Origin
Man : 6: Flemish and Dutch (also De Man): from Middle Dutch man ‘man husband vassal’ (compare Mann).7: English: variant of Mann.8: French: from the ancient Germanic personal name Manno (see Mann 2).9: Jewish (Ashkenazic): from the personal name Man based on a Yiddish word meaning ‘man’.1: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 滿 meaning ‘full’ in Chinese: from Man (滿) style name of Hu Gong Man (died 986 BC) also known as the Duke Hu of Chen founder of the state of Chen (located in Henan province) who was the shared ancestor of people with the surnames 陳 胡 田 and 車.2: Chinese: Cantonese form of the surname 萬 see Wan 1.3: Chinese: Cantonese form of the surnames 文 and 聞 see Wen 2 and 3.4: Chinese: Cantonese form of the surname 閔 see Min 1.5: Vietnamese (Mẫn): from the Chinese surname 閔 see Min 1.
Abelman : 1: Americanized form of German Abelmann: from the personal name Abel (a pet form of Albrecht) + -mann as a diminutive suffix sometimes used as distinguishing name for a son with the same name as the father. Compare Ableman.2: Jewish (Ashkenazic): from the personal name Abele (see Abeles) + Yiddish man ‘man’.
Abinger : from Abinger (Surrey) which is recorded as Abbingeworth in 1225 and Abbyngere in 1558. The place-name probably means ‘enclosure of the people of a man called Abba’ from the Old English personal name Abba + the group-name suffix -ingas (genitive -inga-) + worð ‘enclosure curtilage’.
Abrell : South German: from Middle High German aberëlle ‘April’ hence perhaps a nickname for a moody or temperamental man with reference to the changeable weather typical of that month. Alternatively it may have been applied to someone with a particular connection with the month of April for example as the month in which an annual payment was due.
Abu : 1: Muslim: abstracted as a surname from Arabic abū ‘father’ a common component of traditional Muslim names. It is used to form the kunya (a type of name meaning ‘father of’ such as Abū-Bakr literally ‘father of the Young Camel’; see Abubakr) in combination with the name of a man's child usually his firstborn son (or hoped-for firstborn). In traditional Muslim society a man is generally known and addressed by his kunya rather than by his ism (his personal name) the use of which can seem unduly familiar. A kunya may also be used to form a nickname as in the case of Abū-Turāb ʿAlī ‘ʿAlī father of dust’ the kunya of caliph Ali conferred on him by the prophet Muhammad. — Note: It is possible that in some cases this is counted as an independent surname only in the population figure published by the US Census Bureau.2: Muslim and Jewish (Sephardic from the Maghreb): from the Arabic male personal name ʿAbbū a pet form of any of the many names beginning with ʿAbd ‘servant’.3: West African (Sierra Leone Ghana and Nigeria): probably of Arabic origin (see 1 and 2 above).
Acharya : Indian: Brahmin name from Sanskrit āčārya ‘one who knows or teaches (right) conduct’ i.e. a spiritual guide or teacher. The term was also applied as an honorific title for a man of learning. It has also been adopted as a surname by some non-Brahmin communities.
Acheson : Scottish: variant of Atchison. This form of the surname is of Scottish origin but since the 17th century has been especially common in northern Ireland also in the Isle of Man.
Achziger : German: nickname from achtzig ‘eighty’ + the agent suffix -er in various possible applications as for example a member of a council of eighty men or a man obliged to pay regularly eighty units of currency in taxes.
Ackerman : 1: Dutch: occupational name from akkerman ‘farmer plowman’ (from akker ‘field’ + man ‘man’). Compare Akkerman Aukerman and Ockerman.2: English: from Middle English acreman ‘cultivator of the soil plowman’ (Old English æcerman from æcer ‘field acre’ + man ‘man’). Typically an acreman was a bond tenant of a manor holding half a virgate of arable land for which he paid by serving as a plowman. The term was also used generically to denote a plowman or husbandman.3: Americanized form of German Ackermann 1.4: Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Ackermann 2.5: Americanized form of Swedish Åkerman (see Akerman). Compare Ockerman.
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.
Addyman : 1: from the Middle English personal name Adiman or Ademan which could be a pet form of Adam (see Addy) + the hypocoristic suffix -man but is more likely a variant of Middle English Edeman Ediman; see Edman. 2: from the Middle English personal name Adam + man probably signifying ‘servant of a man named Adam’. The name has probably been absorbed by (1) or by Adman.
Adelman : 1: Jewish (Ashkenazic): artificial name composed of German Adel ‘nobility’ + Mann (Yiddish man) ‘man’. Compare Edelman.2: Americanized form of German Adelmann.
Adlington : from Adlington (Lancs) which is recorded as Edeluinton in the 12th century Adelventon in 1202 and Adlington in 1288 or from Adlington (Cheshire) which is recorded as Eduluintune in 1086 and Adelvinton Adelinton in the 13th century. The place-names mean ‘farmstead associated with a man called Ēadwulf’ from the Old English personal name Ēadwulf + the connective particle -ing- + tūn ‘farmstead estate’.
Afzal : Muslim (mainly Pakistan): from afzal a Persian and Urdu spelling of Arabic afḍal literally ‘better’ or ‘best’ used as an epithet for a learned man.
Aguila : Spanish (Águila): from águila ‘eagle’ (from Latin aquila) a nickname for a haughty man or one with an aquiline nose or a habitational name from a place in Salamanca province called Águila. Compare Del Aguila.
Ahlman : 1: Americanized form of German Ahlmann: topographic name literally meaning ‘swamp man’.2: Swedish: ornamental or topographic name from an ornamental spelling of al ‘alder’ + man ‘man’ or a habitational name for someone from a place called with the element al. In a topographic sense it could have been adopted on account of a prominent alder tree at the home farm. Compare Allman and Alman.
Ahmann : German: topographic name for someone living near running water from Middle High German ahe ‘water stream’ + man ‘man’. See Ach.
Akerman : 1: Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Ackermann.2: Swedish (Åkerman): ornamental name composed of the elements åker ‘field’ + man ‘man’. Compare Ackerman and Ockerman.3: English: variant of Ackerman.
Alam : Muslim:: 1: from a personal name based on Arabic ʿalam ‘emblem banner’ hence an epithet for a distinguished man. ʿAlam-al-Huda ‘banner of guidance’ is an honorific title of the prophet Muhammad.2: from a personal name based on Arabic ʿālam ‘world’. This name is found in a variety of compounds which are popular in the subcontinent for example Badrul-ʿĀlam ‘full moon of the world’. Compare Alem.
Aldington : from Aldington (Worcs) which is recorded as Aldintona in 1086 and Aldington in 1227 and perhaps also from Aldington (Kent) which is recorded as Ealdintune in about 1090 and Aldyngtone in 1253–4. The place-names probably both mean ‘farmstead associated with a man called Ealda’ from the Old English personal name Ealda + the connective particle -ing- + tūn ‘farmstead estate’.
Alsman : Americanized form of German Alsmann: probably from an ancient Germanic personal name composed with a shortened form of adal ‘noble’ + man ‘man’.
Altmann : German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from Middle High German altman German Altmann literally ‘old man’ applied either as a personal name or as a nickname for an older man as distinguished from a younger one. This surname is also found in Czechia and some other central European countries.
Alto : 1: Altered form of Finnish Aalto.2: Italian Spanish and Portuguese: nickname for a big man from alto ‘tall big’.
Ames : 1: English (of Norman origin): from the Old French personal name Amis or from the feminine form Amice. The Old French word amis is from Latin amicus ‘friend’ which was used in Late Latin as a term for a man of the lower classes in particular a slave. There were also derivatives of this as personal names in particular masculine Amicius and feminine Amicia. Both were in use as personal names in England and may have contributed to the surname.2: German: perhaps a nickname for an active person from an ancient Germanic word related to Old High German amazzig ‘busy’.3: Dutch: possibly a patronymic from Ame a common personal name in Holland and Friesland an abbreviated form of an ancient Germanic personal name perhaps beginning with amel ‘strong’.
Ammann : South German and Swiss German: occupational or status name from Amtmann ‘official’ (dialect Ammann; Middle High German ambet man literally ‘retinue man retainer’). This word came to denote various kinds of administrator including a tax farmer. Compare Aman Amann and Amman.
Andrade : Galician and Portuguese: habitational name from any of numerous places in Galicia (Spain) and Portugal named Andrade perhaps originally villa Andr(e)ati ‘estate of a man named Andreas’. Compare De Andrade.
Angerman : 2: Swedish (also Ångerman): habitational name for someone from the province of Ångermanland perhaps from the Latinized form Angermannus. This surname is rare in Sweden.1: Americanized form of German Angermann: topographic name for a dweller by a meadow from Middle High German anger + man ‘man’.
Antingham : from Antingham (Norfolk) which is recorded as Antingham in 1086 and Antingeham in 1153–68. The place-name means ‘homestead of the people of a man called Anta’ from an Old English personal name *Anta + the group-name suffix -ingas (genitive -inga-) + hām ‘homestead village’.
Apostol : 1: American shortened form of Greek patronymics derived from the personal name Apostolos (see Apostolos).2: Romanian Hungarian and Albanian: from the old personal name Apostol an equivalent of Greek Apostolos (see Apostolos). In North America this surname is probably also an altered form of the more common Albanian variant Apostoli based on the definite form of the personal name.3: Spanish (Apóstol): nickname for a pious or serious man or an actor representing the role of an apostle in medieval theater from Greek apostolos ‘apostle’ (see Apostolos).
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).
Aquila : Italian:: 1: nickname from aquila ‘eagle’ denoting a lordly or a sharp-eyed man.2: habitational name from L'Aquila in Abruzzo or from any of various smaller places called Aquila.
Arches : 1: from Arques-la-Bataille in Offranville (Seine-Maritime) which is recorded as (de) Archis in 1024 or possibly in some cases from Pont-de-l'Arche (Eure) recorded as Archas in the 11th century. These place-names derive from Latin arca ‘arch bridge’ (Old French arche northern Norman and Picard Old French arque). Arques in Pas-de-Calais has also been suggested as a possible source of some of the Norman family names but there is no evidence of it being pronounced as Arches the regular form of the surname in England. It is recorded as Arkae in the 7th century and Ariaco in the 9th century and may derive from Celtic *Ariācon ‘territory of a man called Arios’. Arches was sometimes reduced to Arch and the variant form Darches with fused preposition as in Simon Darches alias de Arches 1316-17 in TNA (Bucks) may have been reduced to Darch. 2: possibly a variant of Arch with post-medieval excrescent -s but Arch itself may b a reduced form of the name in (1).
Arlen : Alsatian (Bas-Rhin): probably a derivative of the ancient Germanic personal name Erl ‘free man noble warrior’.
Armand : French West Indian (mainly Haiti) and Mauritian: from the French personal name Armand from ancient Germanic Hardman or Hariman composed of the elements hard ‘hard strong’ or hari ‘army’ and man ‘man’ (see Hermann). This surname is also found in England where it is of Huguenot origin. Compare Arman Arment and Armond.
Armwood : English: variant of Harmwood which itself is an extinct Hampshire variant of Harmsworth a habitational name from Harmondsworth in Middlesex named in Old English as ‘the enclosure (worth) of a man called Heremōd’. Alternatively a variant of English (Lancashire) Ormerod. The surname Armwood is no longer found in Britain.
Arneil : from Ardneil in West Kilbride (Ayrs). The place-name is recorded in apud [‘at’] Arnele between 1390 and 1498 inGreat Seal of Scotland ii no. 2429; possibly ‘height (Gaelic à(i)rd) associated with a man named Neil’.
Arthington : from Arthington (WR Yorks) which is recorded as Ardinton Hardinctone in 1086 and Arthington Ardingtune in the 12th century. The place-name means ‘farmstead associated with a man called *Earda’ from the Old English personal name *Earda + the connective particle -ing- + tūn ‘farmstead estate’.
Artman : Americanized form of South German Artmann: occupational or status name for a plowman or peasant from Middle High German art ‘farmland agriculture’ + man ‘man’.
Aschmann : German:: 1: occupational name from Middle High German aschman ‘kitchen servant’ or ‘boatman’.2: from a personal name composed of the ancient Germanic elements asc ‘ash tree spear (of ashwood)’ + man ‘man’.3: habitational name for someone from any of several places called Asch(e) (see Asch 2). Compare Ashman and Ashmun.
Ashenden : 1: from Ashenden in Tenterden (Kent) which is recorded as Esserinden’ in 1278 and Heshryndenn' Esryndenn' in 1292. The place-name perhaps means ‘woodland pasture associated with a man called Æschere’ from the Old English personal name Æschere + the connective particle -ing- + denn ‘woodland pasture’ but the first element is far from certain. 2: possibly also from Ashendon (Bucks) which is recorded as Assedune in 1086 Essendon in about 1218 Ayssendone in 1255 and Esshendone in 1316. The place-names means ‘hill overgrown with ash-trees’ deriving from Old English æscen ‘ashen’ + dūn ‘hill’. Compare Ashdown (1).
Asherman : Americanized form of German Aschermann: occupational name for someone who prepared ash for use in making glass or soap from Middle High German asche esche ‘ashes’ + man ‘man’. Compare Ausherman.
Askell : 1: from the Middle English personal name Askell Old Scandinavian Áskell a shortened form of Ásketill (see Ashkettle and Axtell). The personal name was also popular among the Normans as Asketill and Anskell (with Continental Germanic Ans- substituted for As-) which explains why the names occur in post-Conquest England in counties not settled by Vikings. Its appearance as a surname is often disguised by altered pronunciations. Metathesis of /sk/ to /ks/ spelled -x- has given rise to Axcell and Axtell while the addition of a prosthetic H- has produced Haskell and Haxell. The Normans frequently used the name in Frankish forms; see Anketell Askin Haskin Antin Hastie Astin and Astill. For the name in the Isle of Man see Castell. 2: reduced form of McAskill which is based on the same Scandinavian personal name as in (1).
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.
Astor : 1: German: from Occitan astor ‘goshawk’ (from Latin acceptor a variant of accipiter ‘hawk’) used as a nickname characterizing a predacious or otherwise hawklike man. The name was taken to southwestern Germany by 17th-century Waldensian refugees from their Alpine valleys above Italian Piedmont.2: English: variant of Aster itself a variant of Easter 2.
Athmann : German: elaborated form of Ater shortened in the first part + Middle High German man ‘man’.
Aumann : German: topographic name from Middle High German ouwe ‘water meadow stream’ + man ‘man’.
Authement : Altered form of French Autheman: from the ancient Germanic personal name Alteman composed of the elements ald ‘old’ and man ‘man’.
Axtmann : German: occupational name for a woodcutter carpenter or maker of axes from Middle High German ackes axt- ‘axe’ + man ‘man’.
Ayer : 1: English and Scottish: from Middle English eir eyr ‘heir’ (Anglo-Norman French heyr Old French (h)eir Latin heres). Forms such as Richard le Heyer were frequent in Middle English denoting a man who was well known to be the heir to the main property in a particular locality either one who had already inherited or one with great expectations.2: English: from the Anglo-Norman French and Middle English personal name Aier (ancient Germanic Agihari).3: English: variant of Hair.
Azad : Iranian Bangladeshi Pakistani and Afghanistani: from a status name or personal name based on Persian āzād ‘freedom’ referring to a free man (as opposed to a slave).
Baba : 1: Japanese: written 馬場 ‘horse-riding ground race track’. This is a common placename. This surname is found mostly in west central Japan. One Baba family in Kai (now Yamanashi prefecture) were samurai vassals of the Takeda family.2: Muslim: from Arabic bābā a diminutive of abū ‘father’.3: Turkish: ornamental name nickname or status name from baba ‘father’ also ‘venerable man’.4: Hungarian (Bába): habitational name from any of several places called Bába in Abaúj Borsod Somogy and Vas counties of Hungary and Közép-Szolnok County now in Romania.5: Albanian: nickname or status name from baba or babë (definite form baba) ‘father’ also ‘religious head of a Bektashi congregation’ a word of Turkish origin (see 3 above).6: Czech Slovak Polish Hungarian Romanian and Sorbian: from the Slavic word baba ‘(old) woman grandmother’ figuratively (for a man) ‘coward’ hence an unflattering nickname for a man thought to resemble an old woman or for a coward. The Sorbian surname is found mainly in a Germanized form Babe. Compare Babik Babinec.7: Spanish: nickname from baba ‘slime’.8: In some cases probably also an American shortened form of Armenian Babaian or Babayan.
Babiak : 1: Polish Slovak and Rusyn (from Poland and Slovakia): metronymic patronymic or nickname from baba ‘(old) woman grandmother’ figuratively (for a man) ‘coward’ (see Baba compare Babic).2: In some cases this is also a variant transliteration of Ukrainian Babyak a cognate of 1 above.
Babic : 1: Croatian Serbian and Bosniak (Babić); Slovenian and Czech (Babič); Slovak (also Babič): metronymic patronymic or nickname from Croatian Serbian Bosnian Slovenian Czech and Slovak baba ‘(old) woman grandmother’ figuratively (for a man) ‘coward’; as a nickname it may denote someone thought to resemble an old woman or a child raised by his grandmother or a husband of an old woman. Babić is the third most frequent surname in Croatia.2: Bosniak Serbian and Croatian (Babić): patronymic or nickname from Bosnian Serbian and Croatian babo ‘father’ a word derived from Turkish baba.
Babich : 1: Americanized form of Croatian Serbian and Bosniak Babić Slovenian Czech and Slovak Babič (see Babic) and Polish Babicz. This is also an Italianized form of the Slovenian name.2: Ukrainian (standard transliteration Babych): metronymic or patronymic from baba ‘(old) woman grandmother’ figuratively (for a man) also ‘coward’ (see Baba compare Babin).
Babicz : 1: Polish: metronymic or patronymic from baba ‘(old) woman grandmother’ figuratively a nickname (for a man) meaning ‘coward’. See Baba compare Babin.2: Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): metronymic from Babe.3: Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): habitational name from any of the villages named Babichi in Ukraine and Belarus.
Babik : Polish and Sorbian; Czech (Babík); Slovak (also Babík Bábik): from a male diminutive of baba ‘(old) woman’ figuratively (for a man) ‘coward’ (see Baba compare Babic).
Babin : 1: French: nickname derived from bab- an onomatopoeic root indicating pouting or stuttering. This surname is found mainly in LA and TX. Compare Babine and Burbine.2: Jewish (from Belarus): metronymic from the personal name Babe formed with the Slavic possessive suffix -in.3: Jewish (from Belarus): habitational name from Babino a village in Belarus.4: Russian Serbian Croatian Rusyn and Sorbian; Slovak (also Babín): metronymic or patronymic from baba ‘(old) woman’ figuratively (for a man) ‘coward’ (see Baba compare Babic Babich Babicz).
Babu : 1: Indian (Gujarat Maharashtra and southern states): from Hindi bābū ‘father’ a derivative of Prakrit bappā used as a respectful term of address for a man also as a term of endearment for a male child. In Gujarat and Maharashtra the surname comes from the respectful term of address while among South Indians the term of endearment evolved into a male personal name. — Note: 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.2: Assyrian/Chaldean: from the personal name or nickname Bābū (compare 1 above) given to one who bears the same personal name as his grandfather.
Babyak : 1: Ukrainian and Rusyn: metronymic patronymic or nickname from baba ‘(old) woman grandmother’ figuratively (for a man) ‘coward’ (see Baba).2: Americanized form of Polish and Slovak Babiak a cognate of 1 above.
Bachman : 2: Jewish (Ashkenazic): artificial name from German Bach ‘stream creek’ + Mann (Yiddish man) ‘man’.1: Americanized form of German and Swiss German Bachmann.
Bachmann : 1: German and Swiss German: topographic name for someone who lived by a stream from Middle High German bach ‘stream’ + man ‘man’. Compare Bachman Backman and Baughman.2: Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Bachman.
Backman : 1: Swedish: ornamental name composed of the elements back(e) ‘hill’ + man ‘man’.2: Swedish (Bäckman): ornamental name composed of the elements bäck ‘stream’ + man ‘man’. Compare Beckman.3: Americanized form of German Backmann: occupational name for a baker or employee of a master baker from backen ‘to bake’ + man(n) ‘man’.4: Americanized form of German and Swiss German Bachmann.5: English (Essex and Middlesex): from Middle English bak-man ‘maker or seller of pastries tarts or pies’ (Old English gebæc ‘baked goods bakemeats’ + mann ‘man’). Compare Baker.
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.
Baich : 1: Americanized form of Serbian and Croatian Bajić and Baić: patronymic from the personal names Baja and Bajo which are pet forms of the names Bratoljub (it is composed of the Slavic elements brat ‘brother’ and ljub ‘to love’ or ‘dear’) and Bajislav (see Bajo) or from homonymous nicknames based on the hypocoristics baja and bajo meaning ‘little brother’ and ‘elder man daddy’.2: Americanized form of Slovenian Bajič: probably a derivative of bajati ‘to narrate (unbelievable stories)’ also ‘to cast a spell’ (compare Baitz).
Baig : 1: Muslim (Indian subcontinent): from the Ottoman Turkish title beg an older form of bey denoting a rank of nobility (see Bey) and widely used as a title of respect for a man. Compare Beg.2: Scottish: variant of Begg 1.3: Catalan: nickname from baig ‘bay auburn’.
Bain : 1: Scottish Manx and Irish: nickname for a fair-haired man from Gaelic bàn Irish bán ‘white fair’. This surname is common in the Highlands first recorded in Perth in 1324. It is also found as a shortened form of McBain from Mac B(h)eathain. As a Manx name (spelled Bane) this may be a shortened form of Manx Macguilley Vane equivalent to Irish Mac Giolla Bháin ‘son of the fair youth’. Compare Irish Kilbane.2: English (northern) and Scottish: nickname for a hospitable person from northern Middle English beyn bayn ‘welcoming friendly’ (Old Norse beinn ‘straight direct’).3: English (northern) and Scottish: nickname from northern Middle English bān bain ‘bone leg’ (Old English bān Old Norse bein) perhaps denoting someone with a gammy leg. In northern Middle English -ā- was preserved whereas in southern dialects (which later became standard) it was changed to -ō-.4: French: habitational name from (Le) Bain the name of several places in various parts of France e.g. in Ille-et-Vilaine named with Old French baine ‘bath’.
Bak : 1: Czech Slovak and Hungarian: from the old personal name Bak which can be a short form of the personal names beginning with Ba- or a Hungarian name probably from bak ‘billy goat he-goat’. It is also a nickname derived from this word denoting a womanizer a ladies’ man.2: Polish: nickname from Old Polish bakać ‘to scold or yell (at someone)’.3: Polish and Jewish (from Poland) (Bąk): nickname from Polish bąk ‘horse-fly’ ‘bittern’ or ‘eagle-owl’; in the first of these senses probably a nickname for an irritating person. Compare Bonk.4: Croatian and Slovenian: nickname from Croatian and dialectal Slovenian bak ‘bull’.5: Dutch: variant of Back 6.6: Korean: variant of Pak 1.7: Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 麥 see Mai 2.8: Chinese: alternative Cantonese form of the surnames 白 and 柏 see Bai 1 and 2.
Bakas : Greek:: 1: nickname for a small rotund man from Albanian baq ‘lower part of the belly’. It may also be a shortened form of surnames beginning with Bak- as a prefix such as Bakogiannis ‘Belly John’.2: alternatively but less likely a nickname from Latin baca ‘berry’.
Bako : 1: Hungarian (Bakó): patronymic from the old personal name Bak or an occupational name from the archaic word bakó ‘executioner’. This surname is also found in Serbia (Vojvodina) and Croatia.2: Croatian: nickname for a well-built man derived from bak ‘bull’.3: Assyrian/Chaldean: from a pet form of the personal name Bakos.
Balaban : 1: Turkish Greek Serbian and Croatian: nickname for a big clumsy man from Turkish balaban ‘tame bear’ figuratively ‘big clumsy man’ which is also a loanword in Serbian and Croatian. In North America this surname may also be a shortened form of some other surnames derived from this word such as Greek Balabanis.2: Turkish Romanian Ukrainian Belorussian and Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): nickname or Turkish ornamental and Jewish artificial name from Turkish balaban ‘sparrowhawk’ (also a loanword in Ukrainian etc.) as a nickname perhaps applied to someone thought to resemble a sparrowhawk in some way. It may also be a metonymic occupational name for a falconer.
Balbas : Filipino: descriptive nickname for a man with a beard from Tagalog balbas ‘beard’.
Balch : 1: English (Somerset and Wiltshire): nickname from an unrecorded Middle English balche or belche presumably from Old English bælce ‘belch belching; stomach; pride arrogance’ probably applied in the sense ‘swelling pride arrogance’ but in some cases it may have been acquired by a man given to belching.2: English (Somerset and Wiltshire): possibly a nickname from Middle English balche a noun or adjective derived from Old English bælcan ‘to shout’ for a man who habitually shouted.3: Americanized form of German Bolch.
Balchin : perhaps an altered form of Bolsham from Bilsham in Yapton (Sussex) recorded as Bul(e)sham from the 12th century whose name is from an Old English given name or nickname Bȳli (bȳl(e) ‘a boil’) in the genitive case with -es + hamm ‘watermeadow; enclosed place’ or hām ‘large estate farm’. Woolbeding where the earliest example of Balchin occurs is next to Midhurst (Sussex) where James Bolsham is recorded in 1606. The will of a Peter Bolsham of Kirdford (Sussex) was proved in 1614 and a Walter Bulshyne (a scribal mangling of Bulsham?) is recorded in that neighbourhood in 1307. This might explain the naming of Bulchin's Farm in Kirdford as suggested in Place-Names of Sussex. The family name Bulchin in Guildford Surrey and in Kirdford Sussex seems to be an alternative 18th- and 19th-century pronunciation of Balchin. However the Guildford connection also suits the alternative explanation for Balchin given in (ii).perhaps an altered form of Balchild a name that is first recorded in East Worldham (Hants) in 1327 about 16 miles from Guildford (Surrey) where it appears from the 1380s onwards. It is in Guildford and nearby villages where both Balchin and Balchild are found from the late 17th century onwards an overlap which is much better evidenced than Balchin with Bolsham which only occurs in Kirdford. The origin of Balchild is uncertain. It appears to be either a nickname containing Middle English child (Old English cild) ‘child young man knight attendant apprentice’ (see Child) or perhaps a topographical name containing Middle English childe (Old English *cielde) spring but the identity of Bal- is difficult to determine. In relation to the nickname Middle English balgh ‘tubby round-bellied’ is a possibility; compare Fairchild Goodchild and Littlechild.
Bald : 1: German: from the ancient Germanic personal name Baldo or a short form of various compound names such as Baldwin formed with the first element bald ‘bold strong’.2: Scottish and English: from the Norman personal name Bald(e) Baud(e) occasionally Bold a short form of the common ancient Germanic personal names Baldwin or Baldric or possibly a survival of Old English Beald (compare Balding); the relevant element in each of these is b(e)ald ‘brave’. As a hereditary surname it seems to have died out in England but survives in Scotland.3: English and Scottish: nickname for a bald man from Middle English ballede ‘ball-shaped’ (perhaps ‘corpulent’) from bal(le) ‘ball’ (Old English ball or Old Norse bǫllr).
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.
Ballmann : German:: 1: from a compound of the ancient Germanic personal name Baldo (see Bald) + man ‘man’.2: variant of Bahlmann.
Ballon : 1: Spanish and Galician: unexplained.2: French and English (Middlesex): from the Old French personal name Ballon Ballun derived from the oblique stem of ancient Germanic Ballo a short form of compound names based on the element bal presumably meaning ‘torment spitefulness’ (see Ballard).3: French and English (Middlesex): from Old French balon ‘little ball’ or ‘package’ perhaps a nickname for a little man of rotund form or for someone whose occupation was to pack.4: Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): variant of Balon.
Balman : 1: English (Devon and Somerset): from the Middle English personal name Baldeman (Old English Bealdmann formed from beald ‘bold brave’ + mann ‘man’).2: English (Devon and Somerset): descriptive nickname from Middle English bald bold ‘bold brave’ (Old English beald) + man ‘man’.3: English (Devon and Somerset): descriptive nickname from Middle English ballede ‘ball-shaped’ (probably implying ‘corpulent’ or ‘hairless bald’) + man ‘man’.4: Scottish: variant of Balmain.5: Americanized form of German Balmann or of its variant Ballmann. Compare Ballman.
Bania : Polish: from bania ‘gourd globe round bulging object’ probably applied as a nickname for a small fat man.
Banka : 1: Polish (Bańka); Slovak; Rusyn (from Slovakia; Baňka): nickname for a short fat man from Polish bańka Slovak banka ‘flask bulb’.2: Hungarian (Bánka): from a diminutive of Bán (see Ban).
Banman : Americanized form of German Banmann: probably a topographic name for someone living near a piece of land or forest legally excluded from public use or an occupational name for a guard of such from Middle High German ban ‘ban; law court jurisdiction’ + man ‘man’.
Bannerman : Scottish: occupational name for a standard bearer from Older Scots banner-man ‘standard-bearer ensign’ (from Anglo-Norman French banere ‘flag ensign’ + Middle English man ‘man’).
Barada : 1: Muslim (Lebanon): probably from the name of the Baradā river the main river of Damascus Syria.2: Muslim (Morocco): unexplained.3: Croatian: nickname from the Venetian Italian word barada ‘cheat (at cards)’ possibly denoting a deft adroit man.4: Japanese: written 茨田 ‘thorny rice paddy’ an ancient but rare name found in the Tokyo-Yokohama area.
Baran : 1: Polish Slovak Czech Sorbian Russian Ukrainian Rusyn Croatian and Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): nickname from Slavic baran ‘ram’ presumably borne by either a forceful lusty man or else by a shepherd. As a Jewish surname it is artificial. Compare Barran.2: Croatian: from a pet form of the personal name Bartolomej (see Bartholomew) and its vernacular variants or short forms Bartol Bartul and Bare.
Barba : 1: Spanish Catalan Italian Portuguese and French: nickname for a man noted for his beard from barba ‘beard’ (from Latin barba).2: Italian: nickname from a northern dialect word meaning ‘uncle’ (from Latin barba ‘beard’ via Lombardic barba barbane) as characterizing a man of wisdom and authority.3: Slovenian and Croatian: from barba ‘uncle’ a dialect word of Italian origin (see 2 above) used as a nickname for an elder man.4: In some cases possibly also Greek: feminine (and possibly also American shortened) form of Barbas.
Barbare : 1: Altered form of French Barbary a diminutive of 2 and 3 below.2: In some cases possibly also northern French: nickname for a cruel man from barbare ‘barbaric’.3: In some cases possibly also northern French: from the Latin personal name Barbarus from Greek barbaros ‘stranger barbarian’.
Barbas : 1: Greek: from a term of address barbas indicating either respect for an older man or friendly familiarity from Italian barba ‘uncle man with a beard’ (see Barba). It may also be a shortened form of surnames beginning with Barba for example Barbagiannis ‘Uncle John’.2: Portuguese and Spanish: from the plural of barba ‘bearded’ (from Latin barba ‘beard’) a nickname for a bearded man.3: Probably also an American shortened form of Hungarian Barabás (see Barabas).
Barbeau : French:: 1: from barbeau ‘barbel’ a type of fish hence a metonymic occupational name for a fisherman or a nickname for a man with a sparse beard the fish being distinguished by beardlike growths on either side of its mouth.2: nickname from a derivative of Old French Occitan barbel ‘point’ ‘tooth’. Compare Barber 6 and Barbo 4.
Barbo : 1: Italian Spanish and Portuguese: from barbo ‘barbel’ (the fish) hence a metonymic occupational name for a fisherman or possibly a nickname for a man with a sparse beard the fish being distinguished by beardlike growths on either side of its mouth.2: Italian: derivative of barba a term meaning ‘uncle’ and ‘bearded man’ (see Barba 1 and 2).3: Croatian and Slovenian: presumably of Italian origin (see above). In Slovenia it may alternatively be derived from the female personal name Barba a short form of Barbara.4: Altered form of French Barbeau.
Barbon : 1: English: habitational name from Barbon in Westmorland. The placename is probably from Old Norse bjórr ‘beaver’ + brunnr ‘stream’ alternatively from Old English bera ‘bear’ + burna ‘stream’.2: English: nickname from Middle English bare bon ‘bare bone’ perhaps denoting a thin or bare-legged man.3: French and English (of French Huguenot origin): nickname for a bearded man from an augmentative of French Barbe.
Barfknecht : German:: 1: most probably a nickname from Middle Low German berve (bederve modern bieder) ‘honest trustworthy’ + knecht ‘vassal man servant’.2: alternatively perhaps a variant of Barbknecht an occupational name or nickname for a barber's assistant from Barb(ier) ‘barber’ + knecht ‘servant’.
Bargman : 1: Americanized form of German Bargmann and possibly also of Bergmann.2: Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): topographic name denoting an upland dweller from Yiddish barg ‘mountain hill’ + man (compare Bergmann).
Bargmann : North German: variant of Barg ‘hill’ with the addition of Middle High German man ‘man’. Compare Bergmann.
Baril : French: from Old French baril ‘barrel’ applied as a metonymic occupational name for a cooper or a nickname for a rotund man. Compare Barry 7 and Berry 7.
Barile : Italian: from barile ‘barrel’ hence a metonymic occupational name for a cooper or a nickname for a fat man.
Barkman : 1: Americanized form of German Barkmann: northern form of the topographic name Bergmann.2: Americanized form of German Bergmann.3: Swedish: ornamental compound probably influenced by German formations of bark ‘bark’ + man ‘man’.4: Dutch: perhaps a topographic or habitational name referring to a house named De Barck distinguished by the image of a ‘bark’ i.e. ship (as for example a Jan Barckman who lived in such a house in Amsterdam in 1601); otherwise perhaps a variant of Berkman a topographic name with a birch as the locative object.
Barleyman : for a dealer in barley Middle English barli + man. Compare Ryman.
Barnacle : English:: 1: perhaps from Middle English bernacle barnakyll a diminutive of bernak from Old French bernac ‘powerful bit or twitch’ used to restrain a restive horse or ass which was also used as an instrument of torture. The term may have been applied as a nickname for a tamer of restive horses for a man with an unruly temperament or for a torturer.2: perhaps a nickname for someone thought to resemble a barnacle goose (Middle English bernacle) in some way.
Barne : 1: from the Middle English personal name Bern Barn. In the Midlands and East Anglia this is based on the Scandinavian personal name Biǫrn anglicized as Beorn; in the south-west it is from Old English Beorn; both names are from a word meaning ‘warrior’. Some of the following surname bearers may alternatively belong with other senses below. 2: from Middle English barn (Old Scandinavian barn) ‘child’. This term is found in Domesday Book as a byname for men of the upper classes; it might also have had the meaning ‘young man of a prominent family’ like Middle English child (see Child). 3: for residence near or employment at a barn Middle English bern (Old English bere-ærn). See also Barnes. Some of the post-medieval bearers may alternatively belong with (1) or (2). 4: see Barron.
Barnes : 1: English: habitational name from Barnes (on the Surrey bank of the Thames in London) named with Old English bere-ærn ‘barn a storehouse for barley and other grain’ or a topographic name or metonymic occupational name for someone who lived by or worked at a barn or barns from Middle English barn ‘barn granary’.2: English: variant of Barne with excrescent -s derived from either the Middle English personal name Bern Barn (based on the Scandinavian personal name Biǫrn or Old English Beorn both from a word meaning ‘warrior’) or from Middle English barn (Old Norse barn) ‘child’. The latter term is found as a byname for men of the upper classes; it might also have had the meaning ‘young man of a prominent family’ like Middle English child (see Child).3: Irish: in Ireland in many cases this is no doubt the English name but in others it is possibly an Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Bearáin ‘descendant of Bearán’ a byname meaning ‘spear’.4: French: variant of Bernes a derivative of a short form of an ancient Germanic personal name formed with ber(n) ‘bear’ e.g. Bernhard.5: Jewish: variant of Parnes.
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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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