100 Cool Medieval Last Names
Last names, or surnames, give an outreach to the past and thus provide some hints into how our ancestors lived, worked, and where they might have come from.
In the medieval era, surnames were not just inherited family names-some, such as trade, town of origin, physical characteristics, or even personality traits, described that person.
Medieval surnames evolved in some interesting ways, from the noble houses of Europe down to poorer blacksmiths and farmers.
In this post, we shall delve into the history, meanings, and stories of some of the most common and uncommon medieval surnames that provide insight into how they constructed the identities and legacies that endure to this day.
Medieval last names
Smith – Blacksmith or metalworker
Baker – Bread maker
Fletcher – Arrow maker
Cooper – Barrel maker
Chandler – Candle maker
Miller – Grain grinder
Carpenter – Woodworker
Shepherd – Herdsman of sheep
Tanner – Leather worker
Wainwright – Wagon builder
Clerk – Scribe or scholar
Gardener – One who cultivates gardens
Butcher – Meat seller
Tailor – Clothing maker
Vintner – Wine merchant
Turner – Wood or metal lathe worker
Webster – Weaver of cloth
Sexton – Church caretaker
Hunter – One who hunts game
Mason – Stoneworker
Brewster – Brewer of ale or beer
Parker – Keeper of the park or gamekeeper
Farmer – Agricultural worker
Wright – Builder or maker, especially of ships
Saylor – Sailor or seafarer
Grimshaw – From a dark or gloomy wood
Harrison – Son of Harry (a diminutive of Henry)
Blackwood – Living near a dark forest or wood
Redman – Person with red hair or complexion
Knight – A soldier in the medieval feudal system
Montague – From the mountain ridge
Fitzgerald – Son of Gerald, or “son of a ruler”
Greenfield – From a green field or meadow
Wells – One who lived near a well
Pettit – Small or little, often used for a smaller person
Chaucer – Maker of shoes or a “shoemaker”
Devereux – From a town named Devereux
Lamb – Often used as a nickname for a gentle or innocent person
Barton – From a barley town or settlement
Glover – One who makes gloves
Hobson – Son of Hob, a common diminutive of Robert
Rivers – Living by the river
Waldron – From the valley of the river
Tudor – One who descends from the Welsh royal family
Ashford – From the ash tree ford (a river crossing)
Stuart – A steward or household manager
Reynolds – Son of Reynold, meaning “ruler’s advisor”
Madden – A diminutive form of the name “Mathew,” meaning “gift of God”
Lyon – Derived from the lion, symbolizing strength and bravery
Carter – A person who transports goods by cart.
Abbot – A leader of a monastery
Alderidge – From the old ridge, referring to a location
Almond – Possibly from the personal name “Almund,” meaning “noble”
Armstrong – Strong arms, often a nickname for a strong person
Baldwin – Derived from the Old Germanic name “Baldwin,” meaning “brave friend”
Barrett – A strong or brave man
Basset – A nickname for a person with a low or short stature
Beaumont – Beautiful mountain
Belvoir – From the beautiful view (French origin)
Bendix – Derived from a personal name, meaning “blessed”
Berkeley – From the village of Berkeley in Gloucestershire
Beverley – From the beaver meadow, indicating a place near a beaver settlement
Blackwell – A dark or black spring or well
Blake – A nickname meaning “dark” or “fair,” depending on the interpretation
Booth – A person who lived in a shelter or small cabin
Bradshaw – From the broad or wide wood
Bright – A surname indicating brightness or intelligence
Brock – From the Old English word for badger
Buckley – From a deer meadow or clearing
Burnett – A person who lived by a stream or brook
Caldwell – From the cold spring or stream
Chadwick – From the village of Chadwick
Chamberlain – A person who managed household affairs
Charlton – From the town of Charles or the free man’s town
Clifton – From the town by the cliffs
Cunningham – From a place named Cunningham in Scotland
Dalton – From the valley town
Danvers – From the town of Danvers
Darcy – From the fortress or town of “D’Arcy”
Davies – Son of David, meaning “beloved”
Deacon – A member of the clergy
Derby – From the settlement near a deer park
Devon – From the county of Devon in England
Dickson – Son of Richard, meaning “brave ruler”
Dixon – Son of Dick, a diminutive of Richard
Douglas – From the dark stream or dark river
Dunbar – From the town or fortress on a hill
Durham – From the hill by the river, referring to the city of Durham
Edgar – A name meaning “wealthy spear”
Ellis – A diminutive form of the name Elijah or Elias
Fairchild – A nickname for a fair or beautiful child
Farnsworth – From the fern-swamp or fern-covered wood
Fowler – A person who caught birds
Gardiner – One who worked in or owned a garden
Gibbons – A diminutive of the name “Gibson,” meaning “son of Gilbert”
Gilbert – A name meaning “bright pledge”
Glendon – From the valley or glen with a hill or mound
Greenwood – A name referring to a green forest or wood
Harris – Son of Harry, a diminutive of Henry
Hawkins – Son of Hawkin, a diminutive of the name “Hawk,” meaning strong or brave
