300 Surnames Starting With S

Surnames that start with S carry some of the oldest stories in the book, from Smith and Sullivan to Sato and Silva. Many trace back to a trade, a village, or a father’s name, so a single letter opens a door to Old English workshops, Irish clans, Portuguese coastlines, and Japanese family lines all at once.

This list gathers 300 last names beginning with S, each paired with its meaning and origin so you can see where it came from and what it once described. You will find familiar classics alongside rarer picks, spanning European, Asian, African, and Latin roots, whether you are tracing your own family tree or naming a character.

Scroll through, note the ones that catch your eye, and check the FAQs at the end for the quick answers people ask most.

300 Special Last Names that Start with S

Here is a breakdown of popular S surnames and their origins:

1. Saar: This European place name makes a cool four-letter surname.
2. Sabino: This name refers to the ancient Sabine population in central Italy.
3. Sabinus: This also relates to the Sabines, dating back before the Roman Republic.
4. Saddler: Also spelled Sadler, this surname comes from the occupation of making saddles.
5. Saffer: This Norman name likely originated as a nickname for a greedy or gluttonous person.
6. Sage: Named after the herb, this is also a unisex given name meaning wise.
7. Sahakyan: This common Armenian surname stems from the same root as the Hebrew given name Isaac.
8. Şahin: This name is very common in Turkey and translates to a type of bird.
9. Sailor: This descriptive surname often belonged to a seafaring family.
10. Sainsbury: An English place and supermarket name meaning saint’s settlement.
11. Saint: From the Latin sanctus, a medieval nickname for a notably pious person or someone who lived by a church named for a saint.
12. Salas: This common Spanish surname translates to halls or rooms.
13. Salazar: This historic Spanish surname means manor house or old hall.
14. Salihović: This Bosniak patronymic surname means son of Salih.
15. Salim: This traditional Arabic name means safe.
16. Salinas: This Spanish place name translates to saltworks.
17. Salisbury: A proper English town name meaning willow settlement.
18. Salmon: A Norman import from Salomon, the French form of Solomon, rooted in the Hebrew Shelomo meaning peace.
19. Salter: This occupational surname traditionally denoted a person who sold salt.
20. Salvatore: This popular Italian name translates to savior.
21. Salvius: This Roman-era surname means safe.
22. Samaras: This Greek surname means saddler or saddle-maker.
23. Samardžić: A strong Slavic name given to a saddle maker.
24. Samson: This Hebrew given name and surname translates to sun child.
25. Samuel: Meaning God has heard, this religious name is commonly used as a male given name.
26. Samuels: A variant of Samuel commonly used as a patronymic surname.
27. Sanchez: This Hispanic name means son of Sancho, which is rooted in the Latin word for holy. It ranks 26th among all US surnames, with 612,752 people carrying it in the 2010 Census ⁽¹⁾.
28. Sanders: This patronymic name means son of Alexander, denoting a defender.
29. Sandler: An old Yiddish surname used for a sandal maker.
30. Sangster: This occupational name denotes a singer or musician.
31. Sanna: This Sardinian surname uniquely means fang or protruding tooth.
32. Santiago: This surname connects to various cities in Spain bearing the same name.
33. Santino: This Italian given name and surname translates to little saint.
34. Santos: Meaning saints, this religious Spanish and Portuguese name sometimes appears as Dos Santos.
35. Sanz: This short surname acts as a form of Sanchez, meaning holy.
36. Sapateiro: A Portuguese surname given to a shoemaker.
37. Sapozhnikov: This Russian surname means cobbler or shoemaker.
38. Sarto: This Italian occupational name means tailor.
39. Sartoris: Another Italian occupational name for a tailor.
40. Sartre: A French occupational surname also meaning tailor.
41. Sarver: A traditional Jewish name for a server or caterer.
42. Sastre: This is the direct Spanish term for a tailor.
43. Satō: This is the most common Japanese surname, featuring elements that mean help and wisteria.
44. Saucier: This French name denotes a sauce-making chef.
45. Saufhaus: A German surname meaning drink house.
46. Saunders: This stems from Alexander, meaning defender of man.
47. Saur: Meaning sour, this unusual German surname likely started as a nickname.
48. Sauron: Meaning foul or awful, this fictional name is popular among Tolkien fans.
49. Sauvageon: This French surname means untamed or savage.
50. Savage: This Norman name translates to wild, fierce, or uncontrolled.
51. Savchenko: A Russian name meaning son of Savka.
52. Savić: This patronymic name is common in Serbia and means son of Sava.
53. Sawyer: This literary name traditionally belonged to someone who saws wood.
54. Saxon: Named after the Old Germanic tribe, this surname translates to knife.
55. Sayegh: An Arabic occupational surname meaning goldsmith.
56. Sayer: This occupational surname translates to carpenter.
57. Scamander: This Harry Potter surname also belonged to a river god in Greek mythology.
58. Schäfer: Meaning shepherd, this German surname reflects an agricultural past.
59. Scheepers: This surname is of Dutch origin and means shepherd.
60. Schiavone: This Italian surname denotes a family with Slavic roots.
61. Schiffer: A German surname meaning boatman or skipper.
62. Schimmelpfennig: This specific surname described someone who let their pennies become riddled with mold.
63. Schindler: Meaning shingle, this name likely referred to roofers.
64. Schinzel: A German occupational surname meaning weaver.
65. Schipper: Similar to Schiffer, this German surname means skipper.
66. Schlachter: This German surname translates to butcher or slaughterer.
67. Schlau: A German name meaning cunning, crafty, or smart.
68. Schleimer: This German surname traditionally belonged to a glue maker.
69. Schlosser: A German occupational surname meaning locksmith or metal worker.
70. Schmid: This form of Smith is particularly common in Austria.
71. Schmidbauer: A double occupational surname meaning blacksmith and farmer.
72. Schmidt: The German version of Smith, translating to blacksmith.
73. Schmidtke: A Germanic smith name featuring a unique spelling.
74. Schmiedel: A German surname branching off from the Smith stem.
75. Schmitz: A spelling variant of Schmitt with the same occupational meaning.
76. Schmitzer: A slightly longer variation of Schmitz.
77. Schneider: This common German occupational surname means tailor.
78. Schnitzer: This translates directly to carver in German.
79. Schroder: Another tailor name with North German origins.
80. Schubert: Meaning shoemaker, this occupational surname is widespread in Germany.
81. Schultze: A prominent German name for a sheriff or constable.
82. Schulze: This also translates to constable, denoting a family with historic status.
83. Schumacher: This classic family name means shoemaker.
84. Schumann: An Old German and Jewish name meaning shoemaker.
85. Schürmann: An Old German name used for a sheep-shearer.
86. Schuster: Another name beginning with Schu that means cobbler or shoemaker.
87. Schwarz: A descriptive name traditionally given to a black-haired family.
88. Schwarzenegger: This famous surname relates to the Swiss village of Schwarzenegg.
89. Schwarzkopf: Also meaning black-haired, this translates directly to black head.
90. Scipione: Derived from the Latin scipio, this surname oddly translates to walking stick.
91. Scola: An Italian surname meaning school or place of education.
92. Scott: A geographic name given to a person from Scotland. It ranks 43rd among US surnames, with 439,530 bearers recorded in the 2010 Census.
93. Scout: This literary name carries inquisitive and military connotations.
94. Scrimgeour: A Scottish clan name rooted in Old English that means fencer or swordsman.
95. Scriver: This name denotes a writer or scribe.
96. Scrubb: This refers to a scrub, shrub, or brush.
97. Seacole: Meaning sea coal, this Middle English surname has rustic roots.
98. Segura: This Spanish name translates to safe or secure.
99. SeLanmere: This unique surname belonged to the Pale Knight from the Dungeons and Dragons Forgotten Realms universe.
100. Senaca: Meaning old, this surname implies wisdom and expertise.
101. Sepp: This is an Estonian variant of the name Smith.
102. Seppänen: This is a Finnish form of Smith for a blacksmith.
103. Sergeant: Meaning servant, this Old French surname later became a recognized military rank.
104. Serra: Meaning saw, this Italian name was traditionally given to a carpenter.
105. Serrano: A common Spanish surname meaning highlander.
106. Serranò: An Italian surname for a family hailing from a place named Serra.
107. Serrurier: A French occupational surname for a locksmith.
108. Severus: This name translates to stern and remains heavily tied to the Harry Potter universe.
109. Sextus: This is a Roman family and forename meaning sixth.
110. Seymour: This derives from a French town and means marshy land by the sea.
111. Shacklebolt: Refers to a metallic locking piece and serves as a surname in Harry Potter.
112. Shamrock: A rare name inspired by the Irish clover symbol of good luck.
113. Shan: This short surname has various international origins.
114. Shannon: Named after the Irish river, this carries meanings like wise river and skilled storyteller.
115. Shapoval: This Ukrainian name denotes the maker of a specific type of felt hat.
116. Sharp: A descriptive 5-letter name for an individual deemed smart or quick.
117. Shaughnessy: Rooted in the traditional Irish surname Ó Seachnasaigh, the exact meaning remains unknown.
118. Shaver: A spelling variant of Schaefer, meaning shepherd.
119. Shaw: This British name describes a family who dwells by the wood.
120. Shay: A variant of the Irish Shea featuring Hebrew roots.
121. Shea: Meaning learned or favorable, this short surname is highly recognizable.
122. Shearer: A name for someone who reaps crops or shears sheep.
123. Shehu: Meaning priest, this is one of the most common surnames in Albania.
124. Shelley: This translates to meadow’s edge and acts as both a UK place name and surname.
125. Shepherd: An Anglo-Saxon occupational surname for someone who herded or reared sheep.
126. Sheridan: Meaning descendant of the searcher, this is also used as a modern given name.
127. Sherman: This was traditionally given to a shearer of cloth.
128. Sherwood: Inspired by the famous forest, this translates to bright or clear wood.
129. Shevchenko: Meaning the shoemaker’s, this is very common in Ukraine.
130. Shevchuk: A Ukrainian surname for a son of the shoemaker.
131. Shipp: Meaning ship, this likely denoted a sailor or mariner.
132. Shriver: An occupational surname for a writer or scribe.
133. Shunpike: Used in Harry Potter, this surname refers to a side road on a highway.
134. Shuttleworth: An English name meaning gated enclosure.
135. Sibley: A historic surname meaning seer, prophet, or oracle.
136. Siciliano: A locational Italian name for a family from Sicily.
137. Sidebottom: An English name likely referring to a large valley base.
138. Sideras: A Greek form of Smith used by hard-working families.
139. Sidney: An Old English surname and given name meaning wide watered land.
140. Sierra: This translates to mountain range in Spanish.
141. Silas: Meaning forest, this Latin-rooted name remains highly popular today.
142. Silbereisen: A German surname meaning silver iron.
143. Silva: A common Portuguese surname meaning forest.
144. Silvester: With Latin roots, this name means wooded or wild in nature.
145. Silvestri: An Italian patronymic from Silvestro, the form of Silvester rooted in the Latin for wooded or wild.
146. Simić: Found in Serbia and Croatia, this patronymic means son of Simo.
147. Simões: A Portuguese patronymic meaning son of Simão, the local form of Simon.
148. Simon: Taken from the biblical boy name, this means he has heard.
149. Simonson: A patronymic name meaning son of Simon.
150. Şimşek: A Turkish surname meaning lightning.
151. Sinclair: Meaning pure or illustrious, this name serves as a nod to Saint Clair.
152. Singh: This common Sanskrit surname translates to lion.
153. Sinistra: A star-inspired surname meaning to the left.
154. Sîrbu: This Romanian surname denotes a Serb.
155. Sixten: An Old Swedish name meaning stone of victory.
156. Skeeter: A slang term for a mosquito in North America.
157. Skinner: A graphic occupational name for someone who stripped hide from animals.
158. Skipper: Originating in Middle English, this occupational name belonged to a basket-maker.
159. Skylar: Often used as a given name, this surname means scholar.
160. Slater: An occupational surname for someone who works with slate.
161. Slaughter: This descriptive name was traditionally given to a butcher.
162. Sloane: An Irish surname meaning leader or warrior.
163. Slughorn: A Scottish surname and type of instrument, translating to war cry.
164. Sluiter: Meaning close, this Dutch surname traditionally denoted a doorkeeper or warden.
165. Slytherin: A famous fictional name tied to the shady Hogwarts house in Harry Potter.
166. Small: This descriptor name was historically given to a short or slender person.
167. Smallman: Similar to Small, but with the personable man suffix added.
168. Smart: A descriptive name for an intelligent family.
169. Šmicer: A Czech variant of the name Smith.
170. Smidt: A Germanic variant of Smith used internationally.
171. Smirnov: A very common surname in Russia meaning gentle, quiet, or peaceful.
172. Smit: A Dutch variant of the traditional Smith surname.
173. Smith: One of the most common surnames in English-speaking countries, meaning blacksmith. In the United States it holds the top spot outright, with 2,442,977 people carrying it as of the 2010 Census ⁽²⁾.
174. Smithers: An extended variant of the Smith surname.
175. Smithson: A patronymic surname meaning son of the smith.
176. Smyth: An older spelling alternative to Smith.
177. Snape: This has various origins including Old English for boggy land and Old Norse for dishonor.
178. Snijders: This Dutch surname translates directly to cutter.
179. Snow: From the Old English snaw, a nickname for a person with snow-white hair or a very pale complexion.
180. Soares: A Portuguese form of Suarez meaning son of Soeiro.
181. Socrates: This rare surname connects instantly to the noted Greek moral philosopher.
182. Solis: Derived from sol, this Spanish word means sun.
183. Solomon: This international name translates to peace.
184. Solovyov: A common surname in Russia relating to the nightingale.
185. Somerset: A proper English place name meaning summer settlement.
186. Sommer: A German surname translating to summer.
187. Sondheim: A German place name heavily associated with the iconic composer Stephen Sondheim.
188. Soprano: This famous Italian name means higher or above.
189. Soranus: A Latin name given to a family hailing from Sora.
190. Sørensen: Meaning son of Søren, this is a classically Scandinavian surname.
191. Soros: A Hungarian surname meaning designated successor.
192. Sorrentino: An Italian locational surname for a family from Sorrento.
193. Sosa: A Spanish form of the Portuguese surname Sousa.
194. Soto: This Hispanic surname translates to wood or a grove of trees.
195. Soulsby: Derived from the British place name Soulby.
196. Sousa: Named after the Portuguese Sousa River, which translates to salty.
197. Southcott: Translating to southern cottage, this stems from various UK place names.
198. Southern: From the Old English sutherne, a name for a person who migrated from the south or lived on the southern side of a settlement.
199. Sow: A three-letter surname originating in West Africa and commonly heard in Belgium.
200. Spada: An occupational name for a swordsman, meaning sword in Italian.
201. Spain: An international surname historically given to English people with ties to Spain.
202. Spangler: An Old German name for someone who makes buckles.
203. Spanos: This name is famously associated with the Greek American owners of the San Diego Chargers.
204. Spark: This historically described a family who lived near shrubs or brushwood.
205. Sparks: A plural variation of the surname Spark.
206. Sparrow: Named after the bird and famously attached to the fictional pirate Captain Jack.
207. Sparshott: This surname combines elements meaning spear and woodland.
208. Sparta: A badass name associated with Spartan history.
209. Spartalis: A variant of Sparta holding the exact same locational meaning.
210. Spaulding: A UK surname rooted in the specific place name Spalding.
211. Speakes: Derived from a British town name, this means twig or branch.
212. Speelman: A Dutch surname designating a musician or performer.
213. Spence: An old surname for a pantry servant or dispenser.
214. Spencer: Used as a given name and surname, this means steward or administrator.
215. Spengler: This German occupational surname means metal worker.
216. Spicer: A descriptive surname for someone who sold or traded in spices.
217. Spider: A rare and memorable English surname.
218. Spielberg: This German-rooted surname is synonymous with the famed movie director Steven Spielberg.
219. Spielmann: A German surname traditionally denoting a jester.
220. Spiewak: A Polish surname translating to singer.
221. Spindler: This occupational name translates to spindle maker.
222. Spinnet: A rare name likely derived from the spinet type of piano.
223. Spivak: A Ukrainian surname meaning singer.
224. Springborn: A medieval German surname for a person living near or born in a spring.
225. Springstein: A famous German surname meaning jump stone.
226. Sprout: From the Old English sprut meaning a young shoot, used as a nickname for a small or slight young person.
227. Squire: This relates to a shield-bearer and an Old English title rank.
228. Squirrell: A descriptive surname named after the woodland animal.
229. Staal: A Dutch surname translating to steel.
230. Stacy: Stemming from Eustace, this common given name and surname means steadfast.
231. Stadtler: A German name translating to barn.
232. Stafford: Derived from the English place, this means place by the ford.
233. Stallion: From the Middle English staloun meaning stallion, first recorded as a nickname or for a man who worked with breeding horses.
234. Stamos: This celebrity surname features Greek origins and translates to stop.
235. Stankiewicz: A Polish surname relating to the name Stanislaw, meaning glory.
236. Stanković: A common Slavic patronymic name meaning son of Stanko.
237. Stanley: A geographic Old English name meaning stone clearing.
238. Stanton: Meaning stone settlement, this is a commonplace name in the UK.
239. Starling: A nickname from the Old English staerling, a diminutive of staer, the small speckled songbird.
240. Starr: From the Old English steorra meaning star, a nickname perhaps for a person with a white streak in their hair.
241. Stassinopoulos: A long Greek-American surname belonging to the co-founder of The Huffington Post.
242. Stavros: Relating to the cross of Christ, this functions as a powerful Greek given name and surname.
243. Stefanidis: A patronymic name meaning son of Stefanos.
244. Stein: A strong five-letter German surname meaning rock or stone.
245. Steiner: This denotes a person who dwells by the stone.
246. Stembridge: This English surname translates directly to stone bridge.
247. Stephanidis: An alternative spelling of the name Stefanidis.
248. Stephanopoulos: This also means son of Stephan and remains well-recognized among longer Greek surnames.
249. Stephens: Meaning son of Stephan, this roots back to a Greek word meaning crown or wreath.
250. Stephenson: A longer patronymic variant of Stephens.
251. Sterling: This name relates to the British currency, the grade of silver, and a Scottish city.
252. Stetson: Rooted in the Devon village of Stidston, meaning Stithweard’s farm, and now tied to the wide-brimmed hat company.
253. Stevens: Another spelling of Stephens, meaning son of Steven.
254. Stevenson: A slightly longer patronymic form meaning son of Steven.
255. Stewart: An Old Scottish name meaning steward.
256. Stich: A German occupational name traditionally meant for a tailor or cobbler.
257. Stirling: A locational surname taken from the Scottish town name.
258. Stoddard: This surname belonged to someone who worked with horses.
259. Stoica: A very common surname in Romania translating to stoic.
260. Stojanović: Meaning son of Stojan, this is an extremely common patronymic name in Serbia.
261. Stoker: Meaning fire-tender, this surname famously belongs to Bram Stoker, the creator of Dracula.
262. Stolyar: A Russian surname meaning carpenter or joiner.
263. Stone: A geographic surname for someone who lived near a distinct stone formation.
264. Storey: Meaning large or big, this name features Old Norse roots.
265. Stott: This translates to cattle and historically denoted a livestock breeder.
266. Straight: An English vocabulary surname representing a strict or honest individual.
267. Strick: This German surname translates directly to rope maker.
268. Striker: An occupational name from the Middle English striken, for a polisher of goods or an official who leveled measures of grain with a flat stick.
269. Stuart: A spelling alternative to Stewart associated with the historic British royal house.
270. Stubbs: A geographic name for a person living near a tree stump.
271. Sturgeon: An English occupational name tied to the specific type of fish.
272. Su: A common Chinese surname featuring various meanings including respectful, revive, and simple.
273. Suárez: Meaning son of Suero, this is highly popular among Spanish surnames.
274. Subotić: A particularly common Serb surname translating to Saturday.
275. Sufian: This Islamic name means fast-moving or companion.
276. Sugar: An English occupational name for a sugar merchant.
277. Sugg: An English surname thought to mean sparrow-like.
278. Suiter: An occupational surname meaning shoemaker featuring German roots.
279. Suleman: A devout Arabic name meaning man of peace.
280. Suljić: Meaning son of Suliman, this is another strong Bosniak patronymic name.
281. Sullivan: This Irish surname intriguingly translates to dark eyes.
282. Sultanov: A powerful Turkic surname meaning son of Sultan.
283. Summerfield: A geographic surname representing a sunny open meadow.
284. Sumner: This traditional English surname translates directly to summoner.
285. Surugiu: This occupational Romanian surname means charioteer.
286. Sutherland: An Old Scottish clan name referring to land to the south.
287. Sutton: A cozy place name meaning southern farm.
288. Suutari: A Finnish occupational surname meaning shoemaker.
289. Svensson: A typically Swedish surname meaning son of Sven.
290. Svizzera: An Italian surname referring to someone from Switzerland.
291. Svoboda: A very common surname in Czechia meaning freeholder or liberty.
292. Swales: Taken from the name of a river that runs through Yorkshire in the UK.
293. Swan: Often an Anglicized form of the Old Norse Sveinn, meaning boy or servant, though it also arose for a keeper of swans.
294. Sweeney: A Gaelic surname meaning descendant of Suibhne, translating to pleasant.
295. Swift: This derives from an old nickname meant for a quick or fast-moving person.
296. Swithin: A rare English name meaning strong or quick.
297. Syed: This powerful Arabic name and honorific means king or noble one.
298. Sykes: Stemming from the word sike, this name translates to stream or ditch.
299. Sylvester: A spelling variant of Silvester that frequently acts as a given name.
300. Szymański: This Polish name comes from the same ancestral stem as Simon.

Last Names Starting with S FAQs