Awesome Last Names That Start With A: With Meanings

Curious about the history behind names like Anderson or the rarity of Azalea? You have come to the right place. We researched origins and meanings to bring you this comprehensive collection of surnames starting with A.

From popular patronymic names like Adams to hidden gems like Abichandani, we cover the spectrum. Let’s dive into the heritage of these A-names and uncover the unique stories they tell.

18 Common Last Names That Start With A

Here are the most popular surnames starting with A that you will likely encounter.

1. Abbott – An English occupational name. It refers to a person employed in an abbot’s household or a member of the clergy.
2. Adams – A patronymic surname of English and Hebrew origin. It translates to “son of Adam.”
3. Adkins – A variant of the name Atkins. It means “son of Atkin,” which is a medieval nickname for Adam.
4. Aguirre – A topographic name of Basque origin. It means “exposed place” or “prominence.”
5. Ahmed – An Arabic name common in Islamic cultures. It means “praised” or “commendable.”
6. Allen – A name with Celtic roots. It roughly translates to “little rock,” “harmony,” or “noble.”
7. Allison – A patronymic surname of English and Scottish origin. It means “son of Alan” or “son of Alexander.”
8. Almeida – A Portuguese habitational name. It refers to families from the town of Almeida.
9. Alvarez – A Spanish patronymic surname. It means “son of Alvaro,” signifying a guardian.
10. An – A common Korean surname. It represents the Chinese character for “peace” or “tranquility.”
11. Anderson – A patronymic name with Scandinavian and English roots. It means “son of Andrew.”
12. Andrews – A variation of Anderson found in England and Scotland. It also means “son of Andrew.”
13. Anglin – An Anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó hAngluinn. It means “champion” or “hero.”
14. Aoki – A Japanese topographic name. It translates to “green tree” and refers to a settlement near a prominent tree.
15. Armstrong – A Scottish and English nickname. It describes someone with strong arms or a powerful build.
16. Atkins – A Middle English surname. It denotes a “son of Atkin,” a diminutive of Adam.
17. Atkinson – An extension of Atkins. It explicitly means “son of Atkin.”
18. Austin – A vernacular form of Augustus. It means “great” or “magnificent” and became popular in medieval England.

121 Unique Last Names Starting With A

Explore these uncommon last names starting with A, each with a distinct history.

1. Abbotson – An English name. It means “son of the abbot.”
2. Abercrombie – A Scottish habitational name. It comes from a place in Fife known as the “mouth of the bendy river.”
3. Abergel – A Jewish surname of North African origin. It means “one-legged” or “the man with the foot.”
4. Aberhart – A variant of the Germanic name Eberhard. It means “wild boar” and “brave.”
5. Abernethy – A Scottish place name. It refers to a location near the mouth of the river Nethy.
6. Abichandani – A Hindu surname found in the Sindhi community. It denotes a descendant of Abichand.
7. Abingdon – An English habitational name. It refers to families from Abingdon in Oxfordshire.
8. Abitbol – A North African Jewish surname. It means “father of the drum” and refers to a drum maker.
9. Ab Owain – A Welsh patronymic name. It translates directly to “son of Owain.”
10. Ab Owen – A variation of Ab Owain. It identifies the “son of Owen.”
11. Abiteboul – A variant of Abitbol. It is common among Sephardic Jewish families.
12. Adamsen – A Danish and Norwegian name. It is the Scandinavian form of “son of Adam.”
13. Addington – An English habitational name. It comes from various places named Addington in England.
14. Afify – An Arabic surname. It comes from the word “afif,” meaning “chaste” or “modest.”
15. Agarwal – An Indian surname used by the Bania community. It means “people of Agroha.”
16. Agate – An English name derived from the given name Agatha. It can also refer to the semi-precious stone.
17. Aggarwal – A variant spelling of Agarwal. It is common among traders and merchants in India.
18. Agnew – A name of Norman origin. It comes from the barony of Agneaux in France.
19. Ahluwalia – A Sikh surname. It derives from the village of Ahlu in Lahore.
20. Ahmadi – An Arabic and Persian surname. It denotes a follower or descendant of Ahmad.
21. Ahuja – A Punjabi surname. It means “descendant of Ahu.”
22. Ahumada – A Spanish habitational name. It refers to a place where signal fires were smoked.
23. Aikenhead – A Scottish habitational name. It comes from a location in Lanarkshire meaning “oaken headland.”
24. Ajami – An Arabic name. It historically referred to non-Arabs, specifically Persians.
25. Akaboshi – A Japanese surname. It translates to “red star” or “morning star.”
26. Aker – An English and Scandinavian topographic name. It describes someone who lived near a cultivated field.
27. Akhundov – An Azerbaijani surname. It means “son of the Akhund” (a religious cleric).
28. Alber – A German name. It is a short form of Adalbert, meaning “noble and bright.”
29. Albrighton – An English habitational name. It refers to towns in Shropshire named Albrighton.
30. Alden – An English name from the Old English Ealdwine. It means “old friend.”
31. Aldenham – An English habitational name. It refers to a place in Hertfordshire.
32. Aldersey – An English name. It means “island of the alders.”
33. Alderson – An English patronymic name. It means “son of the elder” or “son of Aldred.”
34. Aldridge – An English habitational name. It refers to a specific ridge where alders grew.
35. Aldworth – An English surname. It refers to an “old enclosure” or farm.
36. Alemán – A Spanish surname. It simply means “German.”
37. Alexander – A classic Greek name turned surname. It means “defender of men.”
38. Al-Hashimi – An Arabic surname. It denotes a descendant of Banu Hashim, the clan of the Prophet Muhammad.
39. Allaband – A rare surname found in the United States. Its exact origins are obscure but likely Anglicized.
40. Allaf – An Arabic occupational name. It refers to a “provender” or seller of animal feed.
41. Allard – A French and English name. It derives from noble Germanic roots meaning “noble strength.”
42. Allerton – An English habitational name. It designates a “farmstead by the alder trees.”
43. Allington – An English place name. It means “settlement of the gypsies” or “farm of the princes.”
44. Allsopp – An English name. It comes from Alsop-en-le-Dale in Derbyshire.
45. Allyn – A spelling variant of Allen. It shares the meaning “harmony” or “stone.”
46. Almond – An English name. It derives from the Old English Aethelmund, meaning “noble protector.”
47. Al-Mubarak – An Arabic name. It means “the blessed one.”
48. Al-Mutairi – An Arabic tribal name. It refers to the Mutayr tribe of the Arabian Peninsula.
49. Al-Qudsi – An Arabic name. It identifies someone from Al-Quds (Jerusalem).
50. Al-Shuaibi – An Arabic surname. It denotes a follower or descendant associated with the Prophet Shuaib.
51. Alston – An English habitational name. It refers to various places known as “Alfsige’s farm.”
52. Alverstone – An English name. It connects to a village on the Isle of Wight.
53. Al-Wazir – An Arabic title turned surname. It means “the minister” or “helper.”
54. Al-Zahrani – A Saudi Arabian tribal name. It identifies a member of the Zahran tribe.
55. Amane – A Japanese name. It can mean “heavenly sound” depending on the kanji used.
56. Amara – A name with multiple roots. It means “bitter” in Italian and “grace” in Igbo.
57. Amaro – A Spanish and Portuguese name. It derives from the Latin Amarus, meaning “bitter.”
58. Amato – An Italian name. It comes from the Latin Amatus, meaning “beloved.”
59. Amis – An English and French name. It means “friend.”
60. Amos – A Hebrew surname. It means “burden” or “load-carrier.”
61. Ampleforth – An English habitational name. It comes from a village in North Yorkshire.
62. Amspoker – An Americanized surname. It is likely a variation of the German Anspacher.
63. Amundsen – A Norwegian patronymic name. It means “son of Amund.”
64. Anami – A Japanese surname. It translates to “hole in the dwelling.”
65. Anderton – An English habitational name. It refers to places in Lancashire and Cheshire.
66. Andreasen – A Danish patronymic name. It means “son of Andreas.”
67. Andressen – A Norwegian spelling variant. It also means “son of Andreas.”
68. Angland – An Irish surname. It is an Anglicized form of Ó hAngluinn.
69. Ankers – An English name. It refers to a religious recluse or anchorite.
70. Anley – An English habitational name. It likely refers to a meadow or clearing.
71. Ansell – An English name. It derives from the Germanic name Anselm, meaning “god helmet.”
72. Applegate – An English topographic name. It describes a “gate to the orchard.”
73. Appleton – An English habitational name. It refers to a “farmstead where apples grow.”
74. Arabin – An Irish Huguenot name. It likely comes from a Southern French dialect word for “arable land.”
75. Arazi – A Hebrew and Sephardic surname. It means “cedar” or can refer to a weaver.
76. Arber – An English occupational name. It refers to a “herbalist” or seller of herbs.
77. Arbogast – A German name. It means “heir” and “stranger,” often implying a foreign inheritor.
78. Arbuckle – A Scottish habitational name. It comes from Arbuckle in Lanarkshire.
79. Arburua – A Basque topographic name. It refers to a “head of the rock” or upper part of a mountain.
80. Ardern – An English habitational name. It refers to the Forest of Arden.
81. Ardolf – A rare German name. It derives from “hard” (brave) and “wulf” (wolf).
82. Argyle – A Scottish regional name. It refers to the district of Argyll in western Scotland.
83. Arkell – An English name with Norse roots. It comes from the name Arnkell, meaning “eagle helmet.”
84. Arkwright – An English occupational name. It describes a craftsman who made chests or bins (arks).
85. Armesto – A Spanish habitational name. It refers to a specific village in Galicia.
86. Armistead – An English name. It describes the “place of the hermit.”
87. Armitage – An English topographic name. It describes someone living near a hermitage.
88. Armstead – A variant of Armistead. It also refers to a hermit’s dwelling.
89. Arnott – A Scottish surname. It is likely a diminutive of Arnold.
90. Arscott – An English habitational name. It comes from Arscott in Shropshire.
91. Arthurs – A patronymic surname. It means “son of Arthur.”
92. Ashcroft – An English topographic name. It refers to an enclosure near ash trees.
93. Ashe – An English and Irish name. It describes someone who lived “at the ash tree.”
94. Ashenden – An English habitational name. It refers to a “hill of ash trees.”
95. Ashford – An English place name. It describes a ford (river crossing) near ash trees.
96. Ashman – An English name. It refers to a sailor or pirate.
97. Ashurst – An English habitational name. It means “ash tree hill” or “wooded hill.”
98. Askew – An English name of Norse origin. It means “oak wood.”
99. Aspinall – An English habitational name. It refers to a nook or spring near aspen trees.
100. Asquith – An English name. It comes from Askwith in Yorkshire, meaning “ash wood.”
101. Asselin – A French name. It is a diminutive of a Germanic name meaning “noble.”
102. Astley – An English place name. It means “east clearing” or “clearing with ash trees.”
103. Atassi – A Syrian surname. It belongs to a prominent noble family from Homs.
104. Atonal – A rare modern surname. It relates to the musical term for music without a key center.
105. Atterton – An English habitational name. It refers to a settlement in Leicestershire.
106. Aubert – A French variant of Albert. It means “noble and bright.”
107. Auchinleck – A Scottish habitational name. It means “field of the flat stone.”
108. Aughton – An English place name. It refers to a “farmstead where oak trees grow.”
109. Avenell – A French and English name. It is likely a nickname derived from the Latin “avena” (oats).
110. Averill – An English name. It derives from the Old English female name Eoforhild, meaning “boar battle.”
111. Avis – An English name. It derives from the Norman French name Avice.
112. Axford – An English habitational name. It refers to a ford crossing the river Ax.
113. Axon – An English name. It is likely a condensed form of Atkinson.
114. Ayers – An English nickname. It comes from the Middle English “eir,” meaning heir.
115. Aylen – An English name. It is a variant of Alan or Aveline.
116. Aylward – An English name. It comes from Aethelweard, meaning “noble guardian.”
117. Aylworth – An English habitational name. It refers to a farm belonging to Aethel.
118. Ayres – A spelling variant of Ayers. It means “heir.”
119. Ayrton – An English habitational name. It refers to a “farmstead on the river Air.”
120. Ayton – A Scottish and English name. It means “river farm” or “island farm.”

66 Beautiful Surnames Starting With A

These surnames starting with A have meanings rooted in nature, nobility, and art.

1. Abaza – A surname of Abkhazian origin. It denotes someone from the Abaza tribe.
2. Abras – A French name. It is a variant of Abraham.
3. Acharya – A Sanskrit name. It means “spiritual teacher” or “preceptor.”
4. Adalira – A rare name derived from German. It implies a person of noble birth.
5. Adelaide – A German place name and personal name. It means “noble nature.”
6. Adonis – A Greek name. It relates to the mythological figure of beauty and desire.
7. Aine – An Irish name. It means “radiance” or “splendor.”
8. Ainsley – A Scottish habitational name. It describes a “solitary meadow” or “Anselm’s clearing.”
9. Ainsworth – An English habitational name. It refers to an “enclosure” owned by Aegen.
10. Airle – A Scottish name. It is likely related to the Earls of Airlie.
11. Aisling – An Irish name. It translates to “dream” or “vision.”
12. Aitken – A Scottish name. It is a double diminutive of Adam.
13. Akantha – A Greek name. It means “thorn” or “prickle.”
14. Akita – A Japanese place name. It means “autumn rice paddy.”
15. Alarica – A feminine form of Alaric. It means “ruler of all.”
16. Alavi – An Islamic surname. It indicates a descendant of Ali ibn Abi Talib.
17. Alina – A name with Slavic and Germanic roots. It means “bright” or “noble.”
18. Aliz – A Hungarian name. It is a form of Alice, meaning “noble.”
19. Allegra – An Italian name. It means “joyful” or “lively.”
20. Allemand – A French name. It is a geographic indicator for a German person.
21. Ally – A Scottish and English name. It can be a geographic name meaning “at the lee.”
22. Alouetta – A variant of the French Alouette. It means “lark.”
23. Alouette – A French name. It refers to the lark bird.
24. Aleron – A name of Latin origin. It means “winged one.”
25. Amalinde – A Germanic name. It combines “work” and “soft/tender.”
26. Amalthea – A Greek mythological name. It belongs to the foster mother of Zeus.
27. Amaya – A Japanese habitational name. It means “night rain.”
28. Ambrose – A name of Greek origin. It means “immortal.”
29. Ambrosia – A Greek name. It refers to the food of the gods.
30. Amherst – An English habitational name. It refers to a wooded hill near the border.
31. Amira – An Arabic name. It means “princess” or “leader.”
32. Amoret – A literary name. It means “little love.”
33. Amrani – A Jewish and Arabic name. It denotes someone from the Amran region.
34. Amsel – A German name. It means “blackbird.”
35. Anemone – A Greek name. It means “daughter of the wind.”
36. Angelou – A Greek surname. It is a patronymic form of Angelos, meaning “messenger.”
37. Angharad – A Welsh name. It means “much loved.”
38. Appleby – An English habitational name. It refers to a “farm by the apple tree.”
39. Aquila – A Latin name. It means “eagle.”
40. Aquino – An Italian habitational name. It refers to the town of Aquino.
41. Arachne – A Greek mythological name. It means “spider.”
42. Arantxa – A Basque name. It refers to a place of thorn bushes.
43. Arbore – An Italian name. It derives from the Latin word for “tree.”
44. Arden – An English name. It means “valley of the eagle” or “high.”
45. Ardith – A name of Hebrew origin. It means “flowering field.”
46. Aria – An Italian name. It means “air” or “melody.”
47. Arianell – A Welsh name. It means “silver.”
48. Ariel – A Hebrew name. It means “lion of God.”
49. Arita – A Japanese habitational name. It means “ant rice paddy.”
50. Arrowsmith – An English occupational name. It refers to a maker of arrows.
51. Asai – A Japanese name. It means “shallow well.”
52. Ash – An English topographic name. It designates someone living near an ash tree.
53. Ashby – An English habitational name. It means “farmstead with ash trees.”
54. Ashlin – An English name. It is a variant of Ashling or Ashland.
55. Ashour – An Arabic name. It is associated with the festival of Ashura.
56. Atwood – An English topographic name. It refers to a dweller “at the wood.”
57. Austerberry – An English name. It likely refers to a “fortification to the east.”
58. Avalon – A Celtic name. It refers to the island of apples in Arthurian legend.
59. Aveline – A French name. It means “hazelnut.”
60. Avena – A Spanish and Italian name. It means “oats.”
61. Aybar – A Spanish name. It is likely of Basque or Arabic origin.
62. Azalea – A Greek name. It refers to the “dry” flower shrub.
63. Azami – A Japanese name. It means “thistle.”
64. Azara – An Arabic name. It relates to flowers or blossoms.
65. Azura – A name derived from Azure. It means “sky blue.”
66. Azurea – A variation of Azura. It also signifies the color blue.

Last Names That Start With A FAQs

What Are Some of the Rarest Last Names Starting With A?

Some of the rarest surnames starting with A include Atonal, Allaband, and Amspoker. You may also encounter rare global names like Abichandani (Indian), Akhundov (Azerbaijani), and Asai (Japanese). These names often link back to very specific lineages or small geographic locations.

What Is the Most Common Last Name Starting With A in the U.S.?

Adams is the most popular surname starting with A in the United States. It is a patronymic name meaning “son of Adam.” Other highly common names include Anderson, Allen, and Hernandez (often confused as starting with A due to sound, but Alvarez is the actual A-name equivalent in popularity).

What Are Popular Hispanic Last Names Starting With A?

Alvarez and Aguirre are two of the most prominent Hispanic surnames beginning with A. Alvarez is a patronymic name meaning “son of Alvaro,” while Aguirre is a Basque name referencing a topographic location. Other examples include Acosta, Aguilar, and Avila.