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Use our free last name meaning search populated with data from U.S. Census records, the Social Security Death Index, newspaper archives and more! Read More. View Your Family Records Now
Census can provide valuable information about your ancestors, such as their occupation, education, household, and more. Immigration records can reveal passenger lists with vital journey details like the ship's name and ports of departure and arrival. Military records offer valuable information on the service of your veteran ancestors, such as ...
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"What does my surname mean?" If you have ever asked this question and wondered about the origin of your last name, you will find your surname may answer one of the questions of where your ancestors lived, or what they did for a living, or what was their personality like, or how they looked many hundreds of years ago.
- Overview
- Determining if You Have a Family-Related Surname
- Checking if You Have an Occupational or Geographical Surname
- Determining if You Have a Descriptive Surname
- Using Other Resources
Last names, also called surnames, have been in existence since the thirteenth century. They originated as a way to identify people by their family, country of origin, and in some cases, personality or physical appearance. You can find the origin of your surname by determining if it is patronymic or matronymic, derived from a father’s or mother’s na...
Look at the prefix in your surname.
The prefix is the first two or three letters of your surname. The prefix was often added to notate if the head of your family was the “son of” or the “daughter of” the head of their family. Certain prefixes come from specific places and cultures, such as Gaelic, Irish, and English. Your surname may have prefixes like:
“Mac” or “Mc,” such as “MacDonald” or “McCloud.” This means your surname is of Gaelic origin.
“Fitz,” such as “Fitzpatrick” or “Fitzgerald.” This means your surname is of English origin.
“O,” such as “O’Brien” or “O’Shea.” This means your surname is of Irish origin.
“ap,” such as “Bedo ap Batho,” which becomes “Bedo Batho.” This means your surname is of Welsh origin.
Notice if your surname refers to a particular occupation.
In some cases, our last name reflects the occupation or status of your ancestors. The occupation was usually a craft or trade during the medieval period in Europe. Look up your surname to see if it relates to a particular occupation. Examples include:
“Miller,” a person who would grind flour from grain. It can also be spelt “Muller” if your ancestors were German.
“Wainwright,” a person who built wagons.
“Bishop,” a person who worked for a Bishop.
“Taylor,” a person who made or repaired clothing.
Check if your surname refers to your ancestor’s physical appearance.
Some last names come from the physical characteristics of your ancestors. They may have been given nicknames or pet names from neighbors or friends based on how they looked. The nickname or pet name may then have been adopted as their last name, and your last name. Examples include:
“Broadhead,” if your ancestor had a large head.
“Black” or “Brown,” if your ancestor had black or brown hair.
“Baines,” meaning “bones,” so your ancestor may have appeared thin or bony.
"Grande," meaning "big" in Spanish, so your ancestor may have been a large person.
Use an online genealogy service.
Look online for a genealogy service that will trace back the origin of your last name for you. You may need to pay a small fee to get this done and provide your surname.
For example, you may use Ancestry.com or GenealogyBank.com.
You can also access free ancestry or genealogy databases online, though they may only give you general information. Usually, the paid services will uncover more detailed information about your last name.
You can also hire a genealogist to determine the origin of your last name. A genealogist is trained to trace back your ancestors and find detailed information on the origin of your surname.
Look for certified genealogists online or through your local university.
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Census Records. Census can provide valuable information about your ancestors, such as their occupation, education, household, and more. search census collection.
Free Five Generation Ancestor Chart Download. Document names and birth, death and marriage details for five generations of your family with this type-in genealogy chart. Family Tree Magazine. Where does my last name come from? What does it mean?
Search for another surname. Discover the meaning of the Search surname on Ancestry®. Find your family's origin in the United States, average life expectancy, most common occupation, and more.
