Names. Origins. Stories.
Explore family names, one letter at a time. Discover meanings, origins, spelling variations, and the sources that can lead you to your next research step.
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Showing 109–118 of 118 profiles
The surname Wagner is an occupational name of German origin meaning ‘wagon‑maker’ or ‘wagon‑driver’. It first appears in Saxony and spread through German‑speaking regions and among German emigrants,…
The Walsh surname is an Irish family name that originally signified a Welsh speaker; it is derived from the Middle English word "Welsh" and has a rich history…
The Weber surname is an occupational name meaning "weaver," derived from German. Its earliest records date to the mid‑13th century, but the name’s exact geographic origins lie outside…
The surname Wells is an English habitational or topographic name derived from Old English wælla meaning 'spring'. It may also arise from an occupational role, the keeper of…
The surname White is a common English, Scottish, and Irish name that historically began as a descriptive nickname for a pale person or as an anglicised form of…
The surname Williams is a patronymic name meaning 'son of William', originating in English usage from the personal name William plus the genitive '-s'. In Wales it also…
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…
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’,…
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…
Zimmermann is an occupational surname of German origin, meaning carpenter or timber worker. It also appears in Ashkenazic Jewish contexts. While the name is widespread, its exact earliest…
This directory includes published profiles. Editorial review status appears on each card. A surname can have more than one origin or formation type.
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A trade, a place, a parent’s name. Follow the patterns that helped shape family names.