509+ British (English) Last Names [With Meanings]

British (English) last names have a rich history and cultural significance that date back to medieval times.

Many surnames have evolved over time from given names or occupations, while others indicate a person’s place of origin or ancestry.

In fact, British surnames can reveal a great deal about a person’s family history, from their social status and occupation to their regional roots and ancestry.

Today, many British last names have become popular around the world, reflecting the influence of English culture and language in many countries.

Whether you’re interested in exploring your own family history or simply curious about the origins of common English last names, understanding the meanings and cultural significance of these names can provide valuable insights into the rich history and traditions of the British Isles.

We have lots to share in this article.

Let’s have a look πŸ™‚

Common British Last Names (Most Common Canadian Last Names)

Common British Last Names:

  • Smith – a name indicating a metalworker or blacksmith
  • Brown – a name indicating someone with brown hair or complexion
  • Jones – a patronymic name meaning “son of John”
  • Taylor – a name indicating a tailor or seamstress
  • Wilson – a patronymic name meaning “son of Will”
  • Robinson – a patronymic name meaning “son of Robin”
  • Davis – a patronymic name meaning “son of David”
  • Evans – a patronymic name meaning “son of Evan”
  • Clarke – a name indicating someone who was a clerk or scholar
  • Thompson – a patronymic name meaning “son of Tom”

Popular British Last Names

Popular British Last Names:

  • Smith – a name indicating a metalworker or blacksmith
  • Brown – a name indicating someone with brown hair or complexion
  • Jones – a patronymic name meaning “son of John”
  • Taylor – a name indicating a tailor or seamstress
  • Wilson – a patronymic name meaning “son of Will”
  • Robinson – a patronymic name meaning “son of Robin”
  • Davis – a patronymic name meaning “son of David”
  • Evans – a patronymic name meaning “son of Evan”
  • Clarke – a name indicating someone who was a clerk or scholar
  • Thompson – a patronymic name meaning “son of Tom”

It’s worth noting that many British last names are patronymic, meaning they are derived from the given name of a father or male ancestor. In addition, many names have evolved over time, with different spellings and meanings depending on their regional origins.

Rare & Exotic British Last Names

Rare & Exotic British Last Names:

  • Arundel – a name indicating someone from Arundel, a town in West Sussex
  • Bannister – a name indicating someone who made and sold baskets or containers
  • Cadogan – a name indicating someone from Cadogan Square in London
  • Cholmondeley – a name pronounced “Chumley,” indicating someone from Cholmondeley, a village in Cheshire
  • Montague – a name indicating someone from Montague, a town in Sussex
  • Peabody – a name indicating someone from Peabody, a town in Essex
  • Rothschild – a name indicating someone from the Rothschild family, a wealthy and influential family of bankers
  • St. Clair – a name indicating someone from St. Clair, a village in Shetland
  • Townsend – a name indicating someone from a town or village
  • Wintour – a name indicating someone from the Winter family, a prominent family in Gloucestershire

Rare & Exotic British Last Names

Uncommon & Unique British Last Names

Uncommon & Unique British Last Names:

  • Ashworth – a name indicating someone who lived near an ash tree
  • Blackwood – a name indicating someone who lived near a black-colored forest
  • Calloway – a name indicating someone who lived near a path or way
  • Faraday – a name indicating someone from Faraday House in London, named after the physicist Michael Faraday
  • Goodwin – a name indicating someone who was good at winning contests or battles
  • Haddon – a name indicating someone from Haddon Hall in Derbyshire
  • Merrick – a name indicating someone who was the ruler of the boundary, or the boundary itself
  • Pemberton – a name indicating someone from Pemberton, a town in Greater Manchester
  • Quigley – a name indicating someone from the town of Quigley, which no longer exists in Scotland
  • Ravenscroft – a name indicating someone who lived near a ravens’ nest or a wooded area where ravens gathered

Most Common British Last Names

Most Common British Last Names:

  • Smith
  • Jones
  • Taylor
  • Brown
  • Williams – a patronymic name meaning “son of William”
  • Wilson
  • Johnson – a patronymic name meaning “son of John”
  • Robinson
  • Wright – a name indicating someone who was a skilled worker, such as a carpenter or craftsman
  • Davies – a patronymic name meaning “son of David”

Cool British Last Names

Cool British Last Names:

  • Knight – a name indicating a knight or warrior
  • Raven – a name indicating someone with dark hair or complexion
  • Wolfe – a name indicating someone with wolf-like characteristics, such as strength or cunning
  • Phoenix – a name indicating someone who is resilient and rises from the ashes
  • Storm – a name indicating someone with a strong and powerful personality
  • Blade – a name indicating someone who is sharp and skilled in combat
  • Ryder – a name indicating someone who rides horses or travels frequently
  • Archer – a name indicating someone who is skilled with a bow and arrow
  • Fox – a name indicating someone who is clever and sly
  • Wilde – a name indicating someone who is untamed or free-spirited

Cool British Last Names

List of British Last Names

List of British Last Names:

  • Smith
  • Brown
  • Jones
  • Taylor
  • Wilson
  • Robinson
  • Davis
  • Evans
  • Clarke
  • Thompson
  • Williams
  • Johnson
  • Wright
  • Davies
  • Green
  • Hall
  • Harris
  • King
  • Lee
  • Lewis

Rich British Last Names

Rich British Last Names:

  • Astor – a name indicating someone from the Astor family, a wealthy and prominent American family
  • Barclay – a name indicating someone from the Barclay family, a prominent Scottish family of bankers and philanthropists
  • Cavendish – a name indicating someone from the Cavendish family, a wealthy and influential British family
  • Guinness – a name indicating someone from the Guinness family, a wealthy and prominent Irish family known for their brewing business
  • Hargreaves – a name indicating someone from the Hargreaves family, a wealthy British family known for their textile business
  • Montagu – a name indicating someone from the Montagu family, a wealthy and influential British family
  • Rothschild – a name indicating someone from the Rothschild family, a wealthy and influential family of bankers and philanthropists
  • Sackville-West – a name indicating someone from the Sackville-West family, a wealthy and prominent British family
  • Vanderbilt – a name indicating someone from the Vanderbilt family, a wealthy and prominent American family
  • Windsor – a name indicating someone from the British royal family, also known as the House of Windsor

Old British Last Names

Old British Last Names:

  • Beaufort – a name indicating someone from the Beaufort family, a prominent English family of nobles and politicians
  • Devereux – a name indicating someone from the Devereux family, a noble family of Welsh origin
  • Fitzroy – a name indicating someone who was the illegitimate child of a king or queen, specifically King Charles II
  • Howard – a name indicating someone from the Howard family, a noble family with roots dating back to the Middle Ages
  • Neville – a name indicating someone from the Neville family, a noble family with roots dating back to the Norman Conquest
  • Plantagenet – a name indicating someone from the Plantagenet family, a royal dynasty that ruled England from 1154 to 1485
  • Somerset – a name indicating someone from the Somerset family, a noble family that was prominent during the Tudor period
  • Tudor – a name indicating someone from the Tudor family, a royal dynasty that ruled England from 1485 to 1603
  • Warwick – a name indicating someone from the Warwick family, a noble family with roots dating back to the Norman Conquest
  • York – a name indicating someone from the House of York, a royal dynasty that ruled England from 1461 to 1485

Old British Last Names

Long British Last Names

Long British Last Names:

  • Abercrombie – a name indicating someone from Abercrombie, a village in Fife, Scotland
  • Bellingham – a name indicating someone from Bellingham, a village in Northumberland, England
  • Chichester-Constable – a name indicating someone from the Chichester-Constable family, a noble family with roots dating back to the Norman Conquest
  • Featherstonehaugh – a name pronounced “Fanshaw,” indicating someone from Featherstonehaugh, a village in Northumberland, England
  • Fitzherbert-Brockholes – a name indicating someone from the Fitzherbert-Brockholes family, a noble family from Lancashire, England
  • Manners-Sutton – a name indicating someone from the Manners-Sutton family, a noble family with roots dating back to the Middle Ages
  • Montagu-Douglas-Scott – a name indicating someone from the Montagu-Douglas-Scott family, a noble family with roots dating back to the 14th century
  • Seymour-Conway – a name indicating someone from the Seymour-Conway family, a noble family with roots dating back to the 17th century
  • St. Clair-Erskine – a name indicating someone from the St. Clair-Erskine family, a noble family from Scotland with roots dating back to the Middle Ages
  • Wentworth-Fitzwilliam – a name indicating someone from the Wentworth-Fitzwilliam family, a noble family from Yorkshire, England

Girl British Last Names [Female]

Girl British Last Names [Female]:

  • Abbott – a name indicating someone who was the daughter of an abbot or a nun
  • Crawford – a name indicating someone who was the daughter of a crow keeper
  • Fitzgerald – a name indicating someone who was the daughter of Gerald, a name meaning “rule of the spear”
  • Hamilton – a name indicating someone who was the daughter of Hamil, a name meaning “crooked or twisted”
  • Kensington – a name indicating someone who was from Kensington, a district in London
  • Langley – a name indicating someone who was the daughter of a long field or meadow
  • Sinclair – a name indicating someone who was the daughter of a knight or nobleman
  • Thatcher – a name indicating someone who was the daughter of a thatcher or roofer
  • West – a name indicating someone who was from the west or who lived on the west side of a village or town
  • Windsor – a name indicating someone who was the daughter of a windlasser or winchman

Men’s British Last Names [Male]

Men’s British Last Names [Male]:

  • Carpenter – a name indicating someone who was a carpenter or woodworker
  • Cooper – a name indicating someone who made or sold barrels or tubs
  • Gardiner – a name indicating someone who was a gardener or worked in a garden
  • Mason – a name indicating someone who was a stonemason or bricklayer
  • Miller – a name indicating someone who owned or worked in a mill
  • Parker – a name indicating someone who was a park keeper or gamekeeper
  • Sawyer – a name indicating someone who was a sawyer or carpenter who used a saw
  • Spencer – a name indicating someone who worked for a noble or royal household as a steward or manager
  • Turner – a name indicating someone who was a turner or lathe worker
  • Weaver – a name indicating someone who wove cloth or worked in the textile industry

Famous British Last Names

Famous British Last Names:

  • Austen – a name of the famous novelist Jane Austen
  • Churchill – a name of the famous Prime Minister Winston Churchill
  • Dickens – a name of the famous novelist Charles Dickens
  • Darwin – a name of the famous naturalist Charles Darwin
  • Hawking – a name of the famous physicist Stephen Hawking
  • Lennon – a name of the famous musician John Lennon
  • Shakespeare – a name of the famous playwright William Shakespeare
  • Thatcher – a name of the famous Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
  • Tolkien – a name of the famous author J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Windsor – a name of the British royal family, also known as the House of Windsor

British Last Names That Start With A

British Last Names That Start With A:

  • Adams – meaning “son of Adam”
  • Allen – meaning “little rock” or “harmony”
  • Anderson – meaning “son of Andrew”
  • Armstrong – meaning “strong arm”
  • Ashton – meaning “town of ash trees”
  • Atkinson – meaning “son of Atkin”
  • Austin – meaning “great” or “magnificent”
  • Avery – meaning “ruler of the elves”
  • Ayres – meaning “son of Ayre”
  • Abbott – meaning “monastery worker”

British Last Names That Start With B

British Last Names That Start With B:

  • Bailey – meaning “bailiff” or “steward”
  • Baker – meaning “maker of bread”
  • Banks – meaning “at the bank or hillside”
  • Barber – meaning “one who cuts hair”
  • Barker – meaning “one who tends sheep”
  • Barnes – meaning “person who lives by a barn”
  • Barrett – meaning “bear strength”
  • Bartlett – meaning “son of Bartholomew”
  • Bates – meaning “son of Bartholomew”
  • Bennett – meaning “blessed”

British Last Names That Start With C

British Last Names That Start With C:

  • Campbell – meaning “crooked mouth”
  • Carter – meaning “one who transports goods by cart”
  • Chambers – meaning “attendant in a private chamber”
  • Chapman – meaning “merchant” or “shopkeeper”
  • Clarke – meaning “scribe” or “scholar”
  • Cole – meaning “swarthy” or “charcoal”
  • Collins – meaning “son of Colin”
  • Cooper – meaning “barrel maker”
  • Crawford – meaning “ford where crows gather”
  • Cunningham – meaning “village of the milk pail”

British Last Names That Start With D

British Last Names That Start With D:

  • Davies – meaning “son of David”
  • Dawson – meaning “son of David”
  • Day – meaning “daytime”
  • Dean – meaning “valley”
  • Dixon – meaning “son of Richard”
  • Dobson – meaning “son of Dob”
  • Donaldson – meaning “son of Donald”
  • Douglas – meaning “dark river”
  • Drake – meaning “dragon” or “snake”
  • Duncan – meaning “brown warrior”

British Last Names That Start With E

British Last Names That Start With E:

  • Edwards – meaning “son of Edward”
  • Ellis – meaning “son of Ellis”
  • Evans – meaning “son of Evan”
  • Everett – meaning “brave as a wild boar”
  • Ewing – meaning “one who lives near yew trees”

British Last Names That Start With F

British Last Names That Start With F:

  • Farrell – meaning “hero”
  • Ferguson – meaning “son of Fergus”
  • Fletcher – meaning “arrow maker”
  • Floyd – meaning “gray-haired”
  • Forbes – meaning “field” or “meadow”
  • Ford – meaning “at the ford”
  • Foster – meaning “one who keeps cattle”
  • Fox – meaning “fox”
  • Franklin – meaning “free man”
  • Freeman – meaning “free man”

British Last Names That Start With G

British Last Names That Start With G:

  • Gallagher – meaning “foreign helper”
  • Gibson – meaning “son of Gilbert”
  • Gilbert – meaning “bright pledge”
  • Gill – meaning “a ravine or narrow valley”
  • Graham – meaning “gravelly homestead”
  • Grant – meaning “great”
  • Gray – meaning “gray-haired”
  • Green – meaning “green”
  • Griffiths – meaning “son of Griffith”

British Last Names That Start With H

British Last Names That Start With H:

  • Hall – meaning “dweller at the hall”
  • Hamilton – meaning “crooked nose”
  • Hammond – meaning “home protector”
  • Harper – meaning “harp player”
  • Harris – meaning “son of Harry”
  • Harrison – meaning “son of Harry”
  • Hart – meaning “stag”
  • Harvey – meaning “battle worthy”
  • Hawkins – meaning “son of Hawk”
  • Hayes – meaning “hedged area” or “forest clearing”

British Last Names That Start With I

British Last Names That Start With I:

  • Ingram – meaning “raven of Anglia”
  • Ireland – meaning “person from Ireland”
  • Irvine – meaning “green water”
  • Irving – meaning “green river”
  • Isaacs – meaning “son of Isaac”
  • Jackson – meaning “son of Jack”
  • Jacobs – meaning “son of Jacob”
  • James – meaning “supplanter”
  • Jenkins – meaning “little John”

British Last Names That Start With J

British Last Names That Start With J:

  • Jackson – meaning “son of Jack”
  • James – meaning “supplanter”
  • Jarvis – meaning “spearman”
  • Jeffery – meaning “divine peace”
  • Jenkins – meaning “little John”
  • Jennings – meaning “son of Jan”
  • Johnson – meaning “son of John”
  • Jones – meaning “son of John”
  • Jordan – meaning “to flow down”

British Last Names That Start With K

British Last Names That Start With K:

  • Kane – meaning “warrior” or “fighter”
  • Kelly – meaning “bright-headed”
  • Kennedy – meaning “helmeted chief”
  • Kerr – meaning “rough wet ground”
  • King – meaning “ruler”
  • Knight – meaning “servant” or “warrior”
  • Knowles – meaning “at the knoll”

British Last Names That Start With L

British Last Names That Start With L:

  • Lambert – meaning “bright land”
  • Lane – meaning “pathway”
  • Lang – meaning “long”
  • Lawrence – meaning “laurel-crowned”
  • Lee – meaning “meadow”
  • Lewis – meaning “famous warrior”
  • Lloyd – meaning “gray”
  • Long – meaning “tall” or “long”
  • Lowe – meaning “hill” or “mound”
  • Lucas – meaning “light”

British Last Names That Start With M

British Last Names That Start With M:

  • Macdonald – meaning “son of Donald”
  • Mackenzie – meaning “son of the fair one”
  • Maddox – meaning “son of Madoc”
  • Marshall – meaning “horse servant”
  • Martin – meaning “servant of Mars”
  • Mason – meaning “worker in stone”
  • Matthews – meaning “gift of God”
  • May – meaning “hawthorn tree”
  • McCarthy – meaning “son of Carthy”
  • McLean – meaning “son of Gillian”

British Last Names That Start With N

British Last Names That Start With N:

  • Nash – meaning “at the ash tree”
  • Neal – meaning “champion”
  • Nelson – meaning “son of Neil”
  • Newman – meaning “newcomer”
  • Newton – meaning “new town”
  • Nicholson – meaning “son of Nicholas”
  • Norris – meaning “northerner”
  • Norton – meaning “north town”
  • Nugent – meaning “newcomer”

British Last Names That Start With O

British Last Names That Start With O:

  • O’Brien – meaning “descendant of Brian”
  • O’Connor – meaning “descendant of Connor”
  • O’Neill – meaning “descendant of Niall”
  • O’Sullivan – meaning “descendant of Sullivan”
  • Oakley – meaning “oak wood”
  • Odell – meaning “wealthy”
  • Oliver – meaning “olive tree”
  • Osgood – meaning “divine good”
  • Owen – meaning “youth” or “well-born”
  • Owens – meaning “son of Owen”

British Last Names That Start With P

British Last Names That Start With P:

  • Page – meaning “page” or “servant”
  • Palmer – meaning “pilgrim”
  • Parker – meaning “keeper of the park”
  • Parsons – meaning “person who serves in a church”
  • Patel – meaning “village headman”
  • Payne – meaning “countryman
  • Pearce – meaning “son of Pierce”
  • Pearson – meaning “son of Peter”
  • Perkins – meaning “son of Perkin”
  • Perry – meaning “pear tree”
  • Phillips – meaning “son of Philip”

British Last Names That Start With Q

British Last Names That Start With Q:

  • Quigley – meaning “descendant of Coigleach”
  • Quinn – meaning “descendant of Conn”

British Last Names That Start With R

British Last Names That Start With R:

  • Radcliffe – meaning “red cliff”
  • Ramsay – meaning “wild garlic island”
  • Randall – meaning “shield-wolf”
  • Ray – meaning “deer”
  • Reed – meaning “red”
  • Reynolds – meaning “son of Reynold”
  • Rhodes – meaning “dweller by the crossroads”
  • Rice – meaning “twist” or “twisted thread”
  • Richards – meaning “son of Richard”
  • Richardson – meaning “son of Richard”

British Last Names That Start With S

British Last Names That Start With S:

  • Salter – meaning “one who salts”
  • Sanders – meaning “son of Alexander”
  • Scott – meaning “from Scotland”
  • Sharp – meaning “sharp”
  • Shaw – meaning “grove”
  • Shepherd – meaning “sheep herder”
  • Simpson – meaning “son of Sim”
  • Smith – meaning “metal worker”
  • Spencer – meaning “steward”
  • Stanley – meaning “stony clearing”

British Last Names That Start With T

British Last Names That Start With T:

  • Taylor – meaning “tailor”
  • Thomas – meaning “twin”
  • Thompson – meaning “son of Thomas”
  • Thornton – meaning “thorn bush town”
  • Todd – meaning “fox”
  • Tomlinson – meaning “son of Tomlin”
  • Townsend – meaning “person from a town’s end”
  • Travis – meaning “to cross over”
  • Turner – meaning “one who turns wood”
  • Tyler – meaning “maker of tiles”

British Last Names That Start With U

British Last Names That Start With U:

  • Underwood – meaning “person who lives under the wood”
  • Upchurch – meaning “person from the upper church”
  • Upshaw – meaning “person from the upper wood”

British Last Names That Start With V

British Last Names That Start With V:

  • Valentine – meaning “strength, health”
  • Vaughan – meaning “little”
  • Vincent – meaning “victorious”

British Last Names That Start With W

British Last Names That Start With W:

  • Walker – meaning “one who walks or works on cloth”
  • Wallace – meaning “foreigner” or “Welshman”
  • Ward – meaning “guardian”
  • Warren – meaning “park or game preserve”
  • Watson – meaning “son of Walter”
  • Webb – meaning “weaver”
  • Welch – meaning “foreigner” or “Welshman”
  • West – meaning “westward”
  • White – meaning “white-haired”
  • Williams – meaning “son of William”

British Last Names That Start With X, Y, and Z

British Last Names That Start With X, Y, and Z:

  • Xavier – meaning “new house”
  • Yates – meaning “gatekeeper”
  • Young – meaning “young”
  • Yule – meaning “Christmas”
  • Zane – meaning “God is gracious”
  • Zimmerman – meaning “carpenter” or “carpenter’s son”

FAQs – British Last Names

What is the origin of British last names?

British last names have a rich history that dates back to the Middle Ages, when surnames first began to be used to distinguish one person from another.

Many names have evolved from given names, occupations, or a person’s place of origin or ancestry.

What are some common British last names?

Some of the most common British last names include Smith, Brown, Jones, Taylor, Wilson, Robinson, Davis, Evans, Clarke, and Thompson.

What do patronymic names mean?

Patronymic names are last names that are derived from the given name of a father or male ancestor.

For example, Jones is a patronymic name that means “son of John.”

What are some rare and exotic British last names?

Some rare and exotic British last names include Arundel, Bannister, Cadogan, Cholmondeley, Montague, Peabody, Rothschild, St. Clair, Townsend, and Wintour.

What do rich British last names indicate?

Rich British last names often indicate a person’s wealth, social status, or ancestry.

Some examples include Astor, Barclay, Cavendish, Guinness, Hargreaves, Montagu, Rothschild, Sackville-West, Vanderbilt, and Windsor.

What do old British last names indicate?

Old British last names often indicate a person’s noble ancestry or family history.

Some examples include Beaufort, Devereux, Fitzroy, Howard, Neville, Plantagenet, Somerset, Tudor, Warwick, and York.

What do cool British last names indicate?

Cool British last names often indicate desirable characteristics, such as strength, cunning, resilience, or power.

Some examples include Knight, Raven, Wolfe, Phoenix, Storm, Blade, Ryder, Archer, Fox, and Wilde.

What do long British last names indicate?

Long British last names often indicate a person’s ancestral roots or family history. Some examples include Abercrombie, Bellingham, Chichester-Constable, Featherstonehaugh, Fitzherbert-Brockholes, Manners-Sutton, Montagu-Douglas-Scott, Seymour-Conway, St. Clair-Erskine, and Wentworth-Fitzwilliam.

What are some popular British last names and their meanings?

Some popular British last names and their meanings include Smith (a metalworker or blacksmith), Brown (someone with brown hair or complexion), Jones (son of John), Taylor (a tailor or seamstress), Wilson (son of Will), Robinson (son of Robin), Davis (son of David), Evans (son of Evan), Clarke (a clerk or scholar), and Thompson (son of Tom).

Why are British last names important?

British last names are important because they provide a glimpse into a person’s family history and cultural heritage.

Understanding the meanings and origins of British last names can help individuals connect with their roots and gain a deeper appreciation for the rich history and traditions of the British Isles.

Conclusion – British Last Names

British (English) last names offer a fascinating window into the rich cultural and historical heritage of the British Isles.

From patronymic names to those based on occupation, ancestry, and place of origin, there are countless variations and meanings to explore.

These last names provide valuable insights into the history and traditions of the British Isles, revealing everything from a person’s social status and occupation to their regional roots and family history.

By understanding the meanings and origins of British last names, individuals can gain a deeper appreciation for their own family history and cultural heritage, as well as the broader history and traditions of this fascinating region of the world.

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