Last Names Starting with P: A Comprehensive Guide

Looking for a unique and meaningful last name that starts with the letter P? This comprehensive guide provides over 40 last names, each with their origins and detailed meanings. From classic surnames like Parker to more unusual names like Percival, this list has something for everyone. Whether you're searching for a name with a strong history or simply want a name that sounds elegant and sophisticated, you'll find inspiration within this collection.
1. **Page:** From Old French "page," meaning "boy" or "servant." It often referred to a young nobleman serving in the court of a king or lord.
2. **Palmer:** Derived from the Old French "palmer," meaning "pilgrim," specifically one who had returned from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
3. **Parker:** From the Old English "parc," meaning "enclosure" or "park," referring to someone who lived near or worked in a park.
4. **Parsons:** An occupational name for a clergyman or rector of a parish, derived from the Old French "person."
5. **Patterson:** An anglicized form of the Scottish name "Paterson," which means "son of Patrick."
6. **Payne:** From the Old French "paien," meaning "pagan," possibly referring to someone who was a non-Christian.
7. **Pearson:** An occupational name for someone who was a parson or priest, derived from the Old English "person."
8. **Peck:** An occupational name for someone who worked as a baker or a miller, possibly referring to someone who measured grain.
9. **Pendleton:** A place name of English origin, meaning "hill" or "ridge."
10. **Pennington:** A place name derived from the Old English "pen," meaning "headland," and "tun," meaning "farm" or "settlement."
11. **Percy:** Derived from the Norman French "Percy," a place name in Normandy.
12. **Perkins:** An anglicized form of the Welsh name "Peris," meaning "son of Peris."
13. **Perry:** From the Old French "perrier," meaning "stone," likely referring to someone who lived near a rocky area.
14. **Peters:** A patronymic name meaning "son of Peter," derived from the Greek name "Petros," meaning "stone."
15. **Phillips:** An anglicized form of the Greek name "Philippus," meaning "lover of horses."
16. **Pickett:** From the Old English "pic," meaning "pike" or "spear," suggesting an occupational name for someone who made or used such weapons.
17. **Pierce:** From the Old French "Pierre," meaning "stone," likely referring to someone who lived near a rocky area.
18. **Pike:** An occupational name for someone who fished for pike, a type of freshwater fish.
19. **Piper:** An occupational name for a musician who played a pipe, often a bagpipe.
20. **Pitt:** From the Old English "pit," meaning "hole" or "pit," likely referring to someone who lived near a pit or quarry.
21. **Platt:** A place name of English origin, meaning "flat" or "level ground."
22. **Plowman:** An occupational name for someone who plowed land, derived from the Old English "plough."
23. **Poindexter:** A place name of English origin, derived from the Old English "poinder," meaning "pounder," and "tun," meaning "farm" or "settlement."
24. **Pollard:** From the Old English "poll," meaning "head," possibly referring to someone with a bald head.
25. **Porter:** An occupational name for someone who carried or transported goods, derived from the Old French "porter."
26. **Powell:** An anglicized form of the Welsh name "Ap Hywel," meaning "son of Hywel."
27. **Powers:** An occupational name for someone who worked in a powerful position, possibly a judge or official.
28. **Pratt:** From the Old English "præt," meaning "proud" or "brave," possibly referring to someone with a strong personality.
29. **Price:** An occupational name for someone who paid for goods or services, derived from the Old French "prix."
30. **Priest:** An occupational name for a clergyman or priest, derived from the Old French "prêtre."
31. **Prince:** From the Latin "princeps," meaning "chief" or "leader," originally referring to a ruler or nobleman.
32. **Proctor:** From the Old French "procureur," meaning "procurator" or "agent," referring to someone who acted as a legal representative or official.
33. **Pruitt:** An anglicized form of the French name "Pruett," meaning "proud" or "brave."
34. **Pryor:** From the Old French "prieur," meaning "prior" or "superior," referring to the head of a monastic house.
35. **Puckett:** A place name of English origin, likely derived from the Old English "puc," meaning "goblin" or "demon."
36. **Purcell:** An anglicized form of the Irish name "Ó Muircheallaigh," meaning "descendant of Muircheallach."
37. **Purdy:** From the Old English "pure," meaning "pure" or "clean," likely referring to someone who lived near a clean spring or stream.
38. **Putnam:** A place name of English origin, derived from the Old English "putte," meaning "pit" or "well," and "ham," meaning "home" or "farm."
39. **Pyatt:** A variant spelling of the name "Piatt," which is derived from the Old French "pied," meaning "foot."
40. **Pyles:** A variant spelling of the name "Piles," which is derived from the Old English "pile," meaning "heap" or "pile."