Last Names for Characters: A Comprehensive Guide

Looking for the perfect last name for your characters? This comprehensive guide provides over 40 options, complete with detailed meanings, to help you create compelling and memorable names. Whether you're searching for a classic, modern, or unique surname, this list has something for every character and every story.
1. **Abernathy:** From the Old English words "æþel" (noble) and "beorn" (bear), meaning "noble bear."
2. **Ackerman:** Derived from the Old German words "acker" (field) and "mann" (man), meaning "field man."
3. **Adams:** A patronymic surname, meaning "son of Adam."
4. **Agnew:** From the Scottish Gaelic word "a' ghnuis" (the face), meaning "the face."
5. **Albright:** A combination of the Old English words "al" (old) and "bright" (bright), meaning "old bright."
6. **Alexander:** From the Greek words "alex" (defender) and "andros" (man), meaning "defender of men."
7. **Allen:** Derived from the Old English word "alen" (handsome), meaning "handsome."
8. **Anderson:** A patronymic surname, meaning "son of Andrew."
9. **Andrews:** A patronymic surname, meaning "son of Andrew."
10. **Armstrong:** From the Old English words "arm" (arm) and "streng" (strong), meaning "strong arm."
11. **Arnold:** From the Old German words "arn" (eagle) and "wald" (forest), meaning "eagle forest."
12. **Ashby:** Derived from the Old English word "æsc" (ash tree), meaning "ash tree dwelling."
13. **Atkins:** A patronymic surname, meaning "son of Atkin."
14. **Austin:** From the Latin word "Augustus," meaning "venerable" or "majestic."
15. **Bailey:** Derived from the Old French word "bailli" (bailiff), meaning "official."
16. **Baker:** An occupational surname, meaning "baker."
17. **Baldwin:** From the Old German words "bald" (bold) and "win" (friend), meaning "bold friend."
18. **Ballard:** Derived from the Old French word "ballade" (dance), meaning "dancer."
19. **Banks:** An occupational surname, meaning "banker."
20. **Barber:** An occupational surname, meaning "barber."
21. **Barker:** An occupational surname, meaning "one who barks (dogs)."
22. **Barnes:** From the Old English word "bearn" (child), meaning "child's dwelling."
23. **Barrett:** Derived from the Old French word "barret" (cap), meaning "cap maker."
24. **Bartlett:** From the Old English word "beorht" (bright), meaning "bright clearing."
25. **Bates:** Derived from the Old French word "bat" (battle), meaning "battle."
26. **Bauer:** From the German word "bauer" (farmer), meaning "farmer."
27. **Beal:** From the Old English word "bealu" (evil), meaning "evil."
28. **Bell:** Derived from the Old English word "bellan" (to bellow), meaning "one who bellows."
29. **Bennett:** From the Old English word "bene" (good), meaning "good."
30. **Bentley:** Derived from the Old English words "bent" (grass) and "leah" (clearing), meaning "grass clearing."
31. **Berger:** From the German word "berg" (mountain), meaning "mountain dweller."
32. **Black:** A descriptive surname, meaning "dark-haired."
33. **Blake:** Derived from the Old English word "blæc" (black), meaning "black."
34. **Bloom:** From the Middle English word "bloom" (flower), meaning "one who cultivates flowers."
35. **Boone:** Derived from the Old French word "bonne" (good), meaning "good."
36. **Bowman:** An occupational surname, meaning "bow maker."
37. **Boyd:** From the Old Gaelic word "bóid" (promised), meaning "one who is promised."
38. **Bradley:** Derived from the Old English words "brad" (broad) and "leah" (clearing), meaning "broad clearing."
39. **Brown:** A descriptive surname, meaning "brown-haired."
40. **Bryant:** From the Old English word "bryht" (bright), meaning "bright."
41. **Buchanan:** From the Scottish Gaelic words "beul" (mouth) and "cànnan" (speech), meaning "mouth of the river."
42. **Burns:** Derived from the Old English word "brun" (brown), meaning "brown."
43. **Bush:** From the Old English word "būs" (bush), meaning "one who lives by a bush."
44. **Butler:** From the Old French word "bouteiller" (bottle holder), meaning "one who serves drinks."
45. **Byrd:** Derived from the Old English word "brid" (bird), meaning "bird."
46. **Calhoun:** From the Irish Gaelic words "caol" (narrow) and "dún" (fort), meaning "narrow fort."
47. **Campbell:** From the Scottish Gaelic words "caomh" (dear) and "beul" (mouth), meaning "beautiful mouth."
48. **Cannon:** Derived from the Old French word "canon" (tube), meaning "one who works with cannons."
49. **Carey:** From the Old Irish word "cadhlaigh" (strong), meaning "strong."
50. **Carlson:** A patronymic surname, meaning "son of Carl."