When we think of Britain, we think of revolutionary history and unforgettable leaders like King George V and Queen Elizabeth II. Some people may think of the TV show Downton Abbey, Doctor Who, or shylock (That’s okay). Whichever suits your preferences best, it’s safe to say that Britain is generally associated with wit, politeness and nobility. The first thing you know about someone is their name, and when you meet someone of British descent it can give off a sense of elegance and politeness (even if the person is the complete opposite). So if you want to change your name or are just interested in its meaning, we’ve got you covered with a list of British surnames that actually make great names too.
British surnames, including English, Welsh and Scottish surnames, have spread throughout the world. While Welsh and Scottish names often originate from their own Celtic languages (Chimric and Scots Gaelic), English surnames often originate from occupations, places, or the anglicization of names in other languages .
The most common British surnames around the world are of English origin due to a combination of immigration and colonization. Some of the most popular names are derived from translations of Hebrew or German names. If you’re looking for the most popular British surnames and their meanings, you’re not alone. According to the latest available search data, this query is searched more than 12,000 times per month. Check out our list of popular British surnames to learn their meanings and origins.
If you’re interested in surnames from other countries and their meanings, check out our Surnames Around the World pack. See how many you recognize: Irish, French, Spanish, Mexican, Brazilian, Portuguese, Italian and African surnames to name a few.
Common British Surnames
1.Adams/Adamson
Meaning: Son of Adam. Hebrew name meaning “man”.
2.Wilson
Name meaning: Son of William. German name meaning staunch protector.
3.Burton
Definition: fortress settlement.
4.Harris
Meaning: Son of Harry or Henry. German name meaning ruler of the family.
5. Stevens
Meaning: Steven or Stephen’s son. Greek name meaning crown or wreath.
6.Robinson
Name meaning: Son of Robin. German name meaning fame or brightness.
7.Lewis
Meaning: From the Welsh name Llywelyn, meaning leader.
8. Walker
Meaning: The professional name of a person who presses or beats cloth.
9. Payne
Meaning: country person or country person.
10. Baker
Meaning: The professional name of a baker.
11. Owen
Meaning: Derived from the Welsh name Owain, meaning noble or well-born.
12. Sherlock Holmes
Definition: Island.
13. Chapman
Meaning: Merchant, businessman, or merchant.
14. Weber
Definition: Weaver or weaver.
15. Allen
Meaning: rock.
16.Jones
Name meaning: Son of John. Hebrew name meaning “God is merciful”.
17. Davidson/Davis
Meaning: Son of David. Hebrew name meaning beloved.
18. Foster
Meaning: To nourish or nurture.
19. Matthews
Meaning: Son of Matthew. Hebrew name meaning “gift from God”.
20. White
Meaning: Pale or fair complexion.
21. Griffith
Definition: A powerful leader.
22. Knight
Meaning: The professional name of a knight or soldier.
23. Corbyn
Meaning: Crow or black-haired person.
24.Young
Definition: younger or younger.
25. Evans
Name meaning: Son of Evan. Hebrew name meaning “God is merciful”.
26. Smith
Definition: Blacksmith.
27.Wright
Definition: carpentry.
28. Jenkins
Meaning: John’s relative or little John.
29. green
Definition: Residents next to the village green.
30.Hughes
Meaning: Son of Hugh or Hugo. German name meaning soul.
31. Taylor
Definition: tailor.
32. Hall
Definition: A manor.
33.Anderson
Name meaning: Son of Andrew.
34.Armstrong
Name meaning: A person with strong arms.
35.Cox
Definition: Rooster.
36. Atkinson
Name meaning: Son of Atkins.
37. Bell
Meaning: A French name meaning beautiful.
38.Carter
Meaning: A Scottish and Irish name meaning one who transports goods by means of transport.
39. Cole
Definition: charcoal.
40.Collins
Name meaning: Son of Colin.
41. Dawson
Meaning: Son of David.
42. Bailey
Name meaning: Berry wood.
43. ball
Definition: Slope or hill.
44. Dixon
Meaning: Son of Dick.
45. Edwards
Name meaning: Guardian of prosperity.
46. Brown
Meaning: Brown skin color or clothing. An Old English word meaning “brun”.
47. Clark
Definition: employee. Latin word meaning clericus.
48.Yates
Meaning: A caretaker or surname who lived near the gates of a walled town.
49. Zeli
Meaning: happy or blessed.
50. Zuqi
Meaning: Dwellers near tree stumps. A French name for a short, fat person.
51. Fisher
Meaning: Fisherman or salmon.
52.Fletcher
Meaning: Arrow maker or arrow seller.
53. Ford
Meaning: Irish name meaning Fuartháin or descendant of O Fuarthán.
54. Fox
Name meaning: Fox.
55. Gibson
Meaning: A Scottish name meaning Gilbert, son of Gilbert, or son of Gibb.
56.Graham
Meaning: Gray home or a common surname for people belonging to a certain clan.
57.Grant
Definition: Tall or big.
58.Gray
Definition: white hair.
59. Sallow
Meaning: A person who lives near a willow or dead willow tree.
60. Finsby
Meaning: fern or farm.
61. Wild
Meaning: A servant of a commoner or noble family.
62. Miracle
Definition: darkness.
63.Dankworth
Meaning: Refers to a farm or enclosed settlement.
64. Relish it
Meaning: Taste or flavor; something left over, something left behind.
65.Lauti
Meaning: The name of two villages in Tayside; a lake or inlet.
66. Bird whistle
Meaning: The surname of a person who lived near the town of Padiham in Lancashire or Dewsbury in Yorkshire.
67. Berry Cloth
Meaning: woods, or wood; canyon or steep slope.
68.Palmer
Name meaning: One who holds power.
69. Peterson
Name meaning: Son of Peter (Scandinavian); stone or rock (Greek).
70. Quill pen
Meaning: Forest or bush.
71. Quintrell
Meaning: Cape or headland.
72. Ratliff
Definition: Red Cliff.
73.Stewart
Meaning: Watcher or wall keeper.
74.Turner
Meaning: A person who makes objects from wood or metal.
75.Walsh
Meaning: Foreigner or Welshman.
76. Cooper
Definition: barrel maker.
77.Morris
Name meaning: Swamp.
78. Watson
Meaning: Walter’s son.
79. Harrison
Meaning: Harry’s son.
80.Morgan
Definition: Dwellers of the sea.
81. Campbell
Meaning: crooked mouth or crooked mouth.
82. Ainsworth
Definition: enclosure.
83.Cornwall
Meaning: A regional name for a person from Cornwall.
84. Eastev
Meaning: Eastern town or homestead.
85. Eaton
Meaning: A home by an island or river.
86.Elton
Meaning: Ella’s town.
87. Enfield
Meaning: The surname of a person who lived near a lamb farm.
88. Everly
Meaning: Wild boar or woodland clearing.
89. Gastrell
Meaning: Derived from the surname of Reverend Francis Gastrell.
90.Garfield
Definition: The surname of the place of residence.
91.Browning
Meaning: A small European semi-automatic pistol.
92.Camden
Meaning: After Charles Pratt, who sold land on his estate.
93. Bennett
Meaning: Blessed.
94. Ellis
Definition: kindness, kindness.
95. Netherlands
Definition: Woodland.
Fancy British surnames
1. Andy Wright
Definition: Messenger.
2.Alinak
Meaning: Relaxed or independent and strong-willed.
3. Bancroft
Definition: Bean field.
4.Bandini
Meaning: “one who sticks together” or “one who is bound”.
5. Poberon
Meaning: Beautiful.
6. Carmichael
Definition: Friendly.
7. Give it a try
Meaning: rock star.
8.Dalton
Meaning: “There is a path in life.”
9.Duke University
Definition: leader.
10. Elfie
Meaning: Silly flame.
11. Feather Swallow
Meaning: Businessman or bird-like person.
12. Granger
Definition: granary.
13. Halifax
Meaning: cool.
14. Kennedy
Meaning: Leader of a clan or helmet.
15. Lawrence
Meaning: People from the Laurentian gold mines.
16.Lloyd
Meaning: gray.
17.Marshall
Meaning: Horse or person who cares for horses.
18. Osborne
Meaning: God, bear or “God’s soldier”.
19. Henderson
Name meaning: Son of Henry.
20. Sutton
Meaning: From the southern homestead.
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