Old last names from around the world vary drastically from country to country. The notion of what qualifies as an “old last name” may also be subjective. To some, an old last name refers to last names from the 1900s,  while to others, the idea of old-fashioned names may extend to last names from the 1400s. 

Old-fashioned last names might be considered those that are at least 100 years old while vintage last names are those that are at least 40 years old. Old-fashioned last names could include 1920s last names and anything from earlier years. When conducting family history research, knowing the time period in which your family’s surname originated can help you locate ancestors and learn more about the meaning and significance behind the name.

Most Common Enduring English Surnames

The most common old last names differ depending on which part of the world you look at. While one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon surnames on record is O Cleirigh (O’Clery), from County Galway in Ireland, this does not reflect the history of surnames worldwide. It is widely believed that Kushim, a name of Babylonian origin, is the first surname on record in the world, dating back to approximately 3400 to 3000 BCE.

However, when looking at older last names, Victorian surnames often spring to mind. Victorian-era family names are some of the most common last names from the 1800s. These are the top old English last names from the 1800s in the United Kingdom:

1. Smith
2. Jones 
3. Williams 
4. Taylor 
5. Davies 

Aristocratic last names may also spring to mind when thinking of popular surnames throughout British history. Some names associated with old money in this part of the world are:

• Windsor
• Buckingham
• Carnegie
• Grosvenor
• Cromwell

Other old last names from England that are considered medieval English surnames popular during this period are:

• Fletcher
• Knight
• Cook
• Squire
• Taylor

It might come as no surprise that these are not fancy old last names but names that are based on the occupation of the person at the time. 

Old-Fashioned Last Names With Meanings

Old English surnames and meanings were typically given based on occupations to differentiate between people within a community, for example, John the Blacksmith (John Smith) versus John the Baker (John Baker). 

Old last names and meanings paired with old first names like Avery meaning “wise” or Chance meaning “good fortune” can tell you a lot about a person from this time. For example, Avery Knight is likely to have been regarded as a knight who displayed great wisdom. 

Take a look at these common old last names from the 1600s and old last names from the 1500s and their meanings:

• Ayton: This is a habitational surname linking a person to North Yorkshire or Berwickshire, England. It comes from two words in Old Norse: á meaning “river stream” and tūn meaning “farmstead.”
• Baaker: An occupational last name given to someone who was a baker. 
• Nanton: An Old English surname that refers to a location, linking someone to Naunton in Suffolk. 
• Sadler: Referring to someone who crafted saddles or sold them for a living, this was an occupational surname for people of English and Scottish descent. 
• Yveson: This is a patronymic surname with a “-son” suffix, meaning “son of Yves” or son of “Ives.” A person with this surname can probably find an ancestor named Yves or Ives in their family tree.

Common British old last names

Popular old last names from Great Britain are:

• Schuyler
• Cavendish
• Holmes 
• Graham 

Common German old last names

Common German old surnames are:

• Abeln
• Acker
• Bergmann
• Straub

Common Italian old last names

Italian old last names were typically patronymic, such as:

• Di Giovanni
• D’Angelo

Others were geographical, like:

• Lombardo
• Di Genova

Common Spanish old last names

Many common Old Spanish surnames were either patronymic names with the suffix “-ez” or location-based surnames that provide information about where a person was from. Here are some examples of common old Spanish last names:

• Del Rio
• Sánchez
• Rodriguez 
• González

Common Japanese old last names

These old Japanese family names became fairly common after the 10th century:

• Fujiwara
• Minamoto
• Nakahara
• Ono

Common Filipino old last names

Filipinos began the practice of adopting fixed surnames during the 16th century because of Spanish colonization. This is why many common old Filipino surnames are of Spanish origin. However, before this time, Filipino surnames often referred to a place someone lived. 

• Tabing Dagat (lived by the seashore)
• Ni Batak (grandson of Batak)

Common Russian old last names

Old Russian names differ from those that are Old Slavic names or old Soviet surnames. Examples of Old Russian last names include:

• Peresvet
• Lada
• Zhdan
• Lyubava

Common Old Irish last names

The oldest Irish surname on record is O Cleirigh (O’Clery) from County Galway. “O” and “mac” were prefixes in patronymic surnames in Ireland prior to the 10th century. Other examples are:

• Mac Labhrain
• Mac Gowan (later this name became the still popular McGowan)
• O Colum 

Common Old Norse last names

Old Norse is a North Germanic language originating from ancient Scandinavian. Lists of popular Old Norse last names are not common because people in Nordic countries during this time didn’t have family surnames. Instead, they used the patronymic naming system, where a son took on their father’s given name with the suffix “-son” and a daughter took on the father’s given with the suffix “-dóttir.”

Learn the History Behind Your Surname 

By researching the origin of your family name, you can learn about your ancestors—where they came from, what jobs they had, and even the names of their father and mother in the case of patronymic names. 

Spending time learning about the meaning of your last name and the stories of your family’s past can bring you a deeper connection to your heritage. Ancestry® can help you discover more about your surname, whether it’s a common or rare name. Start your free trial to begin the journey of tracing your lineage and building a family tree to cherish for generations to come.