Character Last Names: A Guide to Meaningful Surnames

Looking for the perfect last name for your fictional character? Character last names are more than just identifiers; they can reveal a character's history, personality, and even their destiny. This comprehensive list explores a variety of last names, offering detailed meanings and inspirations to help you craft memorable and meaningful surnames for your characters.
1. **Abernathy:** From the Old English "æþer" (noble) and "denu" (valley), meaning "noble valley" or "valley of the noble."

2. **Ackerman:** Derived from the German "acker" (field) and "mann" (man), meaning "field man" or "man of the field."

3. **Adams:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Adam."

4. **Agatha:** Originating from the Greek "agathos" (good) and "angelos" (messenger), meaning "good messenger."

5. **Aldrich:** A combination of the Old English "eald" (old) and "ric" (powerful), meaning "old ruler" or "powerful ruler."

6. **Alexander:** Greek name meaning "defender of mankind."

7. **Allen:** Derived from the Old English "alh" (temple) and "denu" (valley), meaning "temple valley."

8. **Anderson:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Andrew."

9. **Andrews:** Another form of the patronymic surname "Anderson."

10. **Archer:** A surname that literally refers to someone who shoots with a bow and arrow.

11. **Armstrong:** An occupational surname derived from the Old English "arm" (weapon) and "streng" (strong), meaning "strong weapon."

12. **Arnold:** Germanic name meaning "strong ruler."

13. **Ashworth:** An occupational surname derived from the Old English "æsc" (ash tree) and "worþ" (enclosure), meaning "ash tree enclosure."

14. **Atwood:** An occupational surname derived from the Old English "æt" (at) and "wud" (wood), meaning "at the wood."

15. **Avery:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Alfred."

16. **Baker:** An occupational surname for someone who bakes bread.

17. **Baldwin:** A Germanic name meaning "bold friend."

18. **Barlow:** An occupational surname meaning "someone who lives in a barley field."

19. **Barnes:** An occupational surname derived from the Old English "bern" (barn) and "ærn" (house), meaning "barn house."

20. **Bartholomew:** A biblical name meaning "son of Talmai."

21. **Barton:** An occupational surname derived from the Old English "beor" (barley) and "tun" (town), meaning "barley town."

22. **Bates:** A surname meaning "son of Bate."

23. **Beckett:** An occupational surname meaning "someone who lives near a brook."

24. **Bell:** An occupational surname for someone who makes bells.

25. **Bennett:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Benedict."

26. **Bentley:** An occupational surname derived from the Old English "bent" (meadow) and "lēah" (wood), meaning "meadow wood."

27. **Blackwood:** A surname that refers to a place with a black forest.

28. **Blake:** Derived from the Old English "blæc" (black), meaning "black."

29. **Bloom:** A surname referring to a place with many flowers.

30. **Bolton:** An occupational surname meaning "someone who lives in a building with a bolt."

31. **Bond:** An occupational surname for someone who works with bonds.

32. **Booth:** An occupational surname for someone who lives in a booth.

33. **Bowman:** An occupational surname for someone who makes bows.

34. **Boyd:** A Scottish surname meaning "yellow" or "fair."

35. **Bradford:** An occupational surname meaning "someone who lives near a broad ford."

36. **Brooks:** A surname referring to a place near a brook.

37. **Brown:** A surname derived from the Old English "brūn" (brown), meaning "brown."

38. **Bryant:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Brian."

39. **Burton:** An occupational surname meaning "someone who lives in a fort."

40. **Bush:** A surname referring to a place with a bush.

41. **Butler:** An occupational surname for a servant or steward.

42. **Byrd:** An occupational surname for someone who hunts birds.

43. **Callahan:** An Irish surname meaning "handsome."

44. **Cameron:** A Scottish surname meaning "crooked nose."

45. **Campbell:** A Scottish surname meaning "bent mouth."

46. **Cannon:** An occupational surname for someone who makes cannons.

47. **Carlisle:** A place name in England, meaning "fortified settlement."

48. **Carpenter:** An occupational surname for someone who builds with wood.

49. **Carter:** An occupational surname for someone who transports goods by cart.

50. **Casey:** An Irish surname meaning "vigilant."

51. **Castillo:** Spanish surname meaning "castle."

52. **Chandler:** An occupational surname for someone who makes candles.

53. **Chapman:** An occupational surname for someone who buys and sells goods.

54. **Charles:** A German name meaning "free man."

55. **Chase:** An occupational surname for someone who hunts game.

56. **Chen:** A Chinese surname meaning "to look at."

57. **Clark:** An occupational surname for someone who writes or is a scribe.

58. **Clayton:** A surname derived from the Old English "clæ" (clay) and "tun" (town), meaning "clay town."

59. **Cleveland:** A place name in England, meaning "cliff by the wood."

60. **Cline:** A surname derived from the Old English "clīf" (cliff), meaning "cliff."

61. **Collins:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Colin."

62. **Cooper:** An occupational surname for someone who makes barrels or casks.

63. **Crane:** A surname referring to a bird.

64. **Crawford:** A Scottish surname meaning "settlement at the ford."

65. **Cross:** A surname referring to a cross.

66. **Curtis:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Kurt."

67. **Daley:** An Irish surname meaning "son of Dálaigh."

68. **Dalton:** An occupational surname derived from the Old English "dæl" (dale) and "tun" (town), meaning "dale town."

69. **Daniel:** A Hebrew name meaning "God is my judge."

70. **Davis:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of David."

71. **Dawson:** An occupational surname derived from the Old English "dæge" (day) and "sōn" (son), meaning "son of the day."

72. **Dean:** A surname referring to a valley or meadow.

73. **Delgado:** A Spanish surname meaning "thin" or "slender."

74. **Dennis:** A Greek name meaning "god of wine."

75. **Diaz:** A Spanish surname meaning "day."

76. **Dixon:** An occupational surname derived from the Old English "dix" (dike) and "tun" (town), meaning "dike town."

77. **Dodson:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Dodd."

78. **Dolan:** An Irish surname meaning "son of Dolan."

79. **Donahue:** An Irish surname meaning "brown warrior."

80. **Donovan:** An Irish surname meaning "dark warrior."

81. **Douglas:** A Scottish surname meaning "black water."

82. **Downey:** An Irish surname meaning "son of Donnchadh."

83. **Drake:** A surname referring to a drake (male duck).

84. **Drayton:** An occupational surname derived from the Old English "drēah" (dreary) and "tun" (town), meaning "dreary town."

85. **Duncan:** A Scottish surname meaning "brown warrior."

86. **Dunn:** An Irish surname meaning "brown."

87. **Edwards:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Edward."

88. **Ellis:** A surname meaning "son of Elias."

89. **Emerson:** A surname meaning "son of Emery."

90. **Evans:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Evan."

91. **Everett:** A Germanic name meaning "strong boar."

92. **Fairchild:** A surname meaning "beautiful child."

93. **Farrell:** An Irish surname meaning "brave."

94. **Faulkner:** An occupational surname for someone who cuts down trees.

95. **Ferguson:** A Scottish surname meaning "son of Fergus."

96. **Fernandez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Fernando."

97. **Fields:** A surname referring to a place with fields.

98. **Fisher:** An occupational surname for someone who catches fish.

99. **Fitzgerald:** An Irish surname meaning "son of Gerald."

100. **Fitzpatrick:** An Irish surname meaning "son of Patrick."