107 surnames on this site, with what each one means.
MaPlace · rank 892A Chinese surname 馬/马, “horse,” chiefly from the Mafu fief or title of Zhao She in Warring States Zhao; also other Chinese and non-Chinese Ma origins.
MacDonaldParent’s name · rank 752A Gaelic patronymic meaning “son of Donald,” from Mac Dhomhnaill / MacDhòmhnaill, the same clan-name root as McDonald.
MaciasParent’s name · rank 549A Spanish patronymic surname from the personal name Macías, a form related to Matías, “gift of God.”
MackParent’s name · rank 468A multi-origin short surname: Scottish/Irish reduction of Mac names, Germanic personal name Macco, and related routes.
MaddoxParent’s name · rank 991An English surname of Welsh origin from the personal name Madog / Madawc, ancestor of Welsh madog “goodly.”
MaganaPlace · rank 922A Spanish habitational surname (Magaña) from villages named Magaña in Soria and Córdoba provinces; catalog display Magana, slug magana.
MahoneyParent’s name · rank 884An Irish Munster surname, Anglicized from Ó Mathghamhna, “descendant of Mathghamhain” (“good calf,” a kenning for “bear”); related to McMahon.
MaldonadoNickname · rank 253Spanish byname from mal donado, “ill-fated” or “ill-given,” traditionally applied to an unlucky person.
MaloneParent’s name · rank 489An Irish patronymic from Ó Maol Eoin, “descendant of the devotee of John,” also anglicized from related Gaelic forms.
MannNickname · rank 381A multi-origin surname from man as a descriptive nickname, personal name, servant status, or place association.
ManningParent’s name · rank 448A surname from the personal name Manning or Menning, traditionally associated with strength or ability.
MarinParent’s name · rank 768A surname from the Latin personal name Marinus (“of the sea”), also Spanish/Galician habitational from Marín, and in some regions an occupational name for a sailor.
MarksParent’s name · rank 707An English and German surname often formed from Mark or Markus, with patronymic and nickname routes sharing the plural ending.
MarquezParent’s name · rank 291The unaccented form of Márquez, a Spanish patronymic meaning “son of Marco or Marcos.”
MarshPlace · rank 553A topographic surname for someone who lived near a marsh or wetland.
MarshallOccupation · rank 142An occupational surname from Old French marshal, originally a keeper or servant responsible for horses.
MartinParent’s name · rank 22From the personal name Martin (Latin Martinus, linked to Mars) — a given name turned surname.
MartinezParent’s name · rank 10Son of Martín (Martin) — Spanish patronymic.
MasonOccupation · rank 171An occupational surname for a stoneworker or builder, from Middle English mason and French maciun.
MasseyParent’s name · rank 626An English surname from Massy, a pet form of Matthew, with Norman French habitational and other regional routes.
MataPlace · rank 715A Spanish and Portuguese topographic or habitational surname from mata, “wood,” “grove,” or forested land.
MathewsParent’s name · rank 671An English patronymic surname meaning “son of Mathew,” a spelling variant of Matthews.
MathisParent’s name · rank 645A German, French, and English surname from Matthias or Mathis, a personal name ultimately related to “gift of Yahweh.”
MatthewsParent’s name · rank 234Patronymic surname meaning “son of Matthew.”
MaxwellPlace · rank 497A Scottish habitational surname from Maxwell in Dumfriesshire, traditionally “Maccus’s spring” or “Maccus’s well.”
MayParent’s name · rank 304A surname with personal-name routes from May, a form of Matthew or Mary, alongside English descriptive and place-name explanations.
MayerOccupation · rank 911Often a German or Dutch form of Meyer/Meier, a steward or farm manager; also English Mear/mayor/physician senses and Jewish Meyer from Hebrew Meir.
MaynardParent’s name · rank 987An English (Norman) and French surname from the personal name Mainard / Maganhard—“power” + “hard/brave.”
MaysParent’s name · rank 875An English variant of Mayes/May, often from the pet form of Matthew or from the month-name May; also German Mais and Dutch short-Thomas forms.
McBrideParent’s name · rank 535An Irish or Scottish patronymic from Mac Giolla Bhríghde, “son of the devotee of Saint Brigid.”
McCallParent’s name · rank 811An Irish and Scottish Gaelic patronymic, usually Mac Cathail, “son of Cathal” (“powerful in battle”); rarely Mac Cathmhaoil, “son of the battle-chief.”
McCarthyParent’s name · rank 395An Irish patronymic meaning “son of Carthach,” from Gaelic Mac Cárthaigh.
McCartyParent’s name · rank 981An Irish surname, a southern pronunciation spelling of McCarthy—Gaelic Mac Cárthaigh, “son of Cárthach” (“loving”).
McClainParent’s name · rank 734A Scottish Gaelic patronymic variant of McLean, from Mac Gill-Eain, “son of the servant of John.”
McClureParent’s name · rank 742A Scottish and Irish Gaelic patronymic, chiefly from Mac Gille Uidhir or related Mac Giolla forms.
McConnellParent’s name · rank 897An Irish (northern) and Scottish (southwestern) surname from Gaelic Mac Dhomhnaill, “son of Domhnall” (world-ruler), from the lenited pronunciation; related to McDonald, distinct from O'Connell.
McCormickParent’s name · rank 543An Irish or Scottish patronymic from Mac Cormaic, “son of Cormac.”
McCoyParent’s name · rank 287An anglicized Gaelic patronymic, usually Mac Aodha, meaning “son of Aodh,” or “son of Hugh.”
McCulloughParent’s name · rank 769An Irish (especially Ulster) patronymic from Gaelic Mac Cú Uladh, “son of Cú Uladh” (“hound of Ulster”); a “wild boar” folk etymology is less likely.
McDanielParent’s name · rank 365An Irish surname associated with Mac Domhnaill, “son of Donal,” and reshaped by association with Daniel.
McDonaldParent’s name · rank 145A Gaelic patronymic meaning “son of Donald,” from Mac Dhomhnaill.
McDowellParent’s name · rank 704A Scottish and Irish surname, anglicized from Gaelic Mac Dubhghaill, meaning “son of Dubhghall.”
McFarlandParent’s name · rank 858A northern Irish variant of Scottish Gaelic Mac Pharthaláin, “son of Parthalán,” a Gaelic form of Bartholomew.
McGeeParent’s name · rank 453An Irish patronymic anglicized from Mag Aoidh or Mag Aodha, “son of Aodh,” a personal name meaning “fire.”
McGuireParent’s name · rank 534An Irish patronymic from Mag Uidhir, “son of Odhar,” a personal name meaning pale or sallow.
McIntoshParent’s name · rank 825A Scottish Gaelic patronymic, Mac an Toisich, “son of the chief” (leader or thane).
McIntyreParent’s name · rank 792A Scottish Gaelic patronymic, Mac an tSaoir, “son of the craftsman” (carpenter or mason).
McKayParent’s name · rank 926A Scottish and northern Irish surname, Anglicized from Gaelic Mac Aoidh, “son of Aodh”; Aodh is an old personal name meaning “fire.”
McKeeParent’s name · rank 802An Irish and Scottish Gaelic patronymic, Mac Aodha or Mac Aoidh, “son of Aodh,” an old personal name meaning “fire.”
McKenzieParent’s name · rank 569A Scottish Gaelic patronymic meaning “son of Coinneach,” traditionally glossed “fair or handsome.”
McKinneyParent’s name · rank 391An Anglicized Scottish or Irish patronymic from Gaelic Mac Cionaodha, Mac Cionaoith, or Mac Coinnigh.
McLaughlinParent’s name · rank 446An Irish patronymic from Mac Lochlainn, “son of Lochlann,” a name associated with Scandinavia.
McLeanParent’s name · rank 809A Scottish Gaelic patronymic, Mac Gille Eáin, “son of the servant (devotee) of (Saint) John.”
McMahonParent’s name · rank 893An Irish surname from Gaelic Mac Mathghamhna, “son of Mathghamhain” (“good calf,” kenning for “bear”); Clare and Monaghan chieftain families; related to Mahoney.
McMillanParent’s name · rank 880A Scottish surname, Anglicized from Gaelic Mac Maoláin, “son of Maolán,” a diminutive of maol, “bald” or “tonsured”; usually Macmillan in Britain.
McPhersonParent’s name · rank 979A Scottish surname from Gaelic Mac a’ Phearsain, “son of the parson” or “son of the priest.”
MeadowsPlace · rank 788An English topographic surname for someone who lived by a meadow, from Middle English medewe.
MedinaPlace · rank 132A Spanish and Sephardic habitational surname from places called Medina, ultimately Arabic madīna, “city.”
MedranoPlace · rank 849A Spanish habitational surname from Medrano in La Rioja (formerly associated with Soria in dictionary treatments), a place-name of pre-Roman or obscure etymology.
MejiaPlace · rank 276The unaccented form of Mejía, a Spanish habitational surname associated with Basque place-name traditions.
MelendezParent’s name · rank 565A Spanish patronymic variant of Menéndez, “son or descendant of Menendo.”
MeltonPlace · rank 719An English habitational surname from places called Melton, generally interpreted as “middle settlement” or a settlement in the middle.
MendezParent’s name · rank 155A Galician-Spanish patronymic meaning “son of Mendo,” from the medieval personal name Mendo or Menendo.
MendozaPlace · rank 88Basque habitational surname from Mendoza in Álava, commonly interpreted as “cold mountain” from mendi and hotz.
MercadoPlace · rank 533A Spanish surname from mercado, “market,” for someone associated with or living near a market.
MerrittPlace · rank 772An English surname usually treated as a variant of Merriott (from Merriott in Somerset) or Marriott, with some instances from a Middle English form of Margaret.
MeyerOccupation · rank 183A German surname from Middle High German meier, a steward, bailiff, or estate manager; some lines also reflect Jewish and personal-name traditions.
MeyersParent’s name · rank 595A surname linked to Meyer or Meier, a German, Dutch, and Ashkenazic personal or status name, with additional Irish and English routes.
MezaPlace · rank 634A Spanish topographic surname from mesa, “table,” referring to a flat-topped hill, plateau, or tableland.
MichaelParent’s name · rank 909An English, German, Dutch, Jewish, and Greek surname from the personal name Michael, from Hebrew Mika’el, “Who is like God?”
MiddletonPlace · rank 822An English habitational surname from any of many places named Middleton, usually Old English midel, “middle,” plus tūn, “settlement.”
MilesParent’s name · rank 379A surname from the medieval personal name Miles, with additional nickname and regional routes.
MillerOccupation · rank 7A person who worked at a mill (grinding grain).
MillsOccupation · rank 187An occupational or locational surname for a mill worker, miller’s household, or someone living beside a mill.
MirandaPlace · rank 330A Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Maltese habitational surname from places called Miranda, often associated with an admirable view or lookout.
MitchellParent’s name · rank 47Often the vernacular form of Michael; also a nickname from Middle English michel “big.”
MohamedParent’s name · rank 827A Muslim surname from the Arabic personal name Muḥammad, “praiseworthy,” common especially in Egyptian, Sudanese, and Somali lines.
MolinaOccupation · rank 316A Spanish and Italian surname associated with a mill, miller, or place named Molina.
MonroePlace · rank 618A Scottish territorial surname traditionally interpreted as “man from the River Roe,” associated with the Munro/Munroe name.
MontesPlace · rank 705A Spanish and Portuguese topographic or habitational surname from monte or montes, “hill,” “mountain,” or “wooded upland.”
MontgomeryPlace · rank 275A habitational surname from places called Montgomery, with Norman and Welsh border-place history.
MontoyaPlace · rank 457A Basque and Spanish habitational surname from Montoya in Álava, associated with a landscape of hills and valleys.
MoodyNickname · rank 536An English or Irish nickname surname from a word for bold, proud, impetuous, or fierce temperament.
MoonPlace · rank 736A surname with English place-name and East Asian romanization histories, including Korean Mun/Moon lineages.
MoorePlace · rank 18Often "dweller by the moor/marsh"; also Irish Ó Mórdha and Norman "Moor" nickname streams.
MoraPlace · rank 578A Spanish, Portuguese, and Catalan surname linked to mulberry landscapes or places called Mora, with unrelated European routes.
MoralesPlace · rank 62Spanish topographic/habitational from moral, “mulberry tree” (often “place of the mulberries”).
MoranParent’s name · rank 358Usually an Irish patronymic from Ó Móráin, “descendant of Mórán,” with other Irish and regional routes.
MorenoNickname · rank 124A Spanish, Portuguese, and Sephardic Jewish nickname for someone with dark hair or a swarthy complexion.
MorganParent’s name · rank 69Welsh from the medieval personal name Morcant; Irish Morgan may represent Ó Muireagáin and other streams.
MorrisParent’s name · rank 64From Maurice / Mauritius (Latin Maurus); also Irish Ó Muirghis and Welsh Meurig/Morus paths.
MorrisonParent’s name · rank 262English and Scottish patronymic surname meaning “son of Morris,” from Maurice.
MorrowParent’s name · rank 609An Irish and Scottish surname with patronymic routes from MacMurchadha, MacMuireadhaigh, or related Gaelic personal names.
MorseParent’s name · rank 854A Welsh and English variant of Morris, from the Norman personal name Maurice (Latin Mauritius); also an Americanized form of Jewish Moses and similar names.
MortonPlace · rank 570An English or Scottish habitational surname from Morton, generally “moor settlement” or “farm on the moor.”
MosesParent’s name · rank 888A Jewish, Welsh, African American, and African surname from the Biblical personal name Moses (Hebrew Moshe), the Israelite leader in Exodus.
MosleyPlace · rank 744An English habitational surname from places called Moseley or similar names, meaning a clearing associated with moss.
MossPlace · rank 436A topographic name for someone near a marsh or bog, with Moses and other surname streams also possible.
MoyerOccupation · rank 963Usually an Americanized form of German Meyer/Mayer, a steward or farm manager; also French sharecropper and rare Dutch routes.
MuellerOccupation · rank 530The umlaut-free spelling of German Müller, an occupational surname meaning “miller.”
MullenParent’s name · rank 971An Irish surname from Gaelic Ó Maoláin, “descendant of Maolán,” a byname “tonsured one” or “devotee.”
MullinsParent’s name · rank 482A multi-origin surname from Irish Ó Maoláin, “descendant of Maolán,” and English or French mill-related forms.
MunozParent’s name · rank 164The unaccented form of Muñoz, a Spanish patronymic meaning “son of Muño” or a related medieval personal name.
MurilloPlace · rank 743A Spanish habitational surname from places called Murillo, probably connected with a wall or small fortified place.
MurphyParent’s name · rank 65Irish Ó Murchadha — descendant of Murchadh (“sea-warrior”).
MurrayPlace · rank 139A Scottish place surname from Moray, alongside distinct Irish patronymic traditions such as Ó Muireadhaigh.
MyersParent’s name · rank 103Often a patronymic from Mayer or Meier, though English, French, and Scandinavian origins also occur.