1800s Last Names: A Glimpse into the Past

Are you researching your family history or simply curious about the origins of names popular in the 1800s? This list of last names common in the 19th century offers a glimpse into the cultural and social landscape of the time. From traditional English surnames to those influenced by immigration and evolving societal norms, these names reflect the diverse backgrounds and stories of people living in the 1800s. Explore this comprehensive collection to uncover the rich meanings behind these timeless names.
1. **Anderson:** Son of Andrew; a common surname derived from the given name Andrew, meaning "manly" or "strong."
2. **Baker:** A person who bakes bread; a descriptive occupational surname, common in the 1800s due to the importance of baking in daily life.
3. **Bennett:** A blessed person; a surname with origins in Old French, meaning "blessed" or "fortunate."
4. **Bell:** A person who rings the bell; a descriptive occupational surname, indicating a person who worked with bells, often as a church bell ringer.
5. **Brooks:** A person who lived near a brook; a surname derived from a place name, indicating proximity to a small stream or river.
6. **Brown:** A person with brown hair or complexion; a descriptive surname indicating a person's physical characteristics.
7. **Butler:** A male servant, especially in charge of wine; a surname with origins in Old French, indicating a high-ranking servant in a noble household.
8. **Campbell:** Crooked mouth; a surname with origins in Scottish Gaelic, meaning "crooked mouth" or "warped."
9. **Carter:** A person who transports goods by cart; a descriptive occupational surname, indicating a person who worked as a cart driver or hauler.
10. **Clark:** A clerk or scholar; a surname with origins in Middle English, indicating a person who worked as a clerk or scribe.
11. **Collins:** Son of Colin; a surname derived from the given name Colin, meaning "victory of the people."
12. **Cook:** A person who prepares food; a descriptive occupational surname, indicating a person who worked as a cook in a household or inn.
13. **Cooper:** A person who makes barrels; a descriptive occupational surname, indicating a person who worked as a cooper, crafting barrels for storage and transportation.
14. **Davis:** Son of David; a surname derived from the given name David, meaning "beloved" or "friend."
15. **Edwards:** Son of Edward; a surname derived from the given name Edward, meaning "wealthy guardian."
16. **Evans:** Son of Evan; a surname derived from the given name Evan, meaning "God is gracious."
17. **Fisher:** A person who catches fish; a descriptive occupational surname, indicating a person who worked as a fisherman.
18. **Foster:** A person who nourishes or rears; a surname with origins in Old English, meaning "one who rears."
19. **Franklin:** A person who is free and independent; a surname with origins in Old English, indicating a person of free status and landowner.
20. **Gardner:** A person who tends a garden; a descriptive occupational surname, indicating a person who worked as a gardener.
21. **Gibson:** Son of Gilbert; a surname derived from the given name Gilbert, meaning "bright pledge."
22. **Gill:** A person who lives by a ravine; a surname derived from a place name, indicating proximity to a ravine or narrow valley.
23. **Graham:** Gray; a surname with origins in Scottish Gaelic, meaning "gray" or "dark."
24. **Green:** A person with green hair or who lives near a green area; a surname derived from a descriptive term or a place name.
25. **Hall:** A person who lives by a hall; a surname derived from a place name, indicating proximity to a large house or building.
26. **Harris:** Son of Harry; a surname derived from the given name Harry, meaning "home ruler" or "house ruler."
27. **Harvey:** A strong warrior; a surname with origins in Old French, meaning "strong warrior" or "battle-ready."
28. **Hawkins:** Son of Hawk; a surname derived from the given name Hawk, indicating a person associated with hawks or falconry.
29. **Hayes:** A person who lives by a hedge; a surname derived from a place name, indicating proximity to a hedge or fence.
30. **Henderson:** Son of Henry; a surname derived from the given name Henry, meaning "ruler of the house."
31. **Hill:** A person who lives on a hill; a surname derived from a place name, indicating proximity to a hill or elevation.
32. **Holmes:** A person who lives in a hollow; a surname derived from a place name, indicating proximity to a hollow or valley.
33. **Howard:** Wise guardian; a surname with origins in Old English, meaning "wise guardian" or "brave protector."
34. **Jackson:** Son of Jack; a surname derived from the given name Jack, a diminutive form of John, meaning "God is gracious."
35. **James:** Supplanter; a surname derived from the given name James, meaning "supplanter" or "he who takes the place of another."
36. **Johnson:** Son of John; a surname derived from the given name John, meaning "God is gracious."
37. **Jones:** Son of John; a surname derived from the given name John, meaning "God is gracious."
38. **Kelly:** A warrior; a surname with origins in Irish Gaelic, meaning "warrior" or "fighter."
39. **Kennedy:** Fiery head; a surname with origins in Scottish Gaelic, meaning "fiery head" or "fiery-haired."
40. **King:** A person who rules a kingdom; a surname derived from a title, indicating a person of royal lineage or authority.
41. **Knight:** A mounted warrior; a surname with origins in Old French, indicating a person who served as a knight in the medieval period.
42. **Lewis:** Famous warrior; a surname with origins in Old German, meaning "famous warrior" or "renowned fighter."
43. **Long:** A person who is tall or lives in a long place; a surname derived from a descriptive term or a place name.
44. **Martin:** A person dedicated to Mars; a surname with origins in Latin, meaning "dedicated to Mars" or "warlike."
45. **Mason:** A person who builds with stone; a descriptive occupational surname, indicating a person who worked as a stone mason.
46. **Miller:** A person who operates a mill; a descriptive occupational surname, indicating a person who worked as a miller, grinding grain in a mill.
47. **Moore:** Moorland; a surname derived from a place name, indicating proximity to a moor or marshland.
48. **Morgan:** Sea warrior; a surname with origins in Welsh, meaning "sea warrior" or "defender of the sea."
49. **Murphy:** A sea warrior; a surname with origins in Irish Gaelic, meaning "sea warrior" or "defender of the sea."
50. **Nelson:** Son of Neil; a surname derived from the given name Neil, meaning "champion" or "bright one."
51. **Newman:** A new person; a surname indicating a person who was recently born or arrived in a place.
52. **Nichols:** Son of Nicholas; a surname derived from the given name Nicholas, meaning "victory of the people."
53. **Norton:** A person who lives in the north; a surname derived from a place name, indicating proximity to a northerly region.
54. **Oliver:** Olive tree; a surname with origins in Latin, meaning "olive tree" or "peaceful."
55. **Parker:** A person who keeps a park; a descriptive occupational surname, indicating a person who worked as a park keeper or ranger.
56. **Patterson:** Son of Patrick; a surname derived from the given name Patrick, meaning "nobleman" or "patrician."
57. **Payne:** A person who works with bread; a surname with origins in Old French, indicating a person who worked with bread, often as a baker or miller.
58. **Perry:** A person who lives near a pear tree; a surname derived from a place name, indicating proximity to a pear tree or orchard.
59. **Phillips:** Son of Philip; a surname derived from the given name Philip, meaning "lover of horses."
60. **Pierce:** A person with a pierced ear; a surname with origins in Old French, indicating a person who had a pierced ear, often as a mark of nobility.
61. **Powell:** A person who lives by a pool; a surname derived from a place name, indicating proximity to a pool or lake.
62. **Price:** A person of high value; a surname with origins in Old French, indicating a person of high status or importance.
63. **Reed:** A person who lives near reeds; a surname derived from a place name, indicating proximity to reeds or a marsh.
64. **Reynolds:** Son of Reginald; a surname derived from the given name Reginald, meaning "kingly advice."
65. **Rice:** A person who lives near rice; a surname derived from a place name, indicating proximity to a rice field or plantation.
66. **Richards:** Son of Richard; a surname derived from the given name Richard, meaning "strong ruler."
67. **Robertson:** Son of Robert; a surname derived from the given name Robert, meaning "bright fame."
68. **Robinson:** Son of Robin; a surname derived from the given name Robin, a diminutive form of Robert, meaning "bright fame."
69. **Rogers:** Son of Roger; a surname derived from the given name Roger, meaning "famous spear."
70. **Ross:** A person who lives near a heath or moor; a surname derived from a place name, indicating proximity to a heath or moorland.
71. **Russell:** Red hair; a surname with origins in Old French, meaning "red hair" or "ruddy complexion."
72. **Sanders:** Son of Alexander; a surname derived from the given name Alexander, meaning "defender of mankind."
73. **Scott:** A person from Scotland; a surname indicating a person's origin in Scotland.
74. **Shaw:** A person who lives in a thicket; a surname derived from a place name, indicating proximity to a thicket or wooded area.
75. **Shepherd:** A person who tends sheep; a descriptive occupational surname, indicating a person who worked as a shepherd.
76. **Simmons:** Son of Simon; a surname derived from the given name Simon, meaning "listener" or "he who hears."
77. **Smith:** A person who works with metal; a descriptive occupational surname, indicating a person who worked as a blacksmith or metalworker.
78. **Spencer:** A person from the storehouse; a surname with origins in Old French, indicating a person who worked in a storehouse or treasury.
79. **Stevens:** Son of Stephen; a surname derived from the given name Stephen, meaning "crown" or "wreath."
80. **Stewart:** A person who manages a steward; a surname with origins in Old English, indicating a person who worked as a steward or manager.
81. **Stone:** A person who lives near stones; a surname derived from a place name, indicating proximity to stones or a rocky area.
82. **Taylor:** A person who cuts cloth; a descriptive occupational surname, indicating a person who worked as a tailor, making and repairing clothing.
83. **Thomas:** Twin; a surname derived from the given name Thomas, meaning "twin" or "identical."
84. **Thompson:** Son of Thomas; a surname derived from the given name Thomas, meaning "twin" or "identical."
85. **Turner:** A person who works with wood; a descriptive occupational surname, indicating a person who worked as a wood turner, shaping wood on a lathe.
86. **Walker:** A person who walks; a descriptive occupational surname, indicating a person who walked for a living, often as a messenger or traveler.
87. **Wallace:** A person who lives in a place with a wall; a surname derived from a place name, indicating proximity to a wall or fortification.
88. **Walter:** Ruler of the army; a surname with origins in Old German, meaning "ruler of the army" or "powerful leader."
89. **Ward:** A person who guards a place; a descriptive occupational surname, indicating a person who worked as a guardian or watchman.
90. **Warren:** A person who lives by a rabbit warren; a surname derived from a place name, indicating proximity to a rabbit warren or enclosure.
91. **Watson:** Son of Walter; a surname derived from the given name Walter, meaning "ruler of the army" or "powerful leader."
92. **Weaver:** A person who weaves cloth; a descriptive occupational surname, indicating a person who worked as a weaver, making cloth on a loom.
93. **Wells:** A person who lives near wells; a surname derived from a place name, indicating proximity to a well or spring.
94. **West:** A person who lives in the west; a surname derived from a place name, indicating proximity to a westerly region.
95. **White:** A person with white hair or complexion; a descriptive surname indicating a person's physical characteristics.
96. **Williams:** Son of William; a surname derived from the given name William, meaning "resolute protector."
97. **Wilson:** Son of William; a surname derived from the given name William, meaning "resolute protector."
98. **Wright:** A person who builds or makes things; a descriptive occupational surname, indicating a person who worked as a craftsman or builder.
99. **Young:** A person who is young; a surname derived from a descriptive term, indicating a person's age or youthfulness.
100. **Zimmerman:** A person who works with wood; a surname with origins in German, indicating a person who worked with wood, often as a carpenter or joiner.