Names. Origins. Stories.
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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Showing 1–11 of 11 profiles
Reset filtersSantos is a Spanish, Portuguese and Galician surname meaning ‘saints’, derived from the Latin *sanctus*. It originated as a religious nickname or place-based designation for those associated with…
The surname Sawyer is an English occupational name for a wood‑sawing tradesman, but it has also been adopted as an Americanized form of Jewish surnames meaning ‘sawyer’. The…
Schmidt is a German occupational surname derived from the word 'Schmied', meaning 'blacksmith'. It is the German equivalent of the English surname 'Smith' and has been common in…
Schneider is a German occupational surname meaning "tailor," derived from the verb schneiden. It originated in German‑speaking regions during the Middle Ages and has spread worldwide through migration.…
The surname Schäfer is an occupational name of German origin meaning “shepherd” or “sheep farmer”. It derives from Old High German scāfāri, first recorded in the 9th–10th centuries.…
The surname Silva is of Portuguese or Galician origin, derived from the Latin word "silva," meaning forest or bramble. It can be a topographic or locational name, depending…
The surname Sinclair is a Scoto‑Norman name derived from the French toponymic ‘de Saint‑Clair’, meaning ‘pure, renowned’ from Latin clarus. It entered Scotland in the 13th century and is most…
Smith is an occupational surname derived from Old English smið, meaning ‘one who works with metal’. The name first appears in records from the late Anglo‑Saxon period and…
The surname Stewart, sometimes spelled Stuart, comes from the Old English 'stigweard' or Gaelic 'Stiùbhart', meaning 'steward' or 'household guardian'. It is an occupational name that became linked…
The surname Sullivan is an anglicised form of the Irish name Ó Súilleabháin, meaning "descendant of Súilleabhán". Its exact personal‑name meaning is uncertain, but it is generally considered a…
The surname Sutton is a toponymic name of English origin, meaning ‘southern farm’ or ‘south town’. It first appears in 11th‑century records and has been borne by many…
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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A trade, a place, a parent’s name. Follow the patterns that helped shape family names.