names2020_LastNames_RaceHispanic.xlsx), used only to show the name is in use; no rank is printed. A name that another list of this site already holds is kept only while such names stay near a third of this list, the most common first. The card's sentence is the opening of the etymology that belongs to the surname, sometimes shortened; where an entry opens with the origin of a place, a fruit or a given name of the same spelling, the card gives the line of the surname sense instead. A card that says only that a name is a variant of another is kept only when that other name is on the list. Left out as well: a name whose sentence gives a kind other than the one the dictionary files it under, and a few names or clauses with a word this site does not print. An origin is what a dictionary records for the surname in general, not for any one family. Kinds are the dictionary's categories, and 'a place' is added where the sentence calls the name habitational or topographic. Roots (Old English, Middle English, Old Norse, Old French or Norman) are marked where the dictionary files the name under that language or the sentence names it. No count of surnames in England or Britain is used, so nothing here says how common a name is there. Licence: Origins and kinds: English Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The census file is a work of the US federal government and in the public domain (17 U.S.C. 105). The selection is our own work.