Searching for the perfect surname starting with G? You have come to the right place. Whether you are digging into genealogy, writing a novel, or just curious about etymology, the letter G offers a goldmine of options.
From global heavyweights like Garcia to hidden gems like Gagneux, we have compiled a massive list to spark your imagination. Let’s explore the history and meaning behind these fascinating G last names.
35 Common Last Names Starting With G
These surnames are popular worldwide, but their histories are far from ordinary.
- Gagneux: A lovely French option meaning “to cultivate.”
- Gaines: Originally a Norman nickname describing a tricky or crafty person.
- Gallagher: This Irish name derives from the Gaelic Ó Gallchóir, meaning “foreign helper.”
- Gallegos: A Spanish name denoting someone from the various places called Gallegos in Spain.
- Gamble: This Old Norse surname comes from the given name Gamall, meaning “old.”
- Gao: A three-letter surname meaning “tall” or “high,” it is among the most common names in China.
- Garcia: The most common surname in Spain, possibly derived from the Basque word “hartz,” meaning bear.
- Gardner: A pleasant English occupational surname originally denoting a gardener or landscaper.
- Garnett: This English occupational surname was initially given to hinge makers.
- Garrett: Meaning “spear strength” in English and Irish, this name showcases a powerful ancestry.
- Garza: In Spanish, Garza means “heron,” giving it a lovely association with nature.
- Gay: Originally an Old French nickname meaning “lively” or “joyful.”
- Geller: Possibly derived from the German “gellen” (yeller) or Yiddish “gel” (yellow).
- George: Derives from the Greek name Georgios, meaning “farmer” or “earthworker.”
- Ghani: Common in Arabic-speaking cultures, this name means “rich” or “wealthy.”
- Gibbs: A short English patronymic surname meaning “son of Gib.”
- Gibson: Meaning “son of Gib” in English, this name emphasizes paternal lineage.
- Gilbert: Of Germanic origin, this means “bright pledge,” representing commitment and fidelity.
- Glenn: Meaning “valley” in Welsh, this indicates someone who lived in or near a dale.
- Gomez: A Spanish name meaning “son of Gome,” derived from the Visigothic name Guma.
- Gonzales: A common variation among last names starting with G, meaning “son of Gonzalo.”
- Gonzalez: A Spanish patronymic surname meaning “son of Gonzalo,” rich with heritage.
- Goodson: Comes from an English nickname for a dutiful or helpful son.
- Gordon: A Scottish surname indicating a person from Gordon in Berwickshire.
- Gorman: Derives from the Gaelic given name Gormán, meaning “little blue one.”
- Graham: This surname boasts a strong Scottish heritage and means “gravelly homestead.”
- Grant: Of Scottish and English origin, this comes from the Old French word for “great” or “large.”
- Gray: Originally an English nickname for someone with gray hair or clothing.
- Green: Initially a nickname for someone who wore green or lived near a village green.
- Greer: A Scottish form of Gregory, meaning “watchful” or “vigilant.”
- Griffin: Derived from the Welsh personal name Gruffudd, emphasizing Welsh ancestry.
- Grimes: From the Old Norse name Grimr, meaning “masked person” or “shapeshifter.”
- Guerrero: This powerful Spanish surname means “warrior,” indicating a military ancestor.
- Gupta: A common Indian surname of Sanskrit origin meaning “protected” or “secret.”
- Guy: From the Old French “gui,” meaning “guide” or “leader.”
63 Beautiful Last Names Starting With G
These G surnames sound elegant and carry lovely meanings.
- Gabrielle: A surname and feminine form of Gabriel, meaning “God is my strength.”
- Gabrielli: This Italian surname derives from Gabriele.
- Gabrielson: Meaning “son of Gabriel,” this indicates familial lineage.
- Gadsby: A locational surname derived from “Gaddesby” in Leicestershire, England.
- Gage: This short surname was initially an occupational title for a moneylender.
- Gale: An English nickname for someone cheerful or boisterous.
- Gallardo: Derives from a Spanish nickname for an elegant or gallant person.
- Gallo: This Italian and Spanish surname means “rooster,” indicating a proud person.
- Gandhi: Of Indian origin, this derives from the Gujarati word “gandh,” meaning perfume or fragrance.
- Garçon: Meaning “boy servant” in French, this references an occupation.
- Garland: Of English origin, this was initially for someone who owned a triangle-shaped piece of land.
- Garner: An occupational name for a granary keeper or someone who gathered grain.
- Garrison: A surname of Germanic origin meaning “power of the spear.”
- Gates: Originally an English name for someone living near the town gates.
- Gatsby: A rare variant of Gadsby, made popular by the novel The Great Gatsby.
- Genovese: Of Italian origin, indicating someone from the city of Genoa.
- Gentile: From a medieval Italian nickname meaning “noble” or “charming.”
- Gentle: An English name, possibly from a nickname for a gentle or noble person.
- Gentry: This classy English surname denotes a person of high social standing.
- Geronimo: Derives from the Greek name Hieronymus, meaning “sacred name.”
- Giancarlo: Combines the Italian names Gian (God is gracious) and Carlo (man).
- Gianni: The Italian diminutive of Giovanni, meaning “God is gracious.”
- Gifford: A locational surname referring to a place near a river or ford.
- Gigli: Means “lilies” in Italian, giving it a lovely floral connection.
- Giles: Derives from Greek, meaning “young goat.”
- Gilliam: This variant of William means “resolute protector” in Germanic.
- Gilmore: An Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Gille Mhoire, meaning “servant of the Virgin Mary.”
- Gilroy: This classic Irish surname means “son of the red-haired servant.”
- Giselle: Derives from the Germanic name Gisela, meaning “pledge” or “hostage.”
- Givens: Has roots in the Gaelic surname Mag Dhuibhín, meaning “little black one.”
- Gladstone: An English habitational name meaning “flat stone.”
- Gladwin: Means “cheerful friend” in Old English, perfect for good-natured families.
- Glass: This sleek surname was originally an occupational name for a glassworker or glazier.
- Glendon: This elegant title means “from the dark glen” in Scottish Gaelic.
- Glisson: Possibly a variant of Gleason, meaning “green” or “blue” in Gaelic.
- Goddard: Of English and German origin, meaning “brave god.”
- Godfrey: In Germanic, Godfrey means “God’s peace.”
- Gold: An illustrious choice associated with the metal or yellow hair.
- Golden: A beautiful surname signifying someone with golden hair or a cheerful disposition.
- Goldman: Of German Jewish origin, likely an occupational name for a gold merchant.
- Goldstein: A Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname meaning “gold stone” in German.
- Good: From a nickname meaning “good,” referencing a kind person.
- Goodman: Of English origin, meaning “good man,” denoting a respectable, upright individual.
- Goodwin: In Old English, this means “good friend” or “good companion.”
- Goss: Possibly derived from the Middle English word “gos,” meaning “goose.”
- Gosselin: A French diminutive of Gosse, referring to “the Geats,” a Germanic tribe.
- Gould: An English variation of the surname Gold.
- Gouveia: A habitational name for someone from the town of Gouveia, Portugal.
- Grace: Comes from the feminine name Grace, popularized by the Puritans.
- Granger: Of Old French origin, this is an occupational name for a farm bailiff or overseer.
- Graves: An English topographic name for someone who lived by a grove or thicket.
- Grayson: Of English origin, meaning “son of the steward.”
- Greco: In Italian and Spanish, Greco simply means “Greek.”
- Gregersen: Of Danish and Norwegian origin, meaning “son of Gregor.”
- Gregory: Derived from the Greek given name Gregory, meaning “watchful” or “alert.”
- Greiner: A German occupational name for a potter.
- Griffith: A Welsh patronymic surname meaning “son of Gruffudd.”
- Grimsson: This tough Icelandic surname means “son of Grimur.”
- Grivas: A Greek name from “grivas,” meaning “count” or “duke.”
- Grogan: In Irish, Grogan is a variation of the surname Ó Grógáin.
- Grover: Derived from the Old English “graf,” meaning a grove of trees.
- Guzman: Likely derived from the medieval Spanish personal name Guzmán.
103 Unique Surnames Starting With G
Discover some surnames beginning with G that are slightly out of the ordinary.
- Gabler: A unique German surname originally given to someone who made forks.
- Gabor: From the Hungarian given name Gábor, meaning “God is my strength.”
- Gadhavi: Of Indian (Gujarati) origin, possibly an occupational name for a village headman.
- Gagliardi: From the Italian “gagliardo,” meaning “strong” or “vigorous.”
- Gagne: This surname is most common in Quebec and means “to farm.”
- Gagnon: In Old French, Gagnon means “guard dog,” likely given to an aggressive person.
- Gahan: A short form of the Irish surname McGahan, meaning “wise.”
- Gál: This short surname comes from Hungary and means “rooster.”
- Galbraith: An ethnic name for Britons living in Scotland, meaning “foreign Briton.”
- Galvan: This Irish surname means “bright white.”
- Gan: A Chinese option meaning “pole” or “shaft.”
- Gang: An alternate form of the Korean family name Hangul, meaning “ginger.”
- Gangopadhyay: A complex option among surnames beginning with G, meaning “teacher” in Sanskrit.
- Garbo: This Italian surname meaning “politeness” is associated with actress Greta Garbo.
- Gárdonyi: Of Hungarian origin, derived from the name of a town in Hungary.
- Garfagnini: Possibly for someone from Garfagnana, a historical region in Tuscany.
- Garfield: Means “triangle field,” linked to the cartoon cat and the 20th U.S. president.
- Garofalo: From the Italian word for “carnation,” a lovely surname for flower fans.
- Garrard: Comes from the German personal name Gerard, meaning “spear.”
- Garrastazu: This unique Basque surname means “bush place.”
- Garrido: A classy choice meaning “elegant” in Spanish.
- Garrod: Rooted in the German given name Gerald (spear).
- Garvey: From the Gaelic surname Ó Gairbhshíth, meaning “cruel peace.”
- Gaspard: Comes from the French given name Gaspard, meaning “treasurer.”
- Gass: Originally a German nickname for someone who lived on a city street.
- Gatti: In Italian, Gatti means “cats,” making it perfect for feline lovers.
- Gaunt: An English surname for someone from Flanders or someone thin.
- Gautam: Derived from the Sanskrit word “gotra,” meaning “family” or “lineage.”
- Gehring: Derived from several German names beginning with “ger” (spear).
- Geier: A nickname for a greedy person, meaning “vulture” in German.
- Geiger: A German occupational name for a fiddle player.
- Geissler: An occupational name for a goat herder, from the German “geiss” (goat).
- Genadiev: Means “son of Genadi” in Bulgarian.
- Genov: In Bulgarian, this family name means “son of Geno.”
- Georgiev: Means “son of Georgi,” the Bulgarian form of George.
- Gerasimov: This Russian surname means “old age” or “honor” in Greek.
- Gerber: A German occupational name for a tanner, associated with the baby food brand.
- Gereben: Means “hackle” in Hungarian, referencing a tool that combs out fibers.
- Gershwin: Of Jewish origin, possibly meaning “son of Gersh” or “left-handed.”
- Gerst: A German family name for a barley farmer.
- Getz: Of German origin, meaning “goat” or “goatskin.”
- Gevorgyan: Means “son of Gevorg” in Armenian.
- Ghattas: Derived from an Arabic verb meaning “to submerge in water.”
- Giannopoulos: Of Greek origin, meaning “son of Giannis” (John).
- Giese: Derived from Old German names beginning with “gisal” (pledge, hostage).
- Gilani: Of Arabic origin, indicating descent from the Gilan region in Iran.
- Gilberto: A Spanish surname from the Germanic name Giselbert, meaning “bright pledge.”
- Gill: This short Norse surname initially referenced someone living near a ravine.
- Girod: The French variation of Gérard, from the Germanic “gār” (spear).
- Giunta: From the Italian given name Bonagiunta, meaning “good assistant.”
- Gjorgiev: Means “son of Gjorgi” in Macedonian.
- Glennie: Derived from the Gaelic “gleann,” meaning “valley.”
- Glezos: Of Greek origin, meaning “son of Glezos.”
- Gniewek: An unusual Polish name derived from “gniew” (anger).
- Goff: Of Welsh and Breton origin, meaning “red-haired” or “smith.”
- Goffe: From Breton or Cornish “goff” (smith), referencing a metalworker.
- Gokhale: Of Marathi origin, meaning “shepherd” or “cowherd.”
- Goldhirsch: This powerful Yiddish name means “golden stag.”
- Goldschmidt: Means “goldsmith” in German, indicating a family’s profession.
- Golob: Derived from the Slovene word “golob,” meaning “pigeon” or “dove.”
- Golovin: From the Russian word “golova,” meaning head.
- Gomes: Of Portuguese origin, derived from the given name Gomes.
- Gomólka: Possibly from the Polish word “gomółka,” meaning “cheese curd.”
- Goncalves: In Portuguese, this distinctive surname means “son of Gonçalo.”
- Gorecki: Associated with various towns in Poland, from the word “góra” (mountain).
- Gorski: An adventurous Polish surname meaning “from the mountain.”
- Gotovac: Of Croatian origin, meaning “ready” or “prepared.”
- Gough: Comes from the Welsh word “coch” (red), originally a nickname for a redhead.
- Grabowski: A Polish habitational name for someone from various places called Grabowo.
- Gradišar: Derived from the Slovene word “grad” (castle) with the suffix “-šar” (keeper).
- Graner: Originally referred to someone from Gran, a city in northern Hungary.
- Grantz: Derived from the Middle High German word “gruntz” (snout).
- Grasso: Means “fat” or “big” in Italian.
- Greenberg: A Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname for someone living by a green mountain.
- Gretzky: Of Ukrainian origin, a variant of the given name Hryhoriy (Gregory).
- Grieve: An English surname originally given to a steward or farm manager.
- Grigorescu: Has Romanian origins, meaning “son of Grigore.”
- Grillo: Means “cricket” in Italian, originally a nickname for a cheerful person.
- Grimaldi: From the Germanic personal name Grimwald, meaning “helmet rule.”
- Grimm: A German nickname for someone with a stern or severe demeanor.
- Grint: An unusual option, possibly referencing a granary manager.
- Gronchi: In Tuscany, Gronchi means “numb” or “bent.”
- Gros: Means “thick” or “big” in French.
- Grosz: A Polish surname meaning “large” or “big,” often based on physical characteristics.
- Gruber: A German occupational name for a miner, meaning “pit.”
- Grünberg: Of German and Jewish origin, meaning “green mountain.”
- Guadarrama: A habitational name for someone from the town of Guadarrama in Spain.
- Gudmundsson: Means “son of Gudmundur” in Icelandic.
- Guerra: Of Spanish and Italian origin, meaning “war” in both languages.
- Guillaume: The French equivalent of the English William, meaning “will” or “desire.”
- Guinness: Derived from the Old Irish name McGuinness, meaning “son of Aonghus.”
- Gulbrandsen: A Norwegian surname meaning “son of Gulbrand.”
- Gully: Originally a nickname for a big person, from the English “golias” (giant).
- Gump: From the German “gumpen,” meaning “to hop” or “to jump.”
- Gundersen: This classic Scandinavian surname means “son of Gunder.”
- Gunter: Derived from the Old Germanic name Gundahar, meaning “army battle.”
- Gustafsson: Of Swedish origin, this means “son of Gustaf.”
- Gutermuth: Means “good courage” or “good spirit” in German.
- Guthrie: A habitational name derived from Guthrie in Angus, Scotland.
- Guttuso: Originally a Sicilian nickname meaning “sad.”
- Gwerder: Of Swiss-German origin, meaning “agile” or “alert.”
- Gwózdek: An original option meaning “forest” or “nail” in Polish.
- Gynt: Coined by Henrik Ibsen for the central character in his play Peer Gynt.








