English Surnames: Meaning, Origin & Coat of Arms (page 1 of 4)

Abbot, a nickname or servant name

"oak clearing"

Son of Adam

Son of little Adam

From Ainsworth, near Bolton in Lancashire

Alder ford, or Ealdgyth's ford

From the given name Alan

From Alsop en le Dale in Derbyshire

Son of Andrew ("manly")

From Antonius

"farm where apples grow"

Bowman

"dweller by a hermitage"

Ash-tree clearing

From Ashworth, near Rochdale in Lancashire

"valley of the aspen trees"

From Atherton, near Wigan in Lancashire

Son of Atkin, little Adam

"at the wood"

From Augustine

Heir

Pork butcher

Bailiff; castle outer wall

From Bainbridge, in Wensleydale, Yorkshire

From a place near Halifax, Yorkshire

Bread baker

Bold friend

Dweller by a knoll, or a bald man

Bald-headed man

"the ford by the tree trunk"

Dweller by a slope or bank

Barber, barber-surgeon

Tanner, or shepherd

Barley hill

Barn; from Barnes

Dweller by land cleared by burning

"ravine of the birch trees"

From Barton, "barley farm"

Short, low

Son of Bate (Bartholomew)

Beech tree, or stream

Bean grower, or son of Beathan

Bearded man

Clearing with bent grass

Bell; handsome

"fine friend"

Blessed

Son of Ben (Benedict)

From Bentham, in North Yorkshire

Bent-grass clearing

Bean farmstead

Dweller by the fortified manor

Beast, or herdsman

"dweller by the birch tree"

"birch headland"

Bishop, a nickname or servant name

Dark stream

Dark spring

Pale, or dark

"dark clearing"

From Blenkinsopp

Dwelling settlement

Farmer, tenant

Gentle, courteous

From Bohon in Normandy, or good

Herdsman, dweller in a hut

Bow maker, or dweller by a cottage

Archer

From Bracewell, in Yorkshire

Broad river crossing

Broad clearing

Broad wood

Hill, or brave

Brewer of ale or beer

Of the bridge

"clearing with briars"

Dweller by a bridge

Bright, cheerful

"burnt clearing"

Breton

"broad grassy field"

"broad wooded hill"

Badger, or dweller by a brook

"clearing where broom grows"

By the brook

Brown-haired or dark-complexioned

From Brian ("high, noble")

He-goat or buck, or beech tree

Young bull

Birch tree

Citizen of a borough

From Burton, "fortified farmstead"

Dweller by the bush or thicket

Wine steward

Of the cowshed

Bird (nickname)

Little singer

A nickname, perhaps "cut stick"

Carpenter, worker in timber

Dweller by a marsh or fen

Cart driver, carrier

Woodcarver, or ploughman

Box or chest maker

A debt collector or bailiff's officer

Chamberlain, servant of the private rooms

Candle maker or seller

Oak grove

Merchant, trader

From Charnock, near Chorley in Lancashire

Hunter, or dweller by a hunting ground

From Chatterton, near Ramsbottom in Lancashire

From Cheetham, near Manchester

Cherry grower or seller

Children's house

Bearer of Christ

Dweller by the church

Clerk, scholar or scribe

Dweller on clay soil

From Clayton, "clay farmstead"

From Clegg, near Rochdale in Lancashire

Hilly land

"ravine, steep valley"

From the Old Norse name Kobbi, or "lump"

Coal-black; pet form of Nicholas

Charcoal burner; descendant of Colmán ("dove")

Charcoal burner

Dweller in a valley

Valley farmstead

Cook

Barrel maker

From Copeland in Cumbria, "bought land"

At the cottages

Rooster; lively man

Long-legged, like a crane