Last Names in the Middle Ages: Origins and Meanings

Discovering the fascinating world of last names in the Middle Ages is a journey through history, culture, and individual identity. During this period, surnames evolved from simple descriptive terms to more complex hereditary markers, reflecting the changing social landscape and the increasing need for individual identification. Exploring these medieval last names offers a window into the lives, occupations, and locations of those who lived centuries ago.
1. **Atkinson:** Son of Atkin, a common name derived from "Aethel" meaning noble, and "kin" meaning offspring.
2. **Baker:** A baker, someone who makes bread.
3. **Barber:** A barber, someone who cuts hair and shaves.
4. **Barlow:** Derived from "bar" meaning hill and "low" meaning meadow.
5. **Bartlett:** A diminutive of Bartholomew, meaning "son of Talmai".
6. **Bates:** A place name referring to a house or homestead.
7. **Bell:** Derived from the word "bell" and likely referred to someone who made or worked with bells.
8. **Bennett:** Meaning "blessed" or "good" in Old French.
9. **Bishop:** A person who holds the highest office in a diocese of the Christian Church.
10. **Black:** A descriptive name, likely referring to someone with dark hair or complexion.
11. **Blake:** Derived from "blac" meaning black, likely referring to someone with dark hair or complexion.
12. **Bloom:** Derived from the word "bloom", likely referring to someone who lived near flowering plants or a beautiful meadow.
13. **Boothe:** A place name referring to a small shelter or booth.
14. **Bowman:** Someone who makes or uses bows and arrows.
15. **Bradley:** Derived from "broad" meaning wide and "leah" meaning meadow.
16. **Brown:** A descriptive name, likely referring to someone with brown hair or complexion.
17. **Butler:** A servant, particularly one responsible for the wine cellar.
18. **Carpenter:** Someone who works with wood.
19. **Carter:** A person who transports goods by cart.
20. **Chandler:** Someone who makes or sells candles.
21. **Chapman:** A merchant, someone who buys and sells goods.
22. **Clark:** A scribe, someone who writes.
23. **Clayton:** Derived from "clay" meaning clay and "ton" meaning town.
24. **Clemens:** Meaning "merciful" or "kind" in Latin.
25. **Cobb:** A descriptive name, likely referring to someone who worked with cobs of corn.
26. **Cole:** Meaning "coal" or "black" in Old English.
27. **Collins:** Meaning "son of Colin", a name meaning "young wolf".
28. **Cook:** Someone who prepares food.
29. **Cooper:** Someone who makes or repairs barrels and casks.
30. **Cox:** A diminutive of the name "Coxton" meaning "dwelling near a river".
31. **Crawford:** Derived from "croft" meaning a small field and "ford" meaning a river crossing.
32. **Curtis:** Meaning "courteous" or "polite" in Old French.
33. **Davis:** Meaning "son of David", a name meaning "beloved".
34. **Denton:** Derived from "dene" meaning valley and "ton" meaning town.
35. **Dixon:** Meaning "son of Dickon", a nickname for Richard.
36. **Douglas:** Derived from "dubh" meaning dark and "glas" meaning stream.
37. **Edwards:** Meaning "son of Edward", a name meaning "rich guardian".
38. **Ellis:** Meaning "charity" or "benevolence".
39. **Evans:** Meaning "son of Evan", a name meaning "young warrior".
40. **Farmer:** Someone who works on a farm.
41. **Fisher:** Someone who catches fish.
42. **Fletcher:** Someone who makes arrows.
43. **Ford:** A place name referring to a river crossing.
44. **Foster:** A descriptive name, likely referring to someone who cared for others.
45. **Fowler:** Someone who hunts birds.
46. **Franklin:** A freeholder, someone who owned land.
47. **Freeman:** Someone who was free from feudal obligations.
48. **French:** Someone from France.
49. **Gardner:** Someone who tends a garden.
50. **Garrett:** A variation of the name "Gerald" meaning "spear ruler".
51. **Giles:** Meaning "kid" or "goat".
52. **Gill:** Derived from "gild" meaning gold, possibly referring to a goldsmith.
53. **Godfrey:** Meaning "peace of God" in Old French.
54. **Goldsmith:** Someone who works with gold.
55. **Graham:** Derived from "grey" meaning gray and "ham" meaning homestead.
56. **Grant:** Meaning "great" or "big" in Old French.
57. **Green:** A descriptive name, likely referring to someone who lived near a green field.
58. **Grey:** A descriptive name, likely referring to someone with gray hair or complexion.
59. **Griffin:** Derived from the mythical creature, a griffin.
60. **Hall:** A place name referring to a large house or hall.
61. **Hamilton:** Derived from "ham" meaning homestead and "ton" meaning town.
62. **Harrison:** Meaning "son of Harry", a nickname for Henry.
63. **Harvey:** Derived from "har" meaning army and "vig" meaning warrior.
64. **Hawkins:** Meaning "son of Hawk", a nickname for someone who was a good hunter.
65. **Hayward:** Someone who looked after fences and hedges.
66. **Heath:** A place name referring to an open area of land.
67. **Henderson:** Meaning "son of Henry".
68. **Herbert:** Meaning "bright army" in Old German.
69. **Hewitt:** Meaning "son of Hugh", a name meaning "heart" or "mind".
70. **Higgins:** Meaning "son of Hugh", a name meaning "heart" or "mind".
71. **Hill:** A place name referring to a hill or mound.
72. **Hobbs:** A nickname for Robert, meaning "bright fame".
73. **Hodges:** Meaning "son of Hodge", a nickname for Roger.
74. **Hoffman:** Meaning "courtman" or "landowner" in German.
75. **Holbrook:** Derived from "hole" meaning hollow and "brook" meaning stream.
76. **Holmes:** Meaning "hollow" or "valley".
77. **Howard:** Meaning "brave guard" or "watchman" in Old English.
78. **Hughes:** Meaning "son of Hugh", a name meaning "heart" or "mind".
79. **Hunter:** Someone who hunts animals.
80. **Jackson:** Meaning "son of Jack", a nickname for John.
81. **James:** Meaning "supplanter" or "he who takes the place of another".
82. **Jenkins:** Meaning "son of Jenkin", a nickname for John.
83. **Johnson:** Meaning "son of John".
84. **Jones:** Meaning "son of John".
85. **Jordan:** A place name referring to the River Jordan.
86. **Joyce:** Meaning "joyful" or "merry" in Old French.
87. **Kay:** Meaning "gatekeeper" in Old English.
88. **Keller:** Meaning "cellar" in German.
89. **Kelly:** Derived from "ceallach" meaning "warlike" in Gaelic.
90. **Kennedy:** Meaning "fiery head" in Gaelic.
91. **Kent:** A place name referring to the county of Kent in England.
92. **King:** Someone who rules a kingdom.
93. **Knight:** A mounted warrior.
94. **Knox:** Meaning "hill" or "knoll" in Gaelic.
95. **Lawrence:** Meaning "laurel" or "crowned with laurel" in Latin.
96. **Lee:** A place name referring to a meadow or clearing.
97. **Lewis:** Meaning "famous warrior" in French.
98. **Lincoln:** A place name referring to the city of Lincoln in England.
99. **Lloyd:** Meaning "grey" or "dark" in Welsh.
100. **Logan:** Meaning "little hollow" in Gaelic.