Last Names from Europe: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Origins and Meanings

Discovering the origins and meanings of last names from Europe can be a fascinating journey into history and culture. These names, often passed down through generations, offer insights into family lineage, geographical roots, and even ancestral occupations. From the rolling hills of Ireland to the bustling cities of Italy, European last names are rich in stories waiting to be uncovered.
1. **Anderson:** Son of Andrew, a common name derived from the Greek name Andreas, meaning "manly" or "strong."
2. **Arnold:** Meaning "powerful ruler" or "eagle power," derived from the Germanic words "arn" (eagle) and "wald" (rule).
3. **Bailey:** Derived from the Old French word "bailli," meaning "bailiff" or "official."
4. **Baker:** A common occupational name, indicating someone who bakes bread or other goods.
5. **Barnett:** Meaning "little bear," derived from the Old English words "beorn" (bear) and "heard" (strong).
6. **Bell:** A name that originally described someone who made or worked with bells.
7. **Bennett:** A variant of Benedict, meaning "blessed" or "holy" in Latin.
8. **Bishop:** A name indicating someone who holds the position of a bishop in the church.
9. **Black:** A descriptive name referring to someone with dark hair or complexion.
10. **Blake:** Meaning "black" or "dark," derived from the Old English word "blac."
11. **Bloom:** A name associated with flowers and blossoming, derived from the Middle English word "bloom."
12. **Boone:** Meaning "messenger" or "herald," derived from the Old French word "bonne."
13. **Brown:** A descriptive name referring to someone with brown hair or complexion.
14. **Burke:** Meaning "strong" or "fierce," derived from the Irish Gaelic word "borg."
15. **Butler:** A name referring to someone who serves as a steward or butler in a household.
16. **Campbell:** Meaning "crooked mouth" or "distorted mouth," derived from the Scottish Gaelic words "cam" (crooked) and "beul" (mouth).
17. **Carter:** An occupational name indicating someone who transports goods by cart.
18. **Casey:** Meaning "vigilant" or "watchful," derived from the Irish Gaelic word "casóg."
19. **Chapman:** An occupational name indicating someone who buys and sells goods, a merchant.
20. **Clark:** Meaning "scribe" or "secretary," derived from the Old English word "clerc."
21. **Collins:** Meaning "son of Colin," derived from the French name Nicolas, meaning "victory of the people."
22. **Cooper:** An occupational name referring to someone who makes barrels or casks.
23. **Cox:** A variant of "Coke," meaning "cook," derived from the Old French word "cuic."
24. **Crawford:** Meaning "crow's ford," derived from the Old English words "crawe" (crow) and "ford" (crossing).
25. **Davis:** Meaning "son of David," a popular name derived from the Hebrew word "david," meaning "beloved."
26. **Edwards:** Meaning "wealthy guardian," derived from the Old English words "ead" (wealth) and "weard" (guardian).
27. **Evans:** Meaning "son of Evan," a Welsh name meaning "young warrior."
28. **Fisher:** An occupational name referring to someone who catches fish.
29. **Foster:** Meaning "one who feeds," derived from the Old French word "fostre."
30. **Fox:** A descriptive name referring to someone with red hair or a cunning personality.
31. **Franklin:** Meaning "free landowner," derived from the Old French word "franc."
32. **Gardner:** An occupational name referring to someone who works in a garden or cultivates land.
33. **Garrett:** Meaning "spear ruler," derived from the Germanic words "geri" (spear) and "hart" (ruler).
34. **Gibson:** Meaning "son of Gilbert," a name derived from the Germanic words "gisa" (hostage) and "berht" (bright).
35. **Gill:** Meaning "servant" or "young man," derived from the Old English word "gyl."
36. **Gonzalez:** Meaning "son of Gonzalo," a Spanish name meaning "warlike."
37. **Graham:** Meaning "gravelly" or "sandy," derived from the Old English word "gram."
38. **Green:** A descriptive name referring to someone with green hair or associated with nature.
39. **Griffin:** Meaning "strong lord," derived from the Welsh word "gryphon," a mythical creature.
40. **Hall:** A name referring to someone who lives near or in a large house or hall.
41. **Harris:** Meaning "son of Harry," a name derived from the Germanic word "hari," meaning "army."
42. **Harrison:** Meaning "son of Harry," a name indicating a descendant of someone named Harry.
43. **Hart:** Meaning "stag" or "deer," derived from the Old English word "heorot."
44. **Harvey:** Meaning "battle warrior," derived from the Germanic words "hari" (army) and "weor" (warrior).
45. **Hawkins:** Meaning "son of Hawk," a name derived from the Old English word "hafoc" (hawk).
46. **Hayes:** Meaning "hedge," derived from the Old English word "haga."
47. **Henderson:** Meaning "son of Henry," a popular name derived from the Germanic word "heimrich," meaning "ruler of the home."
48. **Henry:** Meaning "ruler of the home," derived from the Germanic word "heimrich."
49. **Hernandez:** Meaning "son of Hernando," a Spanish name meaning "brave" or "strong."
50. **Hill:** A name referring to someone who lives near or on a hill.
51. **Holmes:** Meaning "hollow" or "valley," derived from the Old English word "holm."
52. **Howard:** Meaning "brave guardian," derived from the Germanic words "hug" (mind) and "weard" (guardian).
53. **Hughes:** Meaning "son of Hugh," a name derived from the Germanic word "hugo," meaning "mind" or "heart."
54. **Hunter:** An occupational name referring to someone who hunts animals.
55. **Jackson:** Meaning "son of Jack," a common name derived from the Hebrew name Jacob, meaning "supplanter."
56. **James:** Meaning "supplanter" or "he who takes by the heel," derived from the Hebrew name Jacob.
57. **Jenkins:** Meaning "son of Jenkin," a diminutive form of John, meaning "God is gracious."
58. **Johnson:** Meaning "son of John," a common name derived from the Hebrew name John, meaning "God is gracious."
59. **Jones:** Meaning "son of John," a common name derived from the Hebrew name John, meaning "God is gracious."
60. **Jordan:** Meaning "to flow down" or "descendant of Jordan," a river mentioned in the Bible.
61. **Kelly:** Meaning "bright" or "beautiful," derived from the Irish Gaelic word "ceallach."
62. **Kennedy:** Meaning "head of the race," derived from the Irish Gaelic words "ceann" (head) and "aide" (race).
63. **King:** A name referring to a male sovereign ruler.
64. **Kirk:** Meaning "church" or "chapel," derived from the Old Norse word "kirkja."
65. **Knight:** A name referring to a mounted warrior or a member of a chivalric order.
66. **Lawrence:** Meaning "laurel wreath" or "victory," derived from the Latin word "laurus."
67. **Lee:** Meaning "meadow" or "clearing," derived from the Old English word "leah."
68. **Lewis:** Meaning "famous warrior," derived from the Germanic words "hlud" (famous) and "weor" (warrior).
69. **Lincoln:** Meaning "settlement near a lake," derived from the Old English words "lin" (lake) and "coln" (settlement).
70. **Lloyd:** Meaning "grey" or "blond," derived from the Welsh word "llwyd."
71. **Logan:** Meaning "hollow" or "cave," derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "logán."
72. **Long:** A descriptive name referring to someone with a long body or tall stature.
73. **Lopez:** Meaning "son of Lope," a Spanish name meaning "wolf."
74. **Lucas:** Meaning "light" or "bringer of light," derived from the Latin word "lux."
75. **Lyons:** Meaning "lion," derived from the Greek word "leon."
76. **MacDonald:** Meaning "son of Donald," a name derived from the Scottish Gaelic words "mac" (son) and "domhnall" (world ruler).
77. **MacGregor:** Meaning "son of Gregor," a name derived from the Scottish Gaelic words "mac" (son) and "griogair" (watchful).
78. **Martin:** Meaning "warlike" or "dedicated to Mars," derived from the Roman god of war, Mars.
79. **Matthews:** Meaning "gift of God," derived from the Hebrew name Matthew, meaning "gift of Yahweh."
80. **Maxwell:** Meaning "great field," derived from the Old English words "maeg" (great) and "feld" (field).
81. **May:** Meaning "powerful" or "great," derived from the Old English word "maeg."
82. **McCarthy:** Meaning "son of Carthaigh," a name derived from the Irish Gaelic words "mac" (son) and "carthaigh" (lover of the sea).
83. **McCormick:** Meaning "son of Cormac," a name derived from the Irish Gaelic words "mac" (son) and "cormac" (charioteer).
84. **McGregor:** Meaning "son of Gregor," a name derived from the Scottish Gaelic words "mac" (son) and "griogair" (watchful).
85. **McKinley:** Meaning "son of the king," derived from the Gaelic words "mac" (son) and "rígh" (king).
86. **Miller:** An occupational name referring to someone who grinds grain into flour.
87. **Mitchell:** Meaning "son of Michael," a name derived from the Hebrew name Michael, meaning "who is like God?"
88. **Moore:** Meaning "moor" or "swamp," derived from the Old English word "mor."
89. **Morgan:** Meaning "sea defender," derived from the Welsh words "mor" (sea) and "gan" (born).
90. **Morris:** Meaning "dark-skinned," derived from the Welsh word "morys."
91. **Murphy:** Meaning "sea warrior," derived from the Irish Gaelic words "muir" (sea) and "fear" (man).
92. **Nelson:** Meaning "son of Neil," a name derived from the Irish Gaelic word "níall" (champion).
93. **Newton:** Meaning "new town," derived from the Old English words "niwe" (new) and "tun" (town).
94. **Nolan:** Meaning "champion" or "warrior," derived from the Irish Gaelic word "nuallán."
95. **Norman:** Meaning "northern man," derived from the Old Norse words "norr" (north) and "mann" (man).
96. **O'Brien:** Meaning "descendant of Brian," a name derived from the Irish Gaelic words "ó" (descendant) and "brian" (strong).
97. **O'Connell:** Meaning "descendant of Connell," a name derived from the Irish Gaelic words "ó" (descendant) and "conall" (wolf cub).
98. **O'Donnell:** Meaning "descendant of Donal," a name derived from the Irish Gaelic words "ó" (descendant) and "domhnall" (world ruler).
99. **Oliver:** Meaning "olive tree" or "peace," derived from the Latin word "oliva."
100. **Owen:** Meaning "noble" or "well-born," derived from the Welsh word "owain."
101. **Parker:** An occupational name referring to someone who keeps or tends to a park.
102. **Patterson:** Meaning "son of Patrick," a name derived from the Latin word "patricius," meaning "nobleman."
103. **Paul:** Meaning "small" or "humble," derived from the Latin word "paulus."
104. **Payne:** Meaning "pagan" or "non-Christian," derived from the Old French word "paien."
105. **Perry:** Meaning "pear tree," derived from the Old French word "perier."
106. **Peters:** Meaning "son of Peter," a name derived from the Greek word "petros," meaning "rock."
107. **Phillips:** Meaning "son of Philip," a name derived from the Greek word "philos," meaning "lover."
108. **Pierce:** Meaning "piercer" or "stone cutter," derived from the Old French word "perce."
109. **Powell:** Meaning "pool" or "lake," derived from the Old French word "poule."
110. **Price:** Meaning "priest," derived from the Old French word "prestre."
111. **Reed:** Meaning "reed" or "plant," derived from the Old English word "hreod."
112. **Reynolds:** Meaning "son of Reginald," a name derived from the Germanic words "regin" (advice) and "wald" (rule).
113. **Rice:** Meaning "powerful ruler," derived from the Germanic words "rīc" (powerful) and "wald" (rule).
114. **Richards:** Meaning "son of Richard," a name derived from the Germanic words "rīc" (powerful) and "heard" (strong).
115. **Robertson:** Meaning "son of Robert," a name derived from the Germanic word "hrodberht," meaning "bright fame."
116. **Robinson:** Meaning "son of Robin," a diminutive form of Robert, meaning "bright fame."
117. **Rogers:** Meaning "son of Roger," a name derived from the Germanic words "hrod" (fame) and "gar" (spear).
118. **Ross:** Meaning "headland" or "promontory," derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "ros."
119. **Russell:** Meaning "red haired," derived from the Old French word "roussel."
120. **Ryan:** Meaning "little king," derived from the Irish Gaelic word "ríon."
121. **Sanders:** Meaning "son of Alexander," a name derived from the Greek name Alexander, meaning "defender of mankind."
122. **Scott:** Meaning "Scottish," derived from the Old English word "Scot."
123. **Shaw:** Meaning "wood" or "grove," derived from the Old English word "sċeaw."
124. **Shepherd:** An occupational name referring to someone who tends to sheep.
125. **Sherman:** An occupational name referring to someone who shears sheep.
126. **Simmons:** Meaning "son of Simon," a name derived from the Hebrew name Simon, meaning "hearing."
127. **Smith:** An occupational name referring to someone who works with metal.
128. **Snyder:** Meaning "tailor," derived from the German word "Schneider."
129. **Spencer:** Meaning "steward" or "treasurer," derived from the Old French word "espensier."
130. **Stevens:** Meaning "son of Stephen," a name derived from the Greek word "stephanos," meaning "crown."
131. **Stewart:** Meaning "steward" or "manager," derived from the Old French word "estiwart."
132. **Stone:** A name referring to someone who lives near or works with stone.
133. **Sullivan:** Meaning "black-eyed," derived from the Irish Gaelic words "dubh" (black) and "súil" (eye).
134. **Taylor:** An occupational name referring to someone who cuts and sews cloth.
135. **Thomas:** Meaning "twin," derived from the Aramaic word "te'oma."
136. **Thompson:** Meaning "son of Thomas," a name derived from the Aramaic word "te'oma," meaning "twin."
137. **Turner:** An occupational name referring to someone who works with wood, a woodworker.
138. **Vance:** Meaning "strong" or "victorious," derived from the French word "vance."
139. **Vaughan:** Meaning "small" or "young," derived from the Welsh word "fagan."
140. **Vega:** Meaning "meadow" or "valley," derived from the Spanish word "vega."
141. **Vincent:** Meaning "conquering," derived from the Latin word "vincere."
142. **Walker:** An occupational name referring to someone who walks or travels.
143. **Wallace:** Meaning "Welshman," derived from the Old French word "wales."
144. **Walsh:** Meaning "foreigner," derived from the Irish Gaelic word "uaisle."
145. **Walter:** Meaning "ruler of the army," derived from the Germanic words "wald" (rule) and "heri" (army).
146. **Ward:** Meaning "guardian" or "protector," derived from the Old English word "weard."
147. **Warren:** Meaning "keeper of the rabbits," derived from the Old French word "warren."
148. **Washington:** Meaning "dwelling near a spring," derived from the Old English words "wæsten" (dwelling) and "wælle" (spring).
149. **Watson:** Meaning "son of Walter," a name derived from the Germanic words "wald" (rule) and "heri" (army).
150. **Weaver:** An occupational name referring to someone who weaves cloth.
151. **Webb:** Meaning "weaver," derived from the Old English word "webbe."
152. **Wells:** A name referring to someone who lives near or by a spring or well.
153. **West:** A descriptive name referring to someone who lives in the west.
154. **White:** A descriptive name referring to someone with fair hair or complexion.
155. **Williams:** Meaning "son of William," a name derived from the Germanic words "wil" (will) and "helm" (helmet).
156. **Wilson:** Meaning "son of William," a name derived from the Germanic words "wil" (will) and "helm" (helmet).
157. **Wood:** A name referring to someone who lives near or in a forest.
158. **Wright:** An occupational name referring to someone who makes or builds things, a craftsman.
159. **Young:** A descriptive name referring to someone who is young or youthful.