100 Cool American Last Names

Every last name has a pretty interesting story behind it, and in America, diverse cultures fused together to provide it with some pretty stylish options.

Bold, powerful ones which sound like they are out of a movie, or rare stylish ones that have historical roots, American last names can carry an aura of mystery, strength, or sophistication.

If you want a little bit of inspiration for a character, a name change, or have an inclination for finding interesting surnames, this cool American last name list is a treat for you.

Here we go!

American Last Names

Adler – “Eagle” (German origin, symbolizing strength)

Armstrong – “Strong arm” (symbol of power and resilience)

Bennett – “Blessed” (derived from Latin Benedictus)

Bradford – “Broad river crossing” (English origin)

Carver – “Woodworker” (occupational surname)

Chandler – “Candle maker” (French occupational surname)

Clinton – “Fenced settlement” (English noble name)

Crawford – “Ford of crows” (Scottish origin)

Davenport – “Town by the river Dane” (English geographic name)

Donovan – “Dark warrior” (Irish origin)

Elliott – “The Lord is my God” (Hebrew origin)

Everett – “Brave boar” (Germanic roots)

Foster – “Forest guardian” or “nourisher”

Franklin – “Free landowner” (Old English origin)

Garrett – “Spear rule” (derived from Gerald)

Garrison – “Son of Garrett” or “fortified place”

Grayson – “Son of the steward” (English origin)

Harrison – “Son of Harry” (linked to President William Henry Harrison)

Hawthorne – “Thorn bush” (linked to writer Nathaniel Hawthorne)

Hendrix – “Ruler of the home” (Dutch/German origin)

Jackson – “Son of Jack” (common presidential surname)

Jefferson – “Son of Jeffrey” (linked to President Thomas Jefferson)

Jensen – “Son of Jens/John” (Danish/Norse roots)

Kennedy – “Helmeted chief” (Irish origin, linked to the famous political family)

Kingston – “King’s town” (English noble roots)

Lawson – “Son of Lawrence” (means “crowned with laurel”)

Lincoln – “Lake colony” (linked to President Abraham Lincoln)

Madison – “Son of Maud” (popularized by President James Madison)

Maverick – “Independent, nonconformist” (originally a surname for unbranded cattle)

Monroe – “Mouth of the Roe River” (Scottish origin, linked to President James Monroe)

Nash – “By the ash tree” (English origin)

Orson – “Bear cub” (French/Latin roots)

Parker – “Park keeper” (occupational surname)

Prescott – “Priest’s cottage” (English noble origins)

Quinn – “Descendant of Conn” (Irish for “chief” or “wisdom”)

Radcliffe – “Red cliff” (geographic surname)

Remington – “Raven’s town” (Old English roots)

Roosevelt – “Field of roses” (Dutch origin, linked to two U.S. presidents)

Seward – “Sea guardian” (Old English origin)

Sinclair – “Holy and bright” (French/Scottish roots)

Sterling – “High quality, excellent” (linked to silver currency)

Sullivan – “Hawk-eyed” (Irish origin)

Tucker – “Cloth softener” (English occupational surname)

Underwood – “Below the forest” (geographic surname)

Vance – “Marshland dweller” (Irish/Scottish origin)

Vaughn – “Little” (Welsh origin, often used as a noble surname)

Washington – “Estate of Wassa’s people” (linked to the first U.S. president)

Weston – “Western town” (geographic surname)

Whitaker – “White field” (English roots)

York – “Yew tree estate” (linked to the city of York, England)

Abbott – “Father” (English origin, often linked to priests or leaders)

Alden – “Old friend” (English roots, associated with early American settlers)

Ashford – “Ford by the ash trees” (geographic English surname)

Barrett – “Mighty as a bear” (Irish and Norman origin)

Beckett – “Bee cottage” (English surname, linked to writer Samuel Beckett)

Blackwell – “Dark stream” (Old English)

Boone – “Good” or “fortunate” (French, linked to explorer Daniel Boone)

Bradshaw – “Broad wood” (English geographic surname)

Brock – “Badger” (Old English origin)

Calhoun – “Narrow woods” (Scottish origin)

Calloway – “Pebbly place” (French origin)

Carson – “Son of Carr” (Scottish/Irish origin)

Chambers – “Attendant in the lord’s room” (English occupational surname)

Chapman – “Merchant, trader” (Old English occupation)

Cobb – “Lump or rounded hill” (English origin)

Cody – “Helpful” (Irish surname, linked to Buffalo Bill Cody)

Dalton – “Valley town” (Old English origin)

Dawson – “Son of David” (Hebrew origins, meaning “beloved”)

Decker – “Roofer” (German/Dutch occupational surname)

Dempsey – “Proud, haughty” (Irish origin)

Dixon – “Son of Dick” (English surname)

Dunbar – “Fort on the hill” (Scottish origin)

Eaton – “River settlement” (English geographic name)

Ellington – “Ellis’s town” (English surname, linked to jazz musician Duke Ellington)

Farrell – “Man of valor” (Irish origin)

Faulkner – “Falcon trainer” (French occupational surname)

Fleming – “From Flanders” (Belgian/Dutch roots)

Gaines – “Clever, crafty” (English origin)

Gates – “Gatekeeper” (English surname, famously linked to Bill Gates)

Gentry – “Of noble birth” (Old French origin)

Goodwin – “Friend of God” (English origin)

Hale – “Hero” or “from the hollow” (Old English)

Hathaway – “Path across the heather” (English roots)

Higgins – “Descendant of Uigín” (Irish for “Viking”)

Hollis – “Near the holly trees” (English origin)

Jarrett – “Strong spear” (German origin)

Kendrick – “Royal ruler” or “champion” (Welsh/Scottish origin)

Landon – “Long hill” (English origin)

Langley – “Long wood” (English surname)

Larsen – “Son of Lars” (Scandinavian origin)

Lyle – “Island dweller” (French/Scottish roots)

Manning – “Son of a hero” (Irish/Norse origin)

Mayfield – “Field of mayflowers” (English surname)

Palmer – “Pilgrim” (English surname, originally for travelers to the Holy Land)

Ramsey – “Wild garlic island” (Scottish origin)

Roth – “Red-haired” (German surname)

Spencer – “Steward” or “administrator” (English occupational surname)

Sumner – “Summoner” (medieval English occupation for law officers)

Templeton – “Town of the sacred place” (Scottish origin)

Whitman – “White man” (English surname, linked to poet Walt Whitman)