Surname profile
Wilson
Wilson is a patronymic surname meaning “son of Will,” with the element *wil* meaning “will” or “desire.” The name first appears in England in 1324 as Willeson and…
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Origins & naming traditions
English surnames
Explore family names shaped by village names, everyday trades, and generations of language change. Browse their meanings, documented histories, and sources for further research.
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Showing 49–51 of 51 profiles
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Wood
The Wood surname originates from the Middle English word for wood, making it a topographic name. A less common derivation is from an Old English word meaning ‘frenzied’,…
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Wright
The surname Wright is an English occupational name derived from Old English wyrhta, meaning carpenter or joiner. It appears in medieval English records beginning in the early 13th…
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