Origin
Ma : 1: Chinese: Mandarin or Cantonese form of the surname 馬 which means ‘horse’: (i) from the first element of Mafu (馬服) the name of a fief (located in Handan in Hebei province) or an honorific title that was granted to Zhao She a prince of the state of Zhao during the Warring States period (475–221 BC). The name Mafu (馬服) was later acquired as a surname and shortened to Ma (馬). (ii) from the adopted name of Xi-Li Ji'en (習禮吉恩) an official in the Jin dynasty (1115–1234 AD) who changed his original name to Ma Qingxiang (馬慶祥) when he moved from Central Asia to Lintao (in present-day Gansu province). (iii) from the adopted name of Yue Naihe (月乃和) a commander-in-chief in the late Jin dynasty who changed his original name to Ma Zu Chang (馬祖常). (iv) this surname is also borne by Muslims of the Hui ethnic group located mainly in northwestern China.2: Chinese: Mandarin or Cantonese form of the surname 麻 which denotes a herbaceous plant such as hemp or flax: (i) from the placename Ma (麻) the name of a fief (located in Macheng in Hubei province) that was granted to an official of the state of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) from the first element of the personal name of Ma Ying (麻婴) an official in the state of Qi (located mainly in present-day Shandong province) during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).3: Korean: written 마 in Chinese characters 馬 meaning ‘horse’. There are actually two Chinese characters for the surname Ma only one of which is frequent enough to be treated here. Two clans use the character 馬: the Mokch’ŏn clan and the Changhŭng clan. The character is borne by the descendants of Ma Ryŏ (馬 黎) who migrated to Korea from China during the Han Commanderies period (1st century BC) and attended King On Cho when he left Koguryŏ to found the Paekche Kingdom in 18 BC and by the descendants of Ryŏ's brother Ma Shin (馬 信) who stayed behind in Koguryŏ. The Ma family disappears from the historical record after these events but reappears during the reign of the Koryŏ king Chŏngjo (reigned 1776–1800 AD) when a high court official Ma Sun-hŭng (馬 順興) was enfeoffed with Mokch’ŏn County in Ch’ungch’ŏng South Province. Mokch’ŏn became the clan seat of the Ma Family. Another clan seat appeared eleven generations later when Ma Ch’ŏn-mok (馬 天牧) was enfeoffed with Changhŭng County. Compare Mah 2.4: Burmese: from a form of address for a young woman akin to English ‘miss’ used as part of the female name proper. — Note: Since Burmese do not have hereditary surnames this name was registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US.5: Cambodian: written ម៉ា probably of Chinese origin but unexplained etymology (compare above). It corresponds to the Khmer word borrowed from dialects of southern China (particularly Teochew Hokkien and Hakka) meaning ‘grandmother’.6: Vietnamese (Mã): from the Chinese surname 馬 see 1 above. It is also found among the Cham people in southern Vietnam.
Animashaun : West African (Nigeria): from the Yoruba personal name Anímáṣahun a pet name based on the phrase a ní má ṣe ahun ‘having riches but not miserly’.
Brooman : from the Old English personal name Brūnmann (from brūn 'brown' + mann 'man').
Clapcott : from Clapcott in Wallingford (Berks) which was recorded as Clopecote 1086 in Domesday Book Clappecot' 1241 in Assize Rolls). The place-name is from Old English *clop(pe) ‘hill’ + cot(e) ‘cottage’. The Wallingford place had a 'mansion' and its lands were well documented in the Middle Ages whilst the similarly named place in Grittleton (Wilts) was one of 'cottages'.
Li : 1: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 李 meaning ‘plum’: (i) said to have been adopted in place of the Chinese surname 理 (also pronounced Li; meaning ‘rules’ in Chinese) by Li Zhen (利貞) son of an official called Li Zheng (理徵) in the late Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC). It is said that Li Zhen's father incurred the displeasure of King Zhou of Shang (died 1046 BC) and Li Zhen fled to a wasteland area where he survived on wild plums. After his return to civilization he changed his surname to Li (李 ‘plum’) a word with the same pronunciation. The original surname 理 is said to be from Li Guan (理官) the name of a post of officials in charge of legislation in ancient China. Li Er (李耳) also known as Lao Tzu or Lao Zi traditionally regarded as the founder of Taoism is believed to have been a descendant of Li Zhen. (ii) adopted as a surname by the Chi Li (叱李) family from the Xianbei ethnic group during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD). (iii) in the early years of the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD) sixteen high officials with different surnames were granted the surname Li (李) the surname of the royal family of the Tang dynasty by Emperor Taizong of Tang (died 649 BC) because of their contributions to the establishment of the Tang regime. (iv) the surname can also be traced back to several minority ethnic groups in ancient China.2: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 黎 meaning ‘black’ or ‘multitude’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from Li (黎) the name of an ancient state (located in Changzhi in Shanxi province) during the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC) which was annexed in the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC) and later granted to Fengshu also known as Li Hou (黎侯 'Marquis Li'). (ii) adopted as a surname by the Su Li (素黎) family members of the Xianbei ethnic group during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD).3: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 利 meaning ‘sharp fortunate’ or ‘benefits’ in Chinese: (i) from the first element of the personal name Li Zhen (利貞) son of an official called Li Zheng (理徵) in the late Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC) also see 1 (i) above. (ii) from the placename Li (利) the name of a fief (located in Hubei province or in Sichuan province) granted to a prince in the state of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (iii) adopted as a surname by the Chi Li (叱利) family members of the Xianbei ethnic group during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD).4: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 栗 meaning ‘chestnut’ in Chinese: (i) said to be from Li Lu (栗陸) the title of a legendary emperor in ancient China. (ii) from Li (栗) the name of an ancient state (located in Xiayi in Henan province) during the late Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC) which was annexed in the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC).5: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 厲 meaning ‘strict rigorous’ in Chinese: (i) from Li (厲) the posthumous title of Qi Li Gong (齊厲公 the Duke Li of Qi ruler of the state of Qi died 816 BC). (ii) from Li (厲) the name of an ancient state (located in Suixian in Hubei province) during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). (iii) adopted in place of the Chinese surname 孫. The king Sun Hao in the state of Wu during the Three Kingdoms period (220–280 AD) ordered the family members of Sun Xiu (a general in the state of Wu possibly died 301 BC) to change their surname to Li (厲) because Sun Xiu had defected to the state of Jin. (iv) adopted in place of the Chinese surname Li (李) by the extended family of an official called Li Jin (李晉) during the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD) who was killed because of his attempt to usurp the throne.6: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 酈: from the placename Li (酈) the name of an ancient state (located in Henan province) annexed by the state of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).7: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 禮 meaning ‘ceremonies’ or ‘etiquette’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from the first element of the personal name Li Kong (禮孔) and Li Zhi (禮至) officials in the state of Wey who were descendants of Wey Kang Shu (衛康叔 Kang Shu of Wey) founder of the state of Wey. (ii) borne by the descendants of the masters of ceremonies in ancient China.8: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 勵 meaning ‘encourage’ in Chinese: (i) said to be adopted in place of another surname Sun (孫) by descendants of Sun Xiu (possibly died 301 BC) also see 5 (iii) above. (ii) said to be adopted in place of another surname Li (厲) by Li Dune an official in the Qing dynasty (1616–1911 AD) who was endowed with the surname Li (勵) by the then emperor.9: Vietnamese: variant of Lệ from the Chinese surname 酈 see 6 above and Le.10: Vietnamese (Lí): variant of Ly from the Chinese surname 李see 1 above.11: Norwegian: habitational name from any of numerous farmsteads named Li from Old Norse hlíth ‘mountain slope hillside’. Compare Lie 1.
Mahoney : Irish (Munster): Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Mathghamhna ‘descendant of Mathghamhain’ a byname meaning ‘good calf’ a kenning for ‘bear’. There were two families in Ireland called O'Mahony in Cork and north-east Ulster. In Ulster Ó Mathghamhna has often been Anglicized as McMahon apparently by analogy with the later Mac Mathghamhna chieftain family in Monaghan.
Mail : 1: see Meil. Black at Meal notes that the surname may not have originated in Shetland but derive from the settlement of some Orkney families there in the early 17th century. 2: see Male. 3: from Ó Máille see O'Malley.
Mailey : 1: Irish: alternative Anglicized form of Ó Máille (see O'Malley).2: English Irish or Scottish: perhaps also a Norman name a variant of Malley 2.
Majekodunmi : from the Yoruba personal name Májè̩é̩kódùnmí (Yoruba má jè̩é̩ kó dùn mí ‘do not let it grieve me’).
Malay : 1: Americanized form of Rusyn (from Slovakia) Mlej: from an imperatival derivative of a dialect form of the verb mlieť ‘to mill’ used as a nickname for miller. Compare Maley 2 and Malley 3.2: Ukrainian: metonymic occupational name from malay ‘bread made of corn peas or millet’.3: Irish: perhaps from Ó Máille see O'Malley. This form of the surname is very rare in Britain and Ireland and is found mainly in Lancashire England.4: Filipino: nickname from Tagalog malay ‘consciousness awareness’.5: Filipino: ethnic name from Tagalog malay ‘Malay’.
Maley : 1: Irish: variant of Malley (see O'Malley).2: Americanized form of Rusyn (from Slovakia) Mlej (see Malay 1).3: Americanized form of Czech and Slovak Malý Polish Mały (see Maly 1) or Slovenian Mali ‘small little’. Compare Maly 4 and Malley 4.4: Americanized form of Slovenian and Slovak Malej: nickname derived from Slovenian mal Slovak malý ‘small little’. The Slovenian surname may also be from the dialect pet nickname malej ‘little one’. Compare Malley 4.
Malley : 1: Irish: variant of O'Malley.2: English (of Norman origin): habitational name from any of several places in northern France called Mailly (Marne Somme and elsewhere).3: Americanized form of Rusyn (from Slovakia) Mlej (see Malay).4: Americanized form of Polish Mały Czech and Slovak Malý (see Maly 1) or Slovenian Mali 1 ‘small little’ or of related Slovenian and Slovak Malej (see Maley 4).
Mally : 1: Germanized or Americanized form of Polish and Sorbian Mały Czech and Slovak Malý (see Maly compare 2 below) Slovenian Mali all meaning ‘small little’.2: Czech and Slovak (Mallý): variant of Malý ‘small little’ (see Maly compare 1 above).3: Irish: variant of O'Malley. This form of the surname is rare in Britain and Ireland and is found mainly in Lancashire England and Glasgow Scotland.4: French: unexplained.
Maly : 1: Czech and Slovak (Malý); Polish Jewish (from Poland) and Sorbian (Mały); Ukrainian (also transliterated as e.g. Malyy) Rusyn and Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): from Czech and Slovak malý Polish and Sorbian mały Ukrainian malyy ‘small little’. This is both a nickname for a physically small man and a pet name for a child which is sometimes retained into adult life. Compare Klein Little 3 and Small 3.2: English (of Norman origin): variant of Malley.3: Irish: variant of O'Malley.4: In some cases also an Americanized form of Slovenian Mali 1 ‘small little’. Compare Maley 3.
Mauchan : 1: from Machan in Dalserf (Lanarks). The place-name is of uncertain origin but may be compared with Machen (Monmouths) explained in Place-Names of Wales as Welsh ma + personal name ‘plain of Cein’. 2: from Ó Mocháin see Mohan.
Mealey : Irish: from Ó Máille see O'Malley.
Mounger : Perhaps an altered form of Manger; it is found mainly in TX MA and TN.
O'Mahoney : Irish: variant of O'Mahony.
O'Maley : Irish: variant of O'Malley.
O'Mally : from Ó Máille see O'Malley.
O'Mary : Probably an altered form of Irish O'Mara influenced by the cult of the Virgin Mary.
O'Meally : Irish: variant of O'Malley.
O'Melia : Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Máille (see O'Malley) in which the pronunciation of Irish -lle (as in English ‘million’) is represented by -lia.
Parle : English:: 1: (of Norman origin): nickname from Old French parole ‘word speech’ perhaps signifying ma parole ‘(on) my word’ and mimicking a person's habitually used phrase.2: from a short form of the Middle English personal name Peres see Perrell. Parle and Parles are the usual Anglicized forms for Perrell in Ireland.
Pathammavong : Laotian: ornamental name based on the Lao elements tham ma from the Buddhist term dharma ‘cosmic law and order’ (in Lao also e.g. ‘virtue’) and vong ‘lineage origin’.
Phommachanh : Laotian: ornamental name composed of the Lao elements phom ma ‘the absolute deity’ and chanh ‘moon’.
Schiemann : 4: Germanized form of Sorbian Šiman and Šyman: from the personal name Lower Sorbian Šyman Upper Sorbian Šiman equivalents of Simon.5: Germanized form of Polish Szyman: from a variant of the personal name Szymon Polish form of Simon.3: East German: from a Slavic-influenced (see below) form of the personal name Simon.1: North German: occupational name for a helmsman (of a boat) from Middle Low German sē ‘sea’ + man ‘man’.2: North German: nickname from Middle Low German schīde ‘sensible wise’ + man 'man.
Thammavong : Laotian: ornamental name composed of the Lao elements tham ma from the Buddhist term dharma ‘cosmic law and order’ (in Lao also e.g. ‘virtue’) and vong ‘lineage origin’.
Yemane : Ethiopian and Eritrean: from the personal name Yemane which is interpreted as ‘my 'may they believe'’ in the Amharic or related languages. — Note: Since Ethiopians and Eritreans do not have hereditary surnames this name was registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US.
Zhan : Chinese:: 1: Mandarin form of the surname 詹 meaning ‘practising divination’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from the title of officials in charge of practicing divination in ancient China. (ii) from Zhan (詹) the name of a fiefdom (probably located in Zhandian in present-day Henan province) granted to descendants of the legendary Huang Di the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c. 27th century BC) by the legendary Emperor Shun (c. 23rd century BC). (iii) from the title Zhan Hou (詹侯 'Marquis Zhan’) which was granted to one of the sons of King Xuan of Zhou (reigned 827–782 BC). (iv) from the names of Zhan Jia (詹嘉) (an official in the state of Jin) and Zhan Bo (詹伯) (an official in the state of Zheng) who were granted a fief called 詹 during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).2: Mandarin form of the surname 占 meaning ‘practising divination’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from Zi Zhan (子占) style name of Sun Shu a noble in the state of Chen (located mainly in present-day Henan and Anhui province) during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). 2 simplified form of the Chinese surname 詹 (see 1 above).3: Mandarin form of the surname 湛 a word meaning ‘limpid’ or ‘profound’ in ancient Chinese: habitational name from the placename Zhan (湛) the name of a small fief (located in Henan province) in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).4: Mandarin form of the surname 展 meaning ‘unfolding’ or ‘honesty’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from Zhan (展) the name of an ancient state (located in Xuchang in Henan province). Descendants from the state acquired 展 as the surname. (ii) for some families the surname can be traced back to Wu Hai(died in 715 BC) the grandson of the prince Zhan(展 his style name) of the state of Lu. Wu Hai and his descendants inherited 展 style name of his grandfather as the surname. (iii) From the Zhan Chi (辗迟) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China who changed their original surname to 展 during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD).5: Mandarin pronunciation of the surname 戰 meaning ‘fighting’ or ‘wars’ in Chinese: (i) from Bi Zhan (毕戰) an official in the state of Teng (located in Tengxian in Shandong province). His descendants inherited 戰 as the surname. (ii) for some families the surname is also borne by descendants of certain military commanders in ancient China.
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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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