Good Last Names

This list of good last names collects real surnames that are easy to say, spell and remember, each with its meaning and origin. Browse A to Z, search by sound, or use the random picker for a few quick ideas.

220 real surnames with meanings, A to Z.

A

Adams

Son of Adam, earth

English
Allen

From Alan, possibly little rock

Scottish
Anderson

Son of Andrew, manly

Scottish
Andreou

Son of Andreas, manly

Greek
Archer

Bowman

English
Austin

From Augustine, venerable

English

B

Bailey

Bailiff or steward

English
Baker

Maker of bread

English
Barnes

Dweller by barns

English
Becker

Baker, German

German
Bell

Dweller by a bell, or handsome

English
Bennett

From Benedict, blessed

English
Berg

Mountain

Nordic
Bernard

Brave as a bear

French
Bradley

Broad clearing

English
Brady

Descendant of Brádach, possibly spirited

Irish
Brennan

Descendant of Braonán, possibly sorrow

Irish
Brooks

Dweller by a brook

English
Bryant

From Brian, possibly high or noble

Irish
Burke

Fortified place, from de Burgh

Irish

C

Caldwell

Cold spring or stream

English
Campbell

Crooked mouth, Gaelic cam beul

Scottish
Carson

Possibly from a place name, uncertain origin

Scottish
Carter

Driver of a cart

English
Castro

Fort or castle, Latin castrum

Spanish
Chambers

Chamberlain, keeper of private rooms

English
Chandler

Candle maker or seller

English
Chen

From the ancient state of Chen, arrange

Chinese
Clark

Clerk or scribe

English
Clayton

Farm on clay soil

English
Cohen

Priest, Hebrew kohen

Jewish
Cole

Swarthy, or pet form of Nicholas

English
Collins

Son of Colin, or Irish Ó Coileáin, whelp

Irish
Cooper

Barrel maker

English
Costa

Coast or hillside

Italian
Crawford

Crow's ford

Scottish
Cunningham

From Cunninghame, an Ayrshire district

Scottish

D

Dalton

Valley farm

English
Daniels

Son of Daniel, God is my judge

English
Davies

Son of David, beloved

Welsh
Dawson

Son of Daw, pet form of David

English
Dean

Dweller in a valley, or church dean

English
Diaz

Son of Diego

Spanish
Dixon

Son of Dick, from Richard

English
Donovan

Descendant of Donndubhán, dark brown

Irish
Douglas

Dark water, Gaelic dubh glas

Scottish
Doyle

Dark stranger, Irish Ó Dubhghaill

Irish
Dubois

From the woods

French
Dunn

Dark or dun-colored

English

E

Edwards

Son of Edward, wealthy guardian

Welsh
Elliott

From Elias, or Old English Aethelgeat

English
Ellis

From Elias, the Lord is my God

Welsh
Emerson

Son of Emery, industrious ruler

English
Evans

Son of Evan, Welsh form of John

Welsh
Everett

Brave boar, from Germanic Eburhard

English

F

Farrell

Descendant of Fearghal, man of valour

Irish
Ferguson

Son of Fergus, man of strength

Scottish
Fields

Dweller in open country

English
Fischer

Fisherman, German

German
Fisher

Fisherman

English
Fitzgerald

Son of Gerald, spear rule

Irish
Fleming

Man from Flanders

English
Fletcher

Maker of arrows

English
Ford

Dweller by a river crossing

English
Foster

Forester, or foster parent

English
Franklin

Free landholder

English
Fraser

Possibly from Norman de Fresel, uncertain

Scottish
Fuller

One who thickened cloth

English

G

Gardner

Gardener

English
Garrison

Son of Garret, spear rule

English
Gibson

Son of Gib, pet form of Gilbert

Scottish
Gilbert

Bright pledge, Germanic

English
Graham

Gravelly homestead, from Grantham

Scottish
Grant

Tall or great, Old French grand

Scottish
Gray

Grey-haired

English
Griffin

From Welsh Gruffudd, or Irish Ó Gríofa, griffin-like

Welsh

H

Hale

Dweller in a nook or hollow

English
Hall

Worker at a manor hall

English
Hamilton

Crooked or bare hill

Scottish
Hardy

Bold and brave, Old French hardi

English
Harper

Harp player

English
Harrison

Son of Harry, home ruler

English
Hart

Stag, a nickname for a swift person

English
Harvey

Battle worthy, Breton Haerviu

English
Hayes

Dweller by a hedged enclosure

English
Henderson

Son of Henry, home ruler

Scottish
Hoffman

Farm steward or courtier

German
Holland

Land on a hill spur, or from Holland

English
Hollis

Dweller by holly trees

English
Holmes

Dweller on a river island

English
Hopkins

Son of little Hob, from Robert

Welsh
Horvath

Croat, Hungarian

Hungarian
Howard

Heart guardian, or ewe herd

English
Hudson

Son of Hudde, pet form of Hugh

English
Hughes

Son of Hugh, heart or mind

Welsh
Hunt

Huntsman

English

J

Jackson

Son of Jack, from John

English
Jameson

Son of James, supplanter

Scottish
Jennings

Son of Janyn, little John

English

K

Kapoor

Possibly camphor, a Punjabi Khatri clan

Indian
Keller

Cellar keeper or wine steward

German
Kelly

Descendant of Ceallach, bright-headed or war

Irish
Kennedy

Ugly or armoured head, Irish Ó Cinnéide

Irish
Kent

From the county of Kent, border land

English
Khan

Ruler or leader, a Turkic title spread through Persian

Persian
Kim

Gold or metal

Korean
Kingsley

King's wood or clearing

English
Knox

Dweller on a round hill, Gaelic cnoc

Scottish

L

Lambert

Bright land, Germanic

English
Lane

Dweller by a lane

English
Larsen

Son of Lars, from Laurentius

Nordic
Laurent

From Laurence, laurel-crowned

French
Lawrence

From Laurentum, crowned with laurel

English
Lawson

Son of Law, pet form of Laurence

English
Levy

Descendant of Levi, joined

Jewish
Lewis

Famous warrior, from Louis

Welsh
Lincoln

Lake colony, from the city of Lincoln

English
Logan

Little hollow, Gaelic lagan

Scottish
Lowell

Little wolf, Norman French louvel

English
Lucas

Man from Lucania, or light

English
Lund

Grove

Nordic

M

Mackenzie

Son of Coinneach, handsome

Scottish
Marino

Of the sea

Italian
Marlowe

Remnant of a lake

English
Marshall

Horse servant, later a high officer

English
Martel

Hammer

French
Martin

From Martinus, of Mars

English
Mason

Stoneworker

English
Matthews

Son of Matthew, gift of God

Welsh
Maxwell

Maccus's stream

Scottish
McCarthy

Son of Cárthach, loving

Irish
Mendoza

Cold mountain, Basque

Spanish
Mensah

Third-born son, Akan

African
Miles

Soldier, or from the name Milo

English
Mills

Dweller by the mills

English
Mitchell

From Michael, who is like God

English
Monroe

Possibly mouth of the River Roe

Scottish
Montgomery

From Montgommery in Normandy, Gumarich's hill

Scottish
Moore

Dweller by a moor

English
Morales

Mulberry trees

Spanish
Morris

From Maurice, dark-skinned

Welsh
Murphy

Descendant of Murchadh, sea warrior

Irish
Murray

From Moray, seaboard settlement

Scottish

N

Nakamura

Middle village

Japanese
Nelson

Son of Neil, champion

English
Newman

Newcomer

English
Nielsen

Son of Niels, victory of the people

Nordic
Nolan

Descendant of Nuallán, famous or noble

Irish
Norris

Northerner, from Old French norreis

English
Novak

Newcomer

Czech
Nowak

Newcomer, Polish

Polish

O

O'Brien

Descendant of Brian Boru, high or noble

Irish
O'Connor

Descendant of Conchobhar, lover of hounds

Irish
Olsen

Son of Ole, ancestor's descendant

Nordic
Ortiz

Son of Orti, from Fortunius, fortunate

Spanish
Owens

Son of Owen, well-born

Welsh

P

Palmer

Pilgrim who brought back a palm branch

English
Park

Gourd, Korean Bak

Korean
Parker

Park keeper

English
Parsons

Son or servant of the parson

English
Patel

Village headman, Gujarati

Indian
Patterson

Son of Patrick, nobleman

Scottish
Perry

Dweller by a pear tree

English
Porter

Gatekeeper or carrier

English
Powell

Son of Hywel, eminent

Welsh
Preston

Priest's farm

English

Q

Quinn

Descendant of Conn, chief

Irish

R

Ramsey

Island where wild garlic grows

English
Reed

Red-haired, or dweller by reeds

English
Reid

Red-haired, Scottish

Scottish
Reynolds

Son of Reynold, counsel rule

English
Richards

Son of Richard, strong ruler

Welsh
Riley

Rye clearing, or Irish Ó Raghallaigh

Irish
Rivera

Riverbank

Spanish
Roberts

Son of Robert, bright fame

Welsh
Robinson

Son of Robin, from Robert

English
Rogers

Son of Roger, famous spear

English
Romano

Roman, from Rome

Italian
Rossi

Red-haired

Italian
Russell

Little red one, Old French rousel

English
Ryan

Descendant of Rian, possibly little king

Irish

S

Sanders

Son of Sander, from Alexander

English
Santiago

Saint James

Filipino
Santos

Saints, for All Saints' Day

Portuguese
Sawyer

One who saws timber

English
Scott

A Gaelic speaker, a Scot

Scottish
Shaw

Dweller by a small wood

English
Shelton

Farm on a ledge or shelf

English
Sheridan

Descendant of Sirideán, seeker

Irish
Silva

Forest or woodland

Portuguese
Simmons

Son of Simon, he has heard

English
Spencer

Dispenser of provisions, steward

English
Stewart

Steward of a household

Scottish
Sullivan

Descendant of Súileabhán, dark-eyed

Irish
Sutton

South farm

English
Suzuki

Bell tree

Japanese

T

Tanaka

Middle of the rice field

Japanese
Taylor

Tailor

English
Thompson

Son of Thomas, twin

English
Tucker

Fuller of cloth

English
Turner

Woodturner on a lathe

English

W

Walker

Cloth fuller who walked on wet cloth

English
Wallace

Welshman or foreigner, Norman French waleis

Scottish
Walsh

Welshman or foreigner

Irish
Ward

Watchman or guard

English
Warner

Warrener, keeper of a game park

English
Warren

Game park keeper, or from La Varenne

English
Watson

Son of Wat, from Walter

English
Webb

Weaver

English
Weber

Weaver, German

German
Wells

Dweller by springs

English
West

Dweller to the west, or newcomer from the west

English
Weston

West farm

English
Wheeler

Wheel maker

English
Whitaker

White or wheat field

English
Whitman

White-haired man

English
Wilson

Son of Will, from William

English
Wong

Cantonese form of Huang, yellow

Chinese
Wright

Craftsman or builder

English

Y

Young

The younger of two

English

Generate random good surnames

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Results (6)

Olsen

Son of Ole, ancestor's descendant

Nordic
Watson

Son of Wat, from Walter

English
Garrison

Son of Garret, spear rule

English
Moore

Dweller by a moor

English
Carter

Driver of a cart

English
Gardner

Gardener

English

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What are good last names, really?

A good surname is one that works in daily life. It should be simple to pronounce on first reading, hard to misspell and free of awkward meanings in English. Names like Bennett, Carter, Hayes, Parker, Ellis and Brooks meet all three tests, which is why they turn up so often in fiction, in baby name lists and as pen names. They sound familiar without feeling dull, and they fit comfortably after almost any first name.

Meaning is the second test. Most of the names above describe a trade, a place or a personal trait, and many of those meanings are positive or neutral. Foster comes from a word for a forester or a foster parent, Reed describes red hair or a reedy place, and Hayes points to an enclosed field. Choosing a surname with a pleasant meaning adds a quiet layer of intention, even if nobody else ever looks it up.

Good last names for boys and girls

For boys, good surnames often double as first names. Carter, Harrison, Sullivan, Walker and Brooks all work in either position, so they are useful for parents who want a family surname as a first or middle name. As family names for male characters, they suit a wide range of personalities, from steady to adventurous. Test them with a short first name like Sam or Luke and a longer one like Nathaniel to hear how each rhythm feels.

For girls, good surnames tend to have softer endings and flowing sounds. Harper, Emerson, Ellis, Collins, Quinn and Sheridan have all been used as first names for girls in recent decades. As family names, they pair well with classic first names such as Claire, Grace or Eleanor. If you want a surname that sounds warm, look for names ending in vowels or soft consonants, and use the search box to try endings like -ley or -by.

Good last names for characters in fiction

In fiction, a good surname supports the character without drawing attention to itself. Readers should be able to pronounce it silently, remember it after one mention and tell it apart from every other name in the book. That is why solid, slightly uncommon names like Whitaker, Donovan, Sheridan and Kingsley work so well for lead characters. They feel real, they have a clear shape on the page, and they do not overshadow the story.

Match the name to setting and background too. An English surname like Preston suits a village mystery, an Irish name like Donovan might fit a Boston crime story, and a Scandinavian name like Larsen could sit naturally in a Minnesota family saga. Scroll the list with the origin in mind, note three or four candidates, and read each one alongside your character's first name before you commit.

Frequently asked questions

What are good last names for girls?

Harper, Ellis, Emerson, Quinn, Collins and Marlowe are popular choices, both as family names and as first names for girls. They are easy to spell and have soft, open sounds. Pair them with a classic first name for balance, or use one as a middle name to honour a family surname.

Are good last names always common ones?

No. Common surnames are easy to use, but good last names can also be uncommon as long as they are simple to say and spell. Names like Whitaker, Sheridan and Kingsley are less frequent than Smith or Johnson yet still feel natural. The balance between familiar and fresh is what most people want.

How can I tell if a surname works with a first name?

Say the full name aloud several times and write it down. Check that the first name does not end with the sound the surname begins with, avoid rhymes unless you want a playful effect, and look at the initials. A mix of syllable counts, such as two and one or one and three, usually sounds best.

Can I use these surnames as first or middle names?

Yes, and many families already do. Surnames like Carter, Parker, Harper and Bennett have become popular first names, and using a family surname as a middle name is a long tradition in English-speaking countries. Check the meaning beside each name to make sure it suits the person you are naming.