First names, English Last Names, or English surnames have been derived from places, immigrants, conquests, and more. There is, however, a unique history behind each of these English Last names. It also has references in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and other regions of the United Kingdom.
Do you know there are more than thousands of English family names with well-defined meanings, histories, and stories? In this article, you will find a list of such Common English surnames along with their meanings.
English Last Names 2024
Below are the most popular last names for Boys and Girls in different countries, both today and historically.
English last names That Start With A
- Appleton: apple town
- Asheton: ash tree town
- Ashley: Ash tree meadow
- Ashton: ash tree town
- Astley: east meadow
- Atherton: Aethelhere’s town
- Atterton: Powerful town
- Axton: sword stone
- Abelino: bird
- Alan: Harmony
- Acalan: immovable
- Alejandro: Defender Of The People
- Alonzo: Noble
- Alfonzo: Ready for a fight
- Alvaro: Guardian
- Amador: lover
- Ángel: Messenger Of God
- Antonio: Highly praiseworthy
- Arturo: Bear
- Alachua: sink
- Atlanta: secure and immovable
- Adams: Son of Adam
- Allen: harmony
- Anderson: son of Andrew
- Armstrong: strong arms
- Atkinson: red earth
- Anderson: son of man
- Awen: Muse
- Alexander: Defender
- Aba: Father
- Abram: exalted father
- Acker: field
- Acton: The Oak Tree
- Addington: delicious
- Adley: God is just
- Ainsley: one’s own meadow
- Alby: village of alder trees
- Allerton: village where alder-tress grow
- Alston: noble stone
- Altham: river meadow of the swans
- Alton: old town
- Anderton: brave settlement
- Ansley: hermitage field
- Anstey: one path
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Common English surnames That Start With B
- Bradley: broad wood
- Brooks: stream
- Brown: Brown haired
- Burton: fort enclosure
- Butler: the bottler
- Bennett: blessed
- Bryant: Son Of Brian
- Bailey: berry clearing
- Bailey: berry clearing
- Baker: who bake
- Ball: round one
- Barker: a tanner of leather
- Barnes: warrior
- Bell: ringer
- Bennett: blessed
- Booth: small dwelling place
Unique English last names That Start With C
- Camden: The Valley Of The Camps
- Carlisle: from the walled city
- Carlton: Peasants’ settlement
- Cason: son of the marsh-dwellers
- Charlton: settlement of free men
- Chatham: From the soldier’s land
- Chester: A Fortress
- Churchill: hill of the church
- Clapham: a hillock
- Clare: bright
- Clayden: Clay Hill
- Clayton: place with good clay
- Clifford: forged by a cliff
- Clifton: A Town Near A Cliff
- Clinton: Town On A Hill
- Clive: Cliff
- Colby: from a coal town
- Colgate: charcoal gate
- Colton: Cole’s Town
- Compton: Short straight valley
- Coombs: valley
- Copeland: bought land
- Cornish: joyful
- Cotton: Cotton
- Crawford: From The Crow Ford
- Cromwell: winding stream
- Cumberbatch: valley with a stream
- Campbell: crooked
- Carter: Cart driver
- Chapman: marketman
- Clarke: clerk
- Cole: swarthy
- Collins: holly
- Cook: who cook
- Cooper: Barrel Maker
- Corbyn: a person with dark hair
- Cox: rooster
- Clark : scholar
- Campbell: crooked mouth
- Coleman: coal man
- Caesar: Thick Head Of Hair
- Cannes: south-east coast
- Canoe: travel in or paddle a canoe
- Carlos: Free Man
- Chili: Cold
- Chimalli: shield
- Chihuahua: dry place
- Chipahua: clean
- Citlalee: star
- Call: To speak
- Cualli: Good
- Cuetlachtli: wolf
Most common English surnames That Start With D
- Darlington: Cheerful and a darling
- Davenport: the town on the trickling stream
- Dayton: Bright and sunny town
- Deighton: Bright And sunny town
- Denholm: Valley island
- Denver: green valley
- Digby: Farm by a ditch
- Dryden: Dry Town
- Dudley: From Dudda’s Meadow
- Durham: hill
- Davidson: beloved
- Davies: son of David
- Dawson: Son Of David
- Dixon: son of Richard
- Diaz: days
- Davis: Son Of David
- Dana: arbiter
- Daniel: God is my judge
- David: Beloved
- Diego: Saint James
- Dalton: From The Valley Town
- Darby: deer
Popular English last names That Start With E
- Evans: God has been gracious
- Eduardo: Wealthy guardian
- Edwards: prosperous guardian
- Elliott: Bravely
- Evans: God has been gracious
English surnames and meanings That Start With F
- Ford: River crossing
- Foster: One who keeps the forest
- Fox: Wild Animal In Dog
- Flores: flower
- Fisher: one lived by fishing
- Fletcher: arrow-maker
- Fernando: Brave traveler
- Francisco: Free
Rare English last names That Start With G
- Gonzales: Son of Gonzalo
- Griffin: Strong in faith
- Gonzalez : Son of Gonzalo
- Gabriel: God is my strength
- Gerardo: spear courageous
- Gibson: Gilbert’s son
- Graham: grey home
- Grant: Bestow
- Gray: gray-haired
- Green: Green color
- Griffiths: strong lord
- Garcia: young
Fancy English surnames That Start With H
- Hailey: wise one
- Hale: a nook
- Hales: healthy
- Haley: hay clearing
- Hallewell: holy well
- Halsey: Hal’s island
- Hamilton: treeless hill
- Hampton: homestead farm
- Harlan: rocky land
- Harley: hare’s meadow
- Harlow: army hill
- Harrington: Strong and powerful
- Hartford: deer crossing
- Hastings: Violent
- Hayden: Fire
- Hayes: fire
- Hayhurst: enclosure made of trees
- Hayley: wise one
- Hazelton: settlement near hazel trees
- Holton: farmstead by the wood
- Home: From the cave
- Hurley: Sea tide
- Huxley: Hugh’s meadow
- Hall: spacious house
- Hamilton: treeless hill
- Harris: son of Harry
- Harrison: son of Harris
- Harvey: Battle worthy
- Henderson: Son of Henry
- Hill: at the hill
- Holmes: of the river sands
- Howard: Heart Brave
- Hughes: mind
- Hunt: to hunt
- Hunter: One Who Hunts
- Hillan: of several hills
- Hallow: sacred
- Hernandez: Adventurous
- Howardez: Heart Brave
- Hender: old water
- Hughes: intellect
- Hayes: hedged area
- Harris: son of Harry
- Hedia: Echo Of God
- Hackney: Hacca’s island
- Hadlee: heather meadow
- Hadleigh: heather meadow
- Hadley: heather meadow
Rich English last names That Start With I
- Ireland: Ireland
- Ithaca: rugged island
- Ichtaca: Secret
- Ikal: spirit
Cool English surnames That Start With J
- Johnson: son of John
- Johnston: John’s town
- Jones: John’s son
- Jackson: son of Jack
- James: Supplanter
- Jenkins: little John
English last names rare That Start With K
- King: Ruler
- Knight: Noble or soldier
- Kelly: Bright-headed
- Kennedy: ugly head
Uncommon English surnames That Start With L
- Langley: long meadow
- Langston: long stone
- Law: From the hill
- Leighton: meadow town
- Lester: Fortified place
- Lincoln: pool colony
- Linden: Lime tree
- Lindsay: A lake
- Lindsey: A lake
- Lynn: Lake
- Lee: Meadow
- Lewis: renowned warrior
- Lloyd: grey
- Lawren: from Laurentium
- Lewisen: lion-like
- Leen: tender
- Lopez: Son of Lope
- Long: dragon
- Lancaster: fort on the Lune river
- Landon: From The Long Hill
- Langdon: long hill
Medieval English last names That Start With M
- Martinez: son of Martin
- Manley: Manly
- Marlee: marshy meadow
- Marleigh: marshy meadow
- Marley: pleasant wood
- Marlowe: driftwood
- Marston: From The Marsh Town
- Merton: Settlement by a lake
- Middleton: middle town
- Milton: From The Mill Town
- Morley: meadow on the moor
- Morton: settlement by the moor
- Myers: mayor
- Marshall: horse servant
- Martin: Of Mars
- Mason: One who works with stone
- Matthews: gift of Yahweh
- Mcdonald: world ruler
- Miller: Mill Worker
- Mitchell: Gift from God
- Moore: open land
- Morgan: white sea dweller
- Morris: dark-skinned
- Morrison: Dark-skinned
- Murphy: Descendant Of Sea Warrior
- Murray: From the sea
- Morris: swarthy
Good English surnames That Start With N
- Neal: Champion
- Newton: New town
- Norris: Caretaker
- Nelson: son of neil
- Neol: birthday of the Lord
- Negan: strong
Strong English last names That Start With O
- Oberon: Noble Bear
- Olan: ancestor
- Oshea: A savior
- Omal: soft
- Owen: The Yew Tree
- Olsen: Olaf’s son
- Oliver: The olive tree
- Onel: Love and prosperity
Weird English surnames That Start With P
- Peterson: son of Peter
- Patterson: son of Pate
- Peyton: fighting-man’s estate
- Pickering: the ridge of the pointed hill
- Prescott: priest’s cottage
- Presley: priest’s meadow
- Preston: Priest’s estate
- Palmer: palm tree
- Parker: park keeper
- Payne: the son of Pagan
- Pearce: Rock
- Pearson: rock
- Perry: Dweller By The Pear Tree
- Phillips: son of Phillip
- Powell: son of
- Perez: son of Pero
- Parker: park keeper
Royal English last names That Start With R
- Redfield: an area cleared
- Reed: red-haired
- Reid: red
- Remington: place on a riverbank
- Ridley: Reed Clearing
- Riley: courageous
- Rodney: island
- Roscoe: deer forest
- Rowley: rough clearing
- Royal: Of The King
- Royston: Royse’s stone
- Rutherford: cattle ford
- Rylan: From The Rye Land
- Ryland: From The Rye Land
- Ryley: brave
- Reid: red
- Reynolds: brave councilor
- Richards: powerful
- Richardson: Son of Richard
- Roberts: bright renown
- Robertson: son of Robert
- Robinson: on of Robin
- Rogers: famous spear man
- Rose: rose flower
- Ross: horse
- Russell: red hair color
- Rodriguez: Son of Rodrigo
- Rivera: riverbank
- Ramirez: son of Ramiro
- Reed: red hair
- Ramsay: low-lying land
- Ramsey: wild garlic island
- Rayden: god of thunder
- Read: Red haired
Traditional English surnames That Start With S
- Shelly: From the ledge meadow
- Sherwood: bright forest
- Shipley: From the sheep meadow
- Shirley: Bright wood
- Sidney: wide meadow
- Snape: dweller by the pasture
- Snowdon: snow hill
- Soames: homestead by the pool
- Spalding: divided field
- Spaulding: Spaulding
- Springfield: the season spring
- Stafford: landing place’
- Stanford: stone ford
- Stanhope: the stony hollow
- Stanley: Stony meadow
- Stansfield: stony field
- Stanton: Stony meadow
- Saunders: defending men
- Scott: Gaelic speaker
- Shaw: Copse
- Simpson: Son of Simon
- Smith: man who works with metal
- Spencer: Dispenser of provisions
- Stevens: crown
- Stewart: household guardian
- Sanchez: Sanctified
- Simmons: listening
- Sanders: defending men
- Scott: Person From Scotland
- Sandford: sandy ford
- Sanford: the Sandy Ford
- Scarboro: fortified town
- Shelby: a willow grove
- Sheldon: steep valley
- Shelley: meadow’s edge
Long English last names That Start With T
- Tewksbury: a market town
- Thornton: bush enclosure
- Thorpe: hamlet
- Tickle: kid hill
- Tindall: to flow
- Tinley: Dennis’ Field
- Trollope: troll valley
- Taylor: tailor
- Thomas: twin
- Thompson: Son of Thom
- Thomson: son of Thom
- Turner: Lathe Worker
- Torres: tower
- Tatum: cheerful bringer of joy
- Tenley: Dennis’ Field
Pretty English surnames That Start With W
- Warwick: buildings near the weir
- Webley: From the weaver’s meadow
- Wedgwood: place at the marshy wood
- Weld: undisciplined
- Wellington: From the wealthy estate
- Wentworth: pale man’s settlement
- Wesley: western meadow
- Westbrook: town west of the brook
- Westcott: west cottage
- Weston: western town
- Wharton: farm near the river
- Wheatley: from the wheat meadow
- Whitby: From The White Village
- Wilberforce: will fortress
- Willoughby: The Farm By The Willows
- Winchester: the dweller at the Roman fort
- Windsor: riverbank with a windlass
- Winterbourne: winter stream
- Winthrop: Friend’s village
- Wordsworth: World guardian
- Walker: Worker in cloth
- Walsh: foreigner
- Ward: a guard
- Watson: son of Wat
- Watts: Ruler of the army
- Webb: weaver of cloth
- Webster: weaver
- West: From The West
- White: fair
- Wilkinson: son of Wilkin
- Williams: determined protector
- Williamson: son of William
- Wilson: Son of will
- Wood: forest
- Wright: a maker of machinery
- Williams: determined protectors
- Washington: From the intelligent one’s farm
- Wade: to go
- Wakefield: Watch field
- Walcott: Peasant’s cottage
- Wallace: Foreigner
- Walpole: pool formed by a well
List of English last names That Start With Y
- Yong: brave
- Young: The young one
50 English Last Names and Meanings
Here are 50 English last names along with their meanings and associated zodiac signs:
Adams – son of Adam; Aquarius
Bailey – occupational name for a bailiff; Aries
Baker – occupational name for a baker; Gemini
Bell – occupational name for a bell–ringer; Virgo
Bennett – son of Benedict; Sagittarius
Brooks – topographical name for someone who lived near a stream or brook; Pisces
Campbell – Gaelic name meaning “crooked mouth”; Cancer
Carter – occupational name for a transporter of goods by cart; Taurus
Clark – occupational name for a clerk or scholar; Capricorn
Collins – son of Colin; Gemini
Cook – occupational name for a cook; Sagittarius
Cooper – occupational name for a cooper or barrel–maker; Taurus
Cox – occupational name for a servant or worker; Scorpio
Davis – son of David; Scorpio
Edwards – son of Edward; Libra
Evans – son of Evan; Aries
Fisher – occupational name for a fisherman; Pisces
Ford – topographical name for someone who lived near a ford or crossing; Taurus
Foster – occupational name for a foster–parent; Scorpio
Garcia – from the personal name García, meaning “young warrior”; Scorpio
Green – topographical name for someone who lived by a village green or a green field; Virgo
Hall – occupational name for someone who worked in a hall or manor–house; Cancer
Harris – son of Harry; Aries
Hayes – topographical name for someone who lived by a hedge or hedgerow; Gemini
Hill – topographical name for someone who lived on a hill or high ground; Capricorn
Hughes – son of Hugh; Scorpio
Jackson – son of Jack; Pisces
James – son of James; Leo
Jenkins – son of Jenkin; Sagittarius
Johnson – son of John; Aquarius
Jones – son of John; Aquarius
Kelly – from the Irish Gaelic name O’Ceallaigh, meaning “bright–headed”; Scorpio
King – occupational name for a king or ruler; Leo
Lee – topographical name for someone who lived by a meadow or a clearing; Gemini
Lewis – from the personal name Lewis, meaning “famous warrior”; Aquarius
Martinez – from the personal name Martin, meaning “warrior”; Capricorn
Miller – occupational name for a miller; Pisces
Mitchell – from the personal name Michael, meaning “who is like God?”; Gemini
Morgan – from the Welsh personal name Morcant, meaning “sea circle”; Pisces
Murphy – from the Irish Gaelic name O’Murchadha, meaning “sea–warrior”; Scorpio
Nelson – son of Neil; Aquarius
Parker – occupational name for a gamekeeper or park–keeper; Sagittarius
Perez – from the personal name Pedro, meaning “rock”; Scorpio
Phillips – son of Philip; Libra
Robinson – son of Robin; Aries
Rogers – son of Roger; Aquarius
Ross – topographical name for someone who lived by a headland or promontory; Aquarius
Scott – from the Old English personal name Scott, meaning “Scotsman”;
Turner – occupational name for a turner or woodworker; Taurus
White – topographical name for someone who lived by a white hill or a white field; Libra