English last names reflect the cultural changes and diversity of England, the fascinating history of the island, and the historical figures who have helped shape our modern world. English surnames can be beautiful, cool, and incredibly unique. On this page, you’ll find common names last names from England and their meaning.
What are English Last Names?
An English last name refers to a surname that is linguistically English and may have non-English origins. English last names can have long histories beginning in France or origins on the Isle as names were passed down from Old English-speaking peoples. Common themes found in English last names reference ancestral homelands and jobs. As last names fell into more use, people often chose last names that reflected their hometowns or jobs that they held. English last names are often associated with prominent statesmen, cultural icons, and English nobility. Most English surnames will create an immediate impression due to their well-known meanings and connections to historical figures.
Popular last names reflect cultural influences, for example. Taylor is a last name that arrived with the Norman conquest and means ‘tailor,’ the Anglo-Norman surname Johnson comes from the Christian & Jewish name, Yohanan. Other languages that influence English last names include Welsh, German variations, Scots, and Gaelic. Cultural influences of English last names are found throughout literature and film, from the Game of Thrones series to children’s cartoons. Check out our comprehensive list of English last names.
It's More Fun to Share
Top 100 English Last Names
Here, we present the most common English last names and their meanings. Common English last names often reflect historical occupational or descriptive origins. Additionally, some English surnames have roots in place names or patronymic origins.
- Smith – Worker in metal
- Jones – John’s son
- Taylor – Tailor
- Brown – Person with brown hair or complexion
- Williams – Son of William
- Wilson – Son of Will
- Johnson – Son of John
- Davies – Son of David
- Robinson – Son of Robin
- Wright – Worker, especially a woodworker
- Thompson – Son of Thom/Thomas
- Evans – Son of Evan
- Walker – Cloth walker or fuller
- White – Person with fair hair or complexion
- Roberts – Son of Robert
- Green – Dweller near the village green
- Hall – One who lived by a hall or manor house
- Thomas – Son of Thomas
- Clarke – Clerk or scholar
- Wood – One who lived by or in a wood
- Lewis – Renowned warrior
- Jackson – Son of Jack
- Harris – Son of Harry
- Edwards – Son of Edward
- Turner – Worker who turns wood on a lathe
- Martin – Warrior of Mars
- Cooper – Barrel maker
- Hill – One who lived by a hill
- Ward – Guardian or watchman
- Hughes – Son of Hugh
- Moore – Dweller by a moor or marshland
- Clark – Variant of Clarke, meaning clerk or scholar
- King – Leader or ruler
- Harrison – Son of Harry
- Baker – Bread maker
- Lee – Meadow or clearing
- Allen – Harmonious or cheerful
- Morris – Dark-skinned
- Scott – A person from Scotland
- Watson – Son of Wat or Walter
- Davis – Son of David
- Parker – Park keeper
- James – Son of James
- Bennett – Little blessed one
- Young – The younger one
- Phillips – Son of Philip
- Richardson – Son of Richard
- Mitchell – Who is like God?
- Bailey – Bailiff or steward
- Carter – Transporter of goods by cart
- Cook – Cook
- Shaw – Dweller by the wood
- Bell – Bell ringer or dweller by the bell
- Collins – Son of Colin or Nicholas
- Morgan – Sea-born
- Kelly – Warrior
- Miller – Grain miller
- Cox – Son of a co*ck or rooster
- Marshall – Horse servant
- Simpson – Son of Sim or Simon
- Price – Son of Rhys
- Anderson – Son of Andrew
- Adams – Son of Adam
- Wilkinson – Son of Wilkin
- Foster – Forest worker
- Ellis – Jehovah is God
- Murphy – Sea warrior
- Chapman – Merchant or trader
- Mason – Worker in stone
- Gray – Person with gray hair or complexion
- Richards – Son of Richard
- Webb – Weaver
- Griffiths – Son of Griffith or strong chief
- Hunt – Hunter
- Palmer – Pilgrim
- Campbell – Crooked mouth
- Holmes – Island
- Mills – Near a mill
- Rogers – Son of Roger
- Barnes – Barn
- Knight – Warrior or servant
- Matthews – Son of Matthew
- Barker – Tanner of leather
- Powell – Son of Howell
- Stevens – Son of Stephen
- Fisher – Fisherman
- Butler – Wine steward
- Dixon – Son of Dick
- Russell – Redhead
- Harvey – Battle worthy
- Pearson – Son of Piers or Peter
- Graham – Gravelly homestead
- Nelson – Son of Neil
- Stewart – Steward
- Reed – Red-haired
- Howard – Sheep guardian
- Brooks – Near a stream or brook
- Sanders – Son of Alexander
- Ross – Headland
- Perry – Pear tree
Unique English Last Names
The surnames on this list of unique English last names have extraordinary histories, such as surnames derived from local landmarks or dialects. Some unique last names may also result from personal or family-specific attributes, events, or occupations.
- Abbott – Religious leader
- Andrews – Son of Andrew
- Armstrong – Strong arm
- Arnold – Eagle power
- Atkinson – Son of Atkin
- Ball – One who lived by a knoll or rounded hill
- Barnett – From the burnet plant or burned clearing
- Barrett – Bear-like or brave
- Bates – Son of Bartholomew
- Black – Dark-complexioned
- Blake – Dark or pale
- Booth – Dweller in a hut or booth
- Bradley – Broad meadow
- Bryant – Strong, virtuous, and honorable
- Burton – Fortified town
- Cole – Swarthy, coal-black
- Dawson – Son of Daw or David
- Day – Descendant of David
- Dunn – Brown or dark
- Elliott – Jehovah is God
- Fletcher – Arrow maker
- Ford – River crossing
- Fox – Fox
- Freeman – Free man
- Gibson – Son of Gibb or Gilbert
- Gill – Servant or short for Gilbert
- Grant – Large or great
- Gregory – Watchful, vigilant
- Griffin – Strong lord
- Hamilton – From the mountain town
- Hart – Stag
- Hayes – Hedged area
- Hudson – Son of Hugh
- Hunter – Hunter
- Jenkins – John’s kin
- Jordan – To descend or flow down
- Kennedy – Ugly head
- Lawrence – From Laurentum
- Lloyd – Gray
- Lowe – Hill or mound
- Murray – By the sea
- Newman – Newcomer
- Owen – Young warrior
- Page – Servant or page
- Parsons – Parson’s son or clergyman
- Payne – Rustic or countryman
- Pearce – Rock
- Perkins – Little Peter
- Porter – Gatekeeper
- Reynolds – King’s advisor
- Rose – Rose
- Saunders – Son of Alexander
- Shah – King or emperor
- Simmons – Simon’s son
- Spencer – Steward or administrator
- Stanley – Stony meadow
- Sullivan – Dark-eyed
- Sutton – Southern town
- Thornton – Thorny enclosure
- Tucker – Cloth fuller
- Wallace – Foreigner or stranger
- Walsh – Welshman
- Warner – Army guard
- Warren – Animal enclosure
- Watts – Son of Walter
- Webster – Weaver
- Wells – Near a spring
- West – From the west
- Wheeler – Wheel maker
- Williamson – Son of William
- Willis – Will’s son
- Woods – Of the woods
Cute English Last Names
Cute English last names incorporate whimsical or endearing qualities, such as nature elements, or they may be sweet-sounding. These names have a delightful and heartwarming quality that can make them memorable.
- Addison – Son of Adam
- Ashby – Ash tree settlement
- Austin – Venerable or majestic
- Baldwin – Bold friend
- Barton – Barley settlement
- Baxter – Baker
- Beckett – Little brook
- Bexley – Box tree meadow
- Bird – Bird
- Bond – Farmer or husbandman
- Brady – Broad island
- Briggs – Bridge
- Buckley – Meadow of he-goats
- Burrows – Near the boroughs or hills
- Byrne – From a brook
- Chandler – Candle seller
- Curtis – Courteous or polished
- Dalton – Town in the valley
- Dayton – Bright and sunny town
- Doyle – Dark stranger
- Everett – Brave as a wild boar
- Everly – Wild boar’s clearing
- Ferguson – Son of Fergus
- Field – Open land
- Fowler – Bird catcher
- Francis – Frenchman
- French – From France
- Frost – Born in a cold spell
- Fuller – Cloth cleaner or bleacher
- Gallagher – Eager helper
- Grayson – Son of the gray-haired one
- Greenwood – Green wood
- Harper – Harp player
- Hartley – Stag meadow
- Heath – Wasteland
- Higgins – Son of Hugh
- Holt – Wood or wooded hill
- Hopkins – Son of Hob or Robert
- Jameson – Son of James
- Jarvis – Spear servant
- Kendall – Valley of the River Kent
- Kinsley – King’s meadow
- Lambert – Bright land
- Lawson – Son of Lawrence
- Lucas – From Lucania (southern Italy)
- Lynch – Mariner
- Miles – Merciful
- Morton – Moor town
- Nichols – Victory of the people
- Nicholson – Son of Nicholas
- Norman – Norseman or from the north
- Oliver – Olive tree
- Parry – Son of Harry
- Peters – Son of Peter
- Peyton – Peaco*ck town
- Poole – Near a pool
- Preston – Priest’s town
- Pritchard – Son of Richard
- Quinn – Descendant of Conn
- Rhodes – From the clearing in the woods
- Slater – Roofer
- Tinsley – Tynni’s field
- Townsend – Town’s end
- Walton – Walled town
- Waverly – Meadow of quivering aspens
- Woodward – Forester
Cool English Last Names
Put on your freshest shades to read this list of cool English last names! These surnames have an air of sophistication or uniqueness that sets them apart, with a sense of style and individuality.
- Archer – Bowman
- Ashton – Ash tree town
- Barber – One who cuts hair or shaves
- Barlow – Bare hill
- Blakely – Dark meadow or clearing
- Brewster – Brewer of ale
- Brinkley – Meadow near the brink or edge
- Burke – From a fort or castle
- Cannon – Clergyman or official of the church
- Carrington – Town of the marsh or fen
- Carver – Wood carver or sculptor
- Chambers – Room or private chamber
- Clayton – Clay settlement
- Coleman – Coal miner or charcoal burner
- Cunningham – Place of the milk pail
- Davidson – Son of David
- Douglas – Dark water
- Easton – East settlement
- Gable – Triangular hill
- Garrison – Spear-fortified town
- Gates – Road or path
- Hammond – Home protection
- Harlow – Rocky hill
- Hayward – Guardian of the hedged enclosure
- Hewitt – Little Hugh
- Hollister – Keeper of holly
- Hopper – Dancer or acrobat
- Houston – Hugh’s town
- Huntley – Hunter’s meadow
- Hutchinson – Son of Hugh
- Huxley – Hugh’s meadow
- Jennings – Little John
- Johnston – John’s town
- Kemp – Warrior or champion
- Knowles – At the top of the hill
- Lane – Path or roadway
- Lincoln – Lake colony
- Madison – Son of Matthew
- Marsh – Marsh or wetland
- Morrison – Son of Morris
- Moss – Bog or marsh
- Nash – At the ash tree
- Osborne – God bear
- Potter – Maker of pottery
- Raleigh – Roe deer meadow
- Remington – Raven’s estate
- Rider – Horseman
- Ripley – Strip clearing
- Robertson – Son of Robert
- Ryan – Little king
- Ryder – Mounted messenger
- Saxon – From Saxony
- Sharp – Sharp or keen
- Sherman – Cutter of cloth
- Stephens – Crown, wreath
- Sterling – Little star
- Stetson – Stephen’s son
- Stevenson – Son of Steven
- Stokes – Place
- Stone – Stone or rock
- Thomson – Son of Thomas
- Todd – Fox
- Walters – Army ruler
- Watkins – Little Walter
- Wesson – West town
- Wild – Untamed
- Wilder – Wild deer
- Wolfe – Wolf
Rare English Last Names
We’ve dug through contemporary and historical records for this list of rare English last names fit for the rarest of people. These surnames can carry a sense of mystery and intrigue as they are less frequently encountered in the broader population.
- Alexander – Defender of the people
- Ames – Friend
- Banks – Near a riverbank
- Bellamy – Fine friend
- Berry – Fortified place
- Bishop – Overseer or caretaker
- Braxton – Brock’s town
- Burgess – Freeman of a borough
- Burns – Brook or stream
- Calloway – Pebble place
- Carlisle – Fortress of Luguvalos
- Carr – Wetland or bog
- Charlton – Free peasant’s town
- Colson – Son of Cole
- Cooke – Cook
- Cross – Near a cross or crucifix
- Dean – Valley
- Dickinson – Son of Dick
- Edison – Son of Edward
- Ellington – Ellis’s farm
- Ewing – Born of yew
- Falconer – Falcon trainer
- Gardner – Gardener
- George – Farmer
- Gibbs – Son of Gilbert
- Gilbert – Bright pledge
- Goodwin – Good friend
- Gordon – Spacious fort
- Harding – Brave, hardy
- Hardy – Brave, hardy
- Hawkins – Little hawk
- Henderson – Son of Henry
- Hodgson – Son of Roger
- Holland – Wooded land
- Lively – Lively or cheerful
- Long – Tall
- Mann – Man or hero
- Marlowe – Drained lake
- May – Hawthorn tree
- Middleton – Middle settlement
- Milton – Middle town
- Newton – New town
- Parkinson – Son of Parkin
- Read – Red-haired
- Reid – Red-haired
- Riley – Rye clearing
- Robson – Son of Robert
- Rowe – Row of houses
- Sadler – Saddle maker
- Shepherd – Sheep herder
- Stephenson – Son of Stephen
- Thatcher – Roof thatcher
- Thorpe – Village or hamlet
- Truett – True
- Upton – Higher settlement
- Whitehead – White-haired
- Winslet – Wynn’s channel
- Winslow – Wynn’s hill
- Winthrop – Friend’s village
- Yates – Gatekeeper
Uncommon English Last Names
Uncommon English last names are less frequently encountered but still exist within the broader population. These surnames can pique curiosity and interest due to their relative rarity compared to more common names.
- Ainsworth – From one’s estate
- Atkins – Son of Atkin
- Avery – Elf counsel
- Bartlett – Son of Bartholomew
- Beckham – Homestead by the stream
- Birch – Where birch trees grow
- Blackwell – Black well or spring
- Blair – Battlefield or plain
- Booker – Beech tree or bookbinder
- Bowers – Dweller by the bowers
- Bowie – Fair-haired
- Boyd – Yellow or fair-haired
- Bradford – Broad ford
- Bradshaw – Broad wood or thicket
- Brock – Badger
- Bronson – Son of Brown
- Brookes – Of the brooks
- Burrell – Young bull
- Caldwell – Cold spring
- Carroll – Manly or champion
- Cartwright – Maker of carts
- Crane – Crane bird
- Crawford – Ford of crows
- Dale – Valley
- Daniels – Son of Daniel
- Davey – Beloved or son of David
- Davison – Son of David
- Dobson – Son of Robert
- Draper – Cloth dealer
- Franklin – Landowner of free but not noble status
- Fraser – Strawberry plant
- Glover – Maker of gloves
- Goddard – Good or God-hard
- Graves – Steward or overseer
- Hanco*ck – John’s son
- Hayden – Heathen or hedged valley
- Henry – Ruler of the household
- Hicks – Son of Richard
- Holden – Deep valley
- Horton – Muddy farmstead
- Howe – Hill or mound
- Hurst – Wooded hill
- Jacobs – Son of Jacob
- Jefferson – Son of Jeffrey
- Kane – Battler or warrior
- Kay – Key or wharf
- Keaton – Kite town
- Kent – High or coastal land
- Kenyon – White-haired
- Kirby – Church settlement
- Kirk – Church
- Knox – Hilltop
- Lamb – Lamb
- Langston – Long stone
- Maynard – Strong, brave
- Meadows – Where grass grows
- Mercer – Merchant
- Morley – Moor clearing
- Morse – Moor or marsh
- Nixon – Son of Nicholas
- Norris – From the north
- Owens – Son of Owen
- Pierce – Rock or stone
- Presley – Priest’s meadow
- Ray – Roe deer or beam of light
- Reeves – Bailiff or steward
- Ridley – Reed clearing
- Rockwell – Rocky spring
- Sanderson – Son of Alexander
- Sargent – Servant
- Savage – Wild, untamed
- Sheldon – Shelf valley
- Shelton – Sheltered town
- Skinner – Dealer in skins
- Smart – Quick, active
- Sommer – Summertime
- Tomlinson – Son of Thomas
- Wade – Ford
- Waters – Of the water
- Weaver – Weaver of cloth
- Weston – Western town
- Whitney – White island
- Whittaker – White field
More Lists:
- English First Names
- Old English Last Names
- English Aristocratic Last Names
- Welsh Last Names
- Irish Last Names
- American Last Names
- → See all Last Names by Nationality ~ Start Here
Famous People with English Last Names
Winston Churchill served in the British Army and later became a prominent statesman. He served as Prime Minister during World War II and is one of history’s greatest leaders. Churchill is geographic and comes from an Old English word for someone who lived on a hill called church.
William Shakespeare is a titan in Western literature and theater due to the popularity and quality of the plays he wrote during his lifetime. Many of his plays are still read and acted. Shakespeare is an Old English surname and means ‘brandish spear’ and was given to argumentative people.
Isaac Newton worked as a mathematician, astronomer, and physicist and is considered one of history’s greatest scientific minds. Newton is an Old and Middle English geographic last name referring to those who lived in a farmstead settlement or settlement town.
John Lennon was a member of the acclaimed band The Beatles and was a songwriter, singer, and activist. His music helped define a generation of rebels, hippies, and rock stars. Lennon is of Irish origin and means ‘descendant of Leannán or Lonán.’
Oliver Cromwell was born in England in 1599. Although his legacy and actions are hotly debated to this day, it can be said that he was one of England’s most influential statesmen. Cromwell is an Old English geographic surname for a place with a crooked stream in Nottinghamshire.
References
Information from the Office for National Statistics which collects, analyses, and publishes information on English surnames was used to collect this data.
