Origin
Mi : Chinese:: 1: Mandarin form of the surname 米 which means ‘rice’: (i) from one of the ‘Nine Sogdian Surnames’ also known as ‘nine surnames of Zhaowu’ because their ancestors came from Zhaowu an ancient city in present-day Gansu province in northwestern China. During the Sui and Tang dynasties (581–987 AD) there were nine Sogdian states in Central Asia one of which was called Mi (米) in Chinese (located in present-day Uzbekistan). Between 649 and 655 AD these states submitted to the Emperor Gaozong of Tang (628–683 AD). Immigrants from the state of Mi to China acquired the surname 米. (ii) for some families the surname is borne by descendants of Mi Fu (米芾) an artist in the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127 AD) who claimed he was a descendant from the royal families of the state of Chu in the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC) and changed his original surname 芈 to 米 a different Chinese character with the same pronunciation.2: Mandarin form of the surname 宓 (also pronounced as Fu in Mandarin): (i) said to be borne by descendants of Fu Xi (伏羲) a legendary figure prior to the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC). (ii) said to be traced back to Mi Kang Gong (密康公 also written as 宓康公 Duke Kang of Mi died 922 BC) ruler of the state of Mi during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC).3: Mandarin form of the surname 密 meaning ‘secret’ in Chinese: (i) from the first element of Mi Xu (密須) the name of an ancient state (located in present-day Gansu province) during the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC). (ii) from Mi (密) the name of a state (originally located in present-day Gansu province later moved to Mixian in present-day Henan province) during the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BC). (iii) from the placename Mi (密) the name of two fiefs (located in Shandong province) in the state of Lu and the state of Ju respectively. (iv) a surname from the Tangut ethnic group in northwestern China.4: Mandarin form of the surname 秘 (also pronounced as Bi or Bei in Mandarin) see Bi 3.
Adebanjo : West African (Nigeria): from the Yoruba personal name Adébánjọ from adé bá mi jọ ‘the crown or royal lineage suits me’.
Adeyemi : West African (Nigeria): from the Yoruba personal name Adéyęmí from adé yę mí ‘the crown suits me’ understood to mean ‘(the child) arrives to suit me’.
Akinyemi : West African (Nigeria): from the Yoruba personal name Akínye̩mí from akin ye̩ mí ‘valor suits me’.
Ballor : Altered form of French Ballard 2 reflecting the characteristic Canadian and American French rounding of the -ard ending. It is found mainly in MI.
Banjo : an abbreviated form of one of several Yoruba sentential names with -bánjọ (from bá mi jọ ‘suits me’) as the final element such as Adébánjọ ‘the crown or royal lineage suits me’ (see Adebanjo) Oyèbánjọ ‘a title or titles suit me’.
Bankole : West African (Nigeria): from the Yoruba personal name Bánkó̩lé from bá mi kó̩ ‘lé ‘build a house with me’.
Bei : 1: Italian (Bèi): regional variant of Belli. The name is found especially in Perugia province.2: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 貝 meaning ‘cowrie’ or ‘shell’ in Chinese: (i) from the placename Bei Qiu (貝丘) originally a fief (located in Hebei province) in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) simplified form of Bei (郥) the name of an ancient state (located in Shandong province).3: Chinese: Mandarin and Cantonese form of the surname 秘 (also pronounced as Bi or Mi in Mandarin in some local regions) see Bi 3.
Belonga : Variant of Belongia a surname of French origin. The surname Belonga is also found among Native Americans in MI namely the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
Bi : 1: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 畢 originally denoting a kind of hand-net used in hunting or meaning ‘to complete’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from the placename Bi (畢) the name of a fief (located in present-day Shaanxi province) which was granted to Bi Gong Gao (畢公高 or Duke of Bi) the 15th son of the virtuous King Wen of Zhou (1152–1056 BC). (ii) adopted as a surname by the Chu Lian (出連) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD).2: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 秘 (also pronounced as Bei or Mi in Mandarin in some local regions) meaning ‘secret’ in Chinese: surname traced back to some powerful clans in the Qiang minority ethnic group in ancient western China.3: Chinese: Teochew form of the surname 米 see Mai 1. This pronunciation is found in eastern Guangdong province from where some people migrated to Singapore Malaysia and Thailand.4: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 費 (also pronounced as Fei in Mandarin pinyin). See Fei 1.5: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 閉 meaning ‘close’ in Chinese: surname mainly found among the Zhuang ethnic group (located in present-day Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region) said to be adopted by migrants from the present-day Shangdong province.6: Vietnamese (Bì): from the Chinese surname 皮 see Pi 2.7: In some cases also West African (Ghana): Akan name perhaps from a personal name based on Twi (or a related dialect of the Akan language) bi ‘another’.
Cadotte : Altered form of French or Breton Cadot reflecting the Canadian and American French practice of sounding the final -t. This surname is common among Native Americans (Chippewas) in MI WI and MN.
Dykehouse : Americanized form of Dutch Dijkhuis (see Dykhuis). It is found mainly in MI. Compare Dykhouse.
Dykhouse : Americanized form of Dutch Dijkhuis (see Dykhuis). It is found mainly in MI. Compare Dykehouse.
Dykhuis : Dutch: variant archaic or Americanized of Dijkhuis a topographic name for someone who lived in a house by a dike from dijk ‘dike ditch’ + huis ‘house’. In the US it is found mainly in MI. Compare Dykehouse and Dykhouse and also Dycus.
Essenburg : Dutch: habitational name from any of several houses and farms so named located in Everdingen De Bildt and Ermelo. In the US this surname is found mainly in MI.
Fu : Chinese:: 1: Mandarin and Cantonese form of the surname 傅 meaning ‘master’ or ‘teacher’ in Chinese: (i) said to be borne by descendants of Fu Yue (傅說)(died c. 1246 BC) a prime minister during the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC) who is said to have lived in a place called Fu Yan (傅岩) possibly located in Shanxi province. (ii) from the placename Fu (傅) the name of a fief (located in present-day Shandong province) which was granted to Da You during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC).2: Mandarin and Cantonese form of the surname 付 meaning ‘commit’ or ‘pay’ in Chinese: (i) borne by descendants of Shi Fu (史付) a person who lived in the state of Zheng during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) simplified form of the Chinese surname 傅; see 1 above.3: Mandarin and Cantonese form of the surname 符 meaning ‘tally’ in ancient Chinese: from the post name Fu Xi Ling (符璽令) hosted by Gong Ya a grandson of the Duke Qing of Lu (ruler of the state of Lu died 249 BC) who later migrated to the state of Qin. This was a post held by the man in charge of the tally given by a ruler to a general to deploy troops or to an envoy as his credentials.4: Mandarin and Cantonese form of the surname 扶 meaning ‘help support’ in Chinese: (i) said to be a shortened form of the compound Chinese surname Fu Deng (扶登) dating back to the reign of Xia Yu the first king of the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC). (ii) borne by descendants of Fu Jia (扶嘉) who was endowed with the surname Fu (扶) by the Emperor Gaozu of Han (256–195 BC) because of his support to the royal family of the Western Han dynasty (206 BC–25 AD). (iii) adopted as the surname by the Qi Fu (乞扶) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD).5: Mandarin form of the surname 伏 meaning ‘dog days’ or ‘subdue’ in ancient Chinese: (i) said to be borne by descendants of Fu Xi (伏羲) a legendary figure prior to the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC). (ii) said to be borne by descendants of Fu Bu Qi (伏不齊 also written 宓不齊) a student of Confucius (551–479 BC). (iii) adopted as a surname by the Si Fu Jin (俟伏斤) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD).6: Mandarin form of the surname 福 meaning ‘good fortune’ or ‘blessing’ in Chinese: (i) borne by descendants of Fu Zi Dan (福子丹) an official in the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) a surname from the state of Bai Ji (located in the Korean peninsula). (iii) borne by descendants of Fu Shi (福時) an official who lived during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644 AD).7: Mandarin and Cantonese form of the surname 富 meaning ‘rich’ in Chinese: (i) borne by descendants of Fu Chen (富辰) (died around 636 BC) an official who lived during the reign of King Xiang of Zhou (died 619 BC). (ii) shortened form of the Chinese compound surname Fu-Fu (富父) which is traced back to Fu-Fu Zhong Sheng (富父終甥) an official who lived in the state of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).8: Mandarin and Cantonese form of the surname 甫 a courtesy name for a man in ancient Chinese: (i) simplified form of Fu (郙) the name of an ancient state (located in Henan province). (ii) from Fu (甫) the name of a state also known as the state of Lü (located in Henan province) annexed by the state of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (iii) shortened form of the Chinese compound surname Huang-Fu (皇甫) traced back to the personal name of a son of Duke Dai of Song (ruler of the state of Song reigned 799–766 BC).9: Mandarin form of the surname 宓 (also pronounced as Mi in Mandarin Chinese) see Mi 2.10: Hakka form of the surname 胡. Also Cantonese form of the surname 扈. See Hu 1 and 2.
Holwerda : West Frisian and Dutch (Groningen): habitational name for someone from a place called Holwerd in the province of Friesland the Netherlands. In North America this surname is found mainly in MI.
Laminack : Americanized form of German Lamenich which is itself a variant of the nickname Laminit a sentence name meaning ‘don’t leave me’ (Middle High German lâ mi nit modern German lass mich nicht). The surname Lamenich is no longer found in Germany.
Louis : 1: French Walloon West Indian (mainly Haiti) and German: from the French personal name Louis derived from an ancient Germanic name (the name of the founder of the Frankish dynasty) composed of the elements hlod ‘fame’ + wīg ‘war’. This is recorded in Latin chronicles as Ludovicus (see Ludwig) and Chlodovechus which became Old French Clovis Louis a name borne by many French kings. Louis IX (1214–70) a King of France from 1226–70 is revered as a Catholic and Anglican saint; the cities of St. Louis in MO St. Louis in MI San Luis in AR and San Luis in CO are among the many places called after thim. This surname is by far most common in Haiti. Compare Lewis.2: Chinese: variant Romanization of the surnames 雷(see Lei 1) and 盧 (see Lu 1).
Majekodunmi : from the Yoruba personal name Májè̩é̩kódùnmí (Yoruba má jè̩é̩ kó dùn mí ‘do not let it grieve me’).
Maze : 1: English (Kent and London): variant of Mays.2: Irish (Ulster): of uncertain origin. When it is not the English name in 1 above it may be a variant of Maye.3: Breton (Mazé; Finistère): from the personal name Mazé a shortened form of Mazéo Breton form of Matthew.4: French (Mazé): habitational name from a place in Maine-et-Loire named in Latin as Masiacum ‘estate of Masius’ from the personal name Masius + the locative suffix -acum.5: French (Mazé): from a shortened pet form of the personal name Thomas.6: French: topographic name from the feminine form of mas ‘farmhouse house in the country’ (see Mas 1) or a habitational name from a place called La Maze (Ardèche) or Les Maze (Hérault) named with the same word.7: Slovenian: probably from a shortened vernacular short form of the personal name Tomaž (see Thomas). Alternatively perhaps a nickname from a derivative of mazati ‘to grease’ also ‘to dirty’.8: Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): acronymic surname from the Hebrew expression mi zera Aharon ha-Cohen ‘of the seed of Aaron the priest’ a designation of a Jew descending according to the tradition from the Biblical Aaron the brother of Moses (compare Cohen).
Mazie : Jewish (from Belarus): acronymic surname from the first letters of the Hebrew expression mi zera Israel Isserlin ‘descendant of Israel Isserlin’ famous rabbinical scholar from central Europe (1390–1460).
Milfort : 1: Haitian: ornamental name composed of French mil ‘thousand’ and fort ‘strong’ which can be interpreted as ‘very strong’.2: Haitian: alternatively perhaps a variant or an altered form of French Millefort a topographic name derived from (en) mi le fort ‘in mid the fort’ denoting a house in the vicinity of a fortress. The surname Millefort is very rare in France.3: In some cases probably also Czech and Alsatian: altered form of German Mühlfort a habitational name from a place so named in Düsseldorf. The surname Milfort is rare in Czechia and Alsatia.
Mitrani : Jewish (from the Ottoman Empire): habitational name from Hebrew mi Trani ‘from Trani’ a town in southern Italy.
Miville : Swiss French: variant of Miéville topographic name for someone who lived in the middle of the village from French (en) mi ville Latin mediavilla or a habitational name from Miéville a place in Switzerland. Compare Mainville and Mayville.
Ogunyemi : from the personal name Ògúnye̩mí (Yoruba Ògún ye̩ mí ‘Ògún suits or benefits me’ Ògún being the name of the traditional god of iron and warfare).
Wei : Chinese:: 1: Mandarin form of the surname 魏 a term referring to ‘the buildings at either side of the gates of the royal palace’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from Wei (魏) originally the name of a fief (located in Ruicheng in Shanxi province) granted to Bi Wan an official in the state of Jin. In 403 BC the state of Jin was split into three one of which was the state of Wei (魏) established by Wei Huan Zi (魏桓子). After this state was annexed by the state of Qin in 225 BC its name was adopted by some people as a surname. (ii) adopted in place of the surname Mi (羋) by Wei Ran (魏冉) an official who lived in the state of Qin during the Warring States period (475–221 BC). (iii) borne by descendants of Wei Liao Weng (魏了翁) a scholar during the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279 AD) who changed his original name Gao (高) to his uncle's surname Wei (魏).2: Mandarin form of the surname 危 meaning ‘danger’ or ‘towering’ in Chinese: (i) from the second element of the placename San Wei (三危) (located in Gansu province) to which people from an ancient state called San Miao (located in present-day Hunan Hubei and Jiangxi province) are said to have migrated during the reign of the legendary Emperor Shun (c. 23rd century BC). (ii) borne by descendants of Wei Su (危素) a scholar during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644 AD) who changed his original surname Huang to Wei (危).3: Mandarin form of the surname 韋 meaning ‘leather’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from the second element of the placename Shi Wei (豕韋) the name of an ancient state (located in Henan province) said to have originally been granted to Yuan Zhe by Shao Kang the sixth king of the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC). (ii) possibly from Wei (韋) as a title of an official in charge of the manufacture of leather goods. (iii) traced back to the Wei (韋) family in the ancient state of Shu Le (located in present-day Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region) during the Western Han dynasty (206 BC–25 AD). (iv) said to be borne by descendants of Han Xin (韓信) a revered official in the early Western Han dynasty (206 BC–25 AD) who was killed on the orders of Empress Lü (wife of Emperor Gaozu of Han). His descendants fled to southern Canton (present-day Guangdong province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region) and simplified their surname Han (韓) to Wei (韋) in order to avoid persecution. (v) borne by descendants of Huan Yan Fan who was endowed with the surname Wei (韋) by Emperor Zhongzong of Tang (656–710 AD) as a token of appreciation.4: Mandarin form of the surname 衛 meaning ‘defend guard’ in Chinese: (i) from Wei/Wey (衛) the name of a state (located in Henan province) granted to Kang Shu also known as Wey Kang Shu (衛康叔 Kang Shu of Wey) the 9th son of King Wen of Zhou (1152–1056 BC). After it was annexed by the state of Qin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC) it was adopted as the surname by its original inhabitants. (ii) traced back to the Wei (衛) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China.5: Mandarin form of the surname 位 meaning ‘position’ in Chinese: said to be traced back to Wei Shi (位侍) the name of a king of Yutian (also known as Kingdom of Khotan an ancient Buddhist kingdom located in present-day Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region).6: Mandarin form of the surname 尉 (also pronounced as Yu in Mandarin see Yu 12) the name of the official title of prison wardens in ancient China said to be borne by the descendants of prison wardens in ancient China.7: Mandarin form of the surname 隗 (also pronounced as Kui in Mandarin): (i) a surname from the state of Di (possibly located in Shanxi province) during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) a surname from the Tangut ethnic group in ancient northwestern China.
Xu : Chinese:: 1: Mandarin form of the surname 徐 meaning ‘gradually slowly’ in Chinese: (i) from Xu (徐) the name of a state (covering present-day Jiangsu and Anhui province) originally granted to Ruo Mu son of an official called Bo Yi during the reign of Xia Yu the first king of the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC). The state was destroyed by the state of Chu during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC) but later restored and eventually annexed by the state of Wu in 512 BC. After its annihilation the name of the state was adopted as a surname. (ii) borne by the descendants of the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC). The Xu family was one of the six clans of the Shang dynasty that were sent to the state of Lu after the annihilation of the Shang dynasty. (iii) surname borne by descendants of Xu Zhi Gao (徐知誥) an alternative name of Li Sheng the founder of the state of Southern Tang (937–975 AD). (iv) a surname of the Xu (徐) family from the Di ethnic group in northern China.2: Mandarin form of the surname 許 meaning ‘promise agree’ or ‘location’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from Xu (許) the name of a small state (originally located in Xuchang in Henan province) granted to Wen Shu by King Wu of Zhou (c. 1087–1043 BC). After it was annexed by the state of Chu during the early Warring States period (475–221 BC) the name of the state was adopted as a surname. (ii) said to be borne by descendants of Xu You (許由) a talent who lived during the reign of the legendary Emperor Yao (c. 24th century BC).3: Mandarin form of the surname 胥 meaning ‘inspect’ or referring to a ‘petty official’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from the first element of the personal name Xu Chen (胥臣) style name of an official in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) said to be traced back to He Xu Shi (赫胥氏) who was said to be the legendary Yan Di or the Yan Emperor.4: Mandarin form of the surname 續 meaning ‘continue’ in Chinese: (i) said to be traced back to Xu Ya (續牙) a friend of the legendary Emperor Shun (c. 23rd century BC). (ii) from the placename Xu (續) the name of a fief (located in Shanxi province) granted to Hu Juju also known as Xu Jian Bo (續簡伯 'Earl Jian of Xu' died 621 BC) a senior official in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).5: Mandarin form of the surname 須 meaning ‘beard’ in Chinese: (i) from the first element of Xu Qu (須胊 or 須句) the name of an ancient state (located in Xucheng in Shandong province) annexed by the state of Zhu during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) from Xu (須) the name of an ancient state (located in Henan province) during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (iii) from the second element of Mi Xu (密須) the name of an ancient state (located in present-day Gansu province) during the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC). (iv) a surname from the Yue ethnic group in ancient southern 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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