Last Name: Native American Origins and Meanings

Are you curious about the origins and meanings of Native American last names? Many Native American families adopted surnames during the colonial period, often reflecting their heritage, environment, or personality traits. This comprehensive list explores a wide range of last names with Native American roots, providing insight into their cultural significance and the stories they tell. Explore the fascinating history behind these unique names and discover your own connection to Native American heritage.
1. **Abeyta**: "one who lives in a place of many trees"
2. **Acoma**: "people of the white rock"
3. **Aguilar**: "eagle"
4. **Alarcón**: "bear"
5. **Albuquerque**: "one who lives in a place of white oaks"
6. **Anderson**: "son of Andrew" (often adopted by Native Americans who converted to Christianity)
7. **Apache**: "enemy" or "warrior"
8. **Arroyo**: "creek" or "stream"
9. **Atchison**: "son of Atche" (a possible Native American ancestor)
10. **Baca**: "one who lives near a meadow"
11. **Baffert**: "one who lives near a ford"
12. **Baker**: "one who bakes bread" (often adopted by Native Americans who worked as bakers)
13. **Bear**: "powerful animal"
14. **Begay**: "one who lives near a spring"
15. **Black**: "dark color" (often adopted by Native Americans with dark skin)
16. **Blackbear**: "bear with black fur"
17. **Blue**: "sky color" (often adopted by Native Americans with blue eyes)
18. **Bluejay**: "bird with blue feathers"
19. **Bowman**: "one who shoots arrows"
20. **Brown**: "earth color" (often adopted by Native Americans with brown skin)
21. **Buffalo**: "large, powerful animal"
22. **Calderón**: "bald"
23. **Cano**: "boat"
24. **Carrillo**: "small cart"
25. **Castillo**: "castle"
26. **Chavez**: "key" or "door"
27. **Cheyenne**: "people of the red people"
28. **Cherokee**: "people of the high hills"
29. **Chief**: "leader of a tribe"
30. **Cloud**: "white fluffy mass in the sky"
31. **Cochise**: "the one who is fierce"
32. **Comanche**: "people of the enemy"
33. **Crow**: "bird with black feathers"
34. **Deer**: "four-legged animal with antlers"
35. **Delgado**: "thin" or "slender"
36. **Eagle**: "large bird of prey"
37. **Flores**: "flowers"
38. **Fox**: "small, cunning animal"
39. **Garcia**: "bear"
40. **Garza**: "crane"
41. **Gonzalez**: "son of Gonzalez"
42. **Grey**: "gray color"
43. **Hawk**: "bird of prey"
44. **Hernandez**: "son of Hernando"
45. **Hidalgo**: "son of the lord"
46. **Holbrook**: "hollow brook"
47. **Horse**: "four-legged animal used for riding"
48. **Johnson**: "son of John" (often adopted by Native Americans who converted to Christianity)
49. **Jones**: "son of John" (often adopted by Native Americans who converted to Christianity)
50. **Joseph**: "God will increase" (often adopted by Native Americans who converted to Christianity)
51. **LaDuke**: "the lake"
52. **Larkin**: "one who lives near a lark"
53. **Lopez**: "wolf"
54. **Luna**: "moon"
55. **Martinez**: "son of Martin"
56. **Maíz**: "corn"
57. **Marquez**: "one who lives near a market"
58. **McCloud**: "son of Cloud"
59. **McGuire**: "son of the warrior"
60. **Medicine**: "powerful healer"
61. **Mendoza**: "mountain"
62. **Mesa**: "table" or "plateau"
63. **Miguel**: "who is like God" (often adopted by Native Americans who converted to Christianity)
64. **Miller**: "one who grinds grain" (often adopted by Native Americans who worked as millers)
65. **Mohawk**: "people of the water"
66. **Montezuma**: "the one who is angry"
67. **Moore**: "moor" or "swamp"
68. **Morgan**: "sea warrior"
69. **Morris**: "dark-skinned"
70. **Mountain**: "large hill"
71. **Murphy**: "sea warrior"
72. **Navajo**: "people of the planted fields"
73. **Nelson**: "son of Neil" (often adopted by Native Americans who converted to Christianity)
74. **Newcomb**: "new comer"
75. **Noble**: "having high rank"
76. **Ochoa**: "eight"
77. **Oliver**: "olive tree" (often adopted by Native Americans who converted to Christianity)
78. **Osage**: "people of the east"
79. **Owens**: "son of Owen" (often adopted by Native Americans who converted to Christianity)
80. **Padilla**: "field"
81. **Parker**: "park keeper"
82. **Paul**: "small" (often adopted by Native Americans who converted to Christianity)
83. **Pecos**: "people of the river"
84. **Perez**: "priest"
85. **Phillips**: "son of Philip" (often adopted by Native Americans who converted to Christianity)
86. **Pine**: "evergreen tree"
87. **Powell**: "one who lives near a pond"
88. **Ramirez**: "son of Ramiro"
89. **Red**: "color of blood" (often adopted by Native Americans with red hair)
90. **Redbird**: "bird with red feathers"
91. **Reed**: "tall, slender grass"
92. **Rivera**: "river"
93. **Rodriguez**: "son of Rodrigo"
94. **Rogers**: "son of Roger" (often adopted by Native Americans who converted to Christianity)
95. **Romero**: "pilgrim"
96. **Rose**: "beautiful flower"
97. **Running**: "one who runs quickly"
98. **Sanchez**: "holy"
99. **Santacruz**: "holy cross"
100. **Santiago**: "Saint James" (often adopted by Native Americans who converted to Christianity)
101. **Savage**: "wild" or "untamed"
102. **Schultz**: "steward"
103. **Scott**: "from Scotland" (often adopted by Native Americans who had Scottish ancestors)
104. **Sea**: "large body of water"
105. **Sevier**: "wild"
106. **Shaw**: "wood" or "forest"
107. **Silver**: "precious metal"
108. **Smith**: "blacksmith" (often adopted by Native Americans who worked as blacksmiths)
109. **Snow**: "white precipitation"
110. **Soto**: "underwood"
111. **South**: "direction opposite north"
112. **Spring**: "source of water"
113. **Star**: "bright celestial body"
114. **Stevens**: "son of Stephen" (often adopted by Native Americans who converted to Christianity)
115. **Stewart**: "steward"
116. **Stone**: "hard, solid rock"
117. **Strong**: "powerful"
118. **Sun**: "bright star in the sky"
119. **Taylor**: "tailor" (often adopted by Native Americans who worked as tailors)
120. **Thunder**: "loud noise in the sky"
121. **Torres**: "towers"
122. **Tree**: "tall plant with a trunk and branches"
123. **Trujillo**: "truce"
124. **Tyler**: "tile maker"
125. **Valdez**: "valley"
126. **Vega**: "meadow"
127. **Velasquez**: "one who wears a veil"
128. **Vincent**: "conquering" (often adopted by Native Americans who converted to Christianity)
129. **Vine**: "climbing plant"
130. **Walker**: "one who walks"
131. **Wallace**: "from Wales" (often adopted by Native Americans who had Welsh ancestors)
132. **Walter**: "ruler of the army" (often adopted by Native Americans who converted to Christianity)
133. **Washington**: "dwelling place of the people of the water"
134. **Water**: "liquid that falls from the sky"
135. **White**: "light color" (often adopted by Native Americans with light skin)
136. **Williams**: "son of William" (often adopted by Native Americans who converted to Christianity)
137. **Wilson**: "son of Will" (often adopted by Native Americans who converted to Christianity)
138. **Wolf**: "wild animal that howls"
139. **Wood**: "material from trees"
140. **Wright**: "craftsman"