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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Showing 85–96 of 118 profiles

  • Surname profile

    Rodríguez

    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

    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

    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

    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…

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  • Surname profile

    Santos

    Santos 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…

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  • Surname profile

    Sawyer

    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…

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  • Surname profile

    Schmidt

    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…

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  • Surname profile

    Schneider

    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.…

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  • Surname profile

    Schäfer

    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.…

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  • Surname profile

    Silva

    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…

    Review pending Read profile: Silva

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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