Jamaican Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide

Discover the rich heritage and cultural significance behind Jamaican last names. This comprehensive guide explores the diverse origins and meanings of these unique surnames, providing insights into the island's history and the people who shaped its identity. From African roots to European influences, delve into the fascinating stories behind Jamaican family names and uncover the deep connections they hold to the island's vibrant past.
1. **Anderson:** A patronymic surname, meaning "son of Andrew," derived from the Greek name Andreas, meaning "manly" or "courageous."
2. **Archer:** A surname denoting someone who was a bowman or arrow maker.
3. **Ashley:** A surname of English origin, meaning "ash tree meadow."
4. **Augustus:** A surname derived from the Roman emperor Augustus, meaning "venerable" or "majestic."
5. **Bailey:** A surname of English origin, meaning "bailiff" or "steward," indicating someone who held a position of authority.
6. **Barnes:** A surname meaning "son of Barnaby," a Christian name derived from the Hebrew word "bar-nabi," meaning "son of the prophet."
7. **Bell:** A surname that originated from the occupation of a bell maker or bell ringer.
8. **Bennett:** A surname of English origin, meaning "little son" or "blessed son."
9. **Blake:** A surname of English origin, meaning "black" or "dark," possibly referring to someone with dark hair or complexion.
10. **Brown:** A surname of English origin, meaning "dark complexion" or "brown hair."
11. **Campbell:** A surname of Scottish origin, meaning "crooked mouth" or "mouth of the field."
12. **Carmichael:** A surname of Scottish origin, meaning "love's chariot."
13. **Charles:** A surname of French origin, meaning "free man" or "man of the people."
14. **Clarke:** A surname of English origin, meaning "scribe" or "secretary," derived from the Latin word "clericus."
15. **Cole:** A surname of English origin, meaning "coal merchant" or "charcoal burner."
16. **Collins:** A surname meaning "son of Colin," a variant of the name Nicholas, meaning "victory of the people."
17. **Cooper:** A surname of English origin, meaning "barrel maker."
18. **Cox:** A surname of English origin, meaning "cook."
19. **Davidson:** A surname meaning "son of David," a biblical name meaning "beloved."
20. **Davis:** A surname meaning "son of David," a biblical name meaning "beloved."
21. **Edwards:** A surname meaning "son of Edward," a name of English origin meaning "wealthy guardian."
22. **Evans:** A surname meaning "son of Evan," a Welsh name meaning "the Lord is gracious."
23. **Fernandez:** A surname of Spanish origin, meaning "son of Fernando," meaning "brave adventurer."
24. **Fisher:** A surname of English origin, meaning "fisherman."
25. **Forbes:** A surname of Scottish origin, meaning "hill of the fox."
26. **Francis:** A surname of French origin, meaning "free man" or "man of the people."
27. **Garcia:** A surname of Spanish origin, meaning "bear."
28. **Garner:** A surname of English origin, meaning "grain storehouse."
29. **George:** A surname derived from the Greek name Georgios, meaning "farmer" or "earth worker."
30. **Gibson:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Gilbert," meaning "bright pledge."
31. **Gordon:** A surname of Scottish origin, meaning "great valley."
32. **Graham:** A surname of Scottish origin, meaning "gravelly" or "sandy."
33. **Grant:** A surname of Scottish origin, meaning "great" or "big."
34. **Gray:** A surname of English origin, meaning "grey" or "silver."
35. **Green:** A surname of English origin, meaning "green" or "green meadow."
36. **Hall:** A surname of English origin, meaning "dwelling."
37. **Hamilton:** A surname of Scottish origin, meaning "settlement on the high ground."
38. **Harris:** A surname of Hebrew origin, meaning "watchful" or "vigilant."
39. **Harrison:** A surname meaning "son of Harry," a common name of English origin, meaning "home ruler."
40. **Harvey:** A surname of English origin, meaning "battle warrior" or "strong as a boar."
41. **Hawkins:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Hawk."
42. **Henderson:** A surname meaning "son of Henry," a name of German origin meaning "ruler of the home."
43. **Henry:** A surname of German origin, meaning "ruler of the home."
44. **Hill:** A surname of English origin, meaning "someone who lives on a hill."
45. **Holmes:** A surname of English origin, meaning "hollow" or "valley."
46. **Howard:** A surname of English origin, meaning "brave guardian."
47. **Hughes:** A surname of Welsh origin, meaning "son of Hugh," meaning "mind" or "heart."
48. **Hunter:** A surname denoting someone who hunted animals for a living.
49. **Jackson:** A surname meaning "son of Jack," a common name of English origin meaning "God is gracious."
50. **James:** A surname derived from the Hebrew name Jacob, meaning "supplanter" or "he who takes by the heel."
51. **Jenkins:** A surname meaning "son of Jenkin," a variant of the name John, meaning "God is gracious."
52. **Johnson:** A surname meaning "son of John," a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious."
53. **Jones:** A surname meaning "son of John," a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious."
54. **Kelly:** A surname of Irish origin, meaning "bright-haired."
55. **Kennedy:** A surname of Irish origin, meaning "fiery-headed."
56. **King:** A surname of English origin, meaning "ruler."
57. **Knight:** A surname of English origin, meaning "mounted warrior."
58. **Lawrence:** A surname of Latin origin, meaning "laurel tree" or "one who comes from Laurentum."
59. **Lee:** A surname of English origin, meaning "clearing in the forest."
60. **Lewis:** A surname of German origin, meaning "famous warrior."
61. **Lindsay:** A surname of Scottish origin, meaning "beautiful isle."
62. **Lloyd:** A surname of Welsh origin, meaning "grey wolf" or "grey hair."
63. **Logan:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "little hollow" or "small cave."
64. **Long:** A surname of English origin, meaning "someone who is tall."
65. **Lopez:** A surname of Spanish origin, meaning "wolf."
66. **MacDonald:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "son of Donald," meaning "world ruler."
67. **Malcolm:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "devotee of Saint Columba."
68. **Martin:** A surname derived from the Latin name Martianus, meaning "warlike."
69. **Mason:** A surname of English origin, meaning "stone cutter" or "builder."
70. **Matthews:** A surname meaning "son of Matthew," a name of Hebrew origin meaning "gift of God."
71. **May:** A surname of English origin, meaning "powerful" or "great."
72. **McDonald:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "son of Donald," meaning "world ruler."
73. **McIntosh:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "son of Angus," meaning "one-horseman."
74. **Miller:** A surname of English origin, meaning "someone who grinds grain."
75. **Mitchell:** A surname meaning "son of Michael," a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?"
76. **Moore:** A surname of English origin, meaning "moor" or "marshland."
77. **Morgan:** A surname of Welsh origin, meaning "sea warrior."
78. **Morris:** A surname of Welsh origin, meaning "sea warrior."
79. **Murphy:** A surname of Irish origin, meaning "sea warrior" or "sea defender."
80. **Murray:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "sea warrior."
81. **Nelson:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Neil," meaning "champion."
82. **Newman:** A surname meaning "new man," possibly referring to someone who was newly arrived or a convert to Christianity.
83. **Nichols:** A surname meaning "son of Nicholas," a name of Greek origin meaning "victory of the people."
84. **Norman:** A surname of French origin, meaning "northern man."
85. **Oliver:** A surname of French origin, meaning "olive tree."
86. **Parker:** A surname of English origin, meaning "park keeper."
87. **Patterson:** A surname meaning "son of Patrick," a name of Latin origin meaning "nobleman" or "patrician."
88. **Payne:** A surname of French origin, meaning "baker."
89. **Perez:** A surname of Spanish origin, meaning "wanderer."
90. **Phillips:** A surname meaning "son of Philip," a name of Greek origin meaning "lover of horses."
91. **Porter:** A surname of English origin, meaning "gatekeeper" or "doorkeeper."
92. **Powell:** A surname of Welsh origin, meaning "son of Howell," meaning "healthy" or "whole."
93. **Price:** A surname of Welsh origin, meaning "priest."
94. **Reid:** A surname of Scottish origin, meaning "red" or "ruddy complexion."
95. **Reynolds:** A surname meaning "son of Reginald," a name of German origin meaning "kingly advisor."
96. **Richardson:** A surname meaning "son of Richard," a name of Germanic origin meaning "powerful ruler."
97. **Roberts:** A surname meaning "son of Robert," a name of Germanic origin meaning "bright fame."
98. **Robinson:** A surname meaning "son of Robin," a shortened form of the name Robert, meaning "bright fame."
99. **Rodgers:** A surname meaning "son of Roger," a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame spear."
100. **Rogers:** A surname meaning "son of Roger," a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame spear."
101. **Ross:** A surname of Scottish origin, meaning "headland" or "promontory."
102. **Russell:** A surname of French origin, meaning "red."
103. **Ryan:** A surname of Irish origin, meaning "little king."
104. **Sanders:** A surname meaning "son of Alexander," a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of mankind."
105. **Scott:** A surname of Scottish origin, meaning "Scottish" or "from Scotland."
106. **Sealy:** A surname of English origin, meaning "someone who lives by a willow tree."
107. **Shaw:** A surname of English origin, meaning "wood" or "grove."
108. **Shepherd:** A surname denoting someone who cared for sheep.
109. **Simmons:** A surname meaning "son of Simon," a name of Hebrew origin meaning "listener" or "hearing."
110. **Smith:** A surname of English origin, meaning "blacksmith" or "metalworker."
111. **Stewart:** A surname of Scottish origin, meaning "steward" or "manager."
112. **Stone:** A surname of English origin, meaning "someone who lives near stones" or "a stone mason."
113. **Taylor:** A surname of English origin, meaning "tailor."
114. **Thomas:** A surname derived from the Aramaic name "T'oma," meaning "twin."
115. **Thompson:** A surname meaning "son of Thomas," a name of Aramaic origin meaning "twin."
116. **Turner:** A surname of English origin, meaning "someone who turns wood" or "a wood turner."
117. **Walker:** A surname denoting someone who walked or traveled on foot.
118. **Wallace:** A surname of Scottish origin, meaning "Welshman."
119. **Walter:** A surname of German origin, meaning "ruler of the army."
120. **Ward:** A surname of English origin, meaning "guard" or "keeper."
121. **Watson:** A surname meaning "son of Walter," a name of German origin meaning "ruler of the army."
122. **Williams:** A surname meaning "son of William," a name of German origin meaning "resolute protector" or "helmet of will."
123. **Wilson:** A surname meaning "son of William," a name of German origin meaning "resolute protector" or "helmet of will."
124. **Wright:** A surname of English origin, meaning "craftsman" or "wright."
125. **Young:** A surname of English origin, meaning "youthful" or "young."