Common Last Names

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

1,124 surnames found Page 9 of 23

Nelson

Patronymic surname meaning son of Neil.

English

Hall

Topographic or occupational surname linked to a hall, manor, or someone who w...

English

Campbell

From Gaelic, often interpreted as crooked mouth.

Scottish

Carter

Occupational surname for a transporter of goods by cart.

English

Diaz

Patronymic surname meaning son of Diego.

Spanish

Rahman

Derived from a divine epithet meaning merciful, often part of compound names ...

Arabic

Watanabe

Historic Japanese surname associated with a crossing or ferry side in older p...

Japanese

Takahashi

Topographic surname meaning tall bridge.

Japanese

Smirnov

Surname often linked to calm or quiet temperament.

Russian

Schneider

Occupational surname meaning tailor.

German

Amaral

Portuguese locational surname tied to place roots in Iberia.

Portuguese

Byrne

Anglicized form of Ó Broin, descendant of Bran.

Irish

Dhillon

Punjabi clan surname associated with Jat lineages.

South asian

Guerra

Nickname or occupational surname meaning war, possibly for a warrior.

Spanish

Kadam

Marathi surname found in western India.

Indian

Luther

Derived from an old personal name; also known through Reformation history.

German

Michael

Derived from the biblical personal name Michael.

Jewish

Oke

Yoruba surname linked to hill or height.

Nigerian

Mitchell

Derived from the personal name Michael.

English

Roberts

Patronymic surname meaning son of Robert.

Welsh

Evans

Patronymic surname meaning son of Evan.

Welsh

Cruz

Religious surname meaning cross.

Spanish

Murphy

From Gaelic meaning sea warrior in common interpretation.

Irish

Nakamura

Topographic surname meaning middle village.

Japanese

Ivanov

Patronymic surname meaning son of Ivan.

Russian

Fischer

Occupational surname meaning fisherman.

German

Amin

Derived from a personal name meaning trustworthy or faithful.

Arabic

Cabral

Iberian surname associated with goat-related place roots or clan history.

Portuguese

Donovan

Anglicized form of Ó Donnabháin, descendant of Donnabhán.

Irish

Guerrero

Occupational or nickname surname meaning warrior.

Spanish

Kaiser

Nickname or status surname meaning emperor.

German

Lynch

Surname of Norman and Gaelic use in Ireland, strongly associated with Galway.

Irish

Middleton

Locational surname meaning middle settlement.

English

Okeke

Igbo surname with lineage-based naming roots.

Nigerian

Ray

Nickname or personal-name-derived surname with several roots.

English

Yamaguchi

Japanese surname meaning mouth of the mountain or mountain entrance. One of t...

Japanese

Doherty

Irish surname from O Dochartaigh, meaning descendant of the hurtful one or ob...

Irish

Raymond

Derived from a Germanic personal name meaning wise protector.

French

Flanagan

Irish surname from O Flannagain, meaning descendant of the ruddy or red one. ...

Irish

Phillips

Patronymic surname meaning son of Philip.

English

Turner

Occupational surname for a lathe worker or turner of wood or metal.

English

Reyes

Surname meaning kings, often linked to Epiphany traditions or a place name.

Spanish

Morales

Topographic surname relating to mulberry trees or moral groves.

Spanish

Kelly

From Gaelic roots often interpreted as bright-headed or warrior-like.

Irish

Sheikh

Title surname meaning elder, chief, or learned man.

Arabic

Kobayashi

Topographic surname meaning small forest.

Japanese

Ito

Historic Japanese surname with several clan-related character variants.

Japanese

Novak

Originally meaning newcomer or new man.

Slavic

Weber

Occupational surname meaning weaver.

German

Anand

Derived from a name meaning joy or bliss, used as a family name in South Asia.

Indian

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Why are some names so common?

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