Last Names Ideas: A Comprehensive Guide to Unique and Meaningful Surnames

Choosing the perfect last name for your child, a fictional character, or even yourself can be a daunting task. You want something that sounds beautiful, has a meaningful history, and reflects your personal style. This comprehensive guide to last names ideas offers an extensive list of surnames, complete with their detailed meanings, empowering you to find the ideal fit for your needs.
1. **Abbott:** Father of a monastery or abbey.
2. **Abernathy:** A person who lives near a hill or a place with an abundance of water.
3. **Adams:** Son of Adam.
4. **Ainsworth:** One who lives near a meadow or a place of ash trees.
5. **Alexander:** Defender of mankind.
6. **Allen:** A person who lives by the rock or hill.
7. **Anderson:** Son of Andrew.
8. **Andrews:** Son of Andrew.
9. **Arnold:** A powerful ruler.
10. **Ashworth:** A person who lives near an ash tree grove.
11. **Atkins:** Son of Atkin.
12. **Austin:** A person from Austin, Texas.
13. **Bailey:** A person who lives by a bailiff's court.
14. **Baker:** A person who makes bread.
15. **Baldwin:** A bold friend.
16. **Barber:** A person who cuts hair.
17. **Barnett:** Son of Barnett.
18. **Barrett:** A person who lives near a fortified hill.
19. **Bartlett:** A person who lives near a barley field.
20. **Bates:** A person who lives by the battle or war site.
21. **Baxter:** A person who bakes.
22. **Bell:** A person who lives near a bell tower.
23. **Bennett:** A person who lives by the sacred hill.
24. **Bentley:** A person who lives near a bend in the river.
25. **Berger:** A person who lives near a mountain.
26. **Berry:** A person who lives near a berry field.
27. **Bishop:** A person who is a religious leader.
28. **Black:** A person with dark hair or complexion.
29. **Blake:** A person with a dark complexion.
30. **Blair:** A person who lives by a plain or field.
31. **Blake:** A person with a dark complexion.
32. **Bloom:** A person who lives by a meadow or flower field.
33. **Boone:** A person who lives by the bog or marsh.
34. **Bowen:** A person who lives near a bow or bend in the river.
35. **Boyd:** A person who lives by the red forest.
36. **Bradley:** A person who lives near a wide, open meadow.
37. **Brown:** A person with brown hair or complexion.
38. **Bruce:** A person who lives by the heath or moorland.
39. **Bryant:** A person who lives near a bridge.
40. **Burke:** A person who lives by the fort or castle.
41. **Burton:** A person who lives near a fort.
42. **Bush:** A person who lives by a bush or thicket.
43. **Butler:** A person who is a servant or steward.
44. **Byrne:** A person who lives by the well.
45. **Campbell:** A person who lives by the crooked mouth or bay.
46. **Carey:** A person who lives near a castle or fort.
47. **Carlisle:** A person who lives near the castle on the moor.
48. **Carpenter:** A person who works with wood.
49. **Carter:** A person who transports goods by cart.
50. **Casey:** A person who lives near the castle or fort.
51. **Castle:** A person who lives by the castle.
52. **Chapman:** A person who buys and sells goods.
53. **Charles:** A man.
54. **Chase:** A person who lives in a hunting ground.
55. **Churchill:** A person who lives by the church.
56. **Clark:** A person who is a secretary or scribe.
57. **Clayton:** A person who lives near a clay field.
58. **Clement:** A person who is merciful.
59. **Cleveland:** A person who lives near a cliff by the wood.
60. **Clifford:** A person who lives by the cliff or hill.
61. **Cole:** A person who lives by the coal mine.
62. **Coleman:** A person who lives by the coal mine.
63. **Collins:** A person who lives by the coal mine.
64. **Cook:** A person who prepares food.
65. **Cooper:** A person who makes barrels or tubs.
66. **Crawford:** A person who lives near a crow's ford or crossing.
67. **Cross:** A person who lives near a crossroads.
68. **Cunningham:** A person who lives near a rabbit hole.
69. **Curtis:** A person who lives near the courtyard.
70. **Dalton:** A person who lives in a valley.
71. **Daniel:** God is my judge.
72. **Davis:** Son of David.
73. **Dawson:** Son of Dawson.
74. **Day:** A person who lives by the day or daylight.
75. **Dean:** A person who lives by a valley.
76. **Dennis:** A person from the valley of Dionysus.
77. **Diaz:** A person who lives by the day.
78. **Dickinson:** A person who lives by the dike or ditch.
79. **Dixon:** A person who lives by the ditch.
80. **Dodson:** A person who lives by the willow tree.
81. **Doherty:** A person who lives by the blackthorn.
82. **Donaldson:** Son of Donald.
83. **Donovan:** A person who lives by the dark valley.
84. **Douglas:** A person who lives by a dark stream.
85. **Downey:** A person who lives by the dark hill.
86. **Drake:** A person who is a dragon.
87. **Duncan:** A person who is a warrior.
88. **Dunn:** A person who is a warrior.
89. **Edwards:** Son of Edward.
90. **Ellis:** A person who lives by the cliff or hill.
91. **Emerson:** A person who is strong and powerful.
92. **Evans:** Son of Evan.
93. **Everett:** A person who is a strong boar.
94. **Fairchild:** A person who is beautiful.
95. **Farmer:** A person who works on a farm.
96. **Farrell:** A person who lives near a marsh or bog.
97. **Fenton:** A person who lives near a meadow or field.
98. **Ferguson:** A person who lives by the son's hill.
99. **Fernandez:** A person from the country of ferns.
100. **Fisher:** A person who fishes.
101. **Fitzgerald:** Son of Gerald.
102. **Fitzpatrick:** Son of Patrick.
103. **Fletcher:** A person who makes arrows.
104. **Floyd:** A person who lives near the gray hill.
105. **Flynn:** A person who is red-haired.
106. **Ford:** A person who lives by the ford.
107. **Foster:** A person who is a foster parent.
108. **Fox:** A person who lives by a fox den.
109. **Francis:** A person who is free.
110. **Franklin:** A person who lives by the free land.
111. **Fraser:** A person who lives by the strawberry tree.
112. **Freeman:** A person who is free.
113. **French:** A person from France.
114. **Frost:** A person who lives in a cold place.
115. **Gallagher:** A person who lives by the bright valley.
116. **Garcia:** A person from a family of warriors.
117. **Gardner:** A person who works in a garden.
118. **Garrett:** A person who is a spearman.
119. **Garrison:** A person who lives near a fort or garrison.
120. **Gates:** A person who lives by the gates.
121. **Gauthier:** A person who is a warrior.
122. **George:** A person who is a farmer.
123. **Gibson:** A person who lives near a hill.
124. **Gilbert:** A person who is a hostage.
125. **Gill:** A person who lives by a creek or gully.
126. **Gilliam:** A person who lives by a creek or gully.
127. **Glascow:** A person who lives near a green meadow.
128. **Glenn:** A person who lives near a valley or glen.
129. **Goodman:** A person who is a good man.
130. **Gordon:** A person who lives near a hill.
131. **Graham:** A person who lives by the gravel field.
132. **Grant:** A person who is big or strong.
133. **Gray:** A person with gray hair or complexion.
134. **Green:** A person who lives by a green field.
135. **Griffin:** A person who is a griffin.
136. **Guerrero:** A person who is a warrior.
137. **Guthrie:** A person who lives by the cattle pasture.
138. **Guy:** A person who is a guide or leader.
139. **Hagen:** A person who lives by the hedge or fence.
140. **Hall:** A person who lives by a hall or large house.
141. **Hamilton:** A person who lives by the hill by the water.
142. **Hammond:** A person who lives by the home.
143. **Harper:** A person who plays the harp.
144. **Harris:** A person who is a warrior.
145. **Harrison:** A person who is a warrior.
146. **Harvey:** A person who is a warrior.
147. **Hathaway:** A person who lives by the heather field.
148. **Hawkins:** A person who lives by the hawk's nest.
149. **Hayes:** A person who lives by the hedge.
150. **Hazelton:** A person who lives by the hazelnut tree.
151. **Heath:** A person who lives by the heath or moorland.
152. **Henderson:** Son of Henry.
153. **Henry:** Ruler of the house.
154. **Herbert:** Bright army.
155. **Hill:** A person who lives on a hill.
156. **Hodges:** Son of Hodge.
157. **Hoffman:** A person who lives by the court or home.
158. **Holmes:** A person who lives by the holly tree.
159. **Holt:** A person who lives by the wood.
160. **Howard:** A person who is brave or noble.
161. **Hughes:** Son of Hugh.
162. **Humphrey:** A person who is a peacemaker.
163. **Hunter:** A person who hunts.
164. **Hurley:** A person who lives by the ford.
165. **Hutchinson:** A person who lives by the hut.
166. **Hyde:** A person who lives near a hide or shelter.
167. **Jackson:** Son of Jack.
168. **James:** Supplanter.
169. **Jarvis:** A person who is a spearman.
170. **Jenkins:** Son of Jenkin.
171. **Jennings:** Son of Jenning.
172. **Jensen:** Son of Jen.
173. **Johnson:** Son of John.
174. **Jones:** Son of John.
175. **Jordan:** A person who descends from the Jordan River.
176. **Joseph:** God will increase.
177. **Joyce:** A person who is joyful.
178. **Kane:** A person who is a warrior.
179. **Keller:** A person who lives by the cellar.
180. **Kelly:** A person who lives near a church.
181. **Kennedy:** A person who lives by the head of the water.
182. **Kent:** A person who lives by the coast.
183. **Kerr:** A person who is black or dark.
184. **King:** A person who is a ruler.
185. **Kirk:** A person who lives by the church.
186. **Knight:** A person who is a warrior.
187. **Knox:** A person who lives by a hill.
188. **Koch:** A person who is a cook.
189. **Krueger:** A person who is a pot maker.
190. **Lambert:** A person who is bright or shining.
191. **Lane:** A person who lives by a lane or path.
192. **Langston:** A person who lives by the long stone.
193. **Larson:** Son of Lars.
194. **Lawrence:** A person who is a laurel wreath.
195. **Lawson:** A person who lives by the law.
196. **Lee:** A person who lives by a meadow or clearing.
197. **Leonard:** A person who is brave or strong.
198. **Lewis:** A person who is a warrior.
199. **Lincoln:** A person who lives by the pool or spring.
200. **Lippman:** A person who lives by the linden tree.
201. **Lloyd:** A person who lives by the gray hill.
202. **Logan:** A person who lives by the hollow.
203. **Long:** A person who is tall.
204. **Lopez:** A person who lives by the wolf.
205. **Lowe:** A person who lives by a mound or hill.
206. **Lucas:** A person who is a man from Lucania.
207. **Lyman:** A person who lives by the lime tree.
208. **Lynch:** A person who lives near a marsh or bog.
209. **MacDonald:** Son of Donald.
210. **MacGregor:** Son of Gregor.
211. **Mackenzie:** A person who lives by the son's headland.
212. **Madison:** A person who lives by the son's meadow.
213. **Mahoney:** A person who lives near a marsh or bog.
214. **Malcolm:** A person who is a servant.
215. **Manning:** A person who is a worker.
216. **March:** A person who lives by the border or boundary.
217. **Marquez:** A person who is a warrior.
218. **Marshall:** A person who is a horse keeper.
219. **Martin:** A person who is a warrior.
220. **Martinez:** Son of Martin.
221. **Mason:** A person who works with stone.
222. **Matthews:** Son of Matthew.
223. **Maxwell:** A person who lives by the great field.
224. **May:** A person who lives by the meadow.
225. **McCarthy:** A person who is a son of the lord.
226. **McConnell:** A person who lives by the hill.
227. **McCormick:** A person who is a son of the reaper.
228. **McDaniel:** Son of Daniel.
229. **McDonald:** Son of Donald.
230. **McFarland:** A person who lives by the farm near the moor.
231. **McGee:** A person who is a son of the warrior.
232. **McGill:** A person who lives by the church.
233. **McGrath:** A person who lives near the gray ford.
234. **McGuire:** A person who is a son of the warrior.
235. **McKinley:** A person who lives by the meadow on the hill.
236. **McKnight:** A person who is a son of the warrior.
237. **McLain:** A person who lives by the meadow.
238. **McLean:** A person who lives by the meadow.
239. **McMahon:** A person who lives by the son's hill.
240. **McMurray:** A person who lives by the sea.
241. **Meade:** A person who lives by the meadow.
242. **Mercer:** A person who is a merchant.
243. **Miller:** A person who grinds grain.
244. **Mills:** A person who lives by the mill.
245. **Mitchell:** A person who lives by the middle place.
246. **Moore:** A person who lives by the moorland.
247. **Morgan:** A person who lives by the sea.
248. **Morris:** A person who lives by the moorland.
249. **Morrison:** Son of Morris.
250. **Morrow:** A person who lives by the morning.
251. **Murphy:** A person who lives by the sea.
252. **Murray:** A person who lives by the sea.
253. **Myers:** A person who is a shepherd.
254. **Nelson:** A person who lives by the island.
255. **Newell:** A person who lives near a well.
256. **Newman:** A person who is a new man.
257. **Newton:** A person who lives by the new town.
258. **Nichols:** Son of Nicholas.
259. **Nixon:** A person who lives by the oak tree.
260. **Noble:** A person who is of noble birth.
261. **Nolan:** A person who lives near a marsh or bog.
262. **Norman:** A person from Normandy.
263. **Norton:** A person who lives by the north.
264. **O'Brien:** A person who lives by the well.
265. **O'Connell:** A person who lives by the hill.
266. **O'Connor:** A person who is a warrior.
267. **O'Donnell:** A person who is a ruler.
268. **Oliver:** Olive tree.
269. **Olson:** Son of Ole.
270. **Owen:** A person who is noble.
271. **Page:** A person who is a servant.
272. **Palmer:** A person who is a pilgrim.
273. **Parker:** A person who is a park keeper.
274. **Parsons:** A person who is a parson or priest.
275. **Patterson:** Son of Patrick.
276. **Paul:** Small.
277. **Payne:** A person who is a baker.
278. **Pearce:** A person who is a pear tree.
279. **Peck:** A person who is a woodpecker.
280. **Pendleton:** A person who lives by the hanging hill.
281. **Perez:** A person who is a traveler.
282. **Perry:** A person who lives by the pear tree.
283. **Peters:** Son of Peter.
284. **Phillips:** Son of Philip.
285. **Pierce:** A person who is a piercer.
286. **Pike:** A person who is a pike or fish spear.
287. **Pitt:** A person who lives by the pit or quarry.
288. **Pollard:** A person who cuts down trees.
289. **Porter:** A person who is a gatekeeper.
290. **Powell:** A person who lives by a pool or spring.
291. **Powers:** A person who is powerful.
292. **Pratt:** A person who is a meadow.
293. **Price:** A person who is a priest.
294. **Prince:** A person who is a ruler.
295. **Pruitt:** A person who is a prudent man.
296. **Quinn:** A person who is descended from Conn.
297. **Ramirez:** A person who is a warrior.
298. **Randall:** A person who is a wolf.
299. **Randolph:** A person who is a wolf.
300. **Ray:** A person who is a ray of light.
301. **Reagan:** A person who is a ruler.
302. **Reed:** A person who lives by a reed bed.
303. **Reese:** A person who is a fiery one.
304. **Reid:** A person who is red-haired.
305. **Reynolds:** A person who is a king.
306. **Rice:** A person who lives by a rice field.
307. **Richards:** Son of Richard.
308. **Richardson:** Son of Richard.
309. **Riddle:** A person who is a riddle.
310. **Riley:** A person who lives by the rye field.
311. **Roberts:** Son of Robert.
312. **Robertson:** Son of Robert.
313. **Robinson:** Son of Robin.
314. **Rodgers:** Son of Roger.
315. **Rogers:** Son of Roger.
316. **Rogers:** Son of Roger.
317. **Rollins:** A person who lives by the rolling hills.
318. **Romero:** A person who is a pilgrim.
319. **Rose:** A person who is a rose.
320. **Ross:** A person who lives by the heath or moorland.
321. **Rowan:** A person who is a small rowan tree.
322. **Roy:** A person who is a king.
323. **Russell:** A person who is a red-haired man.
324. **Ryan:** A person who is a king.
325. **Salazar:** A person who is a savior.
326. **Samuels:** Son of Samuel.
327. **Sanchez:** A person who is holy.
328. **Sanders:** Son of Sander.
329. **Sandoval:** A person who lives by the holy valley.
330. **Santos:** A person who is holy.
331. **Savage:** A person who is wild.
332. **Sawyer:** A person who saws wood.
333. **Schafer:** A person who is a shepherd.
334. **Schmitt:** A person who is a blacksmith.
335. **Schultz:** A person who lives by the castle.
336. **Scott:** A person who lives by the Scottish Highlands.
337. **Seaver:** A person who lives by the sea.
338. **Segal:** A person who is a victor.
339. **Selby:** A person who lives by the willow tree.
340. **Sewell:** A person who lives by the well.
341. **Shannon:** A person who lives by the river Shannon.
342. **Sharp:** A person who is sharp-witted.
343. **Shaw:** A person who lives by a wood or forest.
344. **Shepherd:** A person who tends sheep.
345. **Sherman:** A person who is a shearer.
346. **Shields:** A person who carries a shield.
347. **Short:** A person who is short.
348. **Silverstein:** A person who lives by the silver stone.
349. **Simmons:** Son of Simon.
350. **Simpson:** Son of Simon.
351. **Sims:** Son of Sim.
352. **Singer:** A person who sings.
353. **Smith:** A person who works with metal.
354. **Smyth:** A person who works with metal.
355. **Snow:** A person who lives in a snowy place.
356. **Snyder:** A person who is a tailor.
357. **Solomon:** Peace.
358. **Somers:** A person who lives by the summer home.
359. **Spencer:** A person who is a steward.
360. **Spence:** A person who lives by the dispenser.
361. **Spicer:** A person who makes spices.
362. **Stafford:** A person who lives by the ford.
363. **Stanley:** A person who lives by the stone field.
364. **Stark:** A person who is strong.
365. **Steele:** A person who works with steel.
366. **Stein:** A person who lives by the stone.
367. **Stephens:** Son of Stephen.
368. **Stevens:** Son of Stephen.
369. **Stewart:** A person who is a steward.
370. **Stone:** A person who lives by the stone.
371. **Stowe:** A person who lives by the hill.
372. **Strong:** A person who is strong.
373. **Sullivan:** A person who lives by the black eye.
374. **Summers:** A person who lives by the summer home.
375. **Sutton:** A person who lives by the south.
376. **Swanson:** Son of Swan.
377. **Sweet:** A person who is sweet.
378. **Swift:** A person who is swift.
379. **Sweeney:** A person who is a sweet one.
380. **Taylor:** A person who is a tailor.
381. **Thomas:** Twin.
382. **Thompson:** Son of Thomas.
383. **Thornton:** A person who lives by the thorn bush.
384. **Tillman:** A person who lives by the tillage.
385. **Todd:** A person who is a fox.
386. **Tolliver:** A person who lives by the willow tree.
387. **Torres:** A person who lives by the towers.
388. **Townsend:** A person who lives by the town.
389. **Travis:** A person who lives by the crossing.
390. **Tremaine:** A person who lives by the house of the lord.
391. **Turner:** A person who turns wood.
392. **Tyler:** A person who is a tile maker.
393. **Underwood:** A person who lives by the wood.
394. **Valdez:** A person who lives in a valley.
395. **Valentine:** A person who is strong and healthy.
396. **Vance:** A person who lives by the victory.
397. **Vargas:** A person who is a warrior.
398. **Vasquez:** A person who lives by the Basque country.
399. **Vaughan:** A person who is a small valley.
400. **Vega:** A person who lives by the meadow.
401. **Velasquez:** A person who lives by the old house.
402. **Velazquez:** A person who lives by the old house.
403. **Vernon:** A person who lives by the alder tree.
404. **Victor:** A person who is victorious.
405. **Villanueva:** A person who lives by the new town.
406. **Vincent:** To conquer.
407. **Vinson:** A person who lives by the wine press.
408. **Walker:** A person who walks.
409. **Wallace:** A person who lives by the wall.
410. **Walter:** A ruler of the army.
411. **Ward:** A person who is a guardian.
412. **Ware:** A person who lives by the marsh.
413. **Warner:** A person who is a guardian.
414. **Warren:** A person who lives by the rabbit warren.
415. **Washington:** A person who lives by the marsh.
416. **Watson:** Son of Wat.
417. **Watts:** A person who lives by the watchtower.
418. **Weaver:** A person who weaves cloth.
419. **Webb:** A person who is a weaver.
420. **Webster:** A person who is a weaver.
421. **Weeks:** A person who lives by the meadow.
422. **Weinstein:** A person who lives by the wine cellar.
423. **Weiss:** A person who is white.
424. **Wells:** A person who lives by the well.
425. **West:** A person who lives in the west.
426. **Wheeler:** A person who is a wheel maker.
427. **White:** A person with white hair or complexion.
428. **Whitman:** A person who lives by the white meadow.
429. **Wilcox:** A person who lives by the willow tree.
430. **Wiley:** A person who lives by the willow tree.
431. **Williams:** Son of William.
432. **Williamson:** Son of William.
433. **Wilson:** Son of Will.
434. **Winters:** A person who lives by the winter home.
435. **Wise:** A person who is wise.
436. **Witherspoon:** A person who lives by the willow tree.
437. **Wolf:** A person who is a wolf.
438. **Wood:** A person who lives by the wood.
439. **Woods:** A person who lives by the wood.
440. **Wright:** A person who is a craftsman.
441. **Wyatt:** A person who lives by the willow tree.
442. **Yale:** A person who lives by the valley.
443. **Yates:** A person who lives by the gate.
444. **York:** A person who lives by the city of York.
445. **Young:** A person who is young.
446. **Zachary:** The Lord remembers.
447. **Zimmerman:** A person who lives by the farm.
448. **Zuniga:** A person who lives by the sun.