Common Last Names

The most widespread surnames in the world — and what they mean.

1,124 surnames found Page 21 of 23

Murillo

Locational surname from a walled place or diminutive of wall-related roots.

Spanish

Penn

Topographic surname linked to an enclosure or hill depending on origin.

English

Ryan

Anglicized form of Ó Riain.

Irish

Peralta

Locational surname from places named Peralta.

Spanish

Saad

Derived from a name meaning happiness or good fortune.

Arabic

Beattie

Derived from a pet form of Beatrice or Bartholomew in some lines.

Scottish

Church

Topographic surname for someone living near a church.

English

Fitzgerald

Patronymic surname meaning son of Gerald.

Irish

Horn

Nickname or occupational surname linked to horn players or horn-shaped features.

English

Lane

Topographic surname for someone living by a lane or narrow road.

English

Matthews

Patronymic surname meaning son of Matthew.

English

Nadeem

Derived from a personal name meaning companion or close associate.

Arabic

Benitez

Patronymic surname meaning son of Benito.

Spanish

Clarke

Variant spelling of Clark, occupational surname for clerk or scholar.

English

Fleming

Ethnic surname meaning a person from Flanders.

Scottish

House

Topographic surname for someone by an important house or hall.

English

Lang

Nickname surname meaning tall or long.

Germanic

Maxwell

Locational surname from a place near the River Tweed.

Scottish

Nair

South Indian community surname associated with Kerala.

Indian

Perera

Portuguese surname meaning pear tree, common in Sri Lanka through Lusophone i...

Portuguese

Sadiq

Derived from a name meaning truthful or sincere.

Arabic

Perkins

Patronymic surname from Perkin, a diminutive of Peter.

English

Saeed

Derived from a personal name meaning happy or fortunate.

Arabic

Berg

Topographic surname meaning mountain or hill.

Germanic

Clements

Derived from the personal name Clement.

English

Foley

Anglicized Irish surname with several Gaelic origins.

Irish

Howe

Topographic surname meaning hill, mound, or burial mound in Norse-English usage.

English

Larsen

Patronymic surname meaning son of Lars.

Scandinavian

May

Derived from a personal name, nickname, or month association in some lines.

English

Nakagawa

Topographic surname meaning central river or middle river.

Japanese

Bernal

Derived from the personal name Bernal, related to Bernard.

Spanish

Connelly

Anglicized Gaelic surname related to bravery or love in older interpretations.

Irish

Forbes

Historic Scottish surname with territorial associations.

Scottish

Ancient Chinese surname associated with old states and clans.

Chinese

Lawrence

Derived from the personal name Lawrence or Laurence.

English

Mayer

Status or occupational surname linked to a steward or farmer.

German

Nakayama

Topographic surname meaning central mountain.

Japanese

Pham

Historic Vietnamese surname associated with old noble and administrative line...

Vietnamese

Pickett

Surname from a diminutive personal name or a pointed tool nickname.

English

Bhatti

Clan surname found in Punjab and neighboring regions.

South asian

Conrad

Derived from the personal name Conrad, meaning bold counsel.

Germanic

Franklin

Status surname meaning free landholder.

English

Huber

Status surname for a landholder or farmer with a hide of land.

German

Historic Vietnamese surname associated with dynastic and noble traditions.

Vietnamese

Maynard

Derived from a personal name meaning brave strength.

French

Nash

Topographic surname meaning at the ash tree.

English

Bhattacharya

Scholarly title-derived Bengali surname meaning revered teacher.

Indian

Conway

Anglicized surname of Irish and Welsh origin depending on lineage.

Irish

Fraser

Historic Scottish surname of likely Norman origin.

Scottish

Huerta

Topographic surname meaning orchard or garden.

Spanish

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Why are some names so common?

Common surnames often originate from occupations, geography, or patronymic traditions shared across cultures.