Good Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide

Looking for a unique and meaningful last name? Whether you're writing a character for a story, exploring your family history, or simply curious about interesting surnames, this guide will provide you with a comprehensive list of good last names along with their detailed meanings. From classic and elegant to rare and whimsical, we've compiled a diverse selection to inspire your imagination.
1. **Abernathy:** From the Old English "æþel" meaning "noble" and "byrht" meaning "bright."
2. **Ackerman:** From the German "acker" meaning "field" and "mann" meaning "man," signifying someone who worked the land.
3. **Adams:** From the Hebrew "adam" meaning "man" or "earth."
4. **Addison:** From the English "add" meaning "at" and "dun" meaning "hill," indicating a place of residence.
5. **Agnew:** From the Gaelic "àgh" meaning "field" and "fhaoin" meaning "white."
6. **Ainsworth:** From the Old English "eald" meaning "old" and "worth" meaning "farm."
7. **Alexander:** From the Greek "alexandros" meaning "defender of men."
8. **Allen:** From the Old English "eald" meaning "old" and "lean" meaning "meadow."
9. **Anderson:** From the Old English "and" meaning "man" and "sunu" meaning "son," meaning "son of Andrew."
10. **Andrews:** From the Greek "andreas" meaning "manly" or "courageous."
11. **Armstrong:** From the Old English "arm" meaning "arm" and "streng" meaning "strong."
12. **Arnold:** From the Germanic "arn" meaning "eagle" and "wald" meaning "ruler."
13. **Ashworth:** From the Old English "asc" meaning "ash tree" and "worth" meaning "farm."
14. **Atkinson:** From the Old English "æt" meaning "at" and "kin" meaning "family," meaning "descendant of At."
15. **Austin:** From the Latin "augustus" meaning "majestic" or "venerable."
16. **Bailey:** From the Old English "baile" meaning "bailiff" or "estate manager."
17. **Baker:** An occupational name for someone who baked bread.
18. **Baldwin:** From the Germanic "bald" meaning "bold" and "win" meaning "friend."
19. **Ballard:** From the Old French "bal" meaning "ball" or "round object."
20. **Barber:** An occupational name for someone who cut hair.
21. **Barlow:** From the Old English "bearu" meaning "wood" and "hlāw" meaning "hill."
22. **Barnes:** From the Old English "beorn" meaning "man" and "earnas" meaning "eagle."
23. **Barrett:** From the Old English "bere" meaning "barley" and "ric" meaning "powerful."
24. **Barton:** From the Old English "beorht" meaning "bright" and "tūn" meaning "farm."
25. **Bates:** From the Old English "bætan" meaning "to improve" or "make better."
26. **Baxter:** From the Old English "bæcere" meaning "baker."
27. **Bell:** From the Old English "belle" meaning "beautiful" or "handsome."
28. **Bennett:** From the Old English "beon" meaning "be" and "nett" meaning "net," meaning "one who makes nets."
29. **Benson:** From the Old English "beon" meaning "be" and "sunu" meaning "son."
30. **Bentley:** From the Old English "bent" meaning "bent" or "curved" and "lēah" meaning "meadow."
31. **Bernard:** From the Germanic "ber" meaning "bear" and "hard" meaning "strong."
32. **Berry:** From the Old English "bere" meaning "barley" or "grain."
33. **Black:** From the Old English "blæc" meaning "black."
34. **Blake:** From the Old English "blæc" meaning "black."
35. **Bloom:** From the Old English "blōma" meaning "flower."
36. **Boone:** From the Old English "bōna" meaning "prayer" or "petition."
37. **Bowman:** An occupational name for someone who made or used bows and arrows.
38. **Boyd:** From the Gaelic "bóid" meaning "brave" or "strong."
39. **Bradley:** From the Old English "brad" meaning "broad" and "lēah" meaning "meadow."
40. **Brooks:** From the Old English "brōc" meaning "brook" or "stream."