Looking up your family history can feel like trying to put together a puzzle with missing pieces.
I know how frustrating it is to hit dead ends when searching for the stories behind Southern family names.
I’ve spent years studying name origins, and I’m here to help you understand your Southern heritage better. This comprehensive list of Southern surnames will show you exactly where your ancestors came from and what their names meant.
So, In this blog, I’ll share 212 Southern last names, their history, and their meanings.
Southern Last Names You Should Know About
1. Ackerman
- Meaning: Farmer
- Origin: German
2. Adams
- Meaning: Son of Adam
- Origin: English
3. Alexander
- Meaning: Defender of the people
- Origin: Greek
4. Allison
- Meaning: Son of Alice
- Origin: Scottish
5. Amos
- Meaning: Carried
- Origin: Hebrew
6. Anderson
- Meaning: Son of Andrew
- Origin: Scottish
7. Armstrong
- Meaning: Strong arm
- Origin: Scottish
8. Bailey
- Meaning: Bailiff
- Origin: Old French
9. Baker
- Meaning: Baker
- Origin: English
10. Banks
- Meaning: Riverbank
- Origin: English
11. Barrett
- Meaning: Bear Strength
- Origin: Irish
12. Barton
- Meaning: Barley town
- Origin: English
13. Bell
- Meaning: Bell
- Origin: Old French
14. Bellamy
- Meaning: Good friend
- Origin: French
15. Benton
- Meaning: Town in a mountain
- Origin: Old French
16. Black
- Meaning: Dark-haired
- Origin: English
17. Blackwell
- Meaning: Dark stream
- Origin: Old English
18. Blake
- Meaning: Dark or fair
- Origin: Old English
19. Blanton
- Meaning: Flat-topped hill
- Origin: English
20. Boone
- Meaning: Good
- Origin: French
21. Booth
- Meaning: Shelter or hut
- Origin: Old English
22. Boswell
- Meaning: House of the forest
- Origin: Old French
23. Bowers
- Meaning: Dweller near the bowers
- Origin: Old English
24. Bowman
- Meaning: Bowman
- Origin: Old English
25. Brady
- Meaning: Spirited
- Origin: Irish
26. Brewer
- Meaning: Brewer
- Origin: English
27. Brookes
- Meaning: Small stream
- Origin: Old English
28. Brooks
- Meaning: Small stream
- Origin: Old English
29. Brown
- Meaning: Brown-haired
- Origin: English
30. Bryant
- Meaning: Strong
- Origin: Welsh
31. Butler
- Meaning: Butler
- Origin: Old French
32. Callahan
- Meaning: Bright-headed
- Origin: Irish
33. Carlisle
- Meaning: From Carl’s island
- Origin: Old English
34. Carter
- Meaning: Transporter
- Origin: Old French
35. Caswell
- Meaning: From the house by the well
- Origin: Old English
36. Chandler
- Meaning: Candlemaker
- Origin: Old French
37. Chapman
- Meaning: Merchant
- Origin: Old English
38. Charles
- Meaning: Manly
- Origin: German
39. Chavis
- Meaning: Son of the wise one
- Origin: French
40. Clark
- Meaning: Clerk
- Origin: Old French
41. Clayton
- Meaning: Town on clay land
- Origin: Old English
42. Clemmons
- Meaning: Merciful
- Origin: Latin
43. Cline
- Meaning: Sloping ground
- Origin: Old English
44. Coker
- Meaning: Cooks or cookhouse
- Origin: Old English
45. Collins
- Meaning: Son of Nicholas
- Origin: Irish
46. Cooper
- Meaning: Barrel maker
- Origin: Old English
47. Craig
- Meaning: Rock
- Origin: Gaelic
48. Crawford
- Meaning: Ford of the Crows
- Origin: Old English
49. Crenshaw
- Meaning: Crescent-shaped hill
- Origin: Old English
50. Criss
- Meaning: Cross
- Origin: Latin
51. Daugherty
- Meaning: Son of the brave one
- Origin: Irish
52. Davenport
- Meaning: From the town of the riverbank
- Origin: Old English
53. Davis
- Meaning: Son of David
- Origin: Welsh
54. Dawson
- Meaning: Son of David
- Origin: English
55. Day
- Meaning: Daytime
- Origin: Old English
56. Dean
- Meaning: Valley
- Origin: Old English
57. Decker
- Meaning: Roofer
- Origin: German
58. Derby
- Meaning: From the Deer Park
- Origin: Old English
59. Dixon
- Meaning: Son of Richard
- Origin: English
60. Donaldson
- Meaning: Son of Donald
- Origin: Scottish
61. Douglas
- Meaning: Dark stream
- Origin: Scottish
62. Duke
- Meaning: Leader
- Origin: Old French
63. Duncan
- Meaning: Dark warrior
- Origin: Gaelic
64. Edwards
- Meaning: Son of Edward
- Origin: English
65. Elliott
- Meaning: The Lord is my God
- Origin: Hebrew
66. Ellis
- Meaning: The Lord is my God
- Origin: Welsh
67. Ellison
- Meaning: Son of Ellis
- Origin: English
68. Estes
- Meaning: East
- Origin: Old French
69. Evans
- Meaning: Son of Evan
- Origin: Welsh
70. Farmer
- Meaning: Farmer
- Origin: English
71. Faulkner
- Meaning: Falconer
- Origin: Old French
72. Ferguson
- Meaning: Son of Fergus
- Origin: Scottish
73. Fields
- Meaning: Fields
- Origin: Old English
74. Fletcher
- Meaning: Arrow maker
- Origin: Old French
75. Ford
- Meaning: River crossing
- Origin: Old English
76. Foster
- Meaning: Forest keeper
- Origin: Old French
77. Fowler
- Meaning: Birdcatcher
- Origin: Old English
78. Franklin
- Meaning: Free landowner
- Origin: Old French
79. Freeman
- Meaning: Free man
- Origin: Old English
80. Galloway
- Meaning: From Galloway
- Origin: Scottish
81. Gardner
- Meaning: Gardener
- Origin: Old French
82. Garrett
- Meaning: Spear ruler
- Origin: English
83. Garrison
- Meaning: Son of the soldier
- Origin: Old French
84. George
- Meaning: Farmer
- Origin: Greek
85. Gibson
- Meaning: Son of Gilbert
- Origin: Scottish
86. Grant
- Meaning: Great
- Origin: Old French
87. Grayson
- Meaning: Son of the steward
- Origin: English
88. Green
- Meaning: Green
- Origin: Old English
89. Greene
- Meaning: Green
- Origin: Old English
90. Griffin
- Meaning: Strong in faith
- Origin: Welsh
91. Hall
- Meaning: Dweller at the hall
- Origin: Old English
92. Hamilton
- Meaning: From the flat-topped hill
- Origin: Scottish
93. Hardy
- Meaning: Brave
- Origin: Old French
94. Harris
- Meaning: Son of Harry
- Origin: English
95. Harrison
- Meaning: Son of Harry
- Origin: English
96. Hart
- Meaning: Stag
- Origin: Old English
97. Hatfield
- Meaning: From the health field
- Origin: Old English
98. Hayes
- Meaning: Hedged area
- Origin: Old English
99. Henderson
- Meaning: Son of Henry
- Origin: Scottish
100. Hicks
- Meaning: Son of Richard
- Origin: English
101. Hill
- Meaning: Dweller on the hill
- Origin: Old English
102. Hodges
- Meaning: Son of Roger
- Origin: English
103. Holbrook
- Meaning: From the stream in the valley
- Origin: Old English
104. Holland
- Meaning: From the land of the hollow
- Origin: Old English
105. Holt
- Meaning: From the small wood
- Origin: Old English
106. Hope
- Meaning: Aspiration
- Origin: Old English
107. Howard
- Meaning: High guardian
- Origin: Old English
108. Hughes
- Meaning: Mind, Spirit
- Origin: Welsh
109. Hunter
- Meaning: Hunter
- Origin: Old English
110. Hurley
- Meaning: From the meadow of the army
- Origin: Irish
111. Jackson
- Meaning: Son of Jack
- Origin: English
112. Jacobs
- Meaning: Son of Jacob
- Origin: Hebrew
113. James
- Meaning: Supplanter
- Origin: Hebrew
114. Johnson
- Meaning: Son of John
- Origin: English
115. Jones
- Meaning: Son of John
- Origin: Welsh
116. Jordan
- Meaning: To descend
- Origin: Hebrew
117. Kelly
- Meaning: Warrior
- Origin: Irish
118. King
- Meaning: King
- Origin: Old English
119. Knight
- Meaning: Soldier
- Origin: Old English
120. Lambert
- Meaning: Land bright
- Origin: German
121. Lane
- Meaning: Small road
- Origin: Old English
122. Langford
- Meaning: From the long ford
- Origin: Old English
123. Lee
- Meaning: Clearing
- Origin: Old English
124. Lewis
- Meaning: Famous warrior
- Origin: Old French
125. Little
- Meaning: Small
- Origin: Old English
126. Long
- Meaning: Tall
- Origin: Old English
127. Lowery
- Meaning: Descendant of Lorcan
- Origin: Irish
128. Lucas
- Meaning: Light
- Origin: Latin
129. Lyon
- Meaning: Lion
- Origin: Old French
130. Marshall
- Meaning: Horse servant
- Origin: Old French
131. Martin
- Meaning: War-like
- Origin: Latin
132. Matthews
- Meaning: Gift of God
- Origin: Hebrew
133. May
- Meaning: Springtime
- Origin: Old French
134. McBride
- Meaning: Son of the strong one
- Origin: Scottish
135. McCall
- Meaning: Son of the calling
- Origin: Scottish
136. McCarthy
- Meaning: Son of the helper
- Origin: Irish
137. McClain
- Meaning: Son of the servant
- Origin: Scottish
138. McCormick
- Meaning: Son of the charioteer
- Origin: Irish
139. McDaniel
- Meaning: Son of Daniel
- Origin: Scottish
140. McDonald
- Meaning: Son of the world ruler
- Origin: Scottish
141. McDowell
- Meaning: Son of the dark-haired one
- Origin: Scottish
142. McKenzie
- Meaning: Son of the fair one
- Origin: Scottish
143. McKnight
- Meaning: Son of the knight
- Origin: Scottish
144. McLean
- Meaning: Son of the healthy one
- Origin: Scottish
145. McNeil
- Meaning: Son of the champion
- Origin: Scottish
146. Meadows
- Meaning: From the meadows
- Origin: Old English
147. Mitchell
- Meaning: Who is like God?
- Origin: Hebrew
148. Morgan
- Meaning: Sea-born
- Origin: Welsh
149. Morris
- Meaning: Dark-skinned
- Origin: Latin
150. Murphy
- Meaning: Sea Warrior
- Origin: Irish
151. Neal
- Meaning: Champion
- Origin: Irish
152. Nelson
- Meaning: Son of Neil
- Origin: English
153. Newman
- Meaning: New man
- Origin: Old English
154. Norman
- Meaning: Northman
- Origin: Old French
155. O’Connor
- Meaning: Descendant of Connor
- Origin: Irish
156. Parker
- Meaning: Keeper of the park
- Origin: Old French
157. Patterson
- Meaning: Son of Patrick
- Origin: Scottish
158. Payne
- Meaning: Steward
- Origin: Old French
159. Perry
- Meaning: Pear tree
- Origin: Old English
160. Phillips
- Meaning: Son of Philip
- Origin: Greek
161. Pierce
- Meaning: Rock
- Origin: Old French
162. Poole
- Meaning: Pool or pond
- Origin: Old English
163. Porter
- Meaning: Gatekeeper
- Origin: Old French
164. Powell
- Meaning: Son of Howell
- Origin: Welsh
165. Price
- Meaning: Son of Rhys
- Origin: Welsh
166. Quinn
- Meaning: Descendant of Conn
- Origin: Irish
167. Raines
- Meaning: Queen
- Origin: Old French
168. Ray
- Meaning: Protector
- Origin: Old French
169. Reed
- Meaning: Red
- Origin: Old English
170. Reese
- Meaning: Enthusiasm
- Origin: Welsh
171. Roberts
- Meaning: Son of Robert
- Origin: English
172. Robinson
- Meaning: Son of Robin
- Origin: English
173. Rogers
- Meaning: Son of Roger
- Origin: Old French
174. Rose
- Meaning: Rose flower
- Origin: Latin
175. Russell
- Meaning: Little red one
- Origin: Old French
176. Sanders
- Meaning: Son of Sander
- Origin: Greek
177. Scott
- Meaning: From Scotland
- Origin: Old French
178. Shelton
- Meaning: From the steep hill
- Origin: Old English
179. Simpson
- Meaning: Son of Sim
- Origin: English
180. Stewart
- Meaning: Steward
- Origin: Old English
181. Stone
- Meaning: Stone
- Origin: Old English
182. Sumner
- Meaning: Steward
- Origin: Old French
183. Sutton
- Meaning: South town
- Origin: Old English
184. Taylor
- Meaning: Tailor
- Origin: Old French
185. Thomas
- Meaning: Twin
- Origin: Aramaic
186. Thompson
- Meaning: Son of Thomas
- Origin: English
187. Timmons
- Meaning: Son of Tim
- Origin: English
188. Townsend
- Meaning: Town’s end
- Origin: Old English
189. Turner
- Meaning: Lathe worker
- Origin: Old French
190. Underwood
- Meaning: From the woods below
- Origin: Old English
191. Vaughn
- Meaning: Small
- Origin: Welsh
192. Walker
- Meaning: Fuller of cloth
- Origin: Old English
193. Wallace
- Meaning: Foreigner
- Origin: Old French
194. Walters
- Meaning: Ruler of the army
- Origin: Old German
195. Watson
- Meaning: Son of Walter
- Origin: Old English
196. Webb
- Meaning: Weaver
- Origin: Old English
197. West
- Meaning: From the west
- Origin: Old English
198. Wheeler
- Meaning: Wheel maker
- Origin: Old English
199. White
- Meaning: Fair-haired or light-skinned
- Origin: Old English
200. Wilkins
- Meaning: Son of William
- Origin: English
201. Williams
- Meaning: Son of William
- Origin: English
202. Wilson
- Meaning: Son of Will
- Origin: English
203. Wood
- Meaning: From the woods
- Origin: Old English
204. Woods
- Meaning: From the woods
- Origin: Old English
205. Yates
- Meaning: Gatekeeper
- Origin: Old English
206. Young
- Meaning: Young
- Origin: Old English
207. Yarbrough
- Meaning: From the yew tree brook
- Origin: Old English
208. Yates
- Meaning: Gatekeeper
- Origin: Old English
209. Youngblood
- Meaning: Descendant of the young
- Origin: Old English
210. Zane
- Meaning: Gift of God
- Origin: Hebrew
211. Ziegler
- Meaning: Brickmaker
- Origin: German
212. Zimmerman
- Meaning: Carpenter
- Origin: German
Tips for Finding Your Perfect Southern Name
Hey there! Before we get into my tips, I want you to know these come from my experience helping families pick names that honor their Southern heritage.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
- Pick a name that’s easy to say and spell
- Look into your family tree for inspiration
- Consider names linked to your state’s history
- Select a name that ages well with your child
- Think about meaningful initials
- Test how the first and last names sound together
- Check if the name works with common nicknames
- Research the name’s actual meaning and origin
- Make sure it fits with siblings’ names
- Ask older family members about traditional family names
I hope these tips help you find a name that feels just right for your family. Remember, the best Southern name is one that brings joy to your heart and honors your roots.
Conclusion
Exploring family names opens windows into our shared past.
Each Southern surname carries stories of courage, tradition, and the people who helped shape American history. These 212 names remind us that our ancestors left lasting marks on the world we know today.
Want to dig deeper into meaningful names? You might enjoy reading about fierce female warrior names that echo through history or discover the passion behind names that mean fire.
I’ve also written guides about traditional Italian boy names and fun ways to pick cool nicknames that stick.
