English Last Names

Other occupational names would be more commonly accepted, though the Mad Men character has certainly brought it to the fore.

A distinguished English occupational surname referring to a senior official who managed the household of a noble or monarch. The best known historical bearer is British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who was in office at the start of the Second World War.

Surname choice that could be used to honor the playwright Lanford Wilson.

A dapper English surname derived from the Old English personal name Hunwine "bear friend", which comes with winning nickname Win.

Cooper would be a more engaging C-starting occupational choice.

More common as a surname, a handful of boys get this bovine equivalent of Shepherd each year in the US. It may gain more exposure as one of the occupational names that are one of the most popular classes of English names for boys.

Long-used surname name that's up for promotion to greater popularity.

Paterson is a surname-name to continue a line of Peters and also the name of a city in New Jersey, hometown of poets William Carlos Williams and Allen Ginsberg.

Unusual, serious, no-nonsense occupational surname that could be borrowed from the boys.

A very literal sounding occupational surname, borne by the husband of Jennifer Lawrence, art gallery director Cooke Maroney.

Plummer might be an occupational name for someone who works with pipes -- yes, like a plumber -- or with feathers, from the Olde English (from the French) plume. Or it could indicate someone who lived near a plum tree.

Putting a C before Albert doesn't make this old occupational name any more contempo.

A unique alternative to the West- names that are suddenly everywhere — like Weston, Westley, and West itself. Westwood lends itself to two stylish nicknames, West and Woods.

Legitimizes the newly coined Denim, as does the Scottish place-name Denholm (both pronounced DEN-um).

Chosen by Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher as the middle name of their son Dimitri.

Notable British surname associated with fashion designer Vivienne.

This English surname was originally a nickname for someone with a pock-marked face. It's a less-than-ideal meaning, but Greeley's upbeat sound and modern unisex style keep it on our lists.