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 97–108 of 118 profiles
The surname Sinclair is a Scoto‑Norman name derived from the French toponymic ‘de Saint‑Clair’, meaning ‘pure, renowned’ from Latin clarus. It entered Scotland in the 13th century and is most…
Smith is an occupational surname derived from Old English smið, meaning ‘one who works with metal’. The name first appears in records from the late Anglo‑Saxon period and…
The surname Stewart, sometimes spelled Stuart, comes from the Old English 'stigweard' or Gaelic 'Stiùbhart', meaning 'steward' or 'household guardian'. It is an occupational name that became linked…
The surname Sullivan is an anglicised form of the Irish name Ó Súilleabháin, meaning "descendant of Súilleabhán". Its exact personal‑name meaning is uncertain, but it is generally considered a…
The surname Sutton is a toponymic name of English origin, meaning ‘southern farm’ or ‘south town’. It first appears in 11th‑century records and has been borne by many…
Taylor is an English occupational surname that comes from the Old French word *tailleur*, meaning ‘tailor’. It first appears in 12th‑century records in Somerset, England, and has since spread…
The surname Thatcher is an English occupational name meaning "thatcher", a worker who lays thatch on roofs. It first appears in medieval records in England, with the earliest…
The surname Thomas is patronymic, derived from the medieval given name Thomas, which comes from the Hebrew word t'om'a meaning “twin.” It is widespread in English‑speaking countries and…
The surname Turner is an occupational name meaning ‘one who works a lathe’. It originated in England after the Norman Conquest, deriving from Middle English and Old French…
Underwood is an English topographic surname meaning ‘under or below a wood’, first recorded in the late 12th century. It derives from Old English ‘unter’ + ‘wuda’. Early…
Van Dijk is a Dutch toponymic surname meaning 'from the dike'. It is formed from the Dutch word dijk, a man‑made embankment protecting lowland from water. The spelling has…
The Vaughan surname comes from the Welsh word for “small” and is a descriptive nickname. While primarily Welsh, it is also used as a form of the Irish…
This directory includes published profiles. Editorial review status appears on each card. A surname can have more than one origin or formation type.
Another way to explore
A trade, a place, a parent’s name. Follow the patterns that helped shape family names.