How to Find The Origin Of Your Last Name

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Last names, also called surnames, have been in existence since the thirteenth century. They originated as a way to identify people by their family, country of origin, and in some cases, personality or physical appearance. You can find the origin of your surname by determining if it is patronymic or matronymic, derived from a father’s or mother’s name. It can also be occupational, based on what your ancestors did for a living, or geographic, based on where your ancestors lived. Some surnames are also descriptive, originating from nicknames given to your ancestors. If you’d like to skip all this research, you can use a genealogy service or talk to older relatives to find the origin of your last name.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Determining if You Have a Family-Related Surname

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  1. The prefix is the first two or three letters of your surname. The prefix was often added to notate if the head of your family was the “son of” or the “daughter of” the head of their family. Certain prefixes come from specific places and cultures, such as Gaelic, Irish, and English. Your surname may have prefixes like: [1]
    • “Mac” or “Mc,” such as “MacDonald” or “McCloud.” This means your surname is of Gaelic origin.
    • “Fitz,” such as “Fitzpatrick” or “Fitzgerald.” This means your surname is of English origin.
    • “O,” such as “O’Brien” or “O’Shea.” This means your surname is of Irish origin.
    • “ap,” such as “Bedo ap Batho,” which becomes “Bedo Batho.” This means your surname is of Welsh origin.
  2. The suffix is usually the last two to three letters of your surname. The suffix was commonly used to denote when someone is the “son of” or “daughter of” someone. Your surname may have suffixes like: [2]
    • “-son,” such as “Johnson” or “Paulson.” This means your ancestor was likely the son of someone named John or Paul. This likely means your surname is Scottish or British.
    • “-sen,” such as “Andersen.” This is the Scandinavian spelling of “son.”
    • “-ian” or “-yan,” as in “Simonian” or “Petrossyan.” This means your surname is Armenian.
    • “-ski,” such as “Petroffski.” This means your surname is Polish.
    • "-ez" or "-az," such as "Fernandez" or "Diaz." This means your surname is Spanish.
    • "-es" or "os," such as "Morales" or "Rolos." This means your surname is Portuguese.
  3. In North America, it is the standard that people are given surnames based on the names of the head of their family. In other parts of the world, such as Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe, it is more common for people to use a clan name as their surname, where their surname can be traced back to what clan their ancestors belonged to. [3]
    • For example, in Uganda, people’s surnames derive from the clan their ancestors belonged to. So you may have many people with the surname “Buganda,” as their ancestors all belonged to the same clan.
    • In Japan, it is also common for people to be named based on their clan, such as the Fujiwara clan or the Satōs clan.
    • Depending on where your ancestors are from, you may need to trace back your surname to the clan, tribe, or kingdom your ancestors belonged to, rather than using a mother or father’s name as a guide.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Checking if You Have an Occupational or Geographical Surname

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  1. In some cases, our last name reflects the occupation or status of your ancestors. The occupation was usually a craft or trade during the medieval period in Europe. Look up your surname to see if it relates to a particular occupation. Examples include: [4]
    • “Miller,” a person who would grind flour from grain. It can also be spelt “Muller” if your ancestors were German.
    • “Wainwright,” a person who built wagons.
    • “Bishop,” a person who worked for a Bishop.
    • “Taylor,” a person who made or repaired clothing.
    • “Carter,” a person who made or drove carts.
    • “Alderman,” a person who was an official clerk of the court.
    • “Stewart,” a person who was a steward.
    • "Alcaldo," a person who was a mayor.
    • "Zapatero," a person who was a shoemaker.
    • A list of surnames that relate to the names of occupations can be found here: https://surnames.behindthename.com/names/source/occupation .
  2. Another way last names come about was to distinguish a person based on the location where they lived or were born. Their surname may refer to a particular city, town, or country. This was commonly used in France, England, and other parts of Europe. Examples include: [5]
    • “Parris,” which means your ancestor likely came from Paris, France.
    • “London,” which means your ancestor came from London, England.
    • “Medina,” which means your ancestor came from Medina, Mexico.
    • "Chan," which is a reference to an ancient region in China.
  3. Your surname may reference a geographical feature like a stream, cliff, or forest. It may refer to the fact that your ancestor lived near a mountain or was born near a river. For example: [6]
    • “Brooks,” which means your ancestor lived along a brook.
    • “Churchill,” which means your ancestor lived near a church on a hill.
    • "Vega," or "meadow" in Spanish, which means your ancestor may have lived near a meadow.
    • "Iglesias," or "church" in Spanish, which means your ancestor may have lived near a church.
    • "Takahashi," a Japanese last name which translates to people who lived by or under a tall, high bridge.
    • "Choi," a Chinese last name which translates to people who lived on a pinnacle or peak.
    • "Yamamoto," a Japanese last name that refers to the base of a mountain.
    • "Park," a Korean surname that means "magnolia tree."
  4. In some cases, your surname may be derived from the geographical direction where your ancestor lived or is from. Your name may include compass directions like “East,” “West,” “North” or “South.” For example: [7]
    • “Northman,” which means your ancestor came from a Northern area.
    • “Southgate,” which means your ancestor came from a location south of a gate.
    • “Eastwood” and “Westwood,” which means your ancestor lived to the east or west of the woods.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Determining if You Have a Descriptive Surname

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  1. Some last names come from the physical characteristics of your ancestors. They may have been given nicknames or pet names from neighbors or friends based on how they looked. The nickname or pet name may then have been adopted as their last name, and your last name. Examples include: [8]
    • “Broadhead,” if your ancestor had a large head.
    • “Black” or “Brown,” if your ancestor had black or brown hair.
    • “Baines,” meaning “bones,” so your ancestor may have appeared thin or bony.
    • "Grande," meaning "big" in Spanish, so your ancestor may have been a large person.
    • "Rubio," meaning "blonde" in Spanish, so your ancestor may have had blonde hair.
  2. In some cases, your surname may have come from how your ancestors acted or behaved. Their personality traits may have contributed to their last name. For example: [9]
    • “Goodman,” which means your ancestor may have been considered a generous individual
    • “Strong” or “Armstrong,” which means your ancestor may have been known to be strong.
    • “Wildman,” which means your ancestor may have been considered a wild or rambunctious person.
    • "Bravo," which means "brave" in Spanish, so your ancestor may have been brave or courageous.
    • "Wong" or "Wang" means "king" in Cantonese, so your ancestor may have appeared kingly or like royalty.
    • "Sato" means "to assist" in Japanese, so your ancestor may have been very caring to others.
  3. Asian surnames tend to relate to concepts like "happiness," "wisdom," or "joy." If your family is from an Asian country like China, Japan, Vietnam, or Korea, you may be able to trace your surname back to a concept. For example: [10]
    • "Moon," which means "wisdom" in Korean.
    • "Saito," which means "purity and divine worship" in Japanese.
    • "Kim," which means "gold" in Korean and may refer to being golden or good.
    • "Nguyen," which means "original" or "first" in Vietnamese.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Using Other Resources

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  1. Look online for a genealogy service that will trace back the origin of your last name for you. You may need to pay a small fee to get this done and provide your surname. [11]
    • For example, you may use Ancestry.com or GenealogyBank.com.
    • You can also access free ancestry or genealogy databases online, though they may only give you general information. Usually, the paid services will uncover more detailed information about your last name.
  2. You can also hire a genealogist to determine the origin of your last name. A genealogist is trained to trace back your ancestors and find detailed information on the origin of your surname.
    • Look for certified genealogists online or through your local university.
  3. Contact your grandparents or great aunts or uncles if they are still alive. Speak to older relatives on your father’s side if your parents are married and you inherited your father’s last name. Ask your relatives questions about the origin of your surname. They may have documents or memories that can help you find detailed information about your last name.
    • For example, you may ask your older relatives, “Can you tell me anything about the origin of my last name?” or “Would you have any information on where our family name came from and what it means?”
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  • Question
    Can I look up a name to find the nationality?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Ancestry and sites like it are good for that. However, keep in mind that the information you find may not be 100% accurate.
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  • Question
    Where did Fruth originate from?
    Community Answer
    The last name Fruth mostly originated from different areas in Germany and a little bit from England.
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  • Question
    How do I find the country of origin for my surname?
    Community Answer
    Look at your name and think what it would be or just Google it.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://forebears.io/surnames
      2. ↑ https://forebears.io/surnames
      3. ↑ http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2009/7/29/whats-in-a-surname-kyetume-ugandait/
      4. ↑ https://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/what-can-your-surname-tell-you/
      5. ↑ https://forebears.io/surnames
      6. ↑ https://forebears.io/surnames
      7. ↑ https://forebears.io/surnames
      8. ↑ https://forebears.io/surnames
      9. ↑ https://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/4-types-of-spanish-surnames-which-one-is-yours/
      1. ↑ https://www.kcet.org/socal-focus/from-mockery-to-meaning-asian-surnames-defined
      2. ↑ https://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/what-can-your-surname-tell-you/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To find the origin of your last name, look at the prefix to determine if it comes from a specific place or culture. For example, if the first part of your last name is “Mac” or “Mc,” it’s of Gaelic origin. Alternatively look at the suffix, or last 2-3 letters, of your surname. “Son” is a common British or Scottish surname, and “sen” is a common Scandinavian surname. A “ski” surname may suggest you’re Polish, and “ez” or “az” may mean you’re Spanish. To learn how to trace your last name to a specific trade or occupation, read on!

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