100 Cool Rare Last Names
Have you ever met someone who had such a unique last name that you could not resist inquiring about the origins?
While common surnames like Smith or Johnson are present, rare last names carry a shroud of mystery, history, and prestige with them.
Some are linked to ancient noble families, while others have nearly disappeared into oblivion.
This post will discuss some of the rarest last names, what they mean, and why they are so rare.
You never know-maybe you will finally find something excellent in your family tree!
Rare Last Names
Aisling (Irish) – “Dream” or “Vision”
Beauchamp (French) – “Beautiful field”
Caerleon (Welsh) – “Fortress of the legion”
Dempsey (Irish) – “Descendant of Diomasach” (proud, valiant)
Edevane (Welsh) – “Protector of prosperity”
Fane (English) – “Joyful” or “Glad”
Garrick (Norman) – “Spear king”
Hallowell (English) – “Holy spring”
Iver (Norse) – “Bow warrior”
Jessen (Danish) – “Son of Jes”
Kaestner (German) – “Cabinetmaker”
Lemoine (French) – “The monk”
Mireault (French) – “Wondrous” or “Admirable”
Nussbaum (German) – “Nut tree”
Orellana (Spanish) – “Golden”
Pellegrini (Italian) – “Pilgrim”
Quirke (Irish) – “Heart”
Roussel (French) – “Little red one”
Savelle (French) – “Wise” or “Knowledgeable”
Tremblay (French) – “Aspen tree”
Ulrich (German) – “Noble ruler”
Vanderpool (Dutch) – “From the pool”
Wickham (English) – “Settlement near a dairy farm”
Xylander (Greek) – “Forest dweller”
Yarrow (English) – “Healing herb”
Zephyr (Greek) – “West wind”
Almanza (Spanish) – “Victorious”
Briseño (Spanish) – “Bramble bush”
Corbeil (French) – “Little basket”
Deveraux (French) – “From Évreux” (a place in France)
Esmond (English) – “Graceful protector”
Fitzroy (Norman) – “Son of the king”
Galiano (Italian) – “Little rooster”
Haverford (English) – “Goat crossing”
Islington (English) – “Estate of Gisla’s people”
Jourdain (French) – “Flowing down” (from the River Jordan)
Kerfoot (Welsh) – “Dark and brave”
Luthra (Indian/Punjabi) – “Pearl”
Montavon (French) – “From the mountains”
Novak (Slavic) – “Newcomer”
Orsini (Italian) – “Little bear”
Prévost (French) – “Chief officer”
Quintero (Spanish) – “Fifth” (possibly referring to a family’s lineage)
Rutherford (Scottish) – “Cattle crossing”
Sokolov (Russian) – “Falcon-like”
Thorburn (Scottish) – “Thor’s warrior”
Urbanski (Polish) – “City dweller”
Verrill (French) – “Truthful”
Wrenley (English) – “Meadow of wrens”
Zeller (German) – “Cellar keeper”
Abernathy (Scottish) – “Mouth of the river Nethy”
Bonaventure (French) – “Good fortune”
Colburn (English) – “Cold stream”
Dalloway (English) – “Meadow of daisies”
Eddington (English) – “Settlement of Eadda’s people”
Fiorentino (Italian) – “From Florence”
Grimaldi (Italian) – “Helmeted soldier”
Huxley (English) – “Hugh’s meadow”
Isenhour (German) – “Iron worker”
Jolivet (French) – “Joyful”
Kershaw (English) – “Thicket near water”
Larkspur (English) – “Flowering plant”
Montclair (French) – “Clear mountain”
Norcross (English) – “Northern crossroad”
Oakheart (English) – “Strong as an oak”
Pendleton (English) – “Hill near a bend”
Quenby (Scandinavian) – “Woman’s settlement”
Rosethorne (English) – “Thorny rose bush”
Sable (French) – “Black” or “Dark”
Thistlewood (English) – “Forest of thistles”
Ufford (English) – “Ford near a hill”
Vespertine (Latin) – “Evening-like”
Wicklow (Irish) – “Viking meadow”
Xanthos (Greek) – “Golden-haired”
Yorke (English) – “Boar estate”
Zambrano (Spanish) – “Place with wild herbs”
Ackerley (English) – “Oak meadow”
Belrose (French) – “Beautiful rose”
Chamberlain (English) – “Chief officer of a household”
Dunmore (Scottish) – “Great fortress”
Everton (English) – “Wild boar settlement”
Fairbanks (English) – “Lovely hillside”
Gwydion (Welsh) – “Born of trees”
Halloway (English) – “Path through a hollow”
Ilchester (English) – “Roman settlement”
Jessenia (Spanish) – “Flowering tree”
Kingswell (English) – “King’s spring”
Lysander (Greek) – “Liberator”
Marwood (English) – “Wood near a lake”
Nightshade (English) – “Deadly plant”
Ormond (Irish) – “Descendant of Ruaidhrí” (red king)
Prescott (English) – “Priest’s cottage”
Quillon (French) – “Little sword”
Rowntree (English) – “Rowan tree”
Storme (English) – “Tempest”
Truitt (French) – “Little troop”
Valliere (French) – “Valley dweller”
Winthorpe (English) – “Friend’s village”
Yveline (French) – “Hazel tree”
Zeledon (Spanish) – “Serene”
