Last Names in Britain: A Comprehensive Guide

Discover the rich history and diverse meanings behind last names common in Britain. From ancient origins to modern trends, this comprehensive list explores the etymology and significance of hundreds of surnames, offering a fascinating glimpse into the cultural tapestry of the British Isles.
1. **Abbott:** A derivative of the word "abbot," a leader of a monastery.
2. **Adams:** Son of Adam, a biblical name.
3. **Ainsworth:** From the Old English "Eanulf's worth," meaning "Eanulf's homestead."
4. **Alexander:** Greek origin, meaning "defender of mankind."
5. **Allen:** Old English origin, meaning "handsome" or "noble."
6. **Anderson:** Son of Andrew, a Greek name meaning "manly" or "courageous."
7. **Andrews:** A variant spelling of Anderson.
8. **Arnold:** German origin, meaning "eagle strength."
9. **Ashby:** From the Old English "Aesceby," meaning "ash tree farm."
10. **Ashcroft:** From the Old English "Aesce croft," meaning "ash tree field."
11. **Atkinson:** Son of Atkin, a diminutive of the name "Atticus."
12. **Austin:** Latin origin, meaning "august" or "venerable."
13. **Baker:** Occupational name for someone who bakes bread.
14. **Ball:** From the Old English "balla," meaning "ball" or "spherical."
15. **Barber:** Occupational name for someone who shaves and cuts hair.
16. **Barker:** Occupational name for someone who tanns hides.
17. **Barnes:** From the Old English "beornes," meaning "a man's dwelling place."
18. **Barrett:** From the Old English "beorhtric," meaning "bright ruler."
19. **Bates:** From the Old English "bate," meaning "better" or "good."
20. **Baxter:** Occupational name for someone who bakes bread.
21. **Beaumont:** French origin, meaning "beautiful mountain."
22. **Beckett:** From the Old English "bece," meaning "beech tree."
23. **Bell:** From the Old English "bell," meaning "bell."
24. **Bennett:** From the Old English "bene," meaning "well" or "good."
25. **Bentley:** From the Old English "bentley," meaning "grassy meadow."
26. **Bernard:** German origin, meaning "brave bear."
27. **Berry:** From the Old English "beorige," meaning "a hill covered with berries."
28. **Black:** Descriptive name for someone with dark hair or skin.
29. **Blake:** From the Old English "blaec," meaning "black."
30. **Bloom:** From the Old English "blōma," meaning "flower."
31. **Boone:** From the Old English "bōna," meaning "bone."
32. **Booth:** From the Old English "bōth," meaning "dwelling" or "booth."
33. **Bowman:** Occupational name for someone who makes bows and arrows.
34. **Boyd:** From the Gaelic "bóid," meaning "yellow" or "pale."
35. **Bradshaw:** From the Old English "brad," meaning "broad" and "scaga," meaning "wood."
36. **Branch:** From the Old English "brānce," meaning "branch."
37. **Bray:** From the Old English "brēg," meaning "hill" or "mound."
38. **Brown:** Descriptive name for someone with brown hair or skin.
39. **Bruce:** From the Old French "bruyère," meaning "heather."
40. **Bryan:** From the Irish "Brian," meaning "strong" or "noble."
41. **Buckingham:** From the Old English "buc," meaning "buck" and "ing," meaning "people."
42. **Bullock:** From the Old English "bulluca," meaning "young bull."
43. **Burke:** From the Irish "Ó Burch," meaning "descendant of Burch."
44. **Burns:** From the Old English "burn," meaning "stream" or "brook."
45. **Bush:** From the Old English "bysc," meaning "bush" or "shrub."
46. **Butler:** From the Old French "bouteiller," meaning "wine steward."
47. **Byrne:** From the Irish "Ó Briain," meaning "descendant of Brian."
48. **Campbell:** From the Gaelic "Mac Gille Mhaoil," meaning "son of the servant of St. Mary."
49. **Cannon:** From the Old English "cannon," meaning "large gun."
50. **Carey:** From the Irish "Ó Cadhlaigh," meaning "descendant of Cadhlaigh."
51. **Carpenter:** Occupational name for someone who builds or repairs structures.
52. **Carr:** From the Old English "cearr," meaning "marshland."
53. **Carroll:** From the Irish "Ó Cearbhall," meaning "descendant of Cearbhall."
54. **Carter:** Occupational name for someone who drives a cart.
55. **Casey:** From the Irish "Ó Casaide," meaning "descendant of Casaide."
56. **Castle:** From the Old English "cāstle," meaning "castle."
57. **Chapman:** Occupational name for someone who trades goods.
58. **Charles:** From the Germanic "Karl," meaning "free man."
59. **Chase:** From the Old French "chasse," meaning "hunting ground."
60. **Christie:** From the Greek "Christos," meaning "anointed."
61. **Clark:** Occupational name for someone who writes or copies documents.
62. **Clayton:** From the Old English "clay" and "tūn," meaning "clay farm."
63. **Clemens:** Latin origin, meaning "merciful" or "gentle."
64. **Clifford:** From the Old English "clif" and "ford," meaning "cliff ford."
65. **Clinton:** From the Old English "clīnton," meaning "hillside."
66. **Cole:** From the Old English "cōl," meaning "charcoal."
67. **Collins:** From the Old English "cōl," meaning "charcoal."
68. **Cook:** Occupational name for someone who prepares food.
69. **Cooper:** Occupational name for someone who makes barrels or casks.
70. **Cox:** From the Old English "cocca," meaning "cook."
71. **Craig:** From the Gaelic "craig," meaning "rock" or "cliff."
72. **Crawford:** From the Old English "cræft," meaning "craft" and "ford," meaning "ford."
73. **Cunningham:** From the Gaelic "Mac Conaill," meaning "son of Conall."
74. **Curtis:** From the Old English "cūrteīs," meaning "courteous."
75. **Dale:** From the Old English "dæl," meaning "valley."
76. **Dalton:** From the Old English "dæl" and "tūn," meaning "valley farm."
77. **Daniel:** Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my judge."
78. **David:** Hebrew origin, meaning "beloved."
79. **Davies:** A variant spelling of Davis.
80. **Davis:** Son of David, a Hebrew name meaning "beloved."
81. **Dawson:** From the Old English "dæg" and "sunu," meaning "day son."
82. **Dean:** From the Old English "dēan," meaning "valley."
83. **Dennis:** From the Greek "Dionysus," the god of wine.
84. **Derby:** From the Old English "dēor" and "byrig," meaning "deer town."
85. **Dixon:** From the Old English "dix," meaning "ditch."
86. **Dodson:** From the Old English "dod," meaning "dweller" and "sunu," meaning "son."
87. **Dodd:** From the Old English "dod," meaning "dweller."
88. **Donnelly:** From the Irish "Ó Donnchadha," meaning "descendant of Donnchadh."
89. **Douglas:** From the Gaelic "Dubh Ghlais," meaning "dark stream."
90. **Downey:** From the Irish "Ó Duibhne," meaning "descendant of Duibhne."
91. **Drake:** From the Old English "draca," meaning "dragon."
92. **Duncan:** From the Gaelic "Donnchadh," meaning "dark-haired warrior."
93. **Dunn:** From the Gaelic "Donn," meaning "brown."
94. **Dyer:** Occupational name for someone who dyes cloth.
95. **Edwards:** A variant spelling of Edmunds.
96. **Edmunds:** Son of Edmund, an Old English name meaning "wealthy protector."
97. **Edwards:** Son of Edward, an Old English name meaning "wealthy protector."
98. **Elliott:** From the Old English "eald," meaning "old" and "lot," meaning "land."
99. **Ellis:** From the Old English "ealles," meaning "all" or "entire."
100. **Emerson:** From the Old English "Emma" and "sunu," meaning "Emma's son."