Cherokee Last Names

These Cherokee last names include names from the Cherokee language, such as Sixkiller and Walkingstick, and the Scottish, Irish and English names many Cherokee families have carried for generations. Each entry comes with its meaning and background.

134 real surnames with meanings, A to Z.

A

Adair

Scottish, from Gaelic form of Edgar; common among Cherokee families

Scottish
Alberty

Possibly German or French, from Albert; common among Cherokee families

German
Arch

English, dweller by an arch; common among Eastern Band families

English
Arneach

From a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee

B

Baker

English occupational name, baker; common among Cherokee families

English
Baldridge

Scottish place name; common among Cherokee families

Scottish
Beamer

Possibly German Böhmer, Bohemian; found among Cherokee families

German
Bearpaw

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Beck

English or German, dweller by a stream; common among Cherokee families

English
Bigmeat

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Bigwitch

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Blackfox

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Boudinot

French Huguenot surname taken by Elias Boudinot (Gallegina Watie)

French
Bradley

English place name, broad clearing; common among Eastern Band families

English
Brown

English nickname for brown hair or skin; common among Cherokee families

English
Buffington

English place name; common among Cherokee families

English
Bushyhead

Translation of a Cherokee nickname; borne by Chief Dennis Bushyhead

Cherokee
Byrd

English, bird; common among Cherokee families

English

C

Calonahuskie

From a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Catolster

From a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Chewey

From a Cherokee personal name; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Chiltoskey

From a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Christie

Scottish, pet form of Christian; common among Cherokee families

Scottish
Chuculate

From a Cherokee personal name; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Climbingbear

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Cochran

Scottish place name in Renfrewshire; common among Cherokee families

Scottish
Cordery

English, possibly from Old French cordier, ropemaker; Cherokee family name

English
Cornsilk

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Corntassel

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Crittenden

English place name from Kent; common among Cherokee families

English
Crowe

Probably an English rendering of Cherokee koga, crow; common among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Cucumber

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee

D

Deerinwater

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Dirteater

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Downing

English, son of Dunn, dark; common among Cherokee families

English
Dreadfulwater

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Driver

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Duncan

Scottish, from Gaelic Donnchadh, brown warrior; common among Cherokee families

Scottish

E

Ensley

English place name; common among Eastern Band families

English
Eubanks

English place name, yew bank; common among Cherokee families

English

F

Fields

English, dweller by open fields; common among Cherokee families

English
Foreman

English, leader or swineherd; common among Cherokee families

English
Fourkiller

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee

G

George

English, from the given name George, farmer; common among Eastern Band families

English
Glass

Translation of a Cherokee chief's name; found among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Goingsnake

Translation of Inadu-na'i, a Cherokee leader's name

Cherokee
Gourd

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Gritts

From a Cherokee personal name; found among Keetoowah and Cherokee families

Cherokee
Guess

English, from Gist; surname of Sequoyah (George Guess)

English
Gunter

German and English, from Gunther, battle army; common among Cherokee families

German

H

Harlan

English place name, hare land; common among Cherokee families

English
Hastings

English, from the town of Hastings; common among Cherokee families

English
Hendricks

Dutch or English, son of Hendrick, Henry; common among Cherokee families

Dutch
Hicks

English, son of Hick, a pet form of Richard

English
Hildebrand

German, battle sword; common among Cherokee families

German
Hogshooter

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Hornbuckle

English, possibly a place name; common among Eastern Band families

English
Hoskin

English, a pet form of an Old English or Norse name in Os-; borne by a principal chief

English
Hummingbird

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee

K

Keeler

English, boatman; borne by Principal Chief W. W. Keeler

English
Keener

Possibly German Kühner, bold; common among Cherokee families

German
Ketcher

Possibly from a Cherokee personal name; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Keys

English, son of Kay, or a dweller by a quay; common among Cherokee families

English
Kingfisher

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee

L

Ledford

English place name; common among Eastern Band families

English
Lee

English, dweller by a clearing; common among Cherokee families

English
Littledave

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Littlejohn

English nickname, little John; common among Eastern Band families

English
Lossiah

From a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Lowrey

Scottish, pet form of Lawrence; common among Cherokee families

Scottish
Lynch

Irish, from Ó Loingsigh, mariner; common among Cherokee families

Irish

M

Maney

Irish or English, possibly from Ó Maine; common among Eastern Band families

Irish
Mankiller

Translation of Asgaya-dihi, a Cherokee warrior's title; borne by Chief Wilma Mankiller

Cherokee
Martin

English and French, from Mars; common among Cherokee families

English
Mayes

English, son of May or Mayhew; common among Cherokee families

English
McCoy

Irish and Scottish, son of Aodh; common among Cherokee families

Irish
McNair

Scottish, from Gaelic Mac an Oighre or Mac an Uidhir; of debated origin; Cherokee family name

Scottish
Muskrat

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Cherokee families

Cherokee

N

Nave

English or Dutch, possibly nephew; common among Cherokee families

English
Ninekiller

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Nofire

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee

O

Oocumma

From a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Oosahwee

From a Cherokee personal name; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Owl

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; common among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Owle

Variant of Owl; found among Eastern Band Cherokee families

Cherokee

P

Pathkiller

Translation of Nunnehidihi, a Cherokee principal chief's name

Cherokee
Proctor

English, steward or agent; common among Cherokee families

English

Q

Queen

English nickname, queen; common among Eastern Band families

English

R

Rattler

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Rattlingourd

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Reese

Welsh, from Rhys, ardour; common among Cherokee families

Welsh
Ridge

English, dweller on a ridge; the Cherokee Ridge family

English
Riley

Irish, from Ó Raghallaigh; common among Cherokee families

Irish
Rogers

English, son of Roger, famous spear; common among Cherokee families

English
Ross

Scottish, from Gaelic ros, headland; common among Cherokee families

Scottish

S

Sanders

English, son of Sander, from Alexander; common among Cherokee families

English
Saunooke

From a Cherokee personal name; common among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Scott

Scottish, a Scot or Gaelic speaker; common among Cherokee families

Scottish
Scraper

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Sequichie

From a Cherokee personal name; found among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Sequoyah

Same name as Sequoyah, creator of the Cherokee syllabary; an Eastern Band family name

Cherokee
Sixkiller

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Smith

English, metalworker; very common among Cherokee families

English
Sneed

English, dweller by a detached piece of land; Eastern Band name

English
Soap

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Sourjohn

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Squirrel

Translation of Cherokee saloli, squirrel; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Standingdeer

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; common among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Starr

English nickname or sign name, star; common among Cherokee families

English
Swayney

Possibly from a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Swimmer

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee

T

Tahquette

From a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Taylor

English occupational name, tailor; common among Eastern Band families

English
Teehee

Variant spelling of Tehee; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Teesateskie

From a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Tehee

From a Cherokee personal name; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Tenkiller

Translation of a Cherokee name; Lake Tenkiller bears it

Cherokee
Thompson

English and Scottish, son of Thomas; common among Cherokee families

English
Toineeta

From a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Tramper

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Tyner

English, possibly from Tyne; found among Cherokee families

English

V

Vann

English, a form of Fenn (fen, marsh), or Welsh fan (height); common among Cherokee families

Welsh

W

Wachacha

From a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Wahnetah

From a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee
Walker

English, cloth fuller; common among Cherokee families

English
Walkingstick

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Watie

From Cherokee Oowatie, the father of Stand Watie

Cherokee
Welch

English, a Welshman; common among Eastern Band families

English
Whitekiller

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Wickliffe

English place name, white cliff; common among Cherokee families

English
Wildcat

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Cherokee families

Cherokee
Wilson

English and Scottish, son of Will; common among Cherokee families

English
Wolfe

Probably an English rendering of Cherokee waya, wolf; common among Cherokee families

Cherokee

Y

Youngdeer

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families

Cherokee

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Foreman

English, leader or swineherd; common among Cherokee families

English
Bushyhead

Translation of a Cherokee nickname; borne by Chief Dennis Bushyhead
Cucumber

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; found among Eastern Band families
Baker

English occupational name, baker; common among Cherokee families

English
McNair

Scottish, from Gaelic Mac an Oighre or Mac an Uidhir; of debated origin; Cherokee family name

Scottish
Swimmer

Translation of a Cherokee personal name; common among Cherokee families

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Cherokee last names from the Cherokee language

Before the 1800s, Cherokee people did not use inherited surnames in the European sense. A person had a personal name, and belonging came through the mother's clan, one of seven Cherokee clans such as Wolf, Deer and Paint. When missionaries, agents and census takers began recording families, they often wrote down an English translation of a man's Cherokee name, and that translation became the family name his children carried forward.

That is how names like Swimmer, Walkingstick, Standingdeer, Hummingbird, Squirrel, Soap and Nofire came about. Sixkiller and Fourkiller follow the same tradition, and Mankiller reflects a Cherokee title for a town's war leader, carried by Wilma Mankiller, the first woman to serve as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. Other names stayed closer to Cherokee sounds, such as Saunooke, Oocumma and Tehee, and some families write their name in the Cherokee syllabary as well as in English letters.

Why many Cherokee families have Scottish names

From the early 1700s, Scottish, Irish and English traders lived in Cherokee towns, and many married Cherokee women. Because Cherokee kinship passed through the mother, their children belonged fully to her clan, yet they often carried the father's surname. Ross, Vann, Adair, Rogers, Hicks, Downing, Lowrey and Foreman became important Cherokee family names this way. John Ross, Principal Chief during the forced removal of the 1830s, had both Scottish and Cherokee ancestry.

Other English names were taken or given during the 1800s through mission schools, treaties and government rolls, and some Cherokee people adopted the names of patrons. Elias Boudinot, born Gallegina Watie, took the name of a benefactor, while his brother Stand Watie kept the family name. Today names like Smith, Johnson, Davis and Walker are common among Cherokee citizens. The list therefore includes names from both traditions, since both are genuinely part of Cherokee family history.

Cherokee last names list and genealogy research

A name on this list does not show that a family has Cherokee ancestry. Names like Ross, Adair or Hicks are far more common among people with no Cherokee connection, and many family stories about a Cherokee great-grandmother do not hold up in the records. Cherokee citizenship is a political relationship with a sovereign nation, set by each tribe's own laws. It is not decided by a surname, a family legend or a DNA test.

There are three federally recognized Cherokee tribes: the Cherokee Nation and the United Keetoowah Band in Oklahoma, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina. The Cherokee Nation requires descent from an ancestor listed on the Dawes Final Rolls, compiled between 1898 and 1907, and the Eastern Band uses the Baker Roll of 1924. Start with those rolls, held by the National Archives, and contact the tribe's enrollment office before drawing any conclusions.

Frequently asked questions

What are some common Cherokee last names?

Cherokee-language names include Sixkiller, Swimmer, Walkingstick, Hummingbird, Soap and Squirrel. Names that came through traders and intermarriage, such as Ross, Vann, Adair, Hicks and Downing, are just as much part of Cherokee history. Many Cherokee citizens also carry everyday English names like Smith or Walker.

Does having one of these names prove Cherokee ancestry?

No. Most of these names are shared by people with no Cherokee connection, and Cherokee identity rests on citizenship in a tribal nation. To research a possible link, look for your ancestor on the Dawes Rolls or the Baker Roll and contact the enrollment office of the relevant tribe.

What are the Dawes Rolls?

They are the Final Rolls of Citizens and Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes, compiled by the Dawes Commission between 1898 and 1907 in what is now Oklahoma. Cherokee Nation citizenship today depends on descent from someone on these rolls. The National Archives holds the records, and many are searchable online.

Can names be written in the Cherokee syllabary?

Yes. Sequoyah completed the Cherokee syllabary in the early 1820s, and it is still taught and used today. Each symbol stands for a syllable, so Tsalagi, the Cherokee word for Cherokee, is written ᏣᎳᎩ. Some families and language programs write personal and family names in the syllabary.