 |
Patronymic Names -
Names based on the first name of the ancestor's father.
|
 |
Locality Names - Names
recording localities or places where ancestors originated. |
 |
Occupation Names -
Names reflecting the occupation or status of the ancestor.
|
 |
Description Names
- Nicknames describing the ancestor's face, figure,
temper, morals, or habits. |
| A | B
| C | D | E
| F | G
| H | I
| J | K
| L | M
| N | O
| P | Q
| R | S
| T | U
| V | W
| X | Y
| Z |
S
SALINGER (British). "Saint Leger," place in England.
SALTER (British). "Dealer in salt."
SALVATORE (Italian). "Saviour" (Italian).
SALZLEIN (British). "Child of Salz or salt dealer".
SANDERSON (British). "Son of Alexander (=defender of men)".
SANDFORD (British). "Sandy ford," places in England.
SANDS (British). "Sands" (locality), places in England.
SANDYS (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Shaughnessy".
SANFORD (British). Form of Sandford.
SAPCOTE (British). "Sheep shelter," place in England.
SAUL (British). "Asked for" (Hebrew).
SAULNIER (French). "Salt seller."
SAVAGE (British). "Wild savage" (Old French).
SAWYER (British). "One who saws."
SAXON (British). "Saxon (race of people of the short sword)."
SAYER (British). "Assayer of metals" or "food taster".
SCAFF (British). "Awkward, crooked, wild".
SCALES (British). "Huts".
SCARF (British). "Cormorant".
SCARLE (British). Form of Scarlet.
SCARLET (British). "Scarlet," probably for favourite clothing, or for clothing made
or sold.
SCARROW (British). Possibly from the Old Norse "Skaera (=twilight)" or from a Scottish
term for "shadowy or faint light."
SCHALLERT (German). "Noise maker, public announcer" (Germanic).
SCHELL (German). "Roan horse/grey horse" (German).
SCHMIDT (German). "Smith" (Germanic).
SCHMUTZ (German). or "Dirt, mud" (German).
SCHOEN (German). From Sconi (Germanic), "handsome one".
SCHOEN (German). "Beautiful, handsome" (Germanic).
SCHOEN (German). "Beautiful" (German).
SCHOFIELD (British). "Field with a hut".
SCHOLES (German). "Farmer or clodhopper or soil" (Germanic).
SCHRIVER (German, Dutch). "Scribe" (Germanic).
SCHUH (German). "Shoe," for a shoemaker.
SCHULTZ (German). From Scultheizzo (Germanic), "village mayor".
SCHULTZ (German) "Head of a village or magistrate" (Germanic).
SCHULTZ (German). "Village head" (German).
SCHWARTZBACH (German). "Black brook."
SCOTT (British). "From over the border or tattooed".
SCOTT (British). Nationality name for Scots.
SCULLY (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Duibhscuile".
SEANLAN (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Scannail".
SEARCH (British). "Sea ruler."
SEARL(E) (British). "Armour" (Germanic).
SEARLE (British). "Armor".
SEATON (British). "Place by the sea," places in England.
SEBASTIAN (British). "Man from Sebastia (=venerable)" (Greek); Saint Sebastian.
SEENY (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Sionna".
SEITER (German). Diminuitive of Siegfried (=victory and protection).
SELBEY (British). "Willow farm" (Old Norse), places in England.
SELF (British). "Sea wolf," from Viking settlements in northeast England.(Germanic).
SELWIN (British). "Sylvan, of the woods" (Latin).
SEVERN (British). "From land around the Severn River."
SEWELL (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Sewell".
SEXTON (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Seisnain".
SEXTON (British). "Sacristan".
SHADE (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Sedna".
SHAKESPEARE (British). "Brandish spear."
SHANE (British). From Mac-Seaghain (Gaelic), "son of John".
SHAP (British). "Heap (a nearby stone circle)."
SHARMAN (British). "Shearer of nap off woollen cloth.".
SHARP(E) (British). "Sharp, keen, smart."
SHARROCK (British). "Shore/short rock," place in England.
SHAW (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Seghdha".
SHAW (British). "Thicket, small wood."
SHAWHAN (British). Form of Sharman.
SHE(A)RMAN (British). "Cloth shearer (from shearman)."
SHEA (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Seghdha".
SHEATHER (British). "Maker of sword sheaths."
SHEEN (British). "Huts, sheds," places in England.
SHEFFIELD (British). "Shed-field," or "sheep-field;" or "Field bordering the River
Sheaf," places in England.
SHELBY (British). From Scelf-byr (Old Norse), "village on a ledge".
SHELDON (British). "Steep-sided valley" or "flat-topped hill," places in England.
SHELLEY (British). "Clearing on a ledge/bank/plateau," places in England.
SHELTON (British). "Place on ledge/plateau (shelf)," places in England.
SHEPARD (British). "Sheep herder, shephard".
SHEPPARD (British). "Sheep-herd, shepherd."
SHERLOCK (British). "Bright, fair hair."
SHIPLEY (British). "Sheep pasture," places in England.
SHIPMAN (British). "Shipworker, sailor" or "sheep-man, shephard."
SHIPPEN (British). "Cattleshed byre".
SHIRLEY (British). "Bright (thinly-grown) wood," places in England.
SHLAUDECKER (German). "Smart roofer" (German).
SHOOK/SHUK (German). From Scuok (Germanic), "shoemaker".
SHUTER (British). "Strip or nook of land".
SIBLEY (British). "Sibyl is Greek, one of the females acting as mouthpieces for
the gods".
SIEFERT (German). "Soap boiler" (Germanic).
SILVA (Spanish; Portuguese; Italian). From Silva (Latin), "forest dweller".
SILVER (British). "Silver smith".
SILVERS (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Sullivan".
SIMON (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "MacSimoin".
SIMON (British). "Hearkening" or "little hyena" (Hebrew); Simon Zelotes the Apostle,
real first name of Saint Peter.
SIMPSON (British). Diminuitive of "son of Simon."
SIMS (British). Son of (diminuitive) Simon.
SINCLAIR (British). Diminuitive of "St. Clair."
SKELTON (British). "Place on a bank/hill".
SKINNER (British). "Skinner" (Old Norse).
SKIPPER (British). "Jumper, dancer" (Middle English); or, "shipmaster" (Middle English from Dutch).
SMART (British). "Smart, brisk, prompt."
SMEATON (British). "Place/farm of the smiths".
SMITH (British). "Metal worker," also found as Anglicized version of German or
other forms.
SMY (British). Form of Smythe.
SMYTHE (British). Form of Smith.
SNAITH (British). "Piece, detached land".
SOMERS (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Sumaghain".
SOMERVILLE (British). "Sunny/south-facing village."
SORREL (British). "Chestnutty, reddish brown".
SORRELS (British). Son of Sorrel.
SOWELL (British). From Solier (Old French), "place of one story houses-a town in
Normandy, France".
SPALDING (British). "Family/folk of a pioneer".
SPARKS (British). "Sprighty, lively".
SPARROW (British). "Sparrow".
SPENSER (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "MacSpallane
or MacSpealla".
SPILLAINE (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Spealain".
SPRINGER (British). "Jumper, leaper".
STACUP (Swedish). "Steelbelly/steelcoat," for the steel armour worn by mercenaries.
STALLCUP (Swedish). Form of Stacup.
STANSFIELD (British). "Stony, stone's field".
STARKER (British). "Firm, tough, stiff, harsh".
STARKEY (British). "Firm, tough, stiff, harsh".
STEADMAN (British). "Farm man" or "groom/cavalryman (from steed man)."
STEEL(E) (British). "Steel-worker"; or, "firm, reliable."
STEPHENS (British). "Crown, wreath, garland".
STEWART (British). "Steward, keeper of a household."
STIEGER (German). "Climber" (German).
STILES (British). "Stile/ascent".
STOKES (British). "Of the stoc (=religious site, outlying settlement)."
Stoke is a place in England.
STONE (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Mulclohy".
STONE (British). "Stone," for a dwelling near a large rock or cluster or rocks.
Places in England.
STONER (British). "Stone, from a dwelling near a prominent rock or stone".
STORY (British). "Big, strong".
STRAUBHAAR (German). "Hair standing on end" (German).
STREET (British). "Roman road" (Old English from Latin), places in England.
STRICKLAND (British). "Land for heifers," places in England.
STROUD (British). ). "Marshland overgrown with brushwood."
STUART (British). "Steward," alternate form Stewart.
SUCKLING (British). "Suckling, unweaned infant."
SUMNER (British). "Summoner, officer summoning people to appear in court".
SUTHERLAND (British). "County, south land".
SWAIN (British). "Boy, servant" (from the Old Norse word
Sveinn); or, "swineherd".
SWAINLAND (British). "Swain's place."
SWANGO (Americanized German). From Schwangau, Germany.
SWANNY (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Suanaigh".
SWARSBROOK. Possibly a form of Schwartzbach.
SWEENEY (British). "Son of Peaceful" (Irish).
SWEET (British). "Sweet, pleasant".
SWEET (British). "Sweet, pleasant" - possibly sarcastic.
SWEITZER (British). "Man from Switzerland".
SYNAN (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "MacGilaSinin".
SYNDER (German). "Tailor" (Germanic).
Back to Top
T
TACKIT (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Tackney".
TALBOT (British). From a Germanic name similar to "Dalabod" (='dale offer/command').
TANGUY (British). "Fire dog" (Breton); Saint Tanguy.
TARPY (British). "Descendant of Tarpach (=sturdy person)" (Irish).
TARPY (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Tarpaigh".
TARVER (British). "Maker/seller/user of a talleras," which features a targuet.
TARVIN (British). "Boundary" (from Welsh terfyn), name of place and river
in England.
TATE (British). Derived from Old English word Tata; could mean "dear, glad, hilltop,
dice, lock of hair, daddy or teat."
TATOM (British). From Tatham, place in England.
TAYLOR (British). "Tailor" (Old French).
TEAGUE (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Teagha".
TEAGUE (British). "Poet, philsopher" (Irish).
TENNANT (British). "Tenant (owner of a tenement)" (Old French).
TENNYSON (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "MacUaithnin".
TENPENNY (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Tiompain".
TEWKSBURY (British). "Tew=fat man".
THEISS (German). Form of Matthias.
THEOBOLD (British). "People bold" (Germanic).
THOMAS (British). "Twin" (Aramaic); often named after Thomas Becket.
THOMPSON (British). "Son of Thomas."
THORN (British). "Thorn, hawthorn," places in England.
THORNTON (British). ). "Thorn town."
THORPE (British). "Farm (especially 'outlying dairy farm')" (Old English, Old Norse).
THRING (British). "Slope with trees (literally tree-hanger)," place in England.
TICKNER (British). "Dweller at the crossroads".
TIDD (British). "Shrubs, brushwood," places in England.
TIDWELL (British). From Tidde-welle, "man of the people's spring".
TIERNAN (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Tighearnain".
TIERNEY (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Tighearnaigh".
TILLMAN (British). ). "Tile maker" or "farmer".
TILLY (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Taichligha".
TIMLIN (British). Double diminuitive "Timothy."
TIMMONS (British). Diminuintive of "Timothy (=honored by God)".
TINDLE (British). Form of Tyndale.
TINKER (British). Form of Tinker.
TINNIN (British). Possible form of Tenant.
TIPTON (British). From Tipa-tun, "farmstead of the boldest among the people".
TISDALE (British). "Flat land on the River Tees."
TODD (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Toghdha".
TODD (British). "Bushy tailed fox" or ). "foxhunter".
TODD (British). "Fox," for foxhunter (Middle English, Old Norse).
TOFFEY (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Toghdha".
TOLAN(D) (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Tuathlain".
TOLAND (British). "Land on the river Tone".
TOLBERT (British). "Tol=unknown; bert =bright famous".
TORRES (Spanish). "Lives at or near a tower/spire".
TOSH (British). Possibly a form of Toshach.
TOSHACH (British). "Chief, leader" (Scots Gaelic).
TOWE (British). "Vigorous, steadfast, stubborn".
TOWEL (British). "Little hill."
TOWER (British). "Tower" (Old English, Old French); or, "tawer, leather-dresser" (Old English).
TOWLER (British). "Toller (one who collects taxes or tolls)."
TOWNDROW (British). "Town row" (ie. street).
TOWNS (British). "Farm, village, town".
TOWNSHEND (British). "End of the village/town, suburb."
TRAVERS (British). "Crossing, tollgate".
TRAVIS (British). Form of Travers.
TREMAINE (British). "Place/farm of the stone monolith" (Cornish); in USA, may be
an altered form of Truman.
TRENT (British). "Living on the bank of rivers called Trent, across + journey".
TRICKER (British). "Cunning, crafty person".
TRIPPER (British). "Dancer" (Germanic).
TROY (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Turrain".
TROY (British). "Descendant of Footsoldier" (Irish); or "from Troyes".
TRUEMAN (British). "Trusty, faithful man."
TRUMAN (British). Commoner form of Trueman.
TUBB(E) (British). "Son of Armed One."
TUCKER (British). "Fuller," one who fulled and burled cloth.
TUDOR (British). Welsh version of Theodore (='God's gift' via Latinized Greek).
TUELL (British). Probably "descendant of Tuathail (=people mighty)" (Scots Gaelic).
TULLY (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Taichligha".
TURNBULL (British). Capable of turning a bull, either as part of a job or as a feat
of daring.
TURNER (British). "Turner (one who worked with a lathe)" (Old French).
TYNDALE (British). "Valley of the Tyne (=Keltic for 'river')."
TYRRELL (British). "Stubborn person, derivative of to pull".
Back to Top
U
UELIN (German). "Little owl" (Germanic).
UNDERWOOD (British). "Below the wood".
UPSHAW (British). "Upper grove or thicket."
Back to Top
V
VALENTE, VALEZ (Spanish). "Son of Velio" or ). "elevated place" or ). "shepard".
VALENTINE (British). "Strong, healthy" (Latin); related to an ancient Pagan love festival
which was renamed after a Roman martyr.
VAN OOSTEN (Dutch) (German). "From east" (Germanic).
VAUGHAN (British). "Little" (Old Welsh).
VEAL(E) (British). "Calf" or "old" (Old French).
VECK (British). "Bishop" (Old French).
VELDE (Dutch). "Field" (Dutch).
VENABLE(S) (British). "Venables, hunting area," place in Europe.
VERBURG (Dutch). "From castle/strong building" (Dutch).
VERNON (British). "Alder tree" (Gaulish), places in France.
VERSH (British). ). "Daughter" (Welsh).
VETTERS (German). "Cousin, kinsman" (Germanic).
VICKERS (British). "Vicar, substitute parish priest for the rector or religious
house where tithes are given".
VICTORY (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "MacNebo".
VINE (British). "Vine(yard)," for a worker in one (Old French).
VINER (British). "Dweller in a vineyard, vine grower."
VINES (British). "Vineyard or worker in one".
VITAL (British). "Living, vital" (Latin).
VOGELSANGER (British). "Bird meadow".
VOLANT (British). "Flying, agile, speedy."
VOYLE (British). "Bald" (Welsh).
Back to Top
W
WACKER (German). From Wacar (Germanic), "watchful one".
WADDINGTON (British). "Place of the men from Waddow," places in England.
WAGNER (British;German). From Waganari (Germanic), "wagonmaker; wagon driver".
WAGNER (German). "Wainright" (Germanic).
WAINSCOTT (British). "Carterwright or wagon" or ). "someone living in a house with these signs".
WAINWRIGHT (British). "Wain (wagon) maker."
WAIT(E) (British). "Watchman" (Old French).
WAKE (British). "Watchful, alert" (Old English, Old Norse).
WALDO (British, German). "Of the forest" (German); or "foreign servant/slave" (Old English).
WALDRON (British). "House in a wood".
WALE (British). "Foreign" (Germanic); or, "choice, excellent, noble" (Middle
English); or, "ridge, bank".
WALFORD (British). "Stream, ford".
WALKER (British). "Walker" - one who walked on cloth in troughs as part of the
fulling process.
WALKLET (British). Double diminuitive of "Walho" (Germanic).
WALLACE (British). Scottish form of Wallis.
WALLER (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "MacUlahairg".
WALLIS (British). "Celt, Welshman, Breton, foreigner" (Old French).
WALMSLEY (British). ). "Wood-lake clearing."
WALPOLE (British). "Pool by a (Roman) wall," or "pool of the Welsh," places in England.
WALTER (British). "Rule army/people" (Germanic normanized).
WALTON (British). "Place of the Welsh/slaves/serfs"; or, "place of the wood/by
a wall/with a wall/by a stream (well)." Wal (foreigner)
is the term invading Anglo-Saxons used to describe indigenous
Britons.
WARD (British). "Watchman"; or, "guardhouse, fortress." In Ireland, form of McWard (="son of
the bard").
WARDEN (British). "Watch/look-out hill," places in England.
WARDROBE (British). "Man in charge of the robes of a household" (Old French).
WARE (British). "Wary, cautious, prudent".
WARFIELD (British). "Field of the wrens' stream," place in England.
WARNER (British). "Warin army" (German).
WARNER (German). "A warner" (Germanic).
WARREN (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Byrne".
WARREN (British). Common form of Warrenne.
WARRENNE (British). "From La Varenne (=sandy soil, game preserve)," place in France
(Gaulish).
WASHBOURNE (British). "Stream for washing clothes/sheep".
WASHINGTON (British). "Place/farm of the family of Wassa," places in England.
WASSON (British, Finnish, German, Swedish). "Son of Waso (=sharp) or Wace (=watchful)"; or, "from Waso, Finland"; or form of Watson.
WATKINS (British). "From water".
WATLING (British). "Son of Wetla (=he of the short sword)."
WATROUS (British). Form of Waterhouse - one story states
that this alternate spelling was adopted when members of
the Waterhouse family were on opposite sides in the American
civil war.
WATSON (British). "Son of Watt."
WATT (British). Diminuitive of "Walter."
WEAKLEY (British). "Wych-elm wood/clearing."
WEATHERFORD (British). "River crossing for a wether (neutered ram)."
WEBB(E) (British). "Weaver."
WEBBER (British, German). "Weaver." The "er" ending indicates that this surname is of more
recent origins than Webb.
WEBSTER (British). "Weaver".
WEBSTER (British). "Female weaver (from Web and spinster)."
WEEKS (British). Derived from Wick.
WEEMS (British). "Caves" (Gaelic).
WELCH (British). Commoner form of Welsh.
WELLEN (British). "Someone living near a spring".
WELSH (British). "Celtic, Welsh, British, foreign."
WELTER (German). "From the (town of) Welt" (German).
WENZEL (German). From Wenceslava (Old Slavic), "garland of glory".
WESTLEY (British). "Western wood/clearing".
WEY (British). "At the heathen temple".
WHINEY (British). "Whin-covered hill," places in England.
WHITAKER (British). "White field" or "wheat field"; places in England.
WHITE (British). "White, of hair or complexion."
WHITLOW (British). From Hwit-hloew, "white soil hill or burial mound".
WHITMORE (British). "White moor/mere".
WHITNEY (British). "(At the) White Island" or "White's Island."
WHITTIER (British). "White tawer, dresser of skins in white leather".
WICK(E) (British). "Abode, hamlet, dairy-farm"; in Scotland could be "creek, inlet,
corner of land" (Old Norse).
WIDERGREN (Swedish). "Wide green branch of family tree"
- meaning??.
WIEDERIN (German). "Wied=withe or willow tree" (Germanic).
WILCOX (British). "William=will/resolve + Cock=hilltop or jest".
WILDBER (British). Form of Wildbore.
WILDBORE (British). "Wild boar," for ferociousness or pride.
WILKINSON (British).  "Son of (diminuitive) Will."
WILL (British). Diminuitive of "William."
WILLARD (British). "Will/resolve bold" (Germanic normanized).
WILLIAM (British). "Will/resolve helmet" (Germanic normanized); William the Conqueror.
WILLIARD (British). Form of Willard.
WILLIFORD (British). "Will, desire + helmet protection" (Norman).
WILLING (British). Form of Williford.
WILLOUGHBY (British). "Farm in the willows".
WILSON (British). "Son of Will."
WINN (British). "Friend."
WINTER (British). "Winter, being born in a hard winter or white haired".
WIRTH (German). "Landlord" (German).
WITTY (British). ). "Wise, skillful."
WOHLGEMUTH (German). "Happy disposition" (Germanic).
WOLF(E) (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "MacTyre".
WOLFGANG (German). "Wolf + gait" (Germanic).
WOLFGANG (Germanic). From Wolf-gang, "advancing wolf".
WOOD(S) (British). Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Coilligh".
WOODIWISS (British). "Faun, satyr, troll, woodwose," for a wild man.
WOODRUFF (British). "Woodruff, snoot scented herb".
WOODS (British). "Of the wood" or "crazy".
WOODWARD (British). "Woodkeeper, forester".
WOOL(L)E(R)Y (British). "Wolf meadow."
WOOLDRIDGE (British). "Wolf, powerful".
WOOTTON (British). "Place/farm in or by the woods".
WORKMAN (British). "Workman, builder."
WORSTELL (British). "Wide forest" (Norman).
WORTHY (British). ). A worth was an enclosure; the name may come from one of the many
places in England ending in -worth.
WREN (British). "Wren bird" or "shrewd" or "singer".
WRIGHT (British). "Craftsman, builder."
WROE (British). ). "Remote place" (Old Norse).
WUNDER (German). "Wonder, miracle" (Germanic).
WURST (German). "Sausage," for a sausage maker/seller.
WYATT (British). "Abode, hamlet".
WYNN(E) (British). "White" (Welsh); or, form of Winn.
Back to Top
Y
YANCEY (French/Native American). "Englishman".
YAUGER (German). Form of Jagger.
YEO (British). "River, stream." Name of over 20 places in Devonshire, England.
YORK(E) (British). British Eburac (=yew tree), Latinzied, mistranslated by
Anglo-Saxons as Eoforwic (=wild boar Wick), then Scandinavized
by Vikings to "Vorvik", finally became "York." English city
and county.
YOUNG(E) (British). "Young," perhaps meant as a synonym to 'junior'.
YSLA (Spanish). "Small place or governmental unit".
Back to Top
Z
ZELENSKY (Russian). From Ziel (Old Slavic), "from the green place".
ZELLER (British). "Seller."
ZILLWOOD (British). Derived from "Sealwudu (=sallow wood)."
ZIMMERMAN (German). "Carpenter" (German).
ZIRKUS (German). or "Circus, or hurly-burly" (German).
ZURBUCHEN (German).
"By the beech tree" (Germanic).
Back to Top |
