Norman Last Names

Press for five real last names from Norman French, each with the place or Old French word behind it.

Norman Last Names

  1. BoswellScottish surname, from Norman, named after Beuzeville, from Beuze + -ville ("Bosi's farm"); first element from Old Norse Bosi, from Proto-Germanic *bausuz. Census top 5,000.
  2. ButterOne origin: From Old French butor (“bittern”), a nickname for someone who resembled a bittern, perhaps because of his voice. Below the census top 5,000.
  3. BurnettFrom Middle English burnet (“brown”), from Old French brunet, brunete. Census top 1,000.
  4. BussOne origin: Occupational surname for a cooper, from Old French busse (“cask, barrel”). Census top 5,000.
  5. MannersHabitational surname of Norman origin, from the village of Masnières in France. Below the census top 5,000.

Next step Give this character a jobDraw a personality for a character

How it works

These Norman last names are real surnames that English took from Norman French: 149 names, each with the origin its dictionary entry gives. Neville is named for places in Normandy, and Fitzgibbon is Anglo-Norman for son of Gibbon.

Read the full guide

Norman surnames by kind

The dropdown under the button, Kind, keeps one: the 58 names from a place in Normandy or France, such as Vernon, Seymour and Quincy; the 25 Fitz and given names, such as Fitzgerald and Hamlin; the 19 nicknames, such as Corbett and Mallory; the 27 trades, such as Farrar and Lorimer; or 20 other Old French words, such as Norris and Basnett.

How common each name is

Under More filters, Census band keeps the 36 names in the top 5,000 of the US census file or the 113 below it.

Tips
  • Fitz is Anglo-Norman for son of: Fitzgibbon is son of Gibbon, and Fitzroy is son of the king.
  • “One origin” on a card means its dictionary entry lists others beside the Norman one.

Questions and answers

What are some Norman last names?

Neville, Vernon, Seymour, Tracy, Quincy and Melville are named for places in Normandy or elsewhere in France. Fitzgerald and Fitzgibbon are Fitz names, and Corbett, Mallory and Lovett began as Anglo-Norman nicknames.

Are last names of Norman origin French?

They come from the French the Normans spoke, but they are English, Scottish and Irish surnames today. Each card quotes the Norman, Anglo-Norman or Old French origin an open dictionary gives, and every name is in the 2020 US census file.

What does Fitz mean in a last name?

Son of. The dictionary reads Fitzgibbon as Anglo-Norman fitz Gibbon, son of Gibbon, and Fitzroy as son of the king. Fitzgerald is Fitz plus Gerald.

Does a Norman last name mean Norman ancestors?

No. An origin is what a dictionary records for the surname in general. This list does not say that any family today descends from the Normans.

More tools

Browse People and Jobs

All 149 last names

A place in Normandy or France 58

  • Agnew One origin: Scottish habitational surname of Norman origin, from the village of Agneaux, in Normandy. Census top 5,000.
  • Beamish Habitational surname of Norman origin, from the village of Beaumais, in Normandy. The village in County Durham shares the same etymology. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Beaton One origin: Habitational surname of Norman origin, from the town of Béthune in northern France. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Bellew English and Irish surname of Norman origin, from any of various places in France called Belleau. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Bethune From the Norman habitational surname, from the city of Béthune, in Artois. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Bevill English habitational surname of Norman origin, from the villages of Beuvillers or Bouville, both in Normandy. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Bonfield English and Irish habitational surname of Norman origin, from an altered form of any of three places in France called Bonneville. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Boswell Scottish surname, from Norman, named after Beuzeville, from Beuze + -ville ("Bosi's farm"); first element from Old Norse Bosi, from Proto-Germanic *bausuz. Census top 5,000.
  • Bovell English surname of Norman origin, from one of the towns called Bouville in France. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Bowell Habitational surname from Norman Bouelles, a commune in present-day Seine-Maritime, France. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Bracey English habitational surname of Norman origin, from either of two places in France called Brécy. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Bussey Habitational surname of Norman origin, from any of various places in Normandy called Boucé or Bucy. Census top 5,000.
  • Canfield One origin: Habitational surname of Norman origin, from the village of Canville-les-Deux-Églises, in Normandy. Census top 5,000.
  • Champney From Old French champeneis, an ethnic surname for someone from Champagne, in France. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Chauncey From the Norman name based on several locations in France called Chancé. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Chenery Possibly a Norman habitational surname from the village of Chenevrey-et-Morogne, in France. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Chinnery A habitational surname from the town of Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei, Normandy. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Courtney Variant of Courtenay, an aristocratic Norman surname derived from place names in Normandy, from Latin Curtenus, a personal name from curtus (“short”). Census top 5,000.
  • Covil A surname from the name of a village in Manche, Normandy. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Croall Scottish surname, perhaps of Norman origin from the village of Crieul, near Vienne. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Cundy Habitational surname of Norman origin, from any of various places in France called Condé. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Dando English habitational surname of Norman origin, from one of the two villages named Aunou, in France. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Dansie Habitational surname of Norman origin, with fused preposition de (“of; from”) + Anizy, a village in northern France. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Darrell Derived from d'Airel, name of a Norman family that came from a place called Airelle in Calvados. Below the census top 5,000.
  • DeLacy Habitational surname of Norman origin, from the village of Lassy, Calvados, in Normandy. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Delaney From a Norman baronial surname, from a place in France, Old French del aunaie (“from the alder grove”). Census top 5,000.
  • Delmar Contraction of Delamare and de la Mare, from places in Normandy named La Mare (“the pond”). In the US, also borrowed from Catalan del Mar (“of the sea”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Devereaux American respelling of Devereux, a surname of Anglo-Norman origin. From d' + Evreux (meaning from Évreux, a city in Normandy). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Freemantle From French Fromental (“a place name, a commune in Limousin, France”), from Old French froit (“cold”) + mantel (“cloak, mantle”). The suburb in Hampshire is named after the French village. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Furneaux English surname of Norman origin, from two places in Normandy called Fourneaux (“the furnaces”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Gamage One origin: English habitational surname of Norman origin from any of various places in France called Gamache or Gamaches. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Garnsey One origin: A habitational surname of Norman origin, from the village of Germisay, in Lorraine. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Goy One origin: English habitational surname of Norman origin, from any of various places in France called Gouy. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Ivory The surname is habitational from Ivry in Normandy, and in some cases patronymic from a diminutive of Ivor. The modern given name is associated with ivory. Census top 5,000.
  • Lamar From a placename in Normandy, which was derived from Old French la mare (“the pool”). Census top 5,000.
  • Longwell Anglicized form of a Norman habitational surname, from a village in Normandy called Longueville-sur-Scie, from Medieval Latin longa villa (“long village”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Lucy Derived from place names in Normandy based on a male personal name, from Latin Lucius. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Macy Norman baronial surname from places named Massy in France, derived from a Gallo-Roman personal name Maccius. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Manners Habitational surname of Norman origin, from the village of Masnières in France. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Mansell Habitational surname from Old French Mansel (“someone from Le Mans”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Melville A surname of Norman origin, from Malleville in Normandy. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Melvin Variant of the Scottish surname Melville, from a place name Malleville in Normandy, from Latin mala (“bad”) + Old French ville (“settlement”). Census top 5,000.
  • Molyneux One origin: Habitational surname of Norman origin, from the town of Moulineaux, in Normandy, from Old French molinelli, a name meaning "small mills." Below the census top 5,000.
  • Neville One origin: A Norman baronial surname, de Neville, from place names in Normandy, Néville, from Old French Neville (“Néel's estate”) or Neuville (“new settlement”), equivalent to nuef + ville. Census top 5,000.
  • Norvell Scottish surname of Norman origin, reduced form of the Norman habitational surname Normanville. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Nugent From the Norman habitational surname from any of various places in France called Nogent. Census top 5,000.
  • Olley Habitational surname of Norman origin, from any of various villages called Ouilly in Normandy. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Peto One origin: English habitational surname of Anglo-Norman origin for someone from Poitou, in France. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Plunkett From the Norman habitational surname, from the village of Pleugueneuc, in Brittany, said to be from Breton plou (“parish”) (from Latin plebs) + the personal name Guenec. Census top 5,000.
  • Quincy A Norman surname of Old French origin, from a place name Quincy or Quincey in France, ultimately from Latin Quintus (“fifth [born]”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Seymour From a Norman surname from a place in Normandy, from Old French Saint-Maur, from Late Latin Sanctus Maurus (“Saint Maurus”). The name is cognate to Murry and Maurice. Census top 5,000.
  • Stuteville From the Norman habitational surname, from the town of Estouteville, in Normandy. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Tawney Habitational surname of Norman origin, from the villages of Saint-Aubin-du-Thenney and Saint-Jean-du-Thenney, both in Normandy. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Tracy A Norman baronial surname from places in France, derived from the Gallo-Roman given name Thracius which referred to Thrace + the Celtic suffix *-āko (place, property). Census top 5,000.
  • Turney Habitational surname of Norman origin, from any of various places in France called Tournai, Tournay or Tourny. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Vernon Originally a Norman baronial name, derived from the town in Normandy. Census top 5,000.
  • Vessey The surname is of Norman origin, from the place in Normandy: Vessey, a village and former commune in Manche. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Vipond Habitational surname of Norman origin, from the village of Vieux-Pont, in Normandy. Below the census top 5,000.

A Fitz or given name 25

  • Ackert One origin: English surname from the Norman personal name Achard, from Proto-Germanic *Agjōharduz, which is composed of the elements *agjō (“edge”) and *harduz (“hard; brave”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Angier Patronymic surname from the Old French personal name Angier, probably a compound of Proto-Germanic *ansuz (“deity”) + *gaizaz (“spear, javelin”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Aslin One origin: English surname from the Old French personal name Asceline, a pet form of Asse. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Claridge One origin: A metronymic surname from the Old French female given name Clarice. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Fait One origin: Perhaps from an obsolete English personal name derived from Anglo-Norman afaitie (“accomplished, skillful”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Faulks From the Anglo-Norman personal name Faulques, a name from the same ultimate source as falcon. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Fitzgerald From Fitz + Gerald. Census top 1,000.
  • Fitzgibbon From Anglo-Norman fitz Gibbon (“son of Gibbon”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Fitzroy Middle English, from Anglo-Norman fitz (du) roy (“son [of the] king”). By surface analysis, Fitz- + roy. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Gambel A surname of Anglo-Norman origin, from the Anglo-Norman given name Gamel, from Old Norse gamall (“old”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Hambly One origin: From the Norman personal name Hameley, a double diminutive of Hamo. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Hamlin From the Anglo-Norman personal name Hamlin, a double diminutive of Old French Haimon. Census top 5,000.
  • Harbold From a Norman personal name composed of the Proto-Germanic elements *harjaz (“army”) + *balþaz (“strong, bold”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Hasty One origin: From a pet form of the Norman personal name Asketin, derived from Old Norse Ásketill, composed of the elements áss (“god”) and ketill (“sacrificial cauldron”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Ledger One origin: English patronymic surname from either the Norman personal name Leodegar or the Old French equivalent Legier. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Mayhew Anglicized form of Norman Mahieu, a common form of the personal name Matthew. Census top 5,000.
  • Maynor English surname of Norman origin, from a Proto-Germanic personal name composed of the elements *maginą (“power, might”) + *harjaz (“army”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Ottaway From either of two Norman personal names: Otoïs or Otewi. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Pigott From the Old French personal name Pigot, a pet form of Pic. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Rainbow One origin: From an altered form of the Old French personal name Rainbaut, which is composed of the Proto-Germanic elements *raginą (“advice, counsel”) and *balþaz (“strong, bold”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Sisley From the popular Middle English female given name Sisely, from Old French Cecile, Cicile, ultimately from Latin Caecilia. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Telfer Scottish and North English surname, from a personal name based on a byname for a strong man or ferocious warrior, from Old French tailler (“to cut”) + fer (“iron”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Wass From the Norman personal name Wazo. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Wion English surname of Norman origin, from the local form of the Proto-Germanic personal name *Wido, from which Guy. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Wishart Scottish surname derived from Anglo-Norman Wischard, from the Old French personal name Guiscard. Below the census top 5,000.

A nickname 19

  • Amis From Old French Amis, a given name and nickname, from Latin amīcus (“friend”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Avent Perhaps a reduced form of the Anglo-Norman personal name or nickname Avenant, from Old French avenant (“fitting, apt; beautiful”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Blunt One origin: From Anglo-Norman blunt (“blond”), a nickname for someone with fair hair or a light complexion. Census top 5,000.
  • Butter One origin: From Old French butor (“bittern”), a nickname for someone who resembled a bittern, perhaps because of his voice. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Coey From Old French coi (“shy, coy, timid”), a nickname for a shy person. It could also be a variant of Cowie. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Corbett From Anglo-Norman corbet (“little crow; carrion crow”), probably a nickname for someone with dark hair or complexion. Census top 5,000.
  • Corbin An Anglo-Norman nickname from corb (“crow”), or shortened from the Corbinian, the name of a Frankish eighth-century saint, probably from Latin corvus (“crow, raven”). Census top 5,000.
  • Dorey Nickname for a goldsmith or someone with golden hair, from Old French doré (“golden”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Ducat English occupational surname for a moneylender or minter or a nickname for a rich man, from Old French ducat (“name of a gold coin”). Also borrowed from French Ducat. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Durrell Nickname from a diminutive of Old French dur (“hard”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Estridge From Old French estreis (“eastern”), a nickname for someone who had migrated from the east. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Jay A surname from Old French jai (“jay (bird)”), a nickname for a chatty or showy person. Census top 5,000.
  • Lovett A nickname from Anglo-Norman louet (“wolf-cub”), a diminutive of lou (“wolf”); this nickname may have also been used as a personal name. Census top 5,000.
  • Luttrell From a diminutive of Old French loutre (“otter”), a nickname for someone thought to resemble this animal. Census top 5,000.
  • Maitland Uncertain, possibly a nickname for an ungracious individual, from Anglo-Norman maltalent (“bad temper”). However, it could also derive from the French village of Mautalant, in Normandy. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Mallory From an Anglo-Norman nickname for an unfortunate person, from Old French maleure, malheure (“unhappy, unlucky”) (whence French malheur), from mal (“bad”) + eur (“fortune”). Census top 5,000.
  • Tyson One origin: A variant of Tison. A nickname from Old French tison (“firebrand”). Census top 5,000.
  • Veazey Nickname for a cheerful person, from a reduced form of Old French envoisié (“playful, merry”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Vigrass From Anglo-Norman vigrus, itself from Old French vigorous (“hardy, strong”), a nickname for a strong and powerful man. Below the census top 5,000.

A trade 27

  • Bayliss From Old French bailis, inflection of bailif (“bailiff, officer in a court of law”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Bolger One origin: Occupational surname for a leather worker, from Old French boulgier, an agent derivative of boulge (“leather bag”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Bullinger One origin: Occupational surname for a baker, from Old French bolengier (“baker”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Buss One origin: Occupational surname for a cooper, from Old French busse (“cask, barrel”). Census top 5,000.
  • Clower One origin: English occupational surname for a nailer, from an agent derivative of Old French clou (“nail”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Cottee From Old French cotte (“coat of mail”), a metonymic occupational surname for a maker of chainmail. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Cowser Occupational surname, from Old French cousere (“tailor”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Dagg From Old French dague (“dagger”), hence a metonymic occupational surname for a maker or seller of daggers. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Farrar English occupational surname for a blacksmith or an ironworker, from Old French ferrier (“smith”). Census top 5,000.
  • Fripp Perhaps from Old French frepe (“rag”), a metonymic occupational surname for a dealer in old clothes. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Grater One origin: From Old French grateor (“one who grates”), hence possibly an occupational surname for a furbisher. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Laver Occupational surname for a washerman, from Anglo-Norman laver. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Lorimer Scottish occupational surname for a maker or seller of spurs, bits and other metal attachments to harness and tackle, from Anglo-Norman lorenier. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Machen Occupational surname for a stonemason, from Anglo-Norman machun, dialectal Norman variant of Old French maçon. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Messer One origin: An English occupational surname for someone who kept watch over harvested crops, from Old French messier (“harvest warden”). Census top 5,000.
  • Napp One origin: English metonymic occupational surname for a maker or seller of tablecloths, from Old French nappe (“table cloth”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Offer Occupational surname for a goldsmith, from Norman orfrer (“goldsmith”); compare French orfèvre (“goldsmith”). Also borrowed from German Offer. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Pellett Either from a pet form of the personal name Pell, or a metonymic occupational surname for a furrier, from Old French pellet (“fur”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Platten One origin: From Old French platon (“metal plate”), a metonymic occupational surname for a platemaker. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Porteous One origin: From Anglo-Norman porteose (“porteous”), a metonymic occupational surname for a scribe employed in writing portable prayerbooks. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Rivett Metonymic occupational surname for a maker or seller of rivets, from Old French rivet (“rivet, fastener”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Tallant Occupational surname for a tailor, from taillant (“cutting”), present participle of Old French tailler (“to cut”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Talmadge Metonymic occupational surname for an itinerant merchant, from Old French talemasche (“knapsack”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Tizzard From Old French tissier (“to weave”) or tisseur (“weaver”), an occupational surname for a weaver. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Trumper One origin: Occupational surname for one who played the horn or trumpet, from Old French trompeur. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Truss From Old French trousse (“bundle, pack”), a metonymic occupational surname for a peddler. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Vessell Metonymic occupational surname for a maker of household vessels, from Middle English vessel, itself from Old French vaissel. Below the census top 5,000.

Another Old French word 20

  • Barrett From the Irish surname converged from several origins, including Baróid, Bairéid, Middle English Baraud (“quarrelsome”) from Old English, and Norman Baraud. Census top 1,000.
  • Basnett From Anglo-Norman bacynet (“bascinet, kind of helmet”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Baston From the French and English surname, from Old French bastun (“stick”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Bellamy Of Norman origin, from Old French bel (“fair”) + ami (“friend”). Could also be a locational surname from the Norman town of Bêlleme (Belesme). Census top 5,000.
  • Burgh From the Anglo-Norman word burgh. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Burke From an Anglo-Norman pronunciation of burg. Census top 1,000.
  • Burnett From Middle English burnet (“brown”), from Old French brunet, brunete. Census top 1,000.
  • Folley One origin: English topographic surname from Old French feuillie (“leafy bower or shelter; clump of trees”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Fowers Status surname, from Old French fouuer, itself from Latin focārius (“hearth-keeper”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Frain From Old French fraisne. Below the census top 5,000.
  • Francom From Old French franc (“free”) + home (“man”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Madill From Norman madle (“male”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Noris From Old French norreis (“a northerner”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Norris An Anglo-Norman surname, from Old French norreis (“a northerner, a migrant from the north”). Census top 1,000.
  • Peppard Irish and English surname of Norman origin, from Old French pipart, pippart (“piper”), from Anglo-Norman pipper (“to play the pipe or flute”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Plaskett Topographic surname from Old French plasquet, a diminutive of plascq (“damp meadow”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Poston One origin: Topographic surname for someone who lived near a postern or back gate, from Old French posterne (“postern”). Census top 5,000.
  • Pulliam From Anglo-Norman pulain (“foal, colt”), from Old French polain (“foal, colt”). Alternatively, it may derive from Welsh ap (“son of”) and William. Census top 5,000.
  • Quintrell Cornish surname derived from an anglicization of Old French cointerel (“beau, dandy”). Below the census top 5,000.
  • Rockett From a diminutive of Anglo-Norman roque (“rock”). Below the census top 5,000.
How this list was compiled

A list by a written rule, built on 3 October 2026. A surname is listed when three things hold. One: English Wiktionary (https://en.wiktionary.org, CC BY-SA 4.0, read that day) files it under English surnames from Old French, from Anglo-Norman, from Norman or from Old Northern French, or it is a Fitz name in the dictionary's list of English words formed with Fitz-. Two: the etymology or the surname line of its English entry names Norman, Anglo-Norman or Old French as the source, or a place in Normandy. Three: the name is in the US Census Bureau's file of last names reported 100 or more times in the 2020 Census (https://www2.census.gov/topics/genealogy/2020surnames/Names2020_LastNames_RaceHispanic.xlsx, linked from https://www.census.gov/topics/population/genealogy/data/2020_names.html), so each card is a last name people carry; its rank there gives the card's band and no rank or count is printed. Each card quotes the dictionary's origin, cut to whole sentences or a clause; where an entry gives several origins the card keeps the Norman or Old French one and says 'One origin'. Cards that only pointed to another spelling were left out, as were glosses this site does not print. The kind on a card (a place, a Fitz or given name, a nickname, a trade, another Old French word) is our own reading of the quoted line by a word list. This site's rule is that at most 40 in 100 names of a list may also stand in its other lists. Of the 216 names that passed, 121 stand on another list of this site; 45 of those were left out because a list that already holds them has no room, and 17 more to keep this list under the cap: Fitz names and place names were kept first, then the most common in the census file. Five more came off after a second check: Vasey, Foulks, Reames and Netterville, whose entries name neither a place nor a word, and Rosewarne, which its entry gives as a place in Cornwall. That leaves 149 names, 58 of them shared (38.9 in 100), counted on 3 October 2026. Kinds: 58 places in Normandy or France, 25 Fitz and given names, 19 nicknames, 27 trades, 20 other Old French words. Bands: 5 in the census top 1,000, 31 more in the top 5,000, 113 below it. 'Norman' here means the language a name comes from: the list does not say that any family today descends from the Normans of 1066, and an origin is what a dictionary records for the surname in general. Licence: Origins drawn from English Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Census bands from the US Census Bureau 2020 surname file, public domain. The selection and the kinds are our own work.