British Last Names

These British last names come from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, from Smith and Jones to rare local names, each listed with its meaning and origin.

300 real surnames with meanings, A to Z.

A

Abbott

Occupational or nickname, from Old English abbod, abbot

English
Adams

Son of Adam, Hebrew for earth or man

English
Adamson

Son of Adam, meaning earth or man

Scottish
Aitken

Scots diminutive of Adam, earth or man

Scottish
Alexander

From Greek personal name, defender of men

Scottish
Allan

From Gaelic or Breton personal name Alan, possibly little rock

Scottish
Allen

From Breton personal name Alan, possibly little rock

English
Anderson

Son of Andrew, patron saint of Scotland

Scottish
Angus

From Gaelic Aonghus, meaning one choice

Scottish
Armstrong

Nickname for a strong-armed man, Northumbrian Border origin

English
Atkinson

Son of Atkin, a medieval diminutive of Adam

English

B

Bailey

Occupational name for a bailiff or steward

English
Baird

From Gaelic bàrd, meaning poet or bard

Scottish
Baker

Occupational name for a baker, Old English baecere

English
Ball

Nickname for a bald or rotund man, or dweller by a knoll

English
Barker

Occupational name for a tanner who used bark

English
Barlow

Habitational name meaning barley hill, Lancashire

English
Barnes

Dweller by the barn or grain store

English
Barrett

Possibly from Old French barat, trade or trouble

English
Barton

Habitational name meaning barley farm or outlying grange

English
Bates

Son of Bate, a pet form of Bartholomew

English
Baxter

Occupational name for a baker, originally feminine form

English
Beattie

Diminutive of Bartholomew, Border clan name

Scottish
Bell

Bell ringer, or dweller at the sign of the bell

English
Bennett

From medieval personal name Benedict, meaning blessed

English
Bentley

Habitational name meaning bent grass clearing

English
Berry

Dweller by a fortified manor, Old English burh

English
Bevan

From ab Evan, son of Evan, the Welsh John

Welsh
Beynon

From ab Einion, son of Einion, anvil

Welsh
Bird

Nickname for a birdlike person or a bird catcher

English
Bishop

Nickname or occupational name for a bishop or his servant

English
Black

Nickname for someone with dark hair or complexion

Scottish
Blair

Habitational name from Gaelic blàr, meaning plain or field

Scottish
Blake

Nickname meaning black, or paradoxically pale

English
Booth

Dweller in a hut or herdsman's shelter, Old Norse

English
Bowen

From ab Owen, son of Owen, well born

Welsh
Boyd

From Gaelic buidhe, meaning yellow haired, or from Bute

Scottish
Bradley

Habitational name from Old English broad clearing

English
Brewer

Occupational name for a brewer of ale

English
Briggs

Northern form of Bridge, dweller by a bridge

English
Brodie

Habitational name from Moray, possibly ditch or muddy place

Scottish
Brooks

Dweller by a brook or stream

English
Brown

Nickname for someone with brown hair or complexion

English
Bruce

Norman origin, from Brix in Normandy, royal house

Scottish
Buchan

Regional name from the district of Buchan, Aberdeenshire

Scottish
Buchanan

Habitational name from Stirlingshire, house of the canon

Scottish
Burgess

Status name for a freeman of a borough

English
Burns

Dweller by a burn or stream

Scottish
Burton

Habitational name meaning fortified farmstead

English
Butler

Occupational name for a wine steward or cup bearer

English

C

Cadogan

From Welsh personal name Cadwgan, battle glory

Welsh
Cadwallader

From Welsh Cadwaladr, meaning battle leader

Welsh
Cairns

Dweller by a heap of stones or cairn

Scottish
Calder

Habitational name meaning hard or violent water

Scottish
Cameron

From Gaelic cam sròn, meaning crooked nose

Scottish
Campbell

From Gaelic cam beul, meaning crooked mouth

Scottish
Carmichael

Habitational name from Lanarkshire, fort of Michael

Scottish
Carr

Dweller by a marsh or brushwood, Old Norse kjarr

English
Carter

Occupational name for a transporter of goods by cart

English
Chalmers

Scots form of Chambers, a chamberlain

Scottish
Chambers

Occupational name for a chamberlain or room attendant

English
Chandler

Occupational name for a candle maker

English
Chapman

Occupational name for a merchant or trader, Old English ceapmann

English
Charles

From Germanic personal name meaning free man

Welsh
Chisholm

Habitational name from Roxburghshire, water meadow for cheese

Scottish
Christie

Diminutive of Christian or Christopher

Scottish
Clark

Occupational name for a clerk or scribe

English
Clarke

Occupational name for a clerk or scholar

English
Clayton

Habitational name meaning clay settlement

English
Cochrane

Habitational name from Renfrewshire, possibly red brook

Scottish
Cole

From Old English personal name Cola, meaning coal black

English
Coleman

Servant of Cole, or a charcoal burner

English
Collins

Son of Colin, a diminutive of Nicholas

English
Cook

Occupational name for a cook or food seller

English
Cooper

Occupational name for a maker of barrels and casks

English
Cowan

From Gaelic Mac Eoghainn, or a mason or cave dweller

Scottish
Cox

From Cock, a nickname for a strutting or bold young man

English
Craddock

Anglicised form of Caradog, meaning beloved

Welsh
Craig

Dweller by a crag or rocky hill

Scottish
Crawford

Habitational name from Lanarkshire, crow ford

Scottish
Crichton

Habitational name from Midlothian, border settlement

Scottish
Cross

Dweller by a stone cross

English
Cruickshank

Nickname for a bow legged man

Scottish
Cumming

Norman origin, from Comines in Flanders

Scottish
Cunningham

Habitational name from Ayrshire district of Cunninghame

Scottish
Currie

Habitational name from Gaelic currach, wet plain

Scottish
Curtis

Nickname from Old French curteis, courteous

English

D

Dalton

Habitational name meaning valley settlement

English
Daniel

From the Hebrew name, God is my judge

Welsh
David

From the Hebrew name meaning beloved, patron saint of Wales

Welsh
Davidson

Son of David, beloved, a Highland clan

Scottish
Davies

Son of David, the patron saint of Wales

Welsh
Davis

Son of David, English spelling of Davies

English
Dawson

Son of Daw, a medieval pet form of David

English
Day

From Daye, a medieval pet form of David, or Middle English deie, dairy worker

English
Dean

Dweller in a valley, or a church dean

English
Dewar

Occupational name for a keeper of a saint's relic

Scottish
Dickson

Son of Dick, a pet form of Richard

Scottish
Dixon

Son of Dick, a pet form of Richard

English
Docherty

From Gaelic Ó Dochartaigh, descendant of the hurtful one

Scottish
Douglas

From Gaelic dubh glas, meaning dark stream

Scottish
Drummond

Habitational name from Drymen, Stirlingshire, ridge

Scottish
Duff

From Gaelic dubh, meaning dark or black

Scottish
Dunbar

Habitational name from East Lothian, summit fort

Scottish
Duncan

From Gaelic Donnchadh, meaning brown warrior

Scottish
Dunlop

Habitational name from Ayrshire, muddy hill

Scottish
Dunn

Nickname for a dark haired man, Old English dunn

English
Dyer

Occupational name for a dyer of cloth

English

E

Edwards

Son of Edward, meaning wealthy guardian

Welsh
Elliot

Border clan name, possibly from Old English Elwald

Scottish
Elliott

From medieval diminutive of Elias or Old English Aethelgeat

English
Ellis

From medieval personal name Elis, form of Elijah

English
Erskine

Habitational name from Renfrewshire, green rising ground

Scottish
Evans

Son of Evan, the Welsh form of John

Welsh

F

Farmer

Occupational name for a tax collector or tenant farmer

English
Faulkner

Occupational name for a falconer

English
Ferguson

Son of Fergus, meaning man of vigour

Scottish
Field

Dweller by open land or pasture

English
Fife

Regional name from the kingdom of Fife

Scottish
Findlay

From Gaelic Fionnlagh, meaning fair warrior

Scottish
Fisher

Occupational name for a fisherman

English
Fleming

Ethnic name for a settler from Flanders

Scottish
Fletcher

Occupational name for a maker of arrows

English
Forbes

Habitational name from Aberdeenshire, field or district

Scottish
Ford

Dweller by a river crossing

English
Forsyth

Possibly from Gaelic Fearsithe, man of peace, or a place name

Scottish
Foster

Occupational name for a forester or foster parent

English
Foulkes

From Norman personal name Fulk, meaning people

Welsh
Fowler

Occupational name for a bird catcher

English
Fox

Nickname for a cunning person or one with red hair

English
Francis

From the Latin personal name meaning Frenchman

Welsh
Franklin

Status name for a free landowner

English
Fraser

Norman origin, possibly from strawberry, fraise

Scottish
Freeman

Status name for a free man not in serfdom

English
Fyfe

Regional name from Fife, Scots spelling

Scottish

G

Galbraith

From Gaelic gall Breathnach, foreign Briton

Scottish
Gardner

Occupational name for a gardener

English
Geddes

Habitational name from Nairn, or from a pike fish

Scottish
George

From the Greek name meaning farmer

Welsh
Gethin

From Welsh cethin, meaning dusky or swarthy

Welsh
Gibson

Son of Gib, a pet form of Gilbert

English
Gilbert

From Germanic personal name meaning bright pledge

English
Gilchrist

From Gaelic Gille Chriosd, servant of Christ

Scottish
Gillespie

From Gaelic Gille Easbuig, servant of the bishop

Scottish
Gillies

From Gaelic Gille Iosa, servant of Jesus

Scottish
Gilmour

From Gaelic Gille Moire, servant of the Virgin Mary

Scottish
Gittins

From Gutyn, a Welsh pet form of Gruffudd

Welsh
Glynn

From Welsh glyn, meaning valley

Welsh
Godfrey

From Germanic personal name meaning God's peace

English
Goodwin

From Old English personal name Godwine, God + friend

English
Gordon

Habitational name from Berwickshire, spacious fort

Scottish
Gough

From Welsh coch, meaning red, for red hair

Welsh
Graham

From Grantham in Lincolnshire, gravelly homestead

Scottish
Grant

From Norman French graund, meaning tall or large

Scottish
Gray

Nickname for someone with grey hair

English
Green

Dweller by the village green

English
Greenwood

Topographic name for a dweller by a leafy wood

English
Gregory

From Greek personal name meaning watchful

English
Griffin

From Welsh Gruffudd, strong lord or griffin

Welsh
Griffith

From Welsh Gruffudd, meaning strong lord

Welsh
Griffiths

Son of Gruffudd, meaning strong lord

Welsh
Gunn

From Old Norse personal name Gunnr, meaning battle

Scottish
Guthrie

Habitational name from Angus, windy place

Scottish
Gwyn

From Welsh gwyn, meaning white or fair

Welsh
Gwynne

From Welsh gwyn, meaning white, fair or blessed

Welsh

H

Hale

Dweller in a nook or hollow, Old English halh

English
Hall

Dweller or worker at a manor hall

English
Hamilton

Habitational name from Hameldune in Leicestershire

Scottish
Hammond

From Norman personal name Hamon, meaning home

English
Hancock

From Han, pet form of John, with diminutive cock

English
Hardy

Nickname for a bold or courageous person

English
Harper

Occupational name for a harp player

English
Harries

Welsh spelling of Harris, son of Harry

Welsh
Harris

Son of Harry, the medieval form of Henry

English
Harrison

Son of Harry, pet form of Henry

English
Hart

Nickname from the stag or male deer

English
Harvey

From Breton personal name Haerviu, battle worthy

English
Hawkins

Son of Hawkin, a diminutive of Hal or Harry

English
Hay

Norman origin, from La Haye, meaning hedge

Scottish
Hayward

Occupational name for a keeper of hedges or fences

English
Heath

Dweller on a heath or moorland

English
Henderson

Son of Henry, meaning home ruler

Scottish
Hendry

Scots form of Henry, home ruler

Scottish
Herbert

Germanic name meaning bright army, Pembrokeshire gentry

Welsh
Hewitt

Diminutive of Hugh, or dweller at a clearing

English
Hicks

Son of Hick, a pet form of Richard

English
Hill

Dweller on or near a hill

English
Hobbs

Son of Hob, a pet form of Robert

English
Hodgson

Son of Hodge, a pet form of Roger

English
Hogg

Occupational name for a swineherd or a young sheep

Scottish
Holland

Habitational name meaning land by a hill spur

English
Holmes

Dweller by a holly tree or river island

English
Holt

Dweller by a small wood or thicket

English
Hopkins

Son of Hopkin, a diminutive of Robert

Welsh
Hoskins

From Osekin, diminutive of Osgod, common in Glamorgan

Welsh
Howard

From Norman Huard or Norse Haward, high guardian

English
Howell

From Welsh Hywel, meaning eminent or conspicuous

Welsh
Howells

Son of Hywel, meaning eminent

Welsh
Hudson

Son of Hudde, a pet form of Hugh or Richard

English
Hughes

Son of Hugh, meaning heart or mind

Welsh
Hume

Habitational name from Berwickshire, hill or hollow

Scottish
Humphreys

Son of Humphrey, Germanic for peaceful warrior

Welsh
Hunt

Occupational name for a hunter

English
Hunter

Occupational name for a hunter

Scottish
Hurst

Dweller by a wooded hill

English
Hutchinson

Son of Hutchin, a diminutive of Hugh

English
Hutchison

Son of Hutchin, a diminutive of Hugh

Scottish

I

Inglis

Ethnic name meaning Englishman

Scottish
Ingram

From Germanic personal name Engelram, Angle + raven

English
Innes

Habitational name from Moray, island or river meadow

Scottish
Irvine

Habitational name from Ayrshire, green river

Scottish
Isaac

From the Hebrew name meaning he laughs

Welsh

J

Jack

From the medieval personal name Jack, a pet form of John

Scottish
Jackson

Son of Jack, a pet form of John

English
James

From the Hebrew name Jacob, supplanter

Welsh
Jamieson

Son of Jamie, Scottish pet form of James

Scottish
Jeffreys

Son of Jeffrey, God's peace

Welsh
Jenkins

Son of Jenkin, a diminutive of John

Welsh
Jennings

Son of Jenin, a medieval diminutive of John

English
John

From the Hebrew name meaning God is gracious

Welsh
Johnson

Son of John, meaning God is gracious

English
Johnston

Habitational name from Dumfriesshire, John's settlement

Scottish
Jones

Son of John, meaning God is gracious

Welsh
Jordan

From the river name, given to returning crusaders

English
Joseph

From the Hebrew name meaning God will add

Welsh

K

Keith

Habitational name from East Lothian, possibly wood

Scottish
Kemp

Nickname for a champion or warrior, Old English cempa

English
Kendrick

From Welsh Cynwrig, meaning chief hero

Welsh
Kerr

From Old Norse kjarr, meaning marshy brushwood

Scottish
King

Nickname for someone who acted regally or served a king

English

L

Lee

Dweller by a meadow or woodland clearing

English
Lewis

From Welsh Llywelyn, or Germanic Ludwig, famous warrior

Welsh
Lindsay

Habitational name from Lindsey in Lincolnshire

Scottish
Llewellyn

From Welsh Llywelyn, possibly leader or lion-like

Welsh
Lloyd

From Welsh llwyd, meaning grey or holy

Welsh

M

MacDonald

Son of Donald, meaning world ruler

Scottish
MacGregor

Son of Gregor, meaning watchful

Scottish
MacIntosh

From Gaelic Mac an Toisich, son of the chief

Scottish
Mackay

From Gaelic Mac Aoidh, son of Aodh, fire

Scottish
Mackenzie

From Gaelic Mac Coinnich, son of the fair one

Scottish
MacLean

From Gaelic Mac Gille Eathain, son of John's servant

Scottish
MacLeod

Son of Leod, from Old Norse Ljótr, ugly

Scottish
Marshall

Occupational name for a horse keeper or officer

English
Martin

From Latin Martinus, follower of Mars

English
Mason

Occupational name for a stoneworker

English
Meredith

From Welsh Maredudd, meaning great lord

Welsh
Miller

Occupational name for a mill worker

English
Milne

Dweller or worker at a mill

Scottish
Mitchell

From Michael, or nickname for a big person

English
Moore

Dweller on a moor or marsh

English
Morgan

From Welsh Morcant, possibly sea + circle

Welsh
Morris

From Latin Mauritius, meaning dark skinned or Moorish

Welsh
Morrison

Son of Maurice, or Gaelic Mac Gille Mhoire

Scottish
Muir

Dweller on a moor, Scots form

Scottish
Munro

Possibly from Gaelic bun Rotha, mouth of the Roe

Scottish
Murray

Habitational name from the province of Moray

Scottish

O

Owen

From Welsh Owain, meaning well born or noble

Welsh

P

Parker

Occupational name for a gamekeeper of a park

English
Parry

From ap Harry, son of Harry

Welsh
Paterson

Son of Patrick, meaning nobleman

Scottish
Phillips

Son of Philip, meaning lover of horses

English
Powell

From ap Hywel, son of Hywel, eminent

Welsh
Price

From ap Rhys, son of Rhys, ardour

Welsh
Pritchard

From ap Richard, son of Richard

Welsh
Prosser

From ap Rosser, son of Rosser or Roger

Welsh
Pugh

From ap Hugh, son of Hugh

Welsh

R

Rees

From Welsh Rhys, meaning ardour or enthusiasm

Welsh
Reid

Nickname for someone with red hair

Scottish
Richards

Son of Richard, powerful ruler

Welsh
Richardson

Son of Richard, meaning powerful ruler

English
Roberts

Son of Robert, meaning bright fame

Welsh
Robertson

Son of Robert, meaning bright fame

Scottish
Robinson

Son of Robin, a pet form of Robert

English
Rogers

Son of Roger, meaning famous spear

English
Ross

Habitational name from Gaelic ros, promontory

Scottish
Russell

From Old French rous, nickname for red hair

Scottish

S

Scott

Ethnic name for a Gaelic speaker from Scotland

Scottish
Shaw

Dweller by a small wood or copse

English
Simpson

Son of Sim, a pet form of Simon

English
Sinclair

Norman origin, from Saint-Clair-sur-Elle

Scottish
Smith

Metalworker, from Old English smith

English
Stevenson

Son of Steven, meaning crown

Scottish
Stewart

Occupational name for a steward of the royal household

Scottish
Sutherland

Regional name for the southern land of the Norse

Scottish

T

Taylor

Occupational name for a tailor

English
Thomas

From the Aramaic name meaning twin

Welsh
Thompson

Son of Thomas, meaning twin

English
Thomson

Son of Thomas, meaning twin

Scottish
Turner

Occupational name for a lathe worker

English

V

Vaughan

From Welsh fychan, meaning small or the younger

Welsh

W

Walker

Occupational name for a fuller who trod cloth

English
Wallace

Ethnic name for a Welsh or Strathclyde Briton

Scottish
Ward

Occupational name for a watchman or guard

English
Watkins

Son of Watkin, a diminutive of Walter

Welsh
Watson

Son of Wat, a pet form of Walter

English
White

Nickname for someone with fair hair or complexion

English
Williams

Son of William, meaning resolute protector

Welsh
Wilson

Son of Will, a pet form of William

English
Wood

Dweller in or near a wood

English
Wright

Occupational name for a craftsman or carpenter

English

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MacKellar

From Gaelic Mac Ealair, son of Hilary, cheerful

Scottish
Armstrong

Nickname for a strong-armed man, Northumbrian Border origin

English
Lewellin

Variant of Llewellyn

Welsh
Powell

From ap Hywel, son of Hywel, eminent

Welsh
Ball

Nickname for a bald or rotund man, or dweller by a knoll

English
Freeman

Status name for a free man not in serfdom

English

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British last names from four nations

British names are really four naming traditions sharing one group of islands. English names come mostly from places, trades and nicknames, and many were fixed by the fourteenth century. Welsh names like Jones, Davies and Price grew out of patronymics much later. Scottish names range from Lowland forms like Brown to Highland Mac names, and names in Northern Ireland mix Irish Gaelic names such as O'Neill with Scottish names brought by seventeenth century settlers.

The Norman Conquest added another layer. Norman barons brought names taken from their French estates, such as Mortimer, Beaumont, Warren and Mandeville, along with French given names like William, Robert and Richard that later produced Williams, Roberts and Richardson. Huguenot refugees in the seventeenth century added names like Bosanquet and Courtauld. The meaning beside each name in the list above shows which of these strands it comes from.

Common British surnames and what they reveal

Smith is the most common surname in Britain, followed by Jones, Williams, Taylor, Brown, Davies, Evans, Wilson, Thomas and Johnson in most counts. The list is a history lesson in miniature: Smith and Taylor are trades, Brown is a nickname, Jones, Williams, Davies and Evans are Welsh patronymics, and Wilson and Johnson are northern English or Scottish patronymics. Modern Britain adds newer names too, and Patel, Khan and Singh now rank highly in several cities.

Regional patterns are still visible. Names ending in -son, like Robinson or Atkinson, cluster in the north of England, while names ending in -s, like Roberts or Hughes, are typical of Wales and the Welsh borders. Cornish names often start with Tre, Pol or Pen, as in Trelawny, Polglase and Penrose, which gave rise to the rhyme by Tre, Pol and Pen shall ye know the Cornishmen. Checking where a name clusters is a good first step in tracing a family.

Rare British surnames and odd pronunciations

Many British names have almost died out, especially those tied to a single farm or a vanished trade. Uncommon names like Birdwhistle, Winterbottom, Loveday and Goodbody are real and still found, but in small numbers. A name can become rare simply because a family had few sons, or because descendants changed the spelling. For a character who needs to stand out, these names work well, and the meaning usually adds colour to the story.

Aristocratic British names are famous for pronunciations that ignore the spelling. Cholmondeley is said Chumley, Featherstonehaugh can be Fanshaw, Marjoribanks is Marchbanks and Mainwaring is Mannering. Double-barrelled names such as Bowes-Lyon usually joined two families when an heiress married, so that her name was not lost. Using one of these for a character instantly suggests old money, though real families with such names are few and easy to identify, so use them with care.

Frequently asked questions

Which British last names are the most widespread?

Smith, Jones, Williams, Taylor and Brown are usually the top five across the United Kingdom, followed by Davies, Evans, Wilson, Thomas and Johnson or Roberts. The order changes between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and Jones leads in Wales while Smith leads in England and Scotland.

Which common British surnames come from jobs?

Smith, Taylor, Wright, Clarke, Turner, Walker, Cooper and Baker all rank highly and all come from trades. A Walker cleaned and thickened cloth by treading on it, a Turner worked a lathe, and a Cooper made barrels. Many less common trade names, such as Fletcher or Chandler, are also in the list above.

How can I find rare British surnames?

Use the letter filter above and look for names with very local meanings, such as those built on a particular farm, hill or village. Historic census records and one-name studies can show how many bearers a name has today. A name that appears in only one county is often rare nationally too.

Are British surnames the same as English ones?

No. English names are one part of the whole. British names also include Welsh patronymics, Scottish clan and Lowland names, Cornish names and Irish names from Northern Ireland, plus names brought by later immigrants. A Welsh Pritchard and a Scottish MacLeod are both British, but neither is English in origin.