Australian Last Names

These Australian last names reflect the country as it is today: British and Irish names from the colonial era, Italian, Greek, Lebanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and Indian names from later migration, and a few Aboriginal family names, all listed A to Z with meanings.

221 real surnames with meanings, A to Z.

A

Abboud

Worshipper, devoted one

Arabic
Alexiou

Son of Alexios, defender

Greek
Allen

From Breton Alan, possibly little rock

English
Anastasiou

Son of Anastasios, resurrection

Greek
Anderson

Son of Andrew, manly

Scottish
Andreou

Son of Andreas, manly

Greek
Azzi

Lebanese name, possibly strong or dear

Arabic

B

Baker

Baker of bread

English
Barbieri

Barber or surgeon-barber

Italian
Barry

Norman-Irish name from a Welsh place

Irish
Bell

Bell ringer or dweller at a bell sign, or Old French bel, handsome

Scottish
Bianchi

White or fair-haired

Italian
Brennan

Anglicized Ó Braonáin, sorrow or drop

Irish
Brown

Nickname for brown hair or complexion

English
Bruno

Nickname for a brown-haired person

Italian
Bui

Vietnamese form of Chinese Pei (裴)

Australian
Burke

Dweller by a fort, Norman-Irish

Irish
Burns

Dweller by a stream

Scottish
Butler

Wine steward, Norman-Irish family

Irish
Byrne

Anglicized Ó Broin, raven

Irish

C

Cameron

Crooked nose, from Gaelic cam shròn

Scottish
Campbell

Crooked mouth, from Gaelic cam beul

Scottish
Carter

Cart driver or carrier

English
Caruso

Close-cropped hair, or young boy

Italian
Chan

Cantonese form of Chen

Chinese
Chapman

Merchant or trader

English
Chen

From the ancient state of Chen

Chinese
Cheung

Cantonese form of Zhang, archer

Chinese
Christodoulou

Servant of Christ

Greek
Clark

Clerk or scribe

English
Clarke

Clerk or scribe

English
Collins

Son of Colin, or Irish Ó Coileáin

Irish
Colombo

Dove, often given to foundlings

Italian
Conti

Count, a noble title

Italian
Cook

Cook or seller of cooked meat

English
Cooper

Maker of barrels and casks

English
Costa

Coast or slope

Italian

D

Daher

Apparent or evident

Arabic
Dang

Vietnamese form of Chinese Deng

Australian
Davies

Son of David, beloved

Welsh
Davis

Son of David, beloved

Welsh
Dimitriou

Son of Dimitrios, of Demeter

Greek
Dinh

Vietnamese form of Chinese Ding

Australian
Do

Vietnamese form of Chinese Du

Australian
Doyle

Dark stranger, from Ó Dubhghaill

Irish
Duncan

Brown warrior, from Gaelic Donnchadh

Scottish
Dunn

Dark or dun-colored

Irish
Duong

Vietnamese form of Chinese Yang, poplar

Australian

E

Edwards

Son of Edward, wealthy guardian

English
Ellis

From Elias, Yahweh is God

Welsh
Esposito

Exposed, given to foundlings in Naples

Italian
Evans

Son of Evan, Welsh form of John

Welsh

F

Ferguson

Son of Fergus, man of force

Scottish
Ferrari

Smith or ironworker

Italian
Ferraro

Blacksmith or iron worker

Italian
Fisher

Fisherman or fish seller

English
Fitzgerald

Son of Gerald, spear rule

Irish
Fontana

Fountain or spring

Italian
Fraser

Scottish clan name of Norman origin

Scottish

G

Gallagher

Foreign helper, from Ó Gallchobhair

Irish
Gallo

Rooster, a proud person

Italian
Georgiou

Son of George, farmer

Greek
Gordon

Scottish place, great hill fort

Scottish
Graham

From Grantham in Lincolnshire, possibly gravelly homestead

Scottish
Grant

Tall or great, from Old French grand

Scottish
Gray

Nickname for a grey-haired person

English
Greco

Greek, from Greece

Italian
Green

Dweller by the village green

English
Gumana

Yolngu family name of the Dhalwangu clan

Australian

H

Habib

Beloved or dear one

Arabic
Haddad

Blacksmith or iron worker

Arabic
Hall

Worker at a manor hall

English
Hamilton

From Hambleton, crooked hill

Scottish
Hanna

From Yuhanna, John

Arabic
Harris

Son of Harry, home ruler

English
Harrison

Son of Harry, home ruler

English
Hart

Stag, a nickname

English
Hayes

Enclosure, or Irish Ó hAodha

Irish
Hill

Dweller on a hill

English
Ho

Cantonese form of Chinese He (何)

Chinese
Hoang

Vietnamese form of Chinese Huang, yellow

Australian
Holmes

Dweller by holly or a river islet

English
Huang

Yellow, from the ancient state of Huang

Chinese
Hudson

Son of Hudd, pet form of Hugh

English
Hughes

Son of Hugh, mind or spirit

Welsh
Hunt

Hunter of game

English
Huynh

Vietnamese form of Chinese Huang, yellow

Australian

I

Issa

Arabic form of Jesus

Arabic

J

Jabbour

Lebanese name, possibly mighty

Arabic
Jackson

Son of Jack, pet form of John

English
James

From Jacob, supplanter

English
Johnson

Son of John, God is gracious

English
Johnston

From Johnstone, John's settlement

Scottish
Jones

Son of John, Welsh form

Welsh

K

Karagiannis

Dark John, from Turkish kara, black

Greek
Karam

Generosity or nobility

Arabic
Kaur

Princess, Sikh name used by women

Indian
Kelly

Anglicized Ó Ceallaigh, possibly bright-headed

Irish
Kennedy

Anglicized Ó Cinnéide, helmeted head

Irish
Kerr

Dweller by marshy ground

Scottish
Khan

Ruler or chief, a Turkic title

Australian
Khoury

Priest, from Arabic khuri

Arabic
King

Nickname for a regal person or pageant king

English
Knight

Knight or servant

English
Kyriakou

Son of Kyriakos, of the Lord

Greek

L

Lam

Cantonese form of Lin, forest

Chinese
Le

Vietnamese surname of the Lê dynasty, from Chinese 黎 (Lí)

Australian
Lee

Dweller by a meadow or clearing

English
Lewis

From Louis, famous warrior

Welsh
Li

Plum tree, a common Chinese name

Chinese
Lim

Hokkien form of Lin, forest

Chinese
Lin

Forest or grove

Chinese
Liu

From a word for kill or axe

Chinese
Lloyd

Grey-haired, from Welsh llwyd

Welsh
Lombardi

Someone from Lombardy in northern Italy

Italian
De Luca

Son of Luca, from Lucania

Italian
Ly

Vietnamese form of Chinese Li, plum

Australian
Lynch

Anglicized Ó Loingsigh, mariner

Irish

M

Mabo

Meriam family name of Torres Strait's Eddie Mabo

Australian
Mackenzie

Son of Coinneach, handsome

Scottish
Maguire

Son of Odhar, dun-coloured or sallow

Irish
Mai

Vietnamese family name meaning apricot blossom

Australian
Mancini

Nickname for a left-handed person

Italian
Mansour

Victorious, aided by God

Arabic
Marika

Yolngu family name of the Rirratjingu clan

Australian
Marino

Of the sea

Italian
Marshall

Horse servant, later a high officer

English
Martin

From Latin Martinus, of Mars

English
Matthews

Son of Matthew, gift of God

Welsh
McCarthy

Son of Carthach, loving

Irish
McDonald

Son of Donald, world ruler

Scottish
Mitchell

From Michael, who is like God

English
Moore

Dweller by a moor or fen

English
Moretti

Little dark one

Italian
Morgan

Welsh, possibly sea-born

Welsh
Morris

From Maurice, Moorish or dark

Welsh
Mundine

Surname of a prominent Bundjalung Aboriginal family

Australian
Murphy

Anglicized Ó Murchadha, sea warrior

Irish
Murray

From Moray, Scottish region, sea settlement

Scottish

N

Najjar

Carpenter or woodworker

Arabic
Namatjira

Western Arrernte family name of artist Albert Namatjira

Australian
Nassar

Helper or supporter

Arabic
Ng

Cantonese form of Wu

Chinese
Ngo

Vietnamese form of Chinese Wu, ancient state

Australian
Nguyen

Vietnamese clan name, most common in Vietnam

Australian
Nicolaou

Son of Nicholas, victory of the people

Greek

O

O'Brien

Descendant of Brian, high or noble

Irish
O'Connor

Descendant of Conchobhar, lover of hounds

Irish
O'Neill

Descendant of Niall, champion

Irish

P

Palmer

Pilgrim who carried a palm frond

English
Papadopoulos

Son of the priest

Greek
Papageorgiou

Son of the priest George

Greek
Pappas

Priest, from Greek papas

Greek
Parker

Park keeper or gamekeeper

English
Patel

Village headman, from Gujarati

Indian
Payne

Pagan or villager

English
Pearce

Son of Piers, Peter

English
Pham

Vietnamese form of Chinese Fan

Australian
Phillips

Son of Philip, lover of horses

Welsh
Price

Welsh ap Rhys, son of Rhys, ardor

Welsh

Q

Quinn

Anglicized Ó Cuinn, wise or chief

Irish

R

Reid

Nickname for a red-haired person

Scottish
Ricci

Nickname for a curly-haired person

Italian
Richards

Son of Richard, strong ruler

Welsh
Rizzo

Curly-haired, a southern Italian form

Italian
Roberts

Son of Robert, bright fame

Welsh
Robertson

Son of Robert, bright fame

Scottish
Robinson

Son of Robin, pet form of Robert

English
Romano

Roman, from Rome

Italian
Ross

Headland or promontory

Scottish
Rossi

Red-haired, plural of rosso

Italian
Russell

Little red one

English
Russo

Red-haired, southern Italian form

Italian
Ryan

Anglicized Ó Riain, possibly little king

Irish

S

Saab

Difficult or tough

Arabic
Santoro

Born on All Saints Day

Italian
Scott

A Gael or person from Scotland

Scottish
Shaw

Dweller by a thicket or small wood

English
Simpson

Son of Sim, pet form of Simon

English
Singh

Lion, Sikh and Rajput name

Indian
Smith

Metalworker, from Old English smith, probably related to smitan, to strike

English
Spencer

Steward or dispenser of provisions

English
Stavrou

Son of Stavros, cross

Greek
Stevens

Son of Steven, crown

English
Stewart

Steward of a household

Scottish
Sullivan

Anglicized Ó Súileabháin, possibly dark-eyed

Irish
Sutherland

Southern land, Scottish county

Scottish

T

Tan

Hokkien form of Chen

Chinese
Tannous

Lebanese form of Antonius

Arabic
Taylor

Tailor, from Old French tailleur

English
Theodorou

Son of Theodoros, gift of God

Greek
Thomas

From Aramaic Te'oma, twin

Welsh
Thompson

Son of Thomas, twin

English
Tran

Vietnamese form of Chinese Chen

Australian
Truong

Vietnamese form of Chinese Zhang, archer

Australian
Turner

Lathe worker, or turner of wood

English

V

Vlahos

Vlach, a shepherd

Greek
Vu

Vietnamese form of Chinese Wu, martial

Australian

W

Walker

Cloth fuller who trod wet cloth

English
Walsh

Welshman or foreigner, common in Ireland

Irish
Wang

King or monarch

Chinese
Ward

Watchman or guard

English
Watson

Son of Wat, pet form of Walter

Scottish
Watts

Son of Wat, pet form of Walter

English
Webb

Weaver of cloth

English
White

Nickname for fair hair or complexion

English
Wilkinson

Son of Wilkin, little William

English
Williams

Son of William, resolute protector

Welsh
Wilson

Son of Will, diminutive of William

English
Wong

Cantonese form of Huang or Wang

Chinese
Wood

Dweller by a wood

English
Wright

Craftsman or builder, from Old English wyrhta

English
Wu

From the ancient state of Wu

Chinese
Wunungmurra

Yolngu family name from northeast Arnhem Land

Australian

X

Xu

Slow or composed

Chinese

Y

Yang

Poplar tree, or from ancient Yang

Chinese
Young

The younger, junior

English
Yunupingu

Yolngu family name of the Gumatj clan, Arnhem Land

Australian

Z

Zhang

To draw a bow, archer

Chinese
Zhao

From the ancient state of Zhao

Chinese
Zhou

From the Zhou dynasty

Chinese

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Results (6)

Kelly

Anglicized Ó Ceallaigh, possibly bright-headed

Irish
Hall

Worker at a manor hall

English
Dimitriou

Son of Dimitrios, of Demeter

Greek
Conti

Count, a noble title

Italian
O'Neill

Descendant of Niall, champion

Irish
Cook

Cook or seller of cooked meat

English

Saved names

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English, Welsh and Irish names at the top

The names at the top of Australian rankings are mostly short English and Welsh names with plain meanings. Smith was a metal worker, Taylor a tailor and Walker someone who fulled cloth by treading it. Jones, Williams, Wilson, Johnson and Thompson are patronymics meaning son of John, William, Will, John and Thomas. Brown and White began as nicknames for hair or complexion, and Wright was a maker of wooden things such as carts and wheels. These names are common because their meanings were common.

Irish names follow close behind. Ryan comes from Ó Riain, possibly from a word for little king, Kelly from Ó Ceallaigh, often linked to a word for strife or bright-headed, and Murphy from Ó Murchadha, sea warrior. Nguyen, the most frequent Vietnamese name, was borne by Vietnam's last ruling dynasty, and Patel, Khan and Singh are now familiar in every large city. A realistic Australian roll call puts all of these names side by side without comment.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family names

Most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people carry English surnames that were recorded during the colonial and mission periods, often taken from a station owner, a missionary or an official. A smaller group of families carry names drawn from their own languages. Yunupingu, Marika, Wunungmurra and Gumana are Yolŋu names from northeast Arnhem Land, Namatjira is an Arrernte name made famous by the painter Albert Namatjira, and Mabo belongs to a Meriam family from Mer in the Torres Strait.

These names are tied to particular families, clans and Country, and several are closely linked to public figures, such as Eddie Mabo, whose native title case changed Australian law in 1992, and the Yunupingu family of musicians and leaders. They are included so the list reflects real Australia. If you are writing fiction, a common English or Irish surname is usually the more respectful choice for an Aboriginal character unless you are working closely with the community concerned.

Reading migration history in Australian last names

Endings are the quickest clue to where a family came from. Greek names ending in -ou, such as Georgiou and Andreou, mean of George and of Andrew, and -opoulos, as in Papadopoulos, means descendant of, so that name reads as son of the priest. Italian names often end in -i, a plural form, as in Rossi, the red-haired family, and Ricci, the curly-haired family. Lebanese names often keep a trade, as Najjar means carpenter, or a devotion, as Abboud means a devoted worshipper.

Vietnamese names show a different pattern. A handful of names, led by Nguyen, Tran, Le and Pham, cover most Vietnamese families, so a Vietnamese Australian community repeats the same few names while given names do the work of telling people apart. Chinese names appear in two spellings, Cantonese forms like Wong and Cheung for families with Hong Kong or Malaysian roots and Mandarin forms like Zhang and Zhao for more recent arrivals. Type an ending such as poulos into the search box to pull a group together.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common Australian last names?

Smith usually tops the national rankings, followed by names like Jones, Williams, Brown, Wilson and Taylor. Nguyen ranks high as well, and Irish names such as Kelly and Ryan are more frequent than in Britain. Exact positions shift between sources and years, so treat any single ranking as approximate.

What does the name Nguyen mean?

Nguyen is the Vietnamese form of a Chinese clan name, written 阮 in Chinese characters, and it was the name of Vietnam's last ruling dynasty. Over the centuries many families adopted it, partly for protection and partly for prestige, which is why it is so widespread today. In Australia it is often pronounced close to win or noo-yen.

Can I use Aboriginal family names for a character?

It is better not to borrow them casually. Names like Yunupingu, Namatjira and Mabo belong to specific families and communities, and several are tied to well known people. For a fictional Aboriginal character, many writers choose a common English or Irish surname, which reflects the reality for most families, and seek community advice.

How are Greek and Italian names spelled in Australia?

Usually as the family first registered them. Greek names were transliterated by officials, so Papadopoulos, Papadopolous and Pappas can all come from the same root, and some families shortened long names. Italian names generally kept their original spelling, although accents and double letters were sometimes lost on arrival documents.