What does your surname mean?
As every genealogist knows, we're all the product of our family's history. But genetics aren't the only thing that we pass down the generations. Used to identify our familial bonds, surnames link us to even our most distant ancestors. If your curious about your family history, doing a surname search is a great place to start.
The origin of your last name can reveal a lot about your earliest ancestors' birthplaces, occupations and more.
Surname of the week
Parker
If you meet a Parker, tell them...
The Parker surname is relatively common, and of English origin (where it is the 48th most prevalent name in the country, and has been found there since the medieval period). Parker is an occupational name and derives from the Old French 'parquier' (a term for a park keeper or gamekeeper), given to those who worked in these fields.
42nd most common surname in the UK
John
William
Mary
Elizabeth
Search by letter
Popular surnames
1.
Smith2.
Jones3.
Williams4.
Brown5.
Johnson6.
Taylor7.
Wilson8.
Miller9.
Thomas10.
White11.
Thompson12.
Jackson13.
Moore14.
Martin15.
Evans16.
Walker17.
Clark18.
Anderson19.
Robinson20.
Hall21.
Wright22.
Roberts23.
Harris24.
Green25.
Lewis26.
Davies27.
Hill28.
Wood29.
Allen30.
King31.
Turner32.
Edwards33.
Young34.
Hughes35.
Murphy36.
Morris37.
Cooper38.
Lee39.
Kelly40.
Parker41.
Adams42.
Cook43.
Carter44.
Watson45.
Morgan46.
Phillips47.
Collins48.
Campbell49.
Harrison50.
Bell51.
James52.
Clarke53.
Richardson54.
Price55.
Rogers56.
Bennett57.
Cox58.
Bailey59.
Stewart60.
Gray