56 surnames on this site, with what each one means.
RamirezParent’s name · rank 27Son of Ramiro — Spanish patronymic (Germanic personal name).
RamosPlace · rank 74Spanish and Portuguese topographic or habitational surname from ramo, “branch,” associated with wooded places or places named Ramos.
RamseyPlace · rank 434From one of several English or Scottish places called Ramsey.
RandallParent’s name · rank 639An English surname from Randel or Randolph, with an unrelated or parallel Gaelic Raghnall route.
RandolphParent’s name · rank 866An English and German surname from the Germanic personal name Randolf, “shield-rim” plus “wolf,” introduced to England by the Normans.
RangelPlace · rank 589A Portuguese and Spanish surname associated with a locality or estate called Rangel or Ronge, with uncertain deeper etymology.
RasmussenParent’s name · rank 976A Danish, Norwegian, and North German patronymic meaning “son of Rasmus,” a Scandinavian form of Erasmus (“beloved”).
RayNickname · rank 219Ray combines several surname histories, including French/English forms related to rei or roy, personal-name abbreviations, and local routes.
RaymondParent’s name · rank 894An English and French surname from the Norman personal name Raimund/Raimond (Germanic ragin “counsel” + mund “protection”); also Americanized Raimondo/Raimund.
ReedNickname · rank 75Usually a nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion; some lines are locational, from reed or place names such as Read.
ReeseParent’s name · rank 454Chiefly a Welsh surname from the personal name Rhys, “ardent” or “fiery,” with a separate northern German Reese route.
ReevesOccupation · rank 399An English surname from reeve, a local official or steward, with topographic and Irish routes also recorded.
ReidNickname · rank 281A Scottish and northern English nickname surname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion, with place-name alternatives.
ReillyParent’s name · rank 853An Irish patronymic from Ó Raghailligh, “descendant of Raghailleach,” a personal name of uncertain etymology; the Cavan chieftain family.
ReyesNickname · rank 56Spanish “kings” — nickname or status/byname from rey “king” (also Epiphany / royal-household associations).
ReynoldsParent’s name · rank 125A patronymic surname meaning “son of Reynold,” from the given name Reynold or Reginald.
RhodesPlace · rank 353From woodland clearings, or from a place called Rhodes; a topographic or habitational surname.
RiceParent’s name · rank 192Usually an Anglicized Welsh patronymic from Rhys, though English topographic and German routes also occur.
RichNickname · rank 696A surname from the English descriptive nickname rich, with Richard short forms and Germanic regional routes.
RichardParent’s name · rank 650An English and European surname from the personal name Richard, from Germanic elements often glossed “brave ruler.”
RichardsParent’s name · rank 236Patronymic surname meaning the family or descendants of Richard.
RichardsonParent’s name · rank 83English patronymic: “son of Richard.”
RichmondPlace · rank 970An English habitational surname from Richmond in North Yorkshire, from Old French riche “mighty” plus mont “hill.”
RileyParent’s name · rank 224Riley combines Irish patronymic traditions, especially Ó Raghallaigh/Ó Riailigh forms, with English place-name origins from rye clearings.
RiosPlace · rank 233Spanish topographic surname from Ríos, “rivers,” for someone associated with a river or river place.
RivasPlace · rank 401From a place by a riverbank or shore.
RiveraPlace · rank 46Riverbank or shore — Spanish habitational/topographic from ribera.
RiversPlace · rank 912An English surname, usually River with an added -s—topographic or habitational from a slope/edge or places called River—and sometimes an Americanized form of French Larivière.
RoachPlace · rank 798An English surname of Norman origin from Old French roche, “rock” or “cliff,” topographic or habitational from Roche/Roque places; also Irish Roch.
RobbinsParent’s name · rank 427A patronymic meaning “son of Robin,” with Robin used as a familiar form of Robert.
RobersonParent’s name · rank 599An English surname and variant of Robertson meaning “son of Robert.”
RobertsParent’s name · rank 51Son of Robert — English/Welsh patronymic (genitive -s).
RobertsonParent’s name · rank 185A patronymic surname meaning “son of Robert,” from the Germanic personal name Robert.
RobinsonParent’s name · rank 31Son of Robin — Robin a medieval pet form of Robert.
RoblesPlace · rank 385A Spanish topographic or habitational surname from robles, “oaks,” or places named Robles.
RochaPlace · rank 612A Portuguese and Galician habitational or topographic surname from rocha, “rock.”
RodgersParent’s name · rank 441A patronymic meaning “son of Roger,” from a Germanic personal name associated with fame and spear.
RogersParent’s name · rank 67Son of Roger — English patronymic; Roger from Germanic “famous spear.”
RojasNickname · rank 282A Spanish surname from rojo, “red,” likely a nickname for a red-haired or ruddy person.
RomanPlace · rank 444A surname associated with Rome or a Roman person, with personal-name and regional routes also possible.
RomeroNickname · rank 113A Spanish surname for a pilgrim or traveler to Rome, with other regional streams.
RosalesPlace · rank 433From a Spanish place associated with roses or rose bushes.
RosarioParent’s name · rank 627A Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian surname from the devotional personal name Rosario, “rosary” or “crown of roses.”
RosasPlace · rank 786A Spanish and Portuguese surname from the plural of rosa, “rose,” usually habitational from (Las) Rosas or topographic for rose bushes.
RoseNickname · rank 179A surname associated with the rose flower, either as a nickname, a house or sign name, or in some lines a place-name.
RossPlace · rank 99A multi-origin surname, often linked to a Scottish or Gaelic headland or to the place-name Ross.
RothNickname · rank 583A German and Ashkenazic Jewish surname from roth or rot, “red,” often a nickname for red hair or a ruddy complexion.
RoweNickname · rank 483An English surname with nickname, place, and personal-name routes, including Roe and rough or red-haired byname explanations.
RoyNickname · rank 606A multi-origin surname from Scottish Gaelic ruadh “red” and French or Norman roy “king,” both used as nickname or personal-name routes.
RubioNickname · rank 663A Spanish nickname surname for someone with blond or reddish hair, a red beard, or a ruddy complexion; Catalan place routes also occur.
RuizParent’s name · rank 92Spanish and Portuguese patronymic: “son of Ruy,” with Ruy a short form of Rodrigo.
RushPlace · rank 918An English topographic or nickname surname from Middle English rush (rushy ground or rush-weaver/beekeeper senses), plus Irish Ó Ruis / Ó Fuada translations and German Rüsch/Rusch.
RussellNickname · rank 108An Anglo-Norman nickname associated with red hair or complexion; some lines may be toponymic.
RussoNickname · rank 740An Italian nickname surname meaning “Russian” or describing someone with red or reddish coloring.
RyanParent’s name · rank 201Irish patronymic from Ó Riain, “descendant of Rian”; the old personal name Rian has no agreed surviving meaning.