English Last Names

A surname that originated as a diminutive of Hawk.

English place name derived from the Anglo-Norman personal name Hasten or Haesta, made famous by the battle of 1066.

One of the rare English surname names originally derived from a female given name: Eoforhild (Everild), meaning "boar battle". Also spelled Averill, it's an extremely rare choice today, but shares sounds with fashionable Ava and Avery.

Britton, technically a spelling variation of Britain, is much more popular that the original place name for both boys and girls. There are about three baby girls named Britton for every four boys, making it a truly nonbinary choice.

Up-and-coming surname name that may evoke thoughts of ballet dancer Misty Copeland or one of the many towns called Copeland.

Surname with strong ties to singer Taylor Swift and writer Jonathan Swift. It could make a fun and quirky middle name.

An English surname derived from the Old French taillis, this nature inspired choice could be an alternative to Wallis or Travis. Tallis appears as the surname of the central characters in Ian McEwan's book, Atonement and the subsequent film.

Slightly more modern than Walter, but only just.

This is an English surname dating back to 1086, but we don't see it having much of a first name future in the twenty-first century.

Currently connected to football Hall of Famer turned actor Terry Bradshaw.

Townes entered baby name consciousness — as a girl name, at least — in 2024 when Hilary Duff and Matthew Koma chose it for their daughter, Townes Meadow. Townes is a more established choice for boys, among whom it's often associated with the late musician Townes Van Zandt.

Sims is a medieval English surname, also found in Ireland and Scotland, that has many variations all deriving from the Hebrew Biblical name Simon. Sims is a simple, straightforward, yet proper-sounding name that works well as a first, whether you find it in your family tree or pluck the idea from someone else's. It was used for only five boys in the US in 2013.

Pryor is for those in search of an unusual occupational name...or in memory of comedian Richard.

While Austin is a popular boys' name, this spelling, honoring novelist Jane, nudges the name toward gender-neutral, chosen last year for 67 baby boys and 57 girls.

Most color names, like Scarlet and Violet, are definitely female, but not this one. Brown is as rich and warm as the tone it denotes, though we must admit the Italian version Bruno has more spark and substance.

Brings to mind the romantic and elegant eighteenth century portraits of George Romney.

A surname style choice that could get you nicknames Bear and Ozzy, which is pretty cool. It comes from the Old English variant of the Old Norse Ásbjǫrn, which was introduced to England after the Norman conquest and used occasionally as a given name ever since. Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell used Osborne for a character in her final novel, Wives and Daughters while it is also famously associated with Osborne House, the former royal residence of Queen Victoria on the Isle of Wight, and with musician Ozzy Osbourne.

An old money surname passed down in notable American families. Christopher Plummer's middle name was Orme.

This familiar surname with a surprising meaning could be added to your list of undiscovered 'last names first' names.