100 Vintage Last Names
In a world where everything is constantly changing, some things can remain eternal – vintage last names.
These designated surnames have often held great histories and encourage feelings of nostalgia.
Some names are incredible just for their traditional charm, whereas others represent our past families and ancestors.
Whether it was a last name of a great uncle, the last name of your grandmother, or a last name you love, vintage last names provide an identity to an ancestor and culture.
They remind us of our engagement with our culture and they remind us of the stories that shaped who we are.
In this blog post, we will be plentiful with some vintage last names that are monumental interesting by exploring the name origin, the meaning of vintage surnames, their legacy, and ultimately what makes these vintage surnames still captivating today.
vintage last names
Abbott – A leader of a monastery; derived from the Old English word abbod meaning “father” or “abbot.”
Ainsley – Derived from a place name meaning “solitary meadow” in Old English.
Alder – Refers to someone who lived near an alder tree or an alder grove.
Anderson – Meaning “son of Andrew,” with Andrew itself meaning “manly” or “brave.”
Armstrong – A name for someone with strong arms, symbolizing strength and bravery.
Atwood – From the Old English at wuda, meaning “at the wood.”
Baldwin – Derived from the Old Germanic words bald (brave) and win (friend).
Barclay – A surname of Scottish origin, meaning “birch tree meadow.”
Barton – Meaning “barley town” or “settlement near a barley farm.”
Beaumont – French origin, meaning “beautiful mountain.”
Blake – Derived from Old English blac, meaning “dark” or “fair-haired.”
Bower – Referring to a “bower” or a “sheltered place” in Old English.
Bradford – Meaning “broad ford,” or a crossing of a river.
Bramwell – Meaning “bramble well,” referring to a location by a bramble bush.
Bray – A surname denoting a “badger” or “bramble,” from Old French or Old English.
Brewster – Occupation-based, meaning “a brewer of ale.”
Brooks – Refers to someone who lived near a brook or stream.
Burnett – From Old French, meaning “little brown one.”
Byers – Refers to a person who lived near a cattle shed or barn.
Campbell – Scottish in origin, meaning “crooked mouth.”
Chamberlain – Originally an office name for a household official or steward.
Chavez – A Spanish surname meaning “house” or “home.”
Clarke – Refers to a scholar, cleric, or someone who worked in a monastery.
Clemens – Derived from the Latin clemens, meaning “gentle” or “merciful.”
Collins – A diminutive of the name Nicholas, meaning “victory of the people.”
Conner – An Irish surname meaning “descendant of Connor,” with Connor meaning “lover of hounds.”
Darcy – Of Irish origin, meaning “dark” or “from the fortress.”
Davidson – Meaning “son of David,” with David meaning “beloved.”
Delaney – Of Irish origin, meaning “descendant of the challenger.”
Douglas – A Scottish surname meaning “dark stream.”
Duncan – Of Scottish origin, meaning “dark warrior.”
Ellis – A variation of the name Elias, meaning “the Lord is my God.”
Emerson – Meaning “son of Emery,” with Emery meaning “brave” or “powerful.”
Everett – Derived from the Old English eofor, meaning “wild boar.”
Fairchild – A surname signifying a fair or beautiful child.
Fletcher – A name for a maker of arrows.
Foster – Derived from the Old French foster, meaning “forest guard” or “caretaker.”
Freeman – Originally denoted someone who was free, not a serf or slave.
Gibson – Meaning “son of Gilbert,” with Gilbert meaning “bright pledge.”
Goodwin – Of Old English origin, meaning “good friend.”
Granger – Originally referring to someone who worked on a farm or managed grain.
Greenwood – Refers to someone who lived near a green wood or forest.
Harrison – Meaning “son of Harry,” with Harry being a medieval form of Henry.
Hawkins – Derived from the name Hawkin, meaning “little hawk.”
Henderson – Meaning “son of Henry,” with Henry meaning “ruler of the household.”
Higgins – An Irish surname derived from the name Hugh, meaning “heart, mind.”
Holland – A place name meaning “land on the hill.”
Holmes – Refers to someone who lived near a holm (island or riverbank).
Howard – Of Old English origin, meaning “high guardian” or “brave heart.”
Hudson – Meaning “son of Hugh,” with Hugh meaning “mind” or “heart.”
Irwin – Of Scottish origin, meaning “boar friend.”
Jackson – Meaning “son of Jack,” with Jack being a diminutive of John.
Jefferson – Meaning “son of Jeffrey,” with Jeffrey meaning “peaceful ruler.”
Jenkins – A diminutive form of the name John, meaning “little John.”
Kendall – Meaning “valley of the river Kent.”
King – Originally a royal title, now used as a surname.
Knight – Referring to a person who held the rank of a knight in the feudal system.
Larkin – Derived from the Latin name Laurentius, meaning “from Laurentum.”
Lennox – A Scottish surname meaning “from the elm grove.”
Livingston – Of Scottish origin, meaning “town of the rough place.”
Lowry – Derived from the name Laurence, meaning “laurel” or “crowned with laurel.”
Manning – Of Irish origin, meaning “descendant of the little monk.”
Marshall – Originally an occupation name for a horse caretaker or a servant.
Mason – Refers to a stone worker or builder.
McAllister – An Irish surname meaning “son of Alistair,” with Alistair meaning “defender of the people.”
McCoy – Of Irish origin, meaning “son of Aodh,” with Aodh meaning “fire.”
Montgomery – A Norman surname meaning “man power” or “mountain of the man.”
Morris – Derived from the Latin Mauritius, meaning “dark-skinned” or “Moor.”
Murphy – An Irish surname meaning “descendant of the sea warrior.”
Nash – Derived from the Old English ash (a type of tree).
O’Connor – An Irish surname meaning “descendant of Connor,” with Connor meaning “lover of hounds.”
Parker – An occupational name for someone who worked as a park keeper or gamekeeper.
Pendleton – A surname of English origin meaning “hill with a pointed top.”
Perkins – A diminutive of the name Peter, meaning “rock” or “stone.”
Preston – Refers to someone who came from the priest’s town.
Quinn – An Irish surname meaning “descendant of Conn,” with Conn meaning “chief” or “leader.”
Reed – Refers to someone with red or ruddy hair.
Richards – Meaning “son of Richard,” with Richard meaning “brave ruler.”
Riley – Of Irish origin, meaning “courageous” or “valiant.”
Roberts – Meaning “son of Robert,” with Robert meaning “bright fame.”
Rodgers – Meaning “son of Roger,” with Roger meaning “famous spear.”
Rose – A surname derived from the rose flower, often a symbol of beauty.
Russell – Derived from the French roux, meaning “little red one.”
Saunders – Derived from the name Alexander, meaning “defender of the people.”
Scott – Refers to someone from Scotland or a person of Scottish origin.
Simmons – Meaning “son of Simon,” with Simon meaning “one who hears.”
Spencer – An occupational surname for a steward or manager of a household.
Stanton – A surname of Old English origin meaning “stone town.”
Stewart – An occupational surname for someone who was a household manager or steward.
Taylor – A surname for a tailor or someone who worked with clothing.
Thompson – Meaning “son of Thomas,” with Thomas meaning “twin.”
Vaughn – Of Welsh origin, meaning “small” or “little.”
Walker – An occupational surname for a person who walked or tramped on cloth to soften it.
Webb – Refers to a weaver, derived from the Old English webbe.
Weston – Meaning “west town” or “town to the west.”
Wheeler – An occupational surname for a person who made or repaired wheels.
Whitaker – Meaning “white field” or “white meadow.”
Wilkins – A diminutive form of William, meaning “resolute protector.”
Williams – Meaning “son of William,” with William meaning “resolute protector.”
Wright – Refers to a worker or craftsman, such as a carpenter or builder.
