Origin
Dutch : 1: Americanized form of German Deutsch.2: English: ethnic name from Middle English Duch ‘Dutch German’ a term used in particular to denote the many immigrant weavers who came to England from Flanders and the Netherlands during the 14th century. The modern distinction between Dutch and German did not become established in English until the 17th century; thus the Middle English term duche denoted a speaker of High German Low German or Dutch indiscriminately. A more widely used term in Middle English for a speaker of German or Dutch was alemaun(d) or alemain; see Allman.
Abel : 1: English German Dutch Danish Norwegian French Spanish and Polish; Slovak (mainly Ábel) and Czech (also Ábel): from the Biblical personal name Abel Slovak Ábel which was used in continental Europe from the sixth century. After the Norman Conquest it was introduced to England and Scotland where it had a brief currency in the 12th and 13th centuries before being revived in England after the Reformation. In the Book of Genesis Abel is a son of Adam murdered by his brother Cain (Genesis 4:1–8). In Christian tradition he is regarded as a representative of suffering innocence. The Hebrew form of the name is Hebel (Latinized as Abel) from a vocabulary word meaning ‘breath’.2: German: from the personal name Abel a pet form of Albrecht.
Ables : 1: English: variant of Able with post-medieval excrescent -s.2: Americanized form of German and Dutch Abels.
Abrahams : English Dutch and Jewish (Ashkenazic): patronymic from the personal name Abraham.
Abrahamsen : Norwegian Danish Dutch and North German: patronymic from the personal name Abraham. Compare Abrahamson.
Abram : 1: English German Dutch Polish Slovenian Croatian and Jewish; Hungarian (Ábrám): from a shortened form of the Biblical personal name Abraham.2: English: habitational name from a place near Manchester recorded as Adburgham in the 12th century Abraham in the late 14th century and Abram in the 15th. The placename is from the Old English female personal name Ēadburg + hām ‘homestead’ meaning ‘Ēadburg's homestead’.
Abrams : 1: English: variant of Abram with genitival or post-medieval excrescent -s.2: Jewish (Ashkenazic) Dutch and German: patronymic from the personal name Abram.
Abt : 1: German and Dutch: from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch abt ‘abbot’ hence a metonymic occupational name for a servant of an abbot or a nickname for someone thought to resemble an abbot in some way. In some instances it may have been a topographic or habitational name referring to a house named with this word.2: Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): variant of Abt a habitational name from Opatów in Poland.
Achen : German and Luxembourgish: habitational name from the city of Aachen in western Germany near the Dutch and Belgian border. This surname is very rare in Germany; in North America it may thus (also) be an altered form of the more common German variant Aachen.
Achterhof : German and Dutch: topographic name for someone who lived ‘behind the manor farm’ from Middle Low German or Dutch achter ‘behind’ + hof ‘manor farm’.
Acker : 1: Dutch and German: topographic name from Middle High German and Middle Dutch acker ‘(cultivated) field’ (a cognate of the English word acre) hence a byname for a peasant (see Ackerman). Compare Achor Acre Acree and Auker.2: English: habitational name from Castle Acre South Acre or West Acre in Norfolk; or a topographic name for someone living by a piece of cultivated land from Middle English aker acre ‘acre field’ (Old English æcer). Compare Akers.3: Jewish (Ashkenazic): artificial name from German Acker ‘field’ (see 1 above).4: Americanized form of Norwegian and Swedish Aaker or Åker (see Aker) and probably also of some other similar (like-sounding) Scandinavian or German surname.
Ackerson : 1: Americanized form of the Swedish patronymic Åkesson or Åkeson (son of Åke; see Akeson compare Akerson 1) or of the rare ornamental name Åkerson (see Akerson 2).2: Altered form of American Dutch Eckerson.
Acre : 1: English: variant of Acker 2 (or Ackers without the excrescent -s).2: In some cases also an Americanized form of Norwegian Aakre German or Dutch Acker or Aker (see also Achor) and possibly also of some other similar (like-sounding) Scandinavian or German surname.
Acreman : 1: English (Somerset): variant of Ackerman.2: Americanized form of German Ackermann and possibly also of Dutch Ackerman.
Adam : 1: English Scottish German French Walloon Breton Dutch Flemish Romanian Polish Czech Slovak Slovenian Croatian and Assyrian/Chaldean; Hungarian (Ádám): from the Biblical personal name Adam which was borne according to Genesis by the first man. It is the generic Hebrew term for ‘man’ which is probably a derivative of Hebrew adama ‘earth’ (compare the classical Greek legend that Zeus fashioned the first human beings from earth). Adam was very popular as a personal name among non-Jews throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. Jews however did not use this personal name except in recent times under Polish and English influence.2: Spanish: variant of Adán ‘Adam’ (see Adan).3: Muslim: from the personal name Ādam Arabic variant of Adam. Compare Adem.4: American shortened form of Scottish and Irish McAdam and also of cognates from other languages (see examples 5 below and at Adams).5: American shortened (and altered) form of Armenian Atamian or Adamian.
Adams : 1: English Dutch and German (mainly northwestern Germany): patronymic from the personal name Adam. In North America this surname has absorbed cognates from other languages e.g. Greek Adamopoulos Serbian and Croatian Adamović (see Adamovich) Polish (and Jewish) Adamski.2: Irish and Scottish: adopted for McAdam or a Scottish variant of Adam with excrescent -s.
Adriance : Americanized form of Dutch Adriaanse: patronymic from the Dutch form of the personal name Adrian meaning ‘son of Adriaan’.
Aerts : Dutch and Flemish: patronymic from the personal name Aert Middle Dutch Aart a shortened form of the name Arnout (see Arnold). Compare Arts.
Agricola : German and Dutch: humanistic surname a translation into Latin of German Bauer and Dutch Boer ‘farmer’.
Aikens : 1: English: variant of Atkin with genitival or excrescent -s (compare Atkins).2: Dutch and East Frisian: patronymic from the personal name Aike a diminutive of Aai/Aie a variant or a short form of the personal names Aaielt Age Ad(d)e or Adriaan. In North America this surname may also be an altered form of the variant Eikens.
Aken : 1: German (of Dutch origin; van Aken): habitational name from the Dutch name of the city of Aachen in Germany. This may also be an American shortened form of the Dutch cognate Van Aken.2: English: variant of Akin.
Aker : 1: Norwegian (Åker): variant of Aaker a cognate of 2 below. Compare Acker.2: Swedish (Åker): from åker ‘plowed field’ applied either as an ornamental or a topographic name. Compare Acker.3: German Dutch and English: variant of Acker.
Akker : see Acker. This name is found from about 1800 exclusively in Radwinter (Essex). It appears to be the Dutch cognate of the name forming the base of Acker.
Albert : French English German Catalan Hungarian Romanian Dutch Slovak Czech Croatian Slovenian West Indian (mainly Haiti) and Mauritian: from the personal name Albert composed of the ancient Germanic elements adal ‘noble’ + berht ‘bright famous’. The standard German form is Albrecht. The name was borne by several Christian saints notably Saint Albert of Prague a Bohemian prince who died a martyr in 997 attempting to convert the Prussians to Christianity and Saint Albert the Great (c. 1193–1280) an Aristotelian theologian and tutor of Thomas Aquinas. In more recent times it has been adopted as a Jewish surname.
Alberti : 1: Italian: patronymic or plural form of the personal name Alberto. This surname is also found in southern France. Compare Alberty.2: German Dutch and French (mainly Lorraine): Latinized (humanistic) patronymic from the personal name Albert using the genitive of its Latinized form Albertus. Compare Alberty.3: Catalan (Albertí): from a derivative of the personal name Albert.4: Hungarian: habitational name from a village in Pest County called Alberti.5: Hungarian: patronymic from the personal name Albert.
Albertie : 1: Americanized form of Italian German Dutch or French Alberti or Alberty.2: West Indian (Saint Lucia): derivative of the personal name Albert possibly of the same European origin as in 1 above.
Alberts : English Dutch and North German: patronymic from the personal name Albert. This surname is also established in South Africa.
Alderink : Americanized form of Dutch Aalderink.
Alers : 1: Dutch or German: patronymic from the personal name Alert from ancient Germanic Adalhard from adel ‘noble’ + hard ‘hardy’. It is also found in South Africa but it is rare there. Compare Allers and Ahlers.2: Hispanic (Puerto Rico): perhaps a topographic name from Catalan alers ‘larch’. Alternatively a surname of German or Dutch origin (see above).
Ales : 1: Italian (Sicily): regional variant of Alessi.2: Slovenian and Czech (Aleš): from the personal name Aleš from Latin Alexius (see Alexis). As a Czech name it may also be from an old pet form of the personal name Albert.3: Dutch and German: variant of Alles or Ahles; compare also Ale 5.
Alewine : 1: English: variant of Alwine.2: Americanized form of Dutch Alewijn or German Alewyn: patronymic from the old Dutch and German personal name Adelwin composed of the elements adel ‘noble’+ win ‘friend’.
Allard : 1: English: from a Middle English personal name Alard Adelard Aylard or Elard. The former two names are usually of native English origin from Old English Æthelheard composed of the elements æthel ‘noble’ + heard ‘hard bold’. Alternatively the surname may be of continental origin from an ancient Germanic name (see 2 below) which developed in Old French to Alard and in Middle Dutch to Adelaert and Alaert. The continental names were used in post-Conquest England by Normans and Flemings. Later development of -ard to -ett and -att in surnames means that these personal names may also lie behind some examples of e.g. Allatt and Hallett.2: French: from the medieval personal name Alard from ancient Germanic Adelhard composed of the elements adal ‘noble’ + hard ‘hardy’. Compare Allar Allor Allord and Allore.
Alleman : 1: Flemish and Dutch: ethnic name from Old French aleman(d) ‘German’ (see also French Allemand compare Dutch Aleman). This surname is also found in France (Nord) and Wallonia; see also 2 below.2: French (mainly Nord Pas-de-Calais and southern France): variant of Allemand. See also 1 above.3: Dutch: from the personal name Alleman a diminutive of Alle see Alles 1.4: Altered form under the French influence in LA of Spanish Alemán ‘German’ (see Aleman). Compare Allemand 2.5: Americanized form of Swiss German Allemann.
Alles : 1: German Dutch and East Frisian: patronymic from the personal name Alle a shortened form of Allert from the ancient Germanic personal name Adalhard from adel ‘noble’ and hard ‘hardy’. Compare Allers and Ales 3.2: English: variant of Allis.
Allgood : English: from the Middle English personal name Algot Algod. This may represent Old Danish Old Swedish Algot Algut but the name is not otherwise recorded in those parts of England settled by Danes and Swedes before the Norman Conquest. Alternatively it represents ancient Germanic Adalgot Algot Middle Dutch Aelgoet which may have been used by Flemings in post-Conquest England. Compare Algood.
Allman : 1: English: ethnic name from Old French aleman(d) ‘German’ or alemayne meaning ‘from Germany’ which was called Almeyne in the 14th century (from Late Latin Alemannia from an ancient Germanic tribal name that probably originally meant ‘all the men’; see Allemann). In some cases the surname may be from the region of Normandy known as Allemagne (south of Caen) probably named as an ancient Germanic-speaking enclave in a Celtic area in Roman times.2: English: variant of Oldman.3: Americanized form of German Allmann or Ahlmann (see Ahlman 1) Swedish Ahlman 2 and Dutch Flemish or French Alleman. Compare Allmon.
Almon : 1: Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Almen.2: English: variant of Allman.3: Probably also a variant of Allmon a surname of English German Dutch or French origin.
Alphin : Altered form of an unidentified surname possibly Dutch Van Alphen: habitational name from either of the places so named in North Brabant and South Holland. Compare Allphin.
Alten : 1: German: habitational name from Ahlten near Hanover.3: Dutch (Van Alten): habitational name from Aalten a town in the province of Gelderland.2: Dutch: patronymic from the personal name Alte possibly a shortened form of Allert.
Alters : Probably an altered form of German Alter or of Dutch German or possibly English Alders.
Amand : French and Walloon and in some cases possibly also English (of Norman origin) Dutch or Flemish: from the Old French personal name Amand Amant Latin amandus ‘suitable to be loved’ the name of a 5th-century bishop of Bordeaux and several other Christian saints. In England it was also used as a female personal name.
Andreae : German (also Andreä) Dutch and Swedish: Latinized (humanistic) patronymic from the personal name Andreas using a Latin genitive.
Andreas : 1: German and English: from the New Testament Greek name Andreas which gave rise to Andrew in English and vernacular derivatives in almost every other European language. Etymologically it is from Greek andreios ‘manly’ an adjective derivative of anēr (genitive andros) ‘man male’. This is a Greek translation of an unknown Aramaic original; it was the name of the first of Christ's disciples the patron saint of both Scotland and Russia. The Scottish surname Anderson is far more common than its Russian equivalent Andreev. The personal name was popular throughout Europe in various vernacular forms (including Italian Andrea French André Spanish Andrés Scottish North German and Scandinavian Anders Dutch Andries Hungarian András Czech Ondřej Polish Andrzej and Jędrzej and Russian Andrey).2: Americanized or Germanized form of Slovenian Andrejaš: from an old vernacular form of the personal name Andraž (from Latin Andreas) which is a variant of Andrej; see Andrew.
Andree : 1: German; Dutch (also Andrée); Swedish (Andrée): variant of Andreae.2: French (Andrée): from the female personal name Andrée feminine form of André (see Andre).
Andring : 1: Luxembourgish: patronymic from the personal name Ander. This surname is very rare in Luxembourg.2: American shortened form of Dutch Andringa a cognate of 1 above.
Angle : 1: English: habitational name from Angle in Pembrokes (see Nangle) or more frequently a topographic name for someone who lived on an odd corner of land from Middle English angle (from Latin angelus ‘angle corner’).2: French (mainly Gironde): topographic name from angle ‘corner angle’ (compare 1 above) or perhaps a nickname from a homonymous Old French term denoting a measure of grain. This surname is very rare in France.3: Americanized form of German or Dutch Engel.
Angles : 1: Catalan and French (southern; Anglès): ethnic name from Catalan and Occitan anglès ‘English’.2: French (Anglès): habitational name from a place in Tarn called Anglès.3: French: topographic name from the plural of angle ‘corner angle’ or a habitational name from any of several places in France called (Les) Angles.4: Americanized form of German Dutch or Flemish Engels or a variant of Angle itself an Americanized form of German or Dutch Engel.
Anker : 1: German and Dutch: from Middle High German and Middle Dutch anker ‘anchor’ applied either as an occupational name for a smith who made ships' anchors or as a topographic or habitational name referring to a house identified by the sign of an anchor.2: Swedish and Norwegian (of Swedish origin): soldier's name meaning ‘anchor’.3: Danish: from a personal name of which the first element means ‘eagle’ and the second (probably) ‘violent’.4: English: from the Old Norman French personal name Anker Old French Anchier. Its source is the ancient Germanic name Anskari a variant of Ansgari. Compare Anchor.
Annen : 1: German: habitational name from a place called Annen in the Ruhr valley.2: North German: patronymic from the medieval German personal name Anno.3: Swiss German: metronymic from the female personal name Anne ‘lord husband or son of Anne’.4: Possibly also an altered form of Scottish Annan.5: Dutch (Drenthe): habitational name from Annen a village near Anloo or a patronymic from the Frisian male personal name Anne probably a short form of compound names beginning with Arn- ‘eagle’.
Anthony : 1: English and West Indian (mainly Antigua and Barbuda Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago also Dutch Caribbean): from the personal name Anthony Latin Antonius which with its variants and cognates is one of the commonest personal names in Europe. Spellings with -h- which first appear in English in the 16th century and in French (as Anthoine) at about the same time are due to the erroneous belief that the name derives from Greek anthos ‘flower’. The popularity of the personal name in Christendom is largely due to the cult of the Egyptian hermit Saint Anthony (AD 251–356) who in his old age gathered a community of hermits around him and for that reason is regarded by some as the founder of monasticism. It was further increased by the fame of Saint Anthony of Padua (1195–1231) who long enjoyed a great popular cult and who is believed to help people find lost things. In North America the English form of the surname has absorbed cognates and derivatives (patronymics) from other languages for example Greek patronymic Antoniades Italian Antoni Polish Antoniewicz Croatian and Serbian Antonović (see Antonovich) and Antunović; see also below. The name Anthony is also found among Christians in southern India but since South Indians traditionally do not have hereditary surnames the southern Indian name was in most cases registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US. Compare Antony.2: German Flemish and French (mainly Alsace): Latinized (humanistic) patronymic from local equivalents of the Latin personal name Antonius from its genitive form Antoni(i). In North America this surname is also an altered form of the German Dutch French and Slovak cognates Antoni 1 and Antony 2.
Antoni : 1: German Dutch French (mainly Alsace and Lorraine) and Slovak: Latinized (humanistic) patronymic from local equivalents of the Latin personal name Antonius (see Anthony 1) from its genitive form Antoni(i). Compare Anthony 2 and Antony 2.2: Italian: patronymic or plural form of the personal name Antonio. This surname is also found in France (mainly Corsica).3: Italianized form of Slovenian Antončič Antonšič and Antonič and Croatian Antonić (see Antonich) patronymics from the personal name Anton (see Anthony).
Aper : Flemish Dutch and German (Lower Saxony): from the personal name Aper a variant of Albert.
Appel : 1: German: from the personal name Appel a pet form of Apprecht (common especially in Thuringia and Franconia) itself a variant of Albrecht.2: German Dutch and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from Low German Ap(p)el Middle Dutch appel or Yiddish epl ‘apple’ hence an occupational name for a grower or seller of the fruit. The economic importance in medieval northern Europe of apples as a fruit that could be grown in a cold climate and would keep throughout the winter is hard to appreciate in these days of rapid transportation and year-round availability of fruits of all kinds. As a Jewish name it is generally artificial. Compare Apfel Appell and Apple.3: Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Apel.
Appelman : 1: Americanized form of German Appelmann and Dutch: from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch appel ‘apple’ + man ‘man’ an occupational name for a grower or seller of the fruit.2: Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Appelmann an artificial name or a metonymic occupational name of German origin (see 1 above).
Apple : 1: Americanized form (translation into English) of Jewish Appel.2: Americanized form (translation into English) of German and Dutch Appel or German Apfel ‘apple’.3: Americanized form (translation into English) of Estonian Õunapuu ‘apple-tree’ an arbitrary surname given to a peasant family by a manorial official.4: In some cases also an Americanized form (translation into English) of Croatian Jabuka ‘apple tree apple’ applied either as a topographic name for someone living by an apple tree an occupational name for a grower or seller of apples or a nickname for someone supposed to resemble an apple in some way e.g. in having bright red cheeks.
Appleman : 1: Americanized form of Dutch Appelman or its German cognate Appelmann.2: Americanized form of Jewish (Ashkenazic) Apfelmann an artificial name or a metonymic occupational name from German Apfel ‘apple’ + Mann ‘man’ or of its cognate Appelmann (see Appelman).
Ardon : 1: Hispanic (mainly Honduras El Salvador and Guatemala; Ardón): habitational name from Ardón in León province Spain. Compare Dardon 1.2: French and Dutch (of French origin): from the ancient Germanic personal name Hardo a pet form of a name based on the element hard ‘hard strong’ (compare Ardoin).3: French: habitational name from any of several places called Ardon e.g. in Jura from Gaulish Aredunum (composed of are ‘in front of’ + dunum ‘hill’). Compare Dardon 2.
Arnold : 1: English Scottish German Dutch French (mainly Alsace and Lorraine) Hungarian Czech Slovak Polish Croatian and Slovenian: from the ancient Germanic personal name Arnwald (Middle English Arnold Old French Arnaut) composed of the elements arn ‘eagle’ + wald ‘rule power’. This name was introduced to Britain by the Normans.2: English: habitational name from either of two places called Arnold in Nottinghamshire and East Yorkshire from Old English earn ‘eagle’ + halh ‘nook’.3: Jewish (Ashkenazic): adoption of the German personal name (see 1 above) at least in part on account of its resemblance to the Jewish name Aaron.
Arnoldy : German Dutch Luxembourgish Walloon and French (Alsace and Lorraine): Latinized (humanistic) patronymic from the personal name Arnold from Arnoldi the genitive of its Latinized form Arnoldus. Compare Arnoldi.
Arns : German (North Rhine-Westphalia) and Dutch (Gelderland): variant of Arntz.
Arntz : North German (Westphalia) and Dutch (northeastern Netherlands): patronymic from the personal name Arn(d)t (see Arndt).
Arp : 2: Altered form of German Erb.1: North German Dutch and Danish: from the personal name Arp derived from Middle Low German erp ‘dark brown’.
Arrants : Americanized form of Dutch and North German Arends.
Artz : 1: North German (Westphalia) and Dutch (northeastern Netherlands): patronymic from Art a shortened form of the personal names Arn(d)t (see Arndt) Arend or Arnout (see Arnold). Compare Arts.2: German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Arzt ‘physician’.
Asman : 1: Americanized form of German Asmann or Assmann.2: English (mainly Yorkshire): variant of Ashman.3: In some cases possibly also Dutch or Flemish: from a personal name composed of the ancient Germanic elements asc ‘ash tree spear (of ashwood)’ + man ‘man’ or a habitational name for someone from any of several places called As(se) or Asch(e) in the Netherlands and Belgium from Middle Dutch asc ‘ash tree’. The surname Asman is rare in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Aube : 1: French Canadian (Aubé): probably an altered form of Obee 2 itself a variant (Obée) or an altered form under American Dutch influence in New Netherland of French Aubé (see 3 below). Compare Obey Obie and Oby.2: French Canadian (Aubé): altered form of French Aubert.3: In some cases probably also French (Aubé): from the Old French personal name Aube a variant of Aubert.
Aubel : 1: German: variant of Abel 2. This surname is also found in the Netherlands.2: German: from a personal name composed of the ancient Germanic elements ōd ‘possession property’ + bald ‘bold strong’.3: In some cases probably also French: topographic name from Old French aubel ‘white poplar’ (from Latin albellus).4: Dutch (Limburg) and Walloon (of Dutch origin) (Van Aubel): habitational name from the town of Aubel in the province of Liège in Wallonia (Belgium).5: Americanized form of Slovenian Avbelj and Aubelj of German origin (see 1 and 2 above). The surname in the form Aubel is found in Slovenia too where it is rare.
Aucker : Americanized form of Dutch or German Acker. Compare Auker.
Auckerman : Americanized form of Dutch Ackerman. Compare Aukerman.
Augustin : 1: French West Indian (mainly Haiti) German Dutch and Czech; Slovak (mainly Augustín); Croatian (also Auguštin): from the personal name Augustin Slovak Augustín from Latin Augustinus (see Austin). In North America this surname may also be a shortened form of the patronymics and other derivatives of these personal names such as Slovak Augustiňák. This surname is by far most common in Haiti.2: Americanized form of Slovenian Avguštin or Auguštin: from the personal name Avguštin from Latin Augustinus (see Austin). In North America this surname may also be a shortened and altered form of the Slovenian patronymics like Avguštinčič. Compare Augustine.
Augustine : Americanized form of any of various European surnames from personal names derived from Latin Augustinus (see Austin) for example German Dutch French and Czech Augustin 1 Dutch Augustijn Polish Augustyn Slovenian Avguštin or Auguštin (see Augustin 2) Italian Agostino.
Auker : 1: English (Norfolk): from the Middle English personal name Alker Auker. This is derived either from Old English Ealhhere (composed of elements meaning ‘altar’ + ‘army’) or from Old French Alcher Aucher Auqu(i)er (from ancient Germanic Alchari).2: Americanized form of Dutch or German Acker. Compare Aucker.
Aukerman : Americanized form of Dutch Ackerman and possibly also of German Ackermann. Compare Auckerman.
Ausmus : Americanized form of North German and possibly also Dutch Asmus.
Auten : Americanized form of Dutch Aten.
Auton : 1: English: habitational name from Aveton Giffard in Devon meaning ‘farm by the River Avon’ from the river name Avon + Old English tūn ‘settlement’. The later manorial suffix Giffard is derived from Walter Giffard who held the manor in 1242.2: English: variant of Alton and Oldton (for which see Alton 2).3: Altered form of Auten a surname of Dutch origin.4: In some cases possibly also French: variant of Authon a habitational name from any of several places in France named Authon.
Averhart : Variant of Everhart a surname of German or Dutch origin.
Avers : Americanized form of North German and Dutch Evers.
Baalman : 1: Dutch (northeastern Netherlands): patronymic from the personal name Ba(h)le a short form of an ancient Germanic name based on the element bald ‘bold brave’.2: Americanized form of North German Baalmann a cognate of 1 above.
Baar : 1: German: variant of Bahr or a habitational name from either of two places called Baar one in the Eifel region and the other in Bavaria.2: Dutch (also Van Baar): habitational name for someone from Baar a village near Angerlo and a hamlet near Wehl both in Gelderland province.3: Dutch (also De Baar): nickname from Middle Dutch baar ‘bare naked’ given to a poor person.4: Czech: from a short form of the personal name Bartoloměj (see Bartholomew).
Baas : 1: Dutch and North German: occupational name from Dutch and Low German baas ‘master overseer boss’ or a nickname of somebody behaving like one.2: German and Dutch: from a short form of the personal name Sebastian (Dutch Sebastiaan).
Back : 1: English (Devon Kent Sussex and Norfolk): from the Middle English personal name Bakke (Old English Bacca). It is of uncertain origin but may have been a byname in the same sense as 3.2: English: nickname from Middle English bakke ‘bat’ of uncertain application perhaps a nickname for a person with poor eyesight from the expression ‘blind as a bat’.3: English: from Middle English bakke ‘back’ (Old English bæc) hence a nickname for someone with a hunched back or some other noticeable peculiarity of the back or spine or a topographic name for someone who lived on a hill or ridge or at the rear of a settlement.4: Americanized form of German Bach 1 2 or 6.5: German (Bäck): variant of Beck.6: North German and Dutch: from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch back ‘trough tub bin’ hence a metonymic occupational name for someone who made or used such artefacts.7: Dutch and North German: perhaps also a derivative of baa(c)k ‘pig; bacon ham’ hence a nickname for a butcher or a pig farmer.8: Dutch: topographic name for someone who lived at the back of somewhere such as a village a main street or a manor house from a phrase such as van de back or from Bak- ‘back’ as a bound form.9: Dutch: from the medieval personal name Ba(c)k(e) which could be a short form of several ancient Germanic personal names beginning with Bald- ‘bold’ Bade- ‘envoy’ or Bag- ‘up in arms’.10: Dutch: in some cases also a derivative of Backer ‘baker and perhaps also a nickname for someone with a hunched back as in the English name in 3 above.11: Swedish (Bäck): topographic or ornamental name from bäck ‘small stream or brook’ or a habitational name from a place called Bäck or from a placename containing the word bäck. Compare Beck.12: Swedish: variant of Backe.13: Americanized form of Norwegian Bakk (see Bakke).
Backes : 1: German (Rhineland): variant of Backhaus.3: English: variant of Bax.2: Dutch (Limburg): variant of Backus.
Backus : 1: English (Leicestershire): from Middle English bak(e)hous ‘bakehouse’ (Old English bæchūs) hence a topographic name for someone who lived or worked in a bakery.2: Dutch: in Limburg province a shortened variant of Bakhuis Dutch form of German Backhaus.3: Americanized form of German Backhaus.4: Lithuanian (Bačkus): from bačka ‘barrel cask’ hence either a nickname for a short fat man or an occupational name for a cooper. The surname Bačkus is very rare in Lithuania.
Bacorn : Americanized form of an unidentified Dutch surname.
Bacus : Altered form of English or Dutch Backus.
Baert : Flemish and Dutch:: 1: from a short form of the personal name Bartholomaeus (see Bartholomew) or from the female personal name Baerte or Bartha.2: nickname from Middle Dutch baert ‘beard’. See also Beard.3: from a short form of any of various ancient Germanic personal names with the final element baert (berht) for example Ijsebaert Notebaert Heerbaart (compare Herbert).
Baes : 1: Flemish: derivative of the ancient Germanic personal name Bazo based on the element bad (from badhuo) ‘battle’. Alternatively of the same origin as Dutch Baas.2: Hispanic (mainly Philippines): variant of Baez.
Bais : 2: Dutch (mainly North Holland): patronymic from the personal name Baije which is a derivative of an ancient Germanic name beginning with the element bern- ‘bear’ or possibly a variant of Boije which may be a derivative of Boidin and thus a variant of Baldwin.1: Italian (Friuli Venezia Giulia and Trentino-South Tyrol): nickname derived from German weiss ‘white’.3: Americanized form of Croatian and Slovenian Bajs: nickname from dialect bajs ‘bass’ (the musical instrument) figuratively ‘fatty potbelly’. The surname in the form Bais is found in Croatia too where it is a less common variant.4: Indian: Kshatriya Rajput name found among the Dhangar people of Maharashtra ultimately from Sanskrit vasati ‘dwelling’ and by extension ‘one who owns land’. This is the name of a tribe originally found in the Manjhi Paithan region of the Deccan; Baiswada in Ganga-Yamuna Doaba is a district named for them.
Bakeman : Americanized form of Dutch Baakman or one of its variants: habitational name probably derived from the homestead or village of Baak near Steenderen in Gelderland province. The placename may refer to Old German baka ‘back’ as the name of a hillside.
Baker : 1: English: occupational name from Middle English bakere Old English bæcere a derivative of bacan ‘to bake’. It may have been used for someone whose special task in the kitchen of a great house or castle was the baking of bread but since most humbler households did their own baking in the Middle Ages it may also have referred to the owner of a communal oven used by the whole village. The right to be in charge of this and exact money or loaves in return for its use was in many parts of the country a hereditary feudal privilege. Compare Miller. Less often the surname may have been acquired by someone noted for baking particularly fine bread or by a baker of pottery or bricks.2: Americanized form (translation into English) of surnames meaning ‘baker’ for example Dutch Bakker German Becker and Beck French Boulanger and Bélanger (see Belanger) Czech Pekař Slovak Pekár and Croatian Pekar.
Bakey : Americanized form of Dutch Bakke.
Bakker : 1: Dutch and North German: occupational name for a baker Dutch and Low German bakker. Compare Backer and Baker.2: Norwegian: habitational name from any of the farmsteads so named in southeastern Norway; it is the indefinite plural form of Bakke.
Balder : 1: Dutch and German: from the ancient Germanic personal name Baldheri composed of the elements bald ‘hardy bold strong’ + heri ‘army’. Compare Balter.2: English: from the Middle English personal name Balder (Old English Bealdhere formed from beald ‘bold brave’ + here ‘army’).
Baldwin : 1: English and North German: from a personal name composed of the ancient Germanic elements bald ‘bold brave’ + wine ‘friend’ which was extremely popular among the Normans and in Flanders in the early Middle Ages. It was the personal name of the Crusader who in 1100 became the first Christian king of Jerusalem and of four more Crusader kings of Jerusalem. It was also borne by Baldwin Count of Flanders (1172–1205) leader of the Fourth Crusade who became first Latin Emperor of Constantinople (1204). In North America this surname has absorbed Dutch forms such as Boudewijn.2: Irish: surname adopted in Donegal by bearers of the Gaelic surname Ó Maolagáin (see Milligan) due to association of Gaelic maol ‘bald hairless’ with English bald.
Balk : 1: German: from a pet form of a Slavic equivalent of the personal name Valentinus (see Valentine).2: Dutch and German: from balk balke ‘timber beam’ hence a metonymic occupational name for a carpenter or a nickname for a big man.3: English (Yorkshire): variant of Baulk from Middle English balke ‘ridge or bank created by plowing’ (Old English balca) or a habitational name from a place called with this word for example Balk near Thirsk in the North Yorkshire.
Balkin : 1: Jewish (Ashkenazic): from the Yiddish female personal name Beyle meaning ‘beautiful’ (related to French belle).2: English (of Norman origin): perhaps from an unrecorded Middle English personal name Baldekin Baudekin an Anglo-Norman borrowing of Middle Dutch Baudequin a Flemish pet form of Baldwin. However a clear link between Middle English Baudekin and post-medieval Balkin has not been established and the modern name may have a different source a variant of Balcom perhaps by migration.
Ball : 1: English: from Middle English bal ball(e) ‘ball sphere globe round body’ (Old French balle or Old English beall(a)) a nickname for a short obese person.2: English: topographic name for someone who lived on or by a knoll or rounded hill from the same Middle English word bal(le) as in 1 above but applied topographically.3: English: from a Middle English adjective ball (weak form balle) in the sense ‘bald’ from ball ‘white streak bald place’.4: English: from Balle an Old Norse personal name found in placenames in England. The Scandinavian name may be for ballr ‘dangerous’ in an older sense of ‘brave’ or bǫllr ‘ball’.5: South German: from Middle High German bal ‘ball’ possibly applied as a metonymic occupational name for a juggler or a habitational name from a place so named in the Rhine area.6: German: from a short form of any of various ancient Germanic personal names formed with the element bald (see Bald).7: Americanized form of Dutch Bal.
Ballou : 1: French: possibly an altered form of French and Flemish Ballieu or Balliu surnames mainly found in Nord in France and in neighbouring Flanders in Belgium. If so it is either habitational from one of the numerous places in Picardy Artois and Normandy called Bailleul (Old French Balliol) or an occupational name from Old Picard and Middle Dutch bailli(e)u ba(i)lleu baillu (Old French baillif balliu) ‘bailiff’. Alternatively the name Ballou might be from the ancient Germanic personal name Balowulf composed of the elements balo ‘torment wickedness’ and wulf ‘wolf’. The surname Ballou is rare in France.2: Alternatively an altered form of French Belleau or perhaps Beaulieu. The name is sometimes (also) said to be an altered form of Boileau but this is problematic in terms of family history and phonological development. Compare Ballew Ballow 1 Belew Bellew and Belue.3: Alternatively a rare variant of English Ballow 2 or an altered form of English Bellew 1.
Balter : 1: Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): habitational name for someone from the town of Balta in southern Ukraine.2: Dutch and German (Rhineland): variant of Balder or from a shortened form of the personal name Baltazar.3: Austrian (Tyrol): variant of Walter.4: German: possibly a shortened form of Swabian Balt(e)ner from Middle High German balteniere ‘pilgrim beggar vagrant’. Compare Baldner.
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Source : DAFN2 : Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, ©2022 by Patrick Hanks and Oxford University Press
FANBI : The Oxford Dictionary if Family Names in Britain and Ireland, ©2016, University of the West of England
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