Origin
Bird : 1: English and Scottish: nickname for a young or a small and slender person from Middle English brid bird burd (Old English bird brid perhaps also byrd) ‘bird young bird’ also ‘young man young woman child’.2: Irish: Anglicized form of a number of Irish names erroneously thought to contain the element éan ‘bird’ in particular Ó hÉinigh (see Heagney) Ó hÉanna (see Heaney) Ó hÉanacháin (see Heneghan) and Mac an Déaghanaigh (see McEneaney).3: Americanized form (translation into English) of various European surnames meaning ‘bird’ as for example German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) Vogel French Loiseau Czech Ptáček (see Ptacek) and Pták Polish Ptak.4: Native American: translation into English (and shortening) of a personal name based on a word such as Lakota Sioux ziŋtkala meaning ‘bird’. The importance of the birds particularly eagles (see Eagle 4) and hawks (see Hawk 4) to Native Americans is reflected in their traditional personal names many of which were adopted as surnames (translated into English) e.g. Black Bird (see Blackbird) King Bird (see Kingbird) and Red Bird (see Redbird).
Ammer : German:: 1: from Middle High German amer ‘bunting’ (the bird) hence a nickname for someone with a fine voice.2: in southern Germany possibly a topographic name for someone living by the Ammer river.
Amsel : 1: Jewish (Ashkenazic): from the Yiddish personal name Amsl from German Anselm (see Anselmo).2: German: from Amsel ‘(European) blackbird’ (a bird related to the American robin) hence either a nickname for someone fond of singing or a metonymic occupational name for a bird catcher.
Arnup : from Middle English *ern-yop perhaps with a variant -yep a term for a not definitely identified bird of prey itself from Old English earn-gēap found in glosses for Latin vultur ‘vulture’ harpe literally ‘sickle-shaped sword’ therefore possibly a falcon (Latin falco compare falx ‘sickle’).
Bargiel : Polish (Bargieł): from bargieł ‘nuthatch’ presumably applied as a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird in some way.
Barnick : 1: Germanized or Americanized form of Polish Barnik: from a pet form of the personal names beginning with Barn- based on the Pomeranian derivative of the Slavic name element bran ‘to defend’ (from Old Slavic branъ ‘defence’). Alternatively a derivative of the personal name Bernard or a cognate of the Jewish name below.2: Germanized or Americanized form of Sorbian Barnik: nickname from a shortened form of Baranik a diminutive of Baran ‘ram’ or perhaps an occupational name from a shortened form of Old Polish bartnik ‘bee keeper’ (compare Bartnik).3: Americanized form of Slovenian Bernik.4: Jewish (from Austrian Galicia): artificial name from the Ukrainian name barnyk for a kind of bird.
Bazan : 1: Basque (Castilianized as Bazán): variant of Baztan a habitational name from the Baztan Valley in Navarre probably named with Basque az(t)a ‘bramble’ + the locative suffix -an with the addition of initial B-.2: Polish (also Bażan) and Ukrainian: from Polish bażant ‘pheasant’ (from Middle High German fasan(t)) hence a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird in some way.
Beck : 1: English: topographic name for someone who lived beside a stream from northern Middle English bekke ‘stream’ (Old Norse bekkr).2: English (of Norman origin): habitational name from any of various places in northern France named Bec for example Bec Hellouin in Eure named with Old Norman French bec ‘stream’ from the same Old Norse root as in 1 above.3: English: from the Middle English personal name Becke (Old English Becca or Beocca) of uncertain origin.4: English: probably a nickname for someone with a prominent nose from Middle English bek bekke ‘beak (of a bird)’ (Old French bec).5: German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a baker a cognate of Becker from (older) South German beck West Yiddish bek ‘baker’. Some Jewish bearers of the name claim that it is an acronym of Hebrew ben-kedoshim ‘son of martyrs’ i.e. a name taken by one whose parents had been martyred for being Jews. The German surname is also found in France (mainly Alsace and Lorraine) Hungary Czechia Slovakia and Croatia. Compare Bek 1.6: North German and Dutch: topographic name for someone who lived by a stream from Low German beke Dutch beck ‘stream’. Compare the High German form Bach 1 and Dutch Bek 6.7: Danish and Norwegian: habitational name from a farmstead named Bekk Bæk or Bäck from Old Norse bekkr ‘stream brook’ denoting a farm by a stream.8: Swedish: variant of Bäck (see Back). This surname may also be of German origin (see above).9: Americanized or Germanized form of Polish Rusyn Czech Croatian or Slovenian Bek in the last two languages a cognate of the German name in 5 above.
Belch : 1: English: variant of Balch.2: German: nickname from Middle High German belche ‘coot’ (bird) for someone who was thought to resemble the bird in some way.
Bercegeay : French: from Old French berser ‘to shoot (with a bow and arrow)’ + gai ‘wooden bird serving as a target’ hence a nickname of an archer.
Bergles : Slovenian: variant of Berglez (and in North America an altered form of this) from an old spelling of brglez ‘nuthatch’ probably used as a nickname for a person resembling the bird in some way. In North America this surname is also an altered form of the variant Brglez.
Bertram : German English (mainly in southeastern Scotland of Norman origin) French and Danish: from the ancient Germanic personal name Bertram composed of the elements berht ‘bright famous’ + hramn ‘raven’. The raven was the bird of Odin king of the gods in ancient Germanic mythology. The personal name was common in France throughout the Middle Ages (especially in the form Bertrand) where its popularity was increased by the fame of the troubadour Bertrand de Born (c. 1140–1214). The name was taken to England by the Normans in the forms Bertran(d) Bertram and Bartram.
Bill : 1: English: from the Middle English personal name Bille or Bile either a pet form of the female names Amabil and Sybil or a survival of Old English Bil or Old Norse Bildr.2: English: nickname from Middle English (Old English) bile ‘bill beak (of a bird)’ perhaps used contemptuously of a person's nose or mouth. It may also be an occupational name from Middle English (Old English) bil(l) ‘bill(hook) pruning hook halberd’ given perhaps to a user or maker of pruning hooks and similar implements. See Biller 5.3: English: topographic name for someone who lived on or by a promontory or headland from Middle English bile bille ‘beak’ (from Old English bile).4: German: from an ancient Germanic personal name either a short form of compound names such as Billard.5: Native American (e.g. Navajo): adoption of the English personal name Bill (altered short form of William) as a surname.
Birdwood : for someone who lived ‘(by the) wood frequented by birds’ Middle English bird brid + wode (Old English bridda + wudu) or at a place so named especially Birdwood (Gloucs).
Blackbird : 1: Native American (also Black Bird): translation into English of a personal name such as Lakota Sioux Ziŋtkala Sapa which is composed of ziŋtkala ‘bird’ and sapa ‘black’. See also Bird 4.2: English (Durham): nickname for someone with a dark beard from Middle English blak ‘black’ + berd ‘beard’ (Old English blæc + beard).
Brillon : 1: French: from Old French brillon ‘trap for birds’ (a derivative of bril ‘trap’) hence a metonymic occupational name for a bird catcher.2: Altered form of French Brion.
Bulfin : probably a variant of the now extinct English surname Bulfinch a nickname from the bird.
Bunt : 1: English: from an unrecorded Middle English bunt ‘something swollen’ related to modern English bunt ‘swelling bag-like end of a net or sail’ and to Middle English bunting ‘small bird corn bunting’. The name could have been a nickname given to a plump person. Derivation from Middle English bonte bunte ‘sieve’ is formally also possible but less likely.2: English: alternatively from an unrecorded Middle English personal name Bunt(e) Old English Bunt(a) perhaps derived from the same sense as in 1 above.3: Dutch (mainly Van de Bunt): habitational name for someone who lived at a place called after its vegetation which consisted of bunt grass i.e. a meadow with tufts of a tough kind of grass.4: In some cases also German: from Middle High German bunt a term which originally described black and white coloration specifically of a fur. Later by extension it came to denote the fur itself. It was probably applied as a nickname but in which sense is no longer clear and the matter is further complicated by the fact that in some areas bunt meant ‘multicolored’ (its modern meaning is ‘colorful’). This surname is very rare in Germany.
Bustard : English: nickname from Middle English bustarde ‘bustard’ (a large heavily built bird the males of which engage in spectacular courtship displays) from Old French bistarde bustarde. There has been some confusion with Busteed.
Butter : 1: Dutch and German: occupational name for a dairyman or seller of butter from Middle Dutch butter and Middle High German buter.2: English: occupational name for a dairyman a shortened form of Middle English buterer ‘maker or seller of butter’. Alternatively it may be a nickname from Middle English buter(e) ‘butter’.3: English and Scottish: occupational name for someone who was in charge of provisions the keeper of a buttery or wine store (from Old French boter).4: English (of Norman origin): possibly a shortened variant of Bultitude from Anglo-Norman French bote torte ‘twisted boot’ (bote ‘boot’ + torte ‘twisted’) from which arose the name Botetourt County Virginia.5: English: occasionally perhaps a nickname from Middle English botor Old French butor ‘bittern’ a bird that is noted for its boom in the breeding season; it was sometimes known as ‘the bull of the bog’.
Buzzard : 1: English: nickname from Middle English busard bosard ‘buzzard’ (Old French busart) hence a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird in some way. The buzzard was considered an inferior bird of prey useless for falconry and the nickname was therefore probably a derogatory one.2: Americanized form of Swiss German or South German Bosshart or Boshart.
Camacho : 1: Spanish: possibly a nickname from the Old Spanish bird name camacho (today camachuelo) ‘linnet robin’ for a thin or weakly person or someone with a hooked nose. Compare Comacho.2: Portuguese: apparently of Spanish origin (see 1 above).
Caouette : Altered form of French Cahouet: from cahouet a regional form of chat-huant ‘screech owl’ a nickname related to some characteristic of this bird. Altered ending reflects the Canadian and American French practice of sounding the final -t. Compare Cowett and Cowette.
Carabello : Italian (Sicily): from a diminutive of carabba ‘pitcher’ ‘jug’ (from Arabic qarābah). Alternatively a nickname from a Sicilian bird name carabbeddu.
Carranco : Spanish:: 1: nickname from the Andalusian bird name carranco meaning a kind of robin.2: habitational name from Carranco in Granada province.
Castricone : Italian (Abruzzo): possibly from Old Italian castrica ‘shrike’ presumably a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird in some way.
Cervenka : Czech (Červenka): nickname from červenka ‘robin’ (the bird) a derivative of červený ‘red’.
Chew : 1: English (Gloucestershire): habitational name from any of the places in Somerset named Chew Magna of Chew Stoke which is named for the river on which it stands a Celtic name perhaps cognate with Welsh cyw ‘young animal or bird chicken’.2: English (Lancashire and Yorkshire): habitational name from any of the places called Chew in Yorkshire and in the parish of Billington Lancashire possibly named with Old English cēo ‘fish gill’ used in the transferred sense of a ravine in a similar way to Old Norse gil.3: English: nickname from Old English cīo cēo denoting any of the smaller chattering species of crow especially the red-billed chough.4: Korean: variant of Chu 13.5: Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 周 based on the Teochew pronunciation. See Zhou 1.6: Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 鄒 see Zou.7: Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 秋 based on the Teochew pronunciation. See Qiu 5.8: Chinese: variant Romanization of the surnames 趙 and 招 apparently based on their Cantonese pronunciations. See Zhao 1 and 2.9: Chinese: variant Romanization of the surnames 邱 and 丘 see Qiu 1 and 2.
Chrusciel : Polish (Chruściel): nickname from chruściel ‘corncrake’ a bird with speckled plumage and reddish wings inhabiting fields and meadows. The Polish word is ultimately derived from Slavic chrust- ‘to rustle’ and so is cognate with Russian khrushch ‘cockchafer’.
Cizek : Czech and Slovak (Čížek) Slovenian (Čižek): from Czech čížek Slovenian čižek ‘siskin’ (a small songbird similar to the goldfinch) hence a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird in some way (e.g. for someone who liked to sing) or perhaps a metonymic occupational name for a bird dealer or catcher. In Moravia this was used as a nickname for someone from Bohemia. Compare Chizek.
Cock : 1: from Middle English cok ‘cook’ a possible variant of Cook if shortening of the vowel of Old English cōc ‘cook’ occurred before it developed to Middle English coke couk cook. In examples of Coc and Cok below the vowel may be short or long so they could alternatively be cited under Cook.from Middle English cok (Old English and Old French coc) ‘male bird cock’ (especially the male of the domestic fowl) perhaps used humorously of a leader or chief man in a social group though this sense is not recorded before the 16th century in OED. Some of the following early bearers may alternatively belong under other senses below. 2: occasionally from the Old French and Middle English personal name Cok of uncertain etymology but possibly derived from the word in (1 ii). Compare the diminutive form Cocklin of French origin. There seems to have been an Old English personal name *Cocc(a) which may also have contributed to the Middle English name; compare Cocking. For potential early bearers of the surname see examples without the definite article in (1) above. 3: from Middle English cok (Old English cocc) ‘hillock’ denoting someone who lived by a hillock or mound.from Middle English cok cok(k)e ‘ship's boat’ and so perhaps used for a boatman. Compare Barge.for someone who lived or worked at a house or inn known as ‘The Cock’ from a sign depicting a haycock or mound a boat or a cock bird (see the senses above).
Coote : English: from Middle English co(o)te ‘coot’ applied as a nickname for a bald or foolish man. The bird was regarded as bald because of the large white patch an extension of the bill on its head.
Corvo : 1: Italian and Spanish: from corvo ‘raven rook’ (from Latin corvus) applied as a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird in some way.2: Spanish: nickname from corvo ‘crooked bent’ (from Latin curvus). Compare Corbo.
Coscarelli : Italian (southern): from a diminutive of cosca ‘rib of a leaf’ or from the plural of Calabrian coscarella ‘blackcap’ (the bird).
Cox : 1: English: variant of Cocke and Cook with genitival or post-medieval excrescent -s.2: Irish (Ulster): mistranslation of Mac Con Coille (‘son of Cú Choille’ a personal name meaning ‘hound of the wood’) as if formed with coileach ‘cock rooster’.3: Dutch and Flemish: genitivized patronymic from the personal name Cock a vernacular short form of Cornelius.4: Dutch: variant of Kok an occupational name for a cook.5: Amerindian (Mexico and Guatemala): Mayan name from a Castilianized form of a term denoting a species of pheasant-like bird.
Coxford : from Coxford (Norfolk) which is recorded as Kokesford in 1203. The place-name derives from Old English cocc ‘wild bird cock’ *cocc ‘heap hill’ or an Old English personal name Cocc + Old English ford ‘ford shallow place by which water can be crossed’.
Crane : 1: English: nickname most likely for a tall thin man with long legs from Middle English cran ‘crane’ (the bird) Old English cran cron. The term included the heron until the introduction of a separate word for the latter in the 14th century.2: Manx: see Craine.3: Dutch: variant of Krane ‘crane’.4: Americanized form (translation into English) of German Krahn or Kranich.
Crank : 1: English (mainly Lancashire): from Middle English cranke ‘lively lusty vigorous’ hence a nickname for a cheerful boisterous or merry person.2: English: possibly in some cases a nickname from cranuc a diminutive of Middle English cran ‘crane’ (see Crane).3: Possibly an Americanized form of German Kranke: from Low German Kraneke ‘crane’ applied to someone thought to resemble the bird in some way or a nickname for a poor physical specimen from Middle High German kranc ‘sickly ailing’.
Crowe : 2: Irish (Munster) and Manx: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Conchrada ‘son of Cú-chrada’ a personal name meaning ‘hound of destruction’. (see McEnroe).1: English: from Middle English crou crowe ‘crow’ (Old English crāwe) applied as a nickname for someone with dark hair or a dark complexion or for someone thought to resemble the bird in some other way.
Curley : 1: Irish (Galway): shortened form of McCurley.2: English (of Norman origin): habitational name from any of several places in northern France named Corlay for example in Côtes-d'Armor and Indre or possibly from Corlieu the former name of La Rue Saint Pierre in Oise. Reaney and Wilson suggest also it may have been a variant of the nickname Curlew after the bird Anglo-Norman French curleu.3: Native American (Navajo): ranslation into English of a Navajo personal name based on chishch’ilí ‘curly haired’ (see Chischilly).
Curlin : 1: English: variant of Curling.2: Americanized form of German or Irish Kerlin.3: Croatian (Ćurlin and Čurlin): nickname from the bird name ćurlin or čurlin ‘plover (Charadrius pluvialis)’.
Cwik : 1: Polish (Ćwik): from ćwik ‘game bird’ hence a nickname for someone thought to resemble a bird in some way or from the same word in the sense ‘experienced man’.2: Polish: nickname for an imbecile from a variant of ćwiek ‘hobnail’.
Cyran : Polish: from a derivative of cyranka ‘teal’ hence a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird in some way.
Czaja : Polish: from czaja czajka ‘lapwing’ a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird in some way.
Czajka : Polish: nickname from czajka ‘lapwing’ for someone thought to resemble the bird in some way. Compare Chayka.
Czyzewski : Polish (Czyżewski): habitational name for someone from Czyże (formerly also Czyżewo Czyżewice) in Podlaskie Voivodeship Czyżew in Podlaskie Masovian and Greater Poland voivodeships or Czyżewo in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship all named with Old Polish czyż ‘siskin’ (the bird).
Czyzyk : Polish (Czyżyk): from czyżyk ‘siskin’ (a small songbird similar to the goldfinch) hence a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird in some way (e.g. for someone who liked to sing) or perhaps a metonymic occupational name for a bird dealer or catcher.
Daw : 1: English: from Middle English Daw a rhyming pet form of Raw a shortened form of Rauf; see Ralph Rawe Rawson and compare Dawkins and Dawson.2: English: possibly also from Daw a pet form of David. This personal name was not especially common in medieval England (see Davey) but occurred more often in the southwest of England and along the Welsh Marches. Compare Dakin.3: English: nickname from Middle English dawe ‘jackdaw’ a bird noted for its sleek black color raucous voice and thievish nature any of which characteristics could readily have given rise to a nickname.4: Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Deaghaidh ‘descendant of Deaghadh’ a personal name of uncertain origin. It may be composed of the elements deagh- ‘good’ + ádh ‘luck fate’; some such association seems to lie behind its Anglicization as Goodwin.5: Arabic (mainly Libya and Egypt): probably from ḍaw’ ‘light’.6: Possibly also Burmese: from Daw a title of respect and a form of address for an adult and respected woman similar to English ‘Mrs.’ or ‘madam’; its literal meaning is ‘aunt’ (a-daw). — Note: This title is not used as a personal name in Burma but in the US it might have been in some cases registered (or counted in the census data) as a surname.
De Valk : Dutch: from Middle Dutch valke ‘falcon’ + the definite article de hence a metonymic occupational name for a falconer a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird or a topographic or habitational name referring to a house or tavern distinguished by the sign of a falcon.
Deaver : 1: Irish: variant of Dever.2: Perhaps an altered form of German Düwer Düver from Middle Low German dūver ‘male pigeon’ hence a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird or a metonymic occupational name for a dove keeper.3: Possibly an Americanized form of Dutch Diever a habitational name referring to the village so called in the Drenthe province.
Degollado : Hispanic (Mexico): possibly from Degollado ‘beheaded’ a Spanish title for Saint John the Baptist who was sentenced to death and subsequently beheaded by Herod Antipas. Alternatively a nickname from Spanish degollado a term denoting a kind of a bird living in North and Central America with black head and the upper part of the body.
Dipper : 1: probably mostly a variant of Diaper (from the Anglo-Norman surname d'Ypre) with the vowel shortened in Middle English but some bearers listed below may belong at (2). 2: perhaps in some instances from Middle English dip(p)er recorded as a term for some kind of diving bird (maybe the dabchick or the water ousel now commonly called the dipper) and possibly used of a human diver one who dives to harvest oysters or to mend boats weirs or fishing nets. Compare Diver. Alternatively it might be an unrecorded agent derivative of Middle English dippen ‘to immerse (something)’ possibly therefore an occupational name for a dyer of cloth. For potential medieval bearers in SW and W England see Diaper although none have the tell-tale definite article.
Dodrill : English: variant of Dottrell a nickname from Middle English dott(e)rel ‘(a species of) plover’ which was considered a foolish bird that was easy to catch.
Dudek : Polish Czech and Slovak: nickname from Polish and Czech dudek ‘hoopoe’ with reference to some attribute of the bird such as its repetitive call or its bright plumage. In Polish the word also means ‘simpleton’ and this may have contributed to the Polish surname.
Emmerling : German (Bavaria) and Austria: from the dialect word Emmerling ‘yellowhammer’ a song bird with bright plumage hence a nickname for a pretentious person or a passionate singer.
Eul : German:: 1: nickname from Middle High German iule ‘owl’ for someone with features of the bird or a topographic or habitational name referring to a house with the sign of an owl.2: habitational name from any of several places called Euel Euel(e)n Eula Eulau or Eule.
Falcon : 1: English: from the Old French personal name Falcon (see 3 below) or from Middle English faucon faukun Old French faucon falcun ‘falcon’ either a metonymic occupational name for a falconer or a nickname for someone thought to resemble the falcon which was regarded as a symbol of speed and courage in the Middle Ages. See also Faulks. In a few cases it may also have been a metonymic occupational name for a man who operated the piece of artillery named after the bird of prey. Compare Faulkner.2: Spanish (Falcón): nickname from falcón an archaic variant of halcón ‘falcon’ (see 1 above).3: French: from the Old French personal name Falcon the oblique case form of the ancient Germanic name Falco from Latin falco ‘falcon’. The surname may also be a metonymic occupational name for a falconer (see 1 above).
Fasano : Italian:: 1: habitational name from Fasano in Brindisi province.2: from the personal name Fasanus.3: possibly from fasano ‘pheasant’ perhaps a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird.
Fasciano : Italian: from a dialect variant of fagiano ‘pheasant’ possibly applied as a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird.
Fegley : 1: Americanized form of German and Swiss German Vögele (see Vogele) a metonymic occupational name for a bird catcher or a nickname for someone with birdlike features or of its cognate Vögeli and possibly also of German Vögeler (see Vogeler) or Vögler (see Vogler).2: Probably also an Americanized form of Swiss German Fügli a nickname for a skillful person from Middle High German vuoc vüege ‘skill’. Compare Fagley Fegely Figley and Phegley.
Feng : Chinese:: 1: Mandarin form of the surname 馮 meaning ‘gallop’ or ‘wade’ in Chinese: (i) from the first element of the personal name Feng Jian Zi (馮簡子) an official in the state of Zheng (located in part of present-day Shaanxi and Henan province) during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) from the first element of the placename Feng Cheng (馮城 Feng City) the name of a fief (in present-day Xingyang in Henan province) granted to one of the grandsons of Bi Wan known as Han Wan or Han Wuzi a politician in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BC) also the ancestor of bearers of the surname 韩 (see Han).2: Mandarin form of the surname 封 meaning ‘confer something (a title land or the like) upon somebody by royal command’ in ancient Chinese: (i) shortened form of Feng Fu (封父) an ancient state (located in present-day Fengqiu in Henan province) during the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC) which was annexed during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). (ii) adopted as a surname by members of the Shi Ben (是賁) family from the Xianbei ethnic group during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386–534 AD).3: Mandarin form of the surname 豐 meaning ‘abundant’ or ‘great’ in Chinese: from the personal name Feng (豐) style name of a prince one of the sons of Duke Mu of Zheng (ruler of the state of Zheng 648–606 BC).4: Mandarin form of the surname 酆: habitational name from the placename Feng (酆) the name of a fief (in present-day Huxian in Shaanxi province) granted to the 17th son of the virtuous King Wen of Zhou (1152–1056 BC).5: Mandarin form of the surname 風 meaning ‘wind’ in Chinese an ancient surname possibly traced back to the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC).6: Mandarin form of the surname 鳳 meaning ‘phoenix’ in Chinese: possibly from the name of an official post prior to the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC) which was said to be derived from the name of a kind of bird.7: Mandarin form of the surname 奉 originally meaning ‘plants growing up to their utmost heights’: from the first element of Feng Chun (奉春) title of Lou Jing an official during the reign of the Emperor Gaozu of Han (256–195 BC).
Fettig : German:: 1: in the north a patronymic from Fette.2: in the south from Middle High German vetich ‘wing (of a bird)’.3: variant of Fath 4.
Gallego : Spanish: usually an ethnic name for someone from Galicia Spanish gallego but perhaps occasionally a nickname from gallego a word of several meanings including ‘north-west wind’ ‘simple-minded’ ‘deaf-mute’ and a variety of bird.
Garbarino : Italian: probably a nickname from a diminutive of Ligurian garbê ‘golden oriole’ the species of bird.
Geyer : German:: 1: nickname for a greedy or rapacious person from Middle High German and Middle Low German gīr(e) ‘large bird of prey vulture’ or a topographic or habitational name referring to a house identified by the sign of a bird of prey.2: habitational name from a place called Geyer near Zwickau in Saxony which is probably ultimately from the same word as in 1 above.
Gimpel : 1: German: from a pet form of the personal name Gumprecht (see Gombert).2: South German: from the bird name Gimpel ‘bullfinch’ which later came to denote a naïve person. This surname is found mainly in the Allgäu area.3: Jewish (Ashkenazic): from the Yiddish personal name Gimpl a derivative of German Gumprecht (see Gombert).
Gogol : 1: Polish (rarely Gogoł) Ukrainian and Jewish (from Ukraine): from Polish gogoł Ukrainian gogol ‘wild duck mallard’ a nickname denoting a wildfowler or acquired on account of some other association with the bird. The Jewish name may be artificial.2: Slovak (also Gogoľ): nickname from dialect gogoľ ‘goiter struma’.3: Jewish (from Poland): habitational name from Gogole a village in northeastern Poland.
Goldammer : German: nickname from German Goldammer ‘yellowhammer’ in some cases perhaps a metonymic occupational name for a bird catcher or bird dealer.
Goldfinch : from the bird Middle English goldfinch golfinc golfinge ‘goldfinch’ (Old English goldfinc).
Gor : Indian (Gujarat Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra): Brahmin name from Sanskrit garoda or garo. The first of these words denotes a mythological bird whose name derives from the Sanskrit root gri ‘to speak’. The second word is an old variant of guru ‘teacher’. Bearers of this name were astrologers also traditionally engaged in storytelling.
Grajales : Spanish: topographic name from the plural of Spanish grajal ‘place inhabited with rooks’ a derivative of the bird name graja feminine of grajo ‘rook (Corvus frugilegus)’. This surname is most common in Colombia and Mexico.
Grasmick : German: altered form of Grasmück which is probably a nickname from the bird name Grasmücke ‘warbler’. Grasmick is one of the German surnames that became established in the Volga basin in Russia in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Grivois : French:: 1: nickname from a derivative of grive ‘thrush’ for someone who resembled a bird in some way.2: alternatively perhaps a nickname for an impudent individual from grivois ‘saucy bawdy’ a word attested only from the end of the 17th century.
Groening : North German (Gröning):: 1: from Middle Low German grönink ‘yellowhammer’ (a species of bunting) perhaps a nickname for a cheerful person or a metonymic occupational name for a bird catcher.2: perhaps a nickname for an immature person from Middle Low German gröninc literally ‘greenling’.
Groleau : French:: 1: from a diminutive of Old French grole ‘rook jackdaw’ a nickname related to some characteristic of this bird possibly for someone who habitually bawled or squawked.2: habitational name from (Le) Groleau the name of several places in the western part of France.
Gronbach : German: probably a habitational name from a place so named the first syllable of which may derive from a North German dialect word for ‘green’ or for ‘crane’ (the bird) + bach ‘stream’.
Habig : German: from Middle High German habech ‘hawk’ hence a nickname for a sharp sighted person or for someone who was thought to resemble the bird in some other way or a metonymic occupational name for someone who trained hawks for hunting (see Hawk).
Haer : 1: North German and Dutch: variant of Haar 1.2: German (Här): variant of Hähr from Middle High German heher ‘jay (the bird)’.
Hang : 1: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 杭: adopted in place of another Chinese surname 抗 (Kang in Mandarin pinyin) which can be traced back to San Kang (三抗/杭/伉) a noble official in the state of Wey (衛) during the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BC). The two Chinese characters 抗 and 杭 were interchangeable in ancient Chinese. During the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127 AD) many people with the surname 抗 changed it to 杭 (which has a different meaning and pronunciation in modern Chinese).2: Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 洪. See Hong 1.3: Chinese: Teochew Hokkien or Taiwanese form of the surname 項 see Xiang 2.4: Chinese: Teochew Hokkien or Taiwanese form of the surname 韓 see Han 1.5: Chinese: Cantonese form of the surname 幸 see Xing 2.6: Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 康. See Kang 1.7: Vietnamese (Hạng): from the Chinese surname 項 see Xiang 2.8: Cambodian: written ហង្ស from a Khmer word denoting a kind of mythological bird (known in English by its Sanskrit name hamsa). Compare Hong 20.9: Southeast Asian (Hmong): from the name of the Hang clan of the Hmong people in Laos China and Vietnam; in Chinese characters it is written 項 (see Xiang 2 compare 3 above).10: Burmese (Chin): from a part of a male compound personal name possibly from hang ‘juice’. — Note: Since Chins do not have hereditary surnames this name element was registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US.11: South German and Swiss German: variant of Hank a pet form of Johann or Heinrich.
Haselhuhn : German: nickname for someone with gray hair from Middle High German haselhuon Middle Low German haselhōn ‘hazel grouse’ a game bird with gray plumage.
Hawker : English (western England): occupational name for someone who trained hawks or engaged in the sport of hawking from Middle English hauker ‘falconer hawker’ (Old English hafocere). Hawking was a major medieval sport and the provision and training of hawks for a feudal lord was not an uncommon obligation in lieu of rent. The right of any free man to keep hawks for his own use was conceded in Magna Carta though social status determined what kind of bird someone could keep the kestrel being the lowest grade.
Hempfling : German: from Middle High German henfelinc ‘linnet’ probably applied as a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird in some way or as a metonymic occupational name for a birdcatcher.
Hobby : English:: 1: from the Middle English personal name Hoby a shortened form of Hobin. See Hobbins.2: occasionally perhaps a nickname from Middle English hobi ‘small species of hawk’ (Old French hobet hobé a diminutive form of Old French hobe ‘small bird of prey)’.3: possibly from a Middle English personal name Oby with prosthetic H-. This would be identical in origin with Opie a Cornwall and Devon pet form of Osbert (see Hobart) or Osbern (see Osborne).4: habitational name from Hoby (Leicestershire) from Old English hōh ‘heel spur of land’ + Old Norse bȳ ‘farmstead village’.
Hoen : 1: Dutch and German: metonymic occupational name for a chicken farmer or poultry merchant from hoen ‘hen chicken grouse’ or a habitational name from a so named house with the image of such a bird depicted on a sign or an ornamental stone.2: Dutch and German: from the ancient Germanic personal name Huno (from hūn ‘bear cub’).3: German: variant of Höhn (see Hoehn).4: Norwegian: habitational name from either of two farmsteads named Hon from Old Norse hundr ‘dog’ or from Hóvin a compound of hór ‘high’ + vin ‘meadow’.
Hok : Cambodian: written ហុក probably from Chinese 鹤 ‘crane’ the name of a bird treated as a precious and lucky animal in the past and often used in personal names in Chinese.
Hrivnak : Slovak (Hrivnák Hrivňák Hrivňak) and Czech (Hřivňák):: 1: from Slovak hrivnák ‘wood pigeon’ possibly a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird in some way.2: possibly also a nickname for someone with particularly luxuriant hair from a derivative of Slovak hriva Czech hříva ‘mane’.
Hunt : 1: English (southwestern): occupational name for a hunter from Middle English hunte ‘hunter huntsman’ (Old English hunta). The term was used not only of the hunting on horseback of game such as stags and wild boars which in the Middle Ages was a pursuit restricted to the ranks of the nobility but also to much humbler forms of pursuit such as bird catching and poaching for food. The word seems also to have been used as an Old English personal name and to have survived into the Middle Ages as an occasional personal name. Compare Huntington and Huntley.2: Irish: adopted for various Irish surnames containing or thought to contain the Gaelic element fiadhach ‘hunt’; for example Ó Fiaich (see Fee) and Ó Fiachna (see Fenton).3: Possibly an Americanized form of German Hundt.
Huppe : 1: French: nickname from huppe ‘hoopoe’ (the bird) based on this bird's cry or applied to someone with a hair resembling the hoopoe's crest or perhaps with a long curved nose resembling its bill.2: French (Huppé): nickname related to 1 above from the past participle of the Old French verb huper ‘to utter a long cry’.3: German (Hüppe): from a pet form (Hubo) of the personal name Hugebert composed of the elements hug ‘spirit thought’ + berht ‘bright famous’.
Iron : 1: Native American: translation into English (and shortening) of a personal name based on a word such as Lakota and Dakota Sioux maza meaning ‘metal’. Among the Sioux many of their traditional personal names with this element were adopted as surnames (translated into English) e.g. Iron Cloud (see Ironcloud) and Iron Hawk (see Ironhawk).2: English: nickname perhaps from Middle English iron the name of a bird possibly a variant of Middle English ern ‘eagle’ (Old English earn) or of Middle English heroun ‘heron’ (Old French heirun).
Jarzombek : Polish: variant of Jarząbek from jarząbek ‘grouse’ presumably a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird.
Jay : 1: English and French: nickname from Middle English jai jei Old French jay(e) gai ‘jay’ (the bird) probably referring to an idle chatterer a showy person or a simpleton although the jay was also noted for its thieving habits.2: English: from the unrecorded Middle English personal names Jay or Gee which may have been pet forms of several names beginning with J- such as Jack James and Jeffery (Geoffrey). See Jason and Jesson.3: Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 謝 see Xie 1.
Kalous : Czech: from kalous ‘horned owl’ evidently a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird.
Kana : 1: Czech (Káňa): nickname from the bird name kánĕ ‘buzzard’.2: Indian (Gujarat Punjab Rajasthan): pastoral nomadic name of unexplained etymology found in the Rabari community.
Kanarek : Polish and Jewish (from Poland): from Polish kanarek ‘canary’ hence a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird in some way for example with cheerful singing or among Jews an artificial name. Compare Canary.
Kaup : German:: 1: (Westphalia): nickname from Early New High German kaupe ‘feather crest (of a bird)’ later ‘top’.2: habitational name from Kaub near Trier or from any of several places called Kaupe in Saxony and Silesia or perhaps a topographic name from East German kaupe (from Sorbian kupa) ‘mound of earth mole hill’.3: in some cases possibly also a northern variant of Kauf (see Kauff).
Kievit : Dutch: nickname from kievit ‘peewit lapwing’ (of onomatopoeic origin) a common bird of coastal marshlands or possibly a topographic or habitational name referring to a house distinguished by a signboard with the image of this bird.
Kingbird : Native American (Chippewa; also King Bird): translation into English of the Chippewa personal name Ogimaa-bines(i) meaning literally ‘the bird that is king’ and referring to the mythological bird-like creature thunderbird. See also Bird 4.
Kite : 1: English: nickname from Middle English kete kyte ‘kite’ (the bird of prey) perhaps a nickname for a rapacious person.3: Americanized form of German Keith.2: English: habitational name from one or more of the minor places with names deriving from Old English cȳte cyte ‘cottage hut shed’ such as Kite Farm in Swalecliffe (Kent).
Kitelinger : Americanized form of German Geitlinger:: 1: most probably a habitational name for someone from a lost or unidentified place called Geitlingen.2: alternatively perhaps a nickname based on Middle Low German geidlink ‘thrush’ hence denoting a fowler or bird catcher.3: third possibility is a patronymic derivative of Geith or Geidel personal names based on Langobardic gaida ‘point (of a lance or spear)’.
Knackstedt : North German:: 1: euphemistic form of Knacksterdt which is evidently a nickname from Low German Knack ‘bone’ + Stert ‘tail’ presumably applied to a bony lad.2: alternatively it may be an altered form of Middle Low German quakstert ‘wagtail’ (the bird). The present form of the surname seems to be the result of confusion between stert ‘tail’ and the much more common Low German name element stedt ‘place town’ (High German Stadt). Compare Knockstead.
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Source : DAFN2 : Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, ©2022 by Patrick Hanks and Oxford University Press
FANBI : The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain, ©2021, University of the West of England
FANBI : The Oxford Dictionary if Family Names in Britain and Ireland, ©2016, University of the West of England
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