Famous Last Names

The world's most recognizable surnames — their meanings, origins, and famous bearers.

822 surnames found Page 1 of 17

Pratt

Nickname surname meaning clever or crafty in old usage.

English

Nixon

Patronymic surname meaning son of Nicholas.

English

Mcgrath

Anglicized form of Mac Craith.

Irish

Levine

Jewish surname indicating Levitical heritage in many family lines.

Jewish

Ishikawa

Topographic surname meaning stone river.

Japanese

Gates

Topographic surname for someone living by a gate.

English

Cunha

Portuguese surname with locational or topographic roots.

Portuguese

Bowen

Patronymic surname meaning son of Owain or Owen.

Welsh

Historic Chinese surname often written with several characters, one common fo...

Chinese

Wang

Common Chinese surname meaning king in the standard character.

Chinese

Kim

Historic Korean clan surname, often associated with gold in Sino-Korean chara...

Korean

Nguyen

Historic Vietnamese surname associated with dynastic and administrative lineage.

Vietnamese

Garcia

A historic Iberian surname, possibly linked to a Basque root and often interp...

Spanish

Smith

Occupational surname meaning blacksmith or metal worker.

English

Preston

Locational surname meaning priest’s town.

English

Noble

Nickname surname meaning noble or well-born in appearance or bearing.

English

Mcguire

Anglicized form of Mag Uidhir.

Irish

Levy

Jewish surname associated with the Levites.

Jewish

Iversen

Patronymic surname meaning son of Iver.

Scandinavian

Gauthier

Derived from a Germanic personal name equivalent to Walter.

French

Curry

Irish surname from Ó Comhraidhe or related roots depending on line.

Irish

Boyd

Historic Scottish surname, sometimes linked to fair or yellow traditions.

Scottish

Abbas

Derived from the personal name Abbas, often associated with lion-like qualiti...

Arabic

Johnson

Patronymic surname meaning son of John.

English

Prieto

Nickname surname meaning dark-haired or dark-complexioned.

Spanish

Noor

Derived from a word meaning light.

Arabic

Mckay

Clan surname from Mac Aoidh.

Scottish

Liang

Ancient Chinese surname associated with old states and dynasties.

Chinese

Jacob

Derived from the biblical personal name Jacob.

Jewish

George

Derived from the personal name George, meaning farmer in older Greek roots.

Greek

Curtis

Nickname surname from Old French courteous, meaning refined or polite.

English

Bradley

Locational surname meaning broad wood or broad meadow.

English

Abbott

Occupational surname linked to an abbot or someone serving an abbey.

English

Zhang

Historic Chinese surname often associated with archery or drawing a bow in et...

Chinese

Rodriguez

Patronymic surname meaning son of Rodrigo.

Spanish

Williams

Patronymic surname meaning son of William.

Welsh

Prince

Nickname surname for someone with princely bearing or a pageant role.

English

Norris

Ethnic surname meaning northerner in Norman French usage.

English

Mckenna

Anglicized form of Mac Cionnaith.

Irish

Lim

Romanized surname used for Lin in Hokkien and related dialects.

Chinese

Jacobs

Patronymic surname meaning son of Jacob.

English

Ghosh

Bengali surname historically associated with pastoral or community roles.

Indian

Da Costa

Compound Iberian surname meaning of the coast.

Portuguese

Bradshaw

Topographic surname meaning broad thicket or grove.

English

Abdullah

Derived from a personal name meaning servant of God, also used as a surname.

Arabic

Chen

Historic Chinese surname linked to the ancient state of Chen.

Chinese

Martinez

Patronymic surname meaning son of Martin.

Spanish

Brown

Usually a descriptive surname for someone with brown hair, complexion, or clo...

English

Pritchard

Patronymic surname from ap Richard, meaning son of Richard.

Welsh

Norton

Locational surname meaning northern town or farm.

English

Explore more

Cool Last Names Unique Last Names Common Last Names All Surnames Random

Famous surnames through history

From royal dynasties to modern celebrities, famous last names carry centuries of legacy and cultural significance.