100 Popular Jamaican Last Names
Jamaican last names, rich histories were well laid with diversity within the island from indigenous Taino roots to African heritage, colonization by Europeans, and different waves of migration.
These surnames have something relating to ancestral stories, resistance, and identity, revealing some complexity of Jamaica’s history.
Whether of British, Spanish, African, or Indian origin, Jamaican last names serve as a bridge between generations, preserving family legacies as they change through time.
The following highlights the origins, meanings, and significance of some common and less common Jamaican surnames.
Jamaican Last names
Bailey – Derived from Old English, meaning “bailiff” or steward.
Brown – Common among Afro-Jamaicans, often linked to skin tone or a family name from British colonizers.
Campbell – Scottish origin, meaning “crooked mouth.”
Clarke – English surname meaning “clerk” or “scholar.”
Dawkins – English origin, meaning “son of David.”
Dixon – English surname meaning “son of Dick (Richard).”
Edwards – English surname meaning “son of Edward.”
Ellis – Derived from Hebrew, meaning “Jehovah is God.”
Ferguson – Scottish origin, meaning “son of Fergus (man of force).”
Forbes – Scottish name meaning “prosperous” or “field.”
Francis – Latin origin, meaning “Frenchman” or “free man.”
Gordon – Scottish origin, meaning “great hill.”
Graham – Scottish origin, meaning “gravelly homestead.”
Grant – Scottish origin, meaning “tall” or “great.”
Gray – English surname, often referring to someone with gray hair.
Green – English surname, possibly referring to someone who lived near greenery.
Hamilton – Scottish origin, meaning “beautiful mountain.”
Harris – English surname meaning “son of Harry (Henry).”
Henry – French origin, meaning “ruler of the home.”
Hinds – Old English, meaning “servant” or “domestic worker.”
Jackson – English surname meaning “son of Jack (John).”
James – Hebrew origin, meaning “supplanter.”
Johnson – English surname meaning “son of John.”
Jones – English surname meaning “son of John.”
Kelly – Irish origin, meaning “descendant of Ceallach (warrior or bright-headed).”
Lawrence – Latin origin, meaning “from Laurentum.”
Lewis – English surname meaning “famous warrior.”
Lindo – Spanish origin, meaning “beautiful” or “pretty.”
Lowe – English origin, meaning “wolf” or “hill.”
Malcolm – Scottish origin, meaning “devotee of Saint Columba.”
Martin – Latin origin, meaning “of Mars (god of war).”
McKenzie – Scottish origin, meaning “son of Kenneth.”
Miller – English surname meaning “one who mills grain.”
Mitchell – Hebrew origin, meaning “who is like God?”
Morgan – Welsh origin, meaning “sea defender.”
Morris – Latin origin, meaning “dark-skinned” or “Moorish.”
Nelson – English surname meaning “son of Neil.”
Palmer – English surname meaning “pilgrim” or “one who carries palm leaves.”
Parker – English surname meaning “keeper of the park.”
Powell – Welsh origin, meaning “son of Howell.”
Reid – Scottish origin, meaning “red-haired.”
Richards – English surname meaning “son of Richard.”
Robinson – English surname meaning “son of Robin (Robert).”
Scott – Scottish origin, meaning “a person from Scotland.”
Simpson – English surname meaning “son of Simon.”
Smith – English surname meaning “metalworker” or “blacksmith.”
Stewart – Scottish origin, meaning “household guardian.”
Thomas – Hebrew origin, meaning “twin.”
Thompson – English surname meaning “son of Thomas.”
Williams – English surname meaning “son of William (strong-willed warrior).”
Adams – English origin, meaning “son of Adam” or “earth.”
Allen – Scottish origin, meaning “handsome” or “little rock.”
Anderson – Scandinavian origin, meaning “son of Andrew.”
Anglin – Irish origin, possibly derived from “Ó hAngluinn,” meaning “descendant of Anglann.”
Ashley – English origin, meaning “ash tree meadow.”
Atkinson – English origin, meaning “son of Atkin (little Adam).”
Barnes – English origin, meaning “someone who lived near a barn.”
Barrett – Norman French origin, meaning “bear strength” or “quarrelsome.”
Bennett – Latin origin, meaning “blessed.”
Blake – English origin, meaning “black” or “pale” (depending on the region).
Bogle – Scottish origin, meaning “ghost” or “hobgoblin.”
Boyd – Scottish origin, meaning “yellow-haired” or “from the island of Bute.”
Burke – Norman French origin, meaning “from the fortress.”
Burnett – French origin, meaning “brown-haired” or “small brown one.”
Carr – English or Scottish origin, meaning “marsh” or “wetland.”
Chambers – English origin, meaning “attendant in the private chambers of a noble.”
Christie – Scottish origin, meaning “follower of Christ.”
Cohen – Hebrew origin, meaning “priest” (common among Jamaican Jewish families).
Coleman – Irish origin, meaning “son of Colmán (little dove).”
Cunningham – Scottish origin, meaning “village of the milk pail.”
Daley – Irish origin, meaning “assembly” or “meeting place.”
Davidson – Hebrew origin, meaning “son of David.”
Dennis – Greek origin, meaning “follower of Dionysius (god of wine and revelry).”
Douglas – Scottish origin, meaning “dark water.”
Drummond – Scottish origin, meaning “ridge” or “highland.”
Dwyer – Irish origin, meaning “black” or “dark-colored.”
Elliott – Hebrew origin, meaning “the Lord is my God.”
Fenton – English origin, meaning “marsh town” or “settlement by a fen.”
Foster – English origin, meaning “nourisher” or “foster parent.”
Gibbons – English origin, meaning “son of Gilbert.”
Gilbert – Germanic origin, meaning “bright pledge.”
Glover – English origin, meaning “glove maker.”
Harding – English origin, meaning “brave” or “hardy.”
Hastings – Old English origin, meaning “violent” or “swift.”
Holloway – English origin, meaning “hollow road.”
Hudson – English origin, meaning “son of Hugh.”
Isaacs – Hebrew origin, meaning “laughter” (descendant of Isaac).
Jacobs – Hebrew origin, meaning “supplanter” or “held by the heel.”
Kerr – Scottish origin, meaning “rough ground” or “wetland.”
Knight – English origin, referring to a warrior or soldier.
Lynch – Irish origin, meaning “mariner” or “descendant of Loingseach.”
Maxwell – Scottish origin, meaning “Mack’s stream.”
McCalla – Scottish origin, meaning “descendant of Cathal (battle rule).”
McFarlane – Scottish origin, meaning “son of Parlan (little bear).”
McIntosh – Scottish origin, meaning “son of the leader.”
Mendez – Spanish origin, meaning “son of Mendo (brave or sacrifice).”
Murray – Scottish origin, meaning “from Moray (seaboard settlement).”
Phillips – Greek origin, meaning “lover of horses.”
Rodriguez – Spanish origin, meaning “son of Rodrigo (famous ruler).”
Sinclair – Norman French origin, meaning “from Saint-Clair (a town in France).”
