Surnames Starting with W

WALD

Forest, derived from the German word for woodland or forest area.

WARE

A person who lived near a weir or fish trap, or an occupational name for a maker...

WARFIELD

WASMITH

An occupational surname for a smith or metalworker, possibly with a prefix indic...

WASON

Son of Wase, a medieval given name of uncertain origin.

WATERMAN

A person who worked with water, such as a boatman, ferryman, or water carrier.

WATROUS

Possibly derived from a place name or a variant of water-related occupational te...

WEDEMEYER

A person who lived by or worked with a meadow or pasture.

WEHLE

A person who lived in a valley or hollow area.

WILLISTON

A settlement or town associated with a person named Will or William.

WINGO

WITHERBEE

A person who lived by a stream or water source in a withered or overgrown area.

WITHERSPOON

A person who lived by a spoon-shaped bend in a stream or a place called Withersp...

WOLBERG

A person who lived on or near a wolf mountain or hill.

WOOLEN

A person who worked with wool or was involved in the wool trade.

WOOLSEY

A person who lived in a place associated with wool or a wool worker's settlement...

WOOTEN

A person who lived in a settlement associated with wood or a wooded area.

WOTHERSPOON

A person who lived by a spoon-shaped geographical feature or in a place called W...

WRIGHTSON

The son of a wright, a person who made or built things.

WYNN

A fair or blessed person, derived from the Welsh word for white or fair.

Wada

A surname derived from place names or elements meaning 'field' or 'rice paddy'.

Waddell

Waddey

A surname likely derived from a place name or personal name with uncertain etymo...

Waddy

A surname possibly derived from a place name or occupational term related to a w...

Wade

Wadhams

A surname derived from a place name or personal name, possibly containing 'ham' ...

Wadleigh

Wadsworth

Waeller

A surname possibly derived from an occupational term or place name related to wa...

Waesche

Waggaman

A surname possibly derived from a personal name or occupational term related to ...

Wagley

A surname derived from a place name or personal name containing 'wag' and 'ley' ...

Wagner

A person who builds or repairs wagons and carts.

Wagstaff

A surname derived from an occupational term for someone who carried a wag or sta...

Wahl

Wailes

A surname possibly derived from a place name or personal name, potentially relat...

Wainright

A surname derived from an occupational term for a maker or repairer of wagons.

Wainwright

An occupational surname derived from 'wain' (wagon) and 'wright' (maker), referr...

Wait

A surname derived from an occupational term for a watchman or guard.

Waite

Wakefield

Wakely

A surname derived from a place name containing 'wake' and 'ley' (clearing).

Wakeman

Walbridge

A surname derived from a place name containing 'wall' and 'bridge'.

Walcott

Walden

A surname derived from a place name meaning 'valley of the Wold' or 'wooded vall...

Walder

A surname possibly derived from a place name or personal name related to forests...

Walderman

A person associated with ruling or governing in a forest or wooded area.

Waldo

A ruler or powerful person, particularly one associated with forests or authorit...

Waldow

A descendant or follower of someone named Waldo or associated with forest rule.

Waldron

A ruler of the forest or a person from a forested region.

Walf

A wolf or someone with wolf-like qualities; possibly a warrior or fierce person.

Walker

A person who fulls cloth by treading on it, or one who walks for a living.

Wall

Wallace

A person of Welsh or foreign origin, or from the region of Strathclyde.

Wallack

Wallenberg

Wallenburg

A fortified settlement or castle associated with walls or ramparts.

Waller

Wallerstein

A stone wall or fortified stone structure, or a place known for its stone walls.

Walling

Wallis

Walls

A person who lived near or built walls, or someone from a place known for its wa...

Walraven

A raven-like person or someone with raven-like qualities; possibly a warrior or ...

Walreth

A ruler or counselor associated with walls or fortifications.

Walsh

Derived from the Norman 'Walsh' or 'Waleis,' referring to a Welsh person or fore...

Walska

A person from a region associated with walls or fortifications, or a descendant ...

Walter

Walters

Walther

A powerful ruler or warrior, particularly one who governs forests or territories...

Waltman

Walton

Wang

Wankowicz

A descendant of someone named Wanko or associated with a place called Wanki.

Wannamaker

Warburg

Warburton

Warbuton

A settlement or fortified place associated with a warrior or war-related activit...

Ward

A guardian or watchman, or one who guards a gate or fortification.

Warden

A guardian, keeper, or official in charge of a place, institution, or territory.

Warmoth

Derived from a place name or occupational term related to warm or heat-related a...

Warner

Warrell

Possibly derived from a place name or a variant of Warel, an Old English persona...

Warren

Warrington

Warrum

Possibly related to a place name or an occupational term, though the exact meani...

Warwick

Derived from Warwick, a town in England, meaning 'settlement of the Hwicce peopl...

Washakie

The meaning is uncertain; possibly related to Shoshone language elements, though...

Washburn

Washburn Childs

A compound surname combining Washburn (stream where clothes are washed) with Chi...

Washburne

Washer

Washington

Wasser

Derived from the German word 'Wasser' meaning 'water,' likely indicating residen...

Wasson

Derived from the Old English personal name Wassa or a patronymic form meaning 's...

Watanabe

Derived from Japanese characters meaning 'across the river' or 'by the river,' r...

Waterberg

Derived from a place name meaning 'water mountain' or 'mountain by the water,' i...

Waters

Derived from someone who lived near a body of water or watercourse.

Wates

Possibly derived from a place name or a variant of an Old English personal name,...

Watkins

Watmough

Derived from Old English elements meaning 'wet moor' or 'damp moorland,' indicat...

Watres

Possibly derived from a place name or a variant of 'waters,' referring to a loca...

Watson

Son of Watt, derived from the name Watt which is a diminutive of Walter meaning ...

Watt

Watterson

Derived from a patronymic form meaning 'son of Walter' or 'son of Water,' combin...

Watts

Waugh

Wayne

Wead

Possibly derived from Old English 'wēad' or related to 'woad,' a blue dye plant...

Weadock

Dweller at a meadow dock or water plant location.

Wearin

Weathers

One who works with or tends to weather-related activities, or dweller in an expo...

Weaver

A craftsman who interlaces threads on a loom to create cloth and fabric.

Webb

Weber

A person who weaves cloth as a profession.

Webster

Websters

Plural form referring to multiple weavers or descendants of a weaver.

Weddell

Dweller in a wedge-shaped valley or settlement.

Wedsted

Dweller at a wedge-shaped homestead or settlement.

Weed

Weeks

Wefald

Powerful in battle or one with strong authority.

Weickhardt

Strong and hardy warrior or one with firm character.

Weidel

Dweller in a wide valley or open meadow.

Weidfeldt

Dweller in a wide field or meadow land.

Weightman

An official who weighs goods or manages weights and measures.

Weigle

Weigman

A warrior or man of strength.

Weinberg

Dweller on or owner of a vineyard hill.

Weiner

Weinstone

Wine stone or precious stone related to wine production.

Weintel

Wine dealer or one associated with wine commerce.

Weir

Weisenburger

Weisse

One who is white or pale in complexion.

Weitzel

One who works with wide or broad materials, possibly a weaver or cloth worker.

Welch

Weld

A person who lived near or worked with weld, a plant used for producing yellow d...

Weldon

A person from Weldon, a place name meaning 'well by a hill' or 'spring near a hi...

Welker

One who works with wool or a fuller who processes cloth.

Well

A person who lived near a well or spring, or one who worked with wells.

Wellborn

Weller

Welles

Wellex

Possibly a variant or diminutive form related to 'well' or a combination surname...

Welling

Wellington

A person from Wellington, a place name meaning 'the settlement of Weola's people...

Wells

Derived from someone who lived near a well or spring.

Welsh

Welton

A person from Welton, a place name meaning 'settlement by a well or spring.'

Welty

Wenchel

Possibly a diminutive form related to Wenzel or a variant of Germanic names begi...

Wene

Possibly derived from a Germanic personal name or a topographic element, though ...

Wenger

One who works with wine or a vintner, or possibly one who lives in a wine-produc...

Wengrovins

Possibly a patronymic or family name derived from a Yiddish personal name, with ...

Wentworth

A person from Wentworth, a place name meaning 'the settlement of Wenta's people'...

Wenzel

Derived from the personal name Wenceslaus, a common name in Central Europe meani...

Wenzell

A variant of Wenzel, derived from the personal name Wenceslaus meaning 'greater ...

Werber Wilson

Werner

A person of warrior-like character or a defender.

Wertz

Wescott

A person from a western cottage or settlement.

Wesley

A person from the western meadow or clearing.

West

Western

Westgard

A person from the western enclosure or fortified place.

Westmoreland

A person from the western moorland or uncultivated upland region.

Weston

Westover

Westwood

A person from the western woodland or forest.

Wetmore

Weyman

A person who lives by the way or road, or a road worker.

Whalen

Descendant of Faoláin, a name meaning 'little wolf.'

Whaley

Whang

A Korean surname of uncertain etymology, possibly related to place names or ance...

Wharff

A person who works at or lives near a wharf or dock.

Wharton

Wheat

A person who grows or deals in wheat, or lives in a wheat field.

Wheeler

A craftsman who makes or repairs wheels, particularly for carts, wagons, and oth...

Whelan

Wherry

Whillermore

A person from a place characterized by whillow trees or a similar topographical ...

Whipp

Whipple

Possibly derived from a place name or related to a whip maker or handler.

Whitacre

Whitaker

Whitcomb

White

A descriptive surname referring to someone with white or fair hair, pale complex...

Whitehead

Whitehouse

Whitehurst

A person from a wooded hill with white soil or white stone.

Whiteley

A person from a white or light-colored meadow or clearing.

Whiteman

A person with white or pale skin, or a man of fair complexion.

Whitemore

A dwelling near a white moor or light-colored moorland.

Whiteside

A dwelling on the white or light-colored side of a hill or slope.

Whitham

A homestead or settlement in a white or light-colored location.

Whiting

Whitla

Whitman

Whitmarsh

A white or light-colored marsh or wetland area.

Whitmore

White moor or marsh

Whitmyre

Whitney

Whitside

A dwelling on the white or light-colored side of a geographical feature.

Whittemore

Whitthorne

Whittinghill

A hill associated with a person named Whitting or a white-colored hill.

Whonsettler

A settler or resident in a location called Whon or similar.

Whyte

A person with white or pale coloring, or residence in a white location.

Wickaffe

Unknown; possibly related to a place name or personal name.

Wickersham

Wickey

Possibly a dwelling near a wych elm tree or a place called Wick.

Wickham

A homestead or settlement near a wych elm tree or dwelling place.

Wideman

A wide or broad man, or a man of considerable stature.

Widfeldt

A wide or broad field.

Wiederbach

A stream or brook that flows repeatedly or winds back upon itself.

Wiedfeldt

Wiedfelt

A wide or expansive field.

Wiehle

Wieland

A name derived from elements meaning 'battle' and 'land' or referring to a legen...

Wiener

A person from Vienna or someone associated with Vienna.

Wigginton

A settlement or estate belonging to a person named Wigga or associated with the ...

Wigglesworth

An estate or settlement associated with a person named Wigel or Wiggle.

Wigmore

A settlement or estate characterized by a dwelling or enclosure.

Wike

A dwelling, settlement, or village.

Wilbur

Wilburn

Wilby

A settlement or village associated with a person named Wil or Will.

Wilcox

Wild

A descriptive surname referring to someone who was untamed, fierce, or lived in ...

Wilde

A wild or untamed person, or one living in wild or uncultivated land.

Wilder

Wile

Wiles

Plural of wile, referring to tricks or stratagems, or derived from a place name.

Wiley

Wilfert

A person with the qualities of will and courage, or derived from a Germanic pers...

Wilfley

Wilhelm

A person named William or descended from someone named William, meaning 'resolut...

Wilkansky

A person from a place associated with Wilk or a descendant of someone with that ...

Wilkens

A descendant of Wilke, a diminutive form of the name William.

Wilkes

Wilkie

Wilkin

A person named Wilkin, a diminutive form of William, or a descendant of such a p...

Wilkins

Wilkinson

Willard

Willborn

A person born with the will or desire, or descended from someone with the name W...

Willcox

Willebrandt

Willebrant

Descendant of Willebrand, a Germanic personal name combining 'will' (desire) and...

Willett

Willetts

Descendant of Willet, a diminutive of William.

Willey

William

Resolute protector, derived from Germanic elements meaning 'will' and 'helmet/pr...

Williams

Son of William

Williamson

Willie

Diminutive or informal form of William.

Willingdon

Settlement of Willa's people or the willing/compliant people.

Willingham

Homestead of Willa's people or the willing people.

Willingmyre

Willis

Son of William, derived from the Germanic name meaning 'resolute protector'.

Willits

Descendant of Willet or resident of a place called Willits.

Willmott

Descendant of Willmot, a medieval personal name.

Willoughby

Settlement by the willows or farmstead of Wilugh.

Wills

Willson

Wilmarth

Descendant of Wilmer or Wilmar, Germanic names meaning 'will' and 'famous'.

Wilshire

Resident of Wiltshire or a place with similar etymology.

Wilson

Son of William, indicating descent from an ancestor named William.

Wilton

Settlement by the willow tree or farmstead on the River Wylye.

Wiltshire

Resident of Wiltshire county or derived from the county name.

Winans

Descendant of Wina or resident of a place associated with wine or wind.

Winant

Winchester

Roman settlement on the River Itchen or the fortress of the Wintan people.

Windeger

One who deals with or manages wind-related activities or lives in a windy locati...

Windom

One who lives in a windy valley or hollow.

Winnai

Uncertain; possibly related to 'win' or a personal name element.

Winnington-Ingram

Resident of Winnington combined with the personal name Ingram.

Winsatt

One who lives at a pleasant or friendly settlement.

Winship

Winslow

Winsor

One who lives at a wine-producing settlement or a settlement associated with a p...

Winston

Winter

Winterhalter

One who holds or manages land during winter or a winter shelter keeper.

Winters

Wintersmith

A smith or metalworker active during winter or associated with winter work.

Winthrop

Wirgman

A man associated with wire-making or wire work.

Wirth

Wise

A descriptive surname referring to someone who was intelligent, knowledgeable, o...

Wiseley

One who lives in a meadow or clearing belonging to a wise person.

Witcomb

One who lives in a valley or hollow associated with a white stream or bright wat...

Witherow

One who lives near a row of willow trees or a willow-lined watercourse.

Withers

Withhoft

One who lives at a white or bright homestead.

Witt

A wise person or one with intelligence and wit.

Witte

A white or pale-complexioned person.

Wittenmyer

One who lives near a white marsh or wetland area.

Witters

One who is agile or quick-moving, or a dweller near white water.

Wittgenstein

One from Wittgenstein, a region in Westphalia known for its white stone.

Wo

A Chinese surname of uncertain meaning, possibly related to 'harmony' or 'peace'...

Wolcott

Wold

Wolf

Wolfe

Wolfman

A man who hunts or tends wolves, or a man with wolf-like qualities.

Woll

Wollan

Wolley

One who dwells in a clearing or meadow where wolves were found.

Wolven

Relating to wolves or wolf-like in nature.

Wolverton

Wood

Derived from someone who lived in or near a wood or forest.

Wood Bliss

One who dwells in a blissful or pleasant wooded area.

Woodbridge

One who dwells near a bridge crossing a wooded area or stream.

Woodburn

One who dwells near a stream running through a wooded area.

Wooden

Woodfill

Woodford

One who dwells at a ford crossing through or near a wooded area.

Woodhouse

One who dwells in a house built of wood or located in a wooded area.

Woodhull

Woodlock

Woodring

Woodruff

Woodrum

Woods

Woodside

One who dwells on the edge or side of a wooded area.

Woodson

The son of a man named Wood or one who dwells in a wooded area.

Woodward

Woodworth

Woody

One who is associated with woods or a wooded area, or a diminutive form of the n...

Woodyard

A yard or enclosure where wood was stored or processed.

Wool

A person who worked with wool or lived near a wool market.

Wooley

Woolleg

Possibly a person with woolly legs or someone associated with wool and a leg-rel...

Woolley

Woolworth

Wooward

A guardian or keeper of a wood or forest.

Worden

Work

Works

A person who worked at a works or industrial facility, or lived near one.

Worrell

Worsham

A homestead or settlement associated with a person named Wors or located in a wo...

Worth

A homestead, settlement, or enclosure of value or significance.

Worthington

Woulfe

A descendant of Ó Faoláin, meaning 'descendant of the wolf'.

Wrangel

Possibly derived from a place name or a personal name in Scandinavian or Germani...

Wren

Wright

A maker or builder of something, often used as a suffix for various craftspeople...

Wrigley

A person who lived in a wriggling or twisting place, or a dweller in a settlemen...

Wriston

A settlement or homestead associated with a person named Wrist or located at a w...

Wroblewski

Wroblewsky

A person from Wróblewice or a descendant of someone with the personal name Wró...

Wu

Wurtzbaugh

A person from Würzburg or a dweller near a spice or herb garden.

Wurzbach

Wyant

Wyatt

Wycoff

A person from a place with a dairy farm or cattle enclosure.

Wyell

A person who lived at a well or spring, possibly one with a winding approach.

Wyer

One who dwells by a winding watercourse or bend in a river.

Wyeth

Wyetts

Plural or possessive form of Wyett, possibly referring to a small dwelling or en...

Wylie

Crafty, cunning, or wily in character.

Wynne

Fair, blessed, or white in appearance.

Wyvell

Possibly derived from a place name or a personal name with uncertain meaning.

Wyzanski

Possibly relating to a place name or derived from a personal characteristic.