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Names. Origins. Stories.

The surname
directory.

Explore family names, one letter at a time. Discover meanings, origins, spelling variations, and the sources that can lead you to your next research step.

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118surname profiles
4origin collections

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Starting with R

Showing 1–6 of 6 profiles

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  • Surname profile

    Rodríguez

    Patronymic

    Rodríguez is a Spanish patronymic surname meaning ‘son of Rodrigo’. The name Rodrigo is of Germanic origin, combining ‘hrod’ (fame) and ‘riks’ (king). The surname spread throughout Castile…

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  • Surname profile

    Rossi

    Descriptive

    The Rossi surname is the plural form of the Italian word «rosso», meaning ‘red’. It originated as a descriptive nickname for red‑haired people and is most common in…

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  • Surname profile

    Russo

    Descriptive

    The Russo surname originates from the Italian word for “red,” derived from Late Latin russus, and is a descriptive nickname for a red‑haired person. It is common in…

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  • Surname profile

    Ryan

    Irish Patronymic

    The surname Ryan is of Irish origin, generally derived from the Gaelic Ó Riain meaning ‘descendant of Rian’. While the personal name Rian’s precise meaning remains uncertain, the surname…

    Review pending Read profile: Ryan

This directory includes published profiles. Editorial review status appears on each card. A surname can have more than one origin or formation type.

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