180+ Popular & Unique Southern Surnames (with Meanings)

Southern last names often originate from European settlers, reflecting the migration patterns and colonization of the region. Finding out the meanings behind specific surnames can help you learn more about your background or choose the perfect name for a character. That’s why we’re providing the ultimate list of common and unique Southern last names below. We’ll also break down the meaning of each one, plus explain the history behind Southern surnames.

The Most Popular Southern Last Names

Anderson - Greek name meaning “manly” or “brave.”
Brown - Old English name meaning “brown.”
Davis - Hebrew name meaning “son of David.”
Johnson - Scottish name meaning “son of John.”
Jones - Welsh name meaning “Loan’s son.”
Smith - English name meaning “to smite metal.”
Williams - English name meaning “protection.”

Section 1 of 11:

The Most Common Southern Last Names

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Brown, Johnson, Smith, and Williams are the most common surnames. The following list comprises the most prevalent surnames in the South, which often reflect historical origins tied to occupations, geography, or personal characteristics. Here are the most popular Southern surnames, along with what they mean:^{[1]
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- Adams - Hebrew name meaning “earth.”
- Allen - Irish name meaning “little rock.”
- Anderson - Greek name meaning “manly” or “brave.”
- Baker - Anglo-Saxon name meaning “one who bakes bread.”^{[2]
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- Brown - Old English name meaning “brown.”
- Clark - Anglo-Scottish name meaning “scribe, “clerk,” or “secretary.”
- Cook - English name meaning “one who sells cooked meat.”
- Cooper - Middle English name meaning “barrel maker” or “cask maker.”
- Davis - Hebrew name meaning “son of David.”
- Garcia - Spanish name meaning “young.”
- Hernandez - Spanish name meaning “son of Hernando.”
- Holt - German name meaning “forested upland.”
- Jackson - English name meaning “son of Jack.”
- Johnson - Scottish name meaning “son of John.”
- Jones - Welsh name meaning “Loan’s son.”
- Lee - English name meaning “a meadow” or “forest clearing.”
- Martinez - Spanish name meaning “son of Martin.”
- Martin - Latin name meaning “of Mars.”
- Moore - Middle English name meaning “open land.”
- Rodriguez - Spanish name meaning “son of Rodrigo.”
- Smith - English name meaning “to smite metal.”
- Taylor - English name meaning “tailor.”
- Thomas - Aramaic name meaning “twin.”
- Williams - English name meaning “protection.”

Section 2 of 11:

Popular Southern Last Names

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Abbot, Butler, and Freeman are other popular Southern surnames. The following surnames still appear frequently, but they just aren’t as common as Brown, Johnson, and Smith (and others from the "most common" section above). Here are some more popular Southern surnames and their meanings:^{[3]
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- Abbot - English name meaning “priest.”
- Abel - Anglo-Scottish name meaning “breath” or “vigor.”
- Aiken - English name meaning “little Adam.”
- Atkinson - English name meaning “the son of Adam.”
- Bailey - English name meaning “berry clearing,” “bailiff,” or “city fortification.”
- Ballard - English name meaning “ball” or “white spot.”
- Banks - Anglo-Scottish name meaning “one who lives on the banks of a river.”
- Barnes - English name meaning “granary.”
- Beale - English name meaning “handsome man.”
- Bean - English name meaning “fair-skinned.”
- Bennett - English name meaning “blessed.”
- Berkeley - Old English name meaning “birch leaf.”
- Bowen - Welsh name meaning “the son of Owain.”
- Boykin - Slavic name meaning “timid.”
- Brown - Old English name meaning “brun.”
- Bush - English name meaning “dweller near a bush or a thicket of bushes.”
- Butler - English name meaning “the bottler.”
- Caldwell - English name meaning “spring to stream.”
- Copeland - Old Norse name meaning “bought land.”
- Corbin - English name meaning “raven.”
- Davenport - English name meaning “market town.”
- Dawson - Anglo-Scottish name meaning “son of David.”
- Dillard - English name meaning “descendant of little Dill.”
- Drayton - English name meaning “drag” or “sledge town.”
- Ellis - English name meaning “the Lord is my God.”
- Farrow - Medieval English name meaning “ironworker.”
- Freeman - British name meaning “free man.”
- Fry - English name meaning “free.”
- Goodwin - English name meaning “good-hearted.”
- Harding - English name meaning “strong,” “hardy,” or “brave.”
- Harrison - English name meaning “son of Harry.”
- Hayes - English name meaning “hedged area.”
- Henderson - Scottish name meaning “son of Henry.”
- Howard - English name meaning “brave” or “spirit.”
- Jewel - English name meaning “generous.”
- Madison - English name meaning “son of Matthew.”
- Martin - Latin name meaning “of Mars.”
- Perkins - Anglo-Saxon name meaning “kin of Pierre.”
- Redd - Old English name meaning “read.”
- Riggins - Irish name meaning “little king.”
- Rodgers - English name meaning “son of Roger.”
- Rutledge - Old English name meaning “root ledge.”
- Shepherd - Middle English name meaning “herdsman” or “guardian.”
- Simmons - Old Norse name meaning “victorious protector.”
- Smalls - Old English name meaning “a person who is of slender build.”
- Spalding - English name meaning “district.”
- Underwood - Old English name meaning “below the trees in a forest.”
- Villarreal - Spanish name meaning “a royal settlement.”
- Ward - Old English name meaning “marsh.”
- Waring - English name meaning “guard.”

Section 3 of 11:

Unique Southern Last Names

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Beauregard and Hebert are some rare Southern surnames. Although these surnames are relatively uncommon, you might come across them from time to time. Some hold strange meanings, while others are simply outdated. Here’s a quick list of rare and unique options:^{[4]
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- Abbot - English name meaning “priest.”
- Bates - English name meaning “boat.”
- Beauregard - English name meaning “beautiful view.”
- Boone - English name meaning “good.”
- Boudreaux - Cajun name meaning “leader of the group.”
- Callaway - Norman French name meaning “pebble.”
- Fontenot - Old French name meaning “spring” or “well.”
- Fuller - English name meaning “one who deals with woolen clothes.”
- Hebert - French and Old Germanic name meaning “bright army” or “famous warrior.”
- McQuarter - Scottish and Northern Irish name meaning “son of the harpist or fiddler.”
- Peyton - English name meaning “fighting man’s estate.”
- Thibodaux - Germanic name meaning “bold people” or “brave.”
- Tolliver - English name meaning “metal worker.”
- Want to know how rare and unique your last name is? Check out our Family Name Analyzer!

Section 4 of 11:

French-Influenced Southern Last Names

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French-inspired surnames are frequently found in Louisiana. These surnames have Cajun or Creole origins, dating back to the French settlement in the 16th century. Here are some elegant French-influenced surnames and their meanings:^{[5]
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- Barker - French name meaning “a tanner of leather.”
- Broussard - Old French name meaning “brush” or “thicket.”
- Duvall - French name meaning “of the valley.”
- Fitzgerald - Anglo-Norman name meaning “son of Gerald.”
- Guidry - French name meaning “hunt.”
- Huger - French name meaning “keeper of cattle.”
- LeBlanc - French name meaning “the white” or “the fair.”
- Legare - French name meaning “to be troubled or abandoned.”
- Melancon - Old French name meaning “melancholic” or “gloomy.”
- Trahan - French name meaning “silkworker.”

Section 5 of 11:

Scottish & Irish-Influenced Southern Last Names

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Many Southern last names have Celtic influences. During the 18th century, Scottish and Irish settlers first came to the southern colonies in large numbers, bringing new surnames into the region. Here are some popular Scottish and Irish-influenced surnames and their meanings:^{[6]
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- Alden - Scottish name meaning “friend.”
- Armstrong - Scottish name meaning “son of a very strong man.”
- Baskin - Scottish name meaning “descendant of little Bass.”
- Black - Scottish name meaning “one who was black-haired or has a dark complexion.”
- Bowman - Scottish name meaning “an archer.”
- Boyd - Scottish Gaelic name meaning “yellow” or “fair-haired.”
- Brady - Irish name meaning “descendant of Brádach.”
- Buckley - Irish name meaning “buck” or “boy.”
- Burke - Gaelic name meaning “of the borough.”
- Calhoun - Scottish name meaning “the nook” or “corner.”
- Cameron - Scottish Gaelic name meaning “crooked nose” or “crooked river.”
- Carson - Scottish name meaning “son of Carr.”
- Cunningham - Scottish name meaning “chief or leader.”
- Doby - Scottish name meaning “famous,” “renowned,” or “bright.”
- Douglas - Scottish Gaelic name meaning “dark stream” or “black river.”
- Duncan - Scottish and Irish name meaning “dark-haired.”
- Ferguson - Gaelic name meaning “son of Fergus.”
- Ferrell - Irish name meaning “man of valor.”
- Grady - Irish name meaning “noble.”
- Graham - Old English name meaning “gravel homestead” or “grey home.”
- Kennedy - Anglicized version of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic name Ó Cinneide.
- MacGregor - Scottish name meaning “son of Gregor.”
- McDonald - Scottish name meaning “son of Donald.”
- McKenzie - Scottish Gaelic name meaning “son of Coinneach.”
- Murphy - Gaelic name meaning “sea warrior.”
- O’Brien - Irish name meaning “descendant of Brian.”
- Sullivan - Irish name meaning “hawk-eyed.”
- Tradd - Gaelic name meaning “spear” or “any sharp weapon for thrusting or throwing.”

Section 6 of 11:

Germanic & Dutch-Influenced Southern Last Names

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Germanic surnames are also common in the South. The following surnames originate from trades or locations in German-speaking regions. Here are popular surnames and their meanings:^{[7]
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- Baldwin - German name meaning “bold or brave.”
- Birdie - German name meaning “little bird.”
- Boseman - German name meaning “cunning.”
- Hoffman - Germanic name meaning “man of the court” or “steward.”
- Mueller - German name meaning “miller.”
- Pinckney - German name meaning “someone from Pincino’s village.”
- Richard - Germanic name meaning “powerful” or “brave.”
- Schmidt - German and Jewish name meaning “blacksmith” or “metalworker.”
- Van Den Berg - Dutch name meaning “from the mountain” or “from the hill.”
- Yeller - German name meaning “farmer.”
- Zimmerman - German and Yiddish name meaning “carpenter” or “timberman.”

Section 7 of 11:

Old Southern Last Names

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These last names are derived directly from the South. Old Southern surnames, like Calhoun and Mercer, are associated with prominent families and include English, Scottish, and Germanic origins. Here are some distinctly Southern surnames and their meanings:^{[8]
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- Abernathy - Scottish name meaning “mouth of the river Nethy.”
- Blackwood - Scottish and English name meaning “black wood” or “dark wood.”
- Calhoun - Scottish and Irish name meaning “from the nook.”
- Conroy - Irish name meaning “descendant of the hound.”
- Dalton - Old English name meaning “valley settlement.”
- Gilmore - Gaelic name meaning “servant of Mary.”
- Grey - English and Scottish name meaning “gray.”
- Harrington - English name meaning “settlement associated with a he-goat.”
- Kimball - Old English name meaning “royal blood.”
- Langston - Anglo-Saxon name meaning “long-established settlement.”
- Mercer - Old French name meaning “merchant” or “trader.”
- Norwood - Old English name meaning “north wood.”
- Pemberton - English name meaning “the barley field on the hill.”
- Quincy - Norman-French name meaning “fifth” or “fifth-born.”
- Randolph - Germanic name meaning “wolf shield.”
- Shelton - English name meaning “from the shelf town.”
- Thornton - English and Scottish name meaning “thorn-bush settlement.”
- Underwood - English name meaning “below the wood.”
- Vaughan - Welsh name meaning “small” or “little.”
- Whitman - Old English name meaning “white man.”

Section 8 of 11:

Religious Southern Last Names

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Southern last names, like Baptist and Goodman, reflect Christian values. It’s no secret that the South is generally more religious than other parts of America.^{[9]
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- Abraham - Hebrew name meaning “father of many nations.”
- Baptist - Greek name meaning “one who washes.”
- Bishop - Old English name meaning “overseer” or “guardian.”
- Christian - Latin name meaning “followers of Christ.”
- Cross - Old English and Old Norse name meaning “cross.”
- Elder - Old English name meaning “a person of authority or wisdom.”
- Goodman - Middle English name meaning “a good man.”
- Grace - Latin name meaning “grace,” “favor,” or “blessing.”
- Hope - Old English name meaning “hope” or “expectation.”
- Moses - Egyptian name meaning “conceived by a god.”
- Priest - Old English name meaning “priest” or “clergyman.”
- Prophet - Greek name meaning “one who speaks forth.”

Section 9 of 11:

Occupational Southern Last Names

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Many Southern surnames come from ancestral occupations and trades. These surnames reflect trades, crafts, or professions, providing information on the historical livelihoods of Southern communities. The last name Mason, for example, refers to the occupation of a stone worker. Here are other common occupational surnames and their meanings: ^{[10]
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- Archer - English name for a professional bowman.
- Brewer - English name meaning “ale or beer maker.”
- Farmer - English name meaning “tax farmer.”
- Fletcher - Old French name meaning “arrow-maker” or “arrowsmith.”
- Gardner - English and Scottish name meaning “gardener.”
- Hunter - English and Scottish name meaning “huntsman.”
- Mason - Old French name meaning “stone worker.”
- Planter - Middle English name meaning “one who sets plants or sows seeds.”
- Sawyer - English name meaning “woodcutter” or “one who saws wood.”
- Shepherd - English name meaning “sheepherder.”
- Weaver - English occupational name for a weaver.

Section 10 of 11:

Famous Southern Last Names

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Here are some last names that were popularized by famous figures. From folk hero Davy Crockett to celebrated author Ernest Hemingway, many iconic individuals are connected to the South. Here are some prominent last names and their meanings:
- Crockett - Old French name meaning “hook” or “crook.”
- Faulkner - English name for someone who trained and kept falcons.
- Hemingway - English name meaning “Hemming’s place” or “road.”
- King - Old English name meaning “tribal leader.”
- Washington - Anglo-Saxon name meaning “estate” or “settlement of Wassa.”

Section 11 of 11:

History of Southern Surnames

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Most Southern surnames originate from early European settlers. The majority of surnames in the American South come from English, Scottish, and Irish settlers. They often reflect occupations, geographical locations, personal characteristics, or paternal lineage, and they became widespread during the English Norman period to identify individuals and track families over generations.^{[11]
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