Anglo-Saxon Last Name Generator
Old English bynames and the surnames they became
Generate Anglo-Saxon last names the way the period used them: Old English bynames such as Godwines sunu, Cerdicing, se Langa, Hunta and æt Stanforda. The list also holds later surnames that grew from Old English personal names, like Godwin, Woolgar and Elphick.
About Anglo-Saxon last names
People in England before 1066 had no hereditary surnames. A person carried one given name, and when two men called Godwine shared a hall a byname told them apart: whose son he was, what he looked like, what he did or where he lived. Family names took hold only in the centuries after the Norman Conquest. So the 1,000 entries here are not Anglo-Saxon family names. They are 700 bynames in Old English and 300 later surnames of Old English origin.
The bynames follow the patterns the sources show. Patronymics end in -ing (Cerdicing, Pybbing) or put the father's name in the genitive before sunu, dohtor or bearn (Godwines sunu, Eadgares dohtor). Nicknames take the weak adjective after se, or seo for a woman: se Langa, seo Fægre. Others name a trade or rank (Hunta, Gerefa, Webba) or a place in the dative after æt or of (æt Stanforda, of Miercum). A few are recorded bynames of real people, among them Ironside, Streona, Cild and Spot. Most of the rest are built for this page from real Old English words and attested given names.
The surnames, such as Godwin, Aldrich, Woolgar and Kenward, grew from Old English personal names and nicknames after the period. Spelling keeps æ and writes th for thorn and eth.
How to choose Anglo-Saxon last names
- Put the byname after the given name and use only one: Wulfstan se Langa, Leofgifu Eadgares dohtor, Osric æt Stanforda.
- Keep the first word as written and read the second: sunu is son, dohtor daughter, bearn child, eafora heir, brothor brother, nefa nephew and mæg kinsman. Wif (wife) and laf (widow) follow a husband's name, so they are bynames for women.
- Use se with the -a ending for a man (se Hwita) and seo with the -e ending for a woman (seo Hwite). Mixing the two reads as a grammar slip.
- Leave the place in an æt or of byname as it stands. Stanforda and Miercum are dative forms, so the endings are part of the grammar.
- For a story set after 1066, or for a later descendant of your character, switch to the surnames in the list such as Godwin, Woolgar or Kenward.
Frequently asked questions
Did the Anglo-Saxons have last names?
Not in the modern sense. A person had one given name, and a byname was added when it was needed to tell two people apart. It described that one person and was not passed on to children. Hereditary surnames spread in England only after the Norman Conquest.
Which names in the list are recorded and which are built?
Ironside, Streona, Cild, Spot and Swanneshals are bynames recorded for real people, some of them only by writers after the Conquest. Patronymics such as Elesing, Cenreding and Pybbing come from the royal genealogies of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, and Ceolan sunu and Ecglafes bearn appear in Old English poetry. Most other bynames are built for this page from real Old English words and attested given names.
Why is Godwinson not in the list?
Godwinson is a modern convention for King Harold. The Old English way to say it is Godwines sunu, the father's name in the genitive followed by the word for son, and that form is in the list. A daughter uses dohtor in the same way, as in Eadgares dohtor.
Which modern surnames come from Old English names?
Many do. Godwin comes from Godwine, Woolgar from Wulfgar, Elphick from Ælfheah and Kenward from Cenweard or Cyneweard. They became hereditary surnames in the centuries after the period, so they suit later settings better than a story set before 1066.
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All 1,000 Anglo-Saxon last names
A: 182 names
- Abbod
- Æcermann
- Albright
- Alderman
- Aldred
- Aldrich
- Aldridge
- Aldwin
- Ælfgares sunu
- Ælfheages sunu
- Ælfhelmes sunu
- Alflatt
- Ælfmæres sunu
- Ælfnothes sunu
- Alfred
- Ælfrices sunu
- Ælfsiges sunu
- Ælfstanes sunu
- Ælfweardes sunu
- Ælfwines sunu
- Algar
- Ælling
- Allnutt
- Alston
- Alvey
- Alwin
- Anhydig
- Ærendraca
- Arfæst
- Ærgod
- Arrowsmith
- Arsmith
- Æscwiges nefa
- Æscwines nefa
- Ashcroft
- Ashdown
- æt Abbandune
- æt Æglesbyrig
- æt Andredesceastre
- æt Æsce
- æt Æscesdune
- æt Assandune
- æt Æthelingaige
- æt Basingum
- æt Bathum
A, continued
- æt Beamfleote
- æt Bebbanbyrig
- æt Bedanforda
- æt Beorge
- æt Beorhhamstede
- æt Bosanham
- æt Bradanforda
- æt Broce
- æt Brycge
- æt Buccingahamme
- æt Burnan
- æt Cantwarabyrig
- æt Ceortesige
- æt Cerdicesforda
- æt Cingestune
- æt Cippanhamme
- æt Cirenceastre
- æt Clife
- æt Colneceastre
- æt Corfesgeate
- æt Cridiantune
- æt Cumbe
- æt Cyrican
- æt Dene
- æt Deorhyrste
- æt Dice
- æt Dofran
- æt Dune
- æt Dunholme
- æt Ecgbryhtesstane
- æt Elig
- æt Ellendune
- æt Eofeshamme
- æt Eoforwic
- æt Ethandune
- æt Exanceastre
- æt Fearnhamme
- æt Felda
- æt Fenne
- æt Folcanstane
- æt Forda
- æt Geate
- æt Gipeswic
- æt Glæstingabyrig
- æt Grafe
- æt Grantabrycge
A, continued
- æt Gyrwum
- æt Hamme
- æt Hamtune
- æt Hæstingum
- æt Hæthe
- æt Heortforda
- æt Hereforda
- æt Hlawe
- æt Holte
- æt Hripum
- æt Hrofesceastre
- æt Huntandune
- æt Hylle
- æt Hyrste
- æt Hythe
- æt Lambhythe
- æt Lea
- æt Legaceastre
- æt Licetfelda
- æt Lundene
- æt Mældune
- æt Medeshamstede
- æt Mere
- æt Meretune
- æt Mersce
- æt Middeltune
- æt More
- æt Mylne
- æt Mynstre
- æt Næsse
- æt Northwic
- æt Oxnaforda
- æt Peonnum
- æt Portesmuthan
- æt Ramesige
- æt Readingum
- æt Sandwic
- æt Sceaftesbyrig
- æt Scireburnan
- æt Scrobbesbyrig
- æt Searobyrig
- æt Snotingaham
- æt Stæfforda
- æt Stane
- æt Stanforda
A, continued
- æt Stapole
- æt Strande
- æt Stræte
- æt Streoneshale
- æt Sumortune
- æt Tamweorthige
- æt Tantune
- æt Temesanforda
- æt Theodforda
- æt Thorne
- æt Thornige
- æt Tofeceastre
- æt Wærham
- æt Wæringwicum
- æt Wealingaforda
- æt Wealle
- æt Wedmor
- æt Westmynstre
- æt Wigraceastre
- æt Wiltune
- æt Winburnan
- æt Wincelcumbe
- æt Wintanceastre
- æt Wiremuthan
- æt Witham
- æt Wodnesbeorge
- æt Wuda
- æt Wyllan
- Æthelgares bearn
- Ætheling
- Æthelmæres sunu
- Æthelnothes sunu
- Æthelredes sunu
- Æthelrices sunu
- Æthelricing
- Æthelsiges sunu
- Æthelstanes sunu
- Æthelweardes sunu
- Æthelwines sunu
- Æthelwoldes sunu
- Æthelwulfing
- Audrey
- Aylett
- Aylmer
- Aylward
- Aylwin
B: 61 names
- Bæcere
- Bæcestre
- Bældæging
- Bar
- Baxter
- Beadle
- Bealdredes wif
- Befer
- Beocere
- Beornheardes bearn
- Beornhelmes bearn
- Beornnothes bearn
- Beornredes bearn
- Beornwulfes bearn
- Bera
- Bigga
- Blacklock
- Blackman
- Blake
- Blitheheort
- Blythe
- Bocere
- Boda
- Bold
- Bowman
- Brewster
- Bridd
- Bright
- Brightiff
- Brightman
B, continued
- Brightmore
- Brighty
- Brixey
- Broadwater
- Brocc
- Bronding
- Browning
- Brunes sunu
- Brunger
- Brunwin
- Bucca
- Budd
- Burhheardes laf
- Burhmann
- Burhredes laf
- Burrett
- Burridge
- Burthegn
- Burward
- Bydel
- Bymere
- Byrele
- Byrhtelmes bearn
- Byrhtferthes dohtor
- Byrhthelmes dohtor
- Byrhtmæres dohtor
- Byrhtnothes dohtor
- Byrhtrices dohtor
- Byrhtsiges dohtor
- Byrhtwines dohtor
- Byrhtwoldes dohtor
C: 50 names
- Calvert
- Cartwright
- Cealf
- Ceawlining
- Cempa
- Cenreding
- Ceolan sunu
- Ceolmundes bearn
- Ceolnothes bearn
- Ceolredes bearn
- Ceolrices bearn
- Ceolwalding
- Ceolwulfes bearn
- Ceorl
- Cerdicing
- Child
- Chilman
- Chilvers
- Cild
- Cniht
- Cobbold
- Collenferhth
- Colt
- Colvin
- Cotsetla
- Coward
- Crawe
- Creoding
- Crisp
- Crocwyrhta
- Cuhyrde
- Cuthberhtes bearn
- Cuthbert
- Cuthheardes bearn
- Cuthredes bearn
- Cuthwining
- Cuthwulfes bearn
- Cutts
- Cyneheardes bearn
- Cynehelmes bearn
- Cynerices bearn
- Cynesiges bearn
- Cynewalding
- Cyneweardes bearn
- Cynewulfes bearn
- Cynricing
- Cypmann
- Cyricweard
- Cyswyrhte
- Cyta
D: 23 names
- Dædcene
- Darling
- Darwin
- Dear
- Dearman
- Dema
- Denewulfes laf
- Deormodes laf
- Deorwulfes laf
- Diacon
- Discthegn
- Dodd
- Dodson
- Domgeorn
- Dorman
- Draca
- Dudman
- Dunn
- Dunnan sunu
- Dunning
- Dunstan
- Dunstanes brothor
- Dureweard
E: 62 names
- Eade
- Eadgares dohtor
- Eadhelmes dohtor
- Eadmundes dohtor
- Eadnothes dohtor
- Eadredes dohtor
- Eadrices dohtor
- Eadsiges dohtor
- Eadstanes dohtor
- Eadweardes dohtor
- Eadwiges dohtor
- Eadwines dohtor
- Eadwulfes dohtor
- Eafing
- Ealdhelmes brothor
- Ealdormann
- Ealdredes brothor
- Ealdwulfes brothor
- Ealhheres brothor
- Ealhmunding
- Ealhstanes brothor
- Eanmundes mæg
- Eanredes mæg
- Eanwulfes mæg
- Earl
- Earn
- Earwaker
- Eastman
- Eastmond
- Eathmod
- Eating
E, continued
- Ecgbryhting
- Ecglafes bearn
- Ecgtheowes bearn
- Ecgwulfes wif
- Eddolls
- Eddy
- Edgar
- Edmonds
- Edmund
- Edrich
- Edridge
- Edwin
- Elder
- Eldred
- Elesing
- Elgar
- Ellenrof
- Ellwood
- Elmer
- Elphick
- Elsey
- Elvin
- Eneda
- Eofor
- Eomæring
- Eopping
- Eorl
- Eorpwaldes laf
- Esmond
- Etheridge
- Everill
F: 24 names
- Fairchild
- Fairfax
- Fairhead
- Fairweather
- Finc
- Fiscere
- Fithelere
- Forridel
- Forst
- Fowle
- Fowler
- Freawining
- Freeborn
- Freeman
- Frewin
- Friend
- Frost
- Froud
- Fry
- Fugel
- Fugelere
- Fuggle
- Fuller
- Fullere
G: 46 names
- Gaddes mæg
- Gamolfeax
- Garcene
- Garman
- Garmundes mæg
- Garwulfes mæg
- Gathyrde
- Gebur
- Geneat
- Gerefa
- Gerefan sunu
- Gladman
- Glædmod
- Gladwin
- Gleomann
- Glew
- Godan sunu
- Godman
- Godmannes sunu
- Godrices sunu
- Godwin
- Godwines sunu
- Goldhawk
- Golding
- Goldsmith
- Goldstone
- Goldwin
- Good
- Goodbody
- Goodchild
- Goodenough
- Goodeve
- Goodfellow
- Goodhart
- Goodlake
- Goodliffe
- Goodrich
- Goodridge
- Goodson
- Goodwin
- Gos
- Gould
- Greenhalgh
- Gullick
- Gummer
- Gutteridge
H: 50 names
- Hafoc
- Hafocere
- Hægweard
- Harding
- Hardman
- Hartshorn
- Harward
- Hawke
- Hawthorn
- Hayward
- Heahgerefa
- Heahmundes nefa
- Heahstanes nefa
- Healfcyning
- Healfdenes bearn
- Heard
- Heardmod
- Heardredes nefa
- Hearpere
- Heorot
- Hereberhtes bearn
- Herefrithes bearn
- Heremodes bearn
- Heretoga
- Hereward
- Hereweardes bearn
- Herewulfes bearn
- Hind
- Hiredmann
- Hleapere
- Hoar
- Hordere
- Hornblawere
- Horsthegn
- Hræfn
- Hrethles eafora
- Hrethling
- Hroc
- Hunberhtes mæg
- Hund
- Hunfrithes mæg
- Hunlafing
- Hunredes mæg
- Hunta
- Huntan dohtor
- Hwætredes laf
- Hwelp
- Hwistlere
- Hygerof
- Hyrde
I: 6 names
- Iceling
- Iding
- Ingilding
- Irenheard
- Ironside
- Isensmith
K: 12 names
- Keen
- Kemp
- Kennard
- Kennaway
- Kenward
- Kenway
- Kerrich
- Kerridge
- Kimber
- Kimbrough
- Kinsey
- Knight
L: 31 names
- Læce
- Langman
- Lareow
- Lawerce
- Leach
- Leaf
- Leaman
- Leax
- Lemmer
- Leodwalding
- Leofan sunu
- Leofgares sunu
- Leofheages sunu
- Leofnothes sunu
- Leofrices sunu
- Leofsiges sunu
- Leofstanes sunu
- Leofwines sunu
- Leornere
- Leveridge
- Leveson
- Lewin
- Lewsey
- Light
- Lightfoot
- Little
- Lofgeorn
- Lord
- Loveday
- Loveman
- Loveridge
M: 16 names
- Mangere
- Mann
- Mannan sunu
- Manning
- Marvin
- Mæssepreost
- Massere
- Mæw
- Mildheort
- Millward
- Milredes laf
- Moll
- Moody
- Munuc
- Mylenweard
- Mynetere
O: 58 names
- Oakden
- Oakley
- Oddan bearn
- of Bearrucscire
- of Beornicum
- of Cent
- of Centlande
- of Cisseceastre
- of Defenum
- of Derum
- of Dornsætum
- of Dornwaraceastre
- of Ealdseaxum
- of Eastenglum
- of Eastseaxum
- of Gleawanceastre
- of Hamtunscire
- of Hwiccum
- of Ligeraceastre
- of Lindcylene
- of Lindesige
- of Magonsætum
- of Middelseaxum
- of Miercum
- of Northhymbrum
- of Pecsætum
- of Sumorsætum
- of Suthrigum
- of Suthseaxum
- of Westseaxum
- of Wiht
- of Wilsætum
- of Wreocensætum
- Offan mæg
- Offing
- Old
- Ongentheowes bearn
- Ordgares dohtor
- Ordheages dohtor
- Ordrices dohtor
- Ordway
- Ordwulfes dohtor
- Orgar
- Osferthes dohtor
- Osgares dohtor
- Osmer
- Osmundes dohtor
- Osredes dohtor
- Osrices dohtor
- Oswald
- Oswaldes dohtor
- Oswin
- Oswines dohtor
- Otor
- Oughtred
- Oxa
- Oxanhyrde
- Oxnard
P: 10 names
- Pendan bearn
- Pipere
- Polga
- Portgerefa
- Portmann
- Præn
- Pratt
- Preost
- Puttoc
- Pybbing
Q: 2 names
- Quennell
- Quick
R: 14 names
- Rædbora
- Radcniht
- Rædwaldes laf
- Ramm
- Ravenshaw
- Read
- Readwin
- Redhead
- Reeve
- Ridda
- Ripere
- Rudd
- Ruddoc
- Rumheort
S: 213 names
- Sæberhtes wif
- Sædere
- Salter
- Sangere
- Sæweardes wif
- Sceaphyrde
- Scefing
- Sceowyrhta
- Scipere
- Scipmann
- Scipwyrhta
- Scirgerefa
- Scop
- Scyldwyrhta
- Scytta
- se Anræda
- se Æthela
- se Bealda
- se Bilewita
- se Blaca
- se Blitha
- se Brada
- se Bruna
- se Calwa
- se Cena
- se Centisca
- se Clæna
- se Cræftiga
- se Cystiga
- se Denisca
- se Deora
- se Dunna
- se Dyrstiga
- se Eadiga
- se Ealda
- se Eastenglisca
- se Easterna
- se Eltheodiga
- se Englisca
- se Fægra
- se Fæsta
- se Fealwa
- se Frencisca
- se Froda
- se Froma
- se Frysa
- se Gamela
- se Geonga
- se Georna
- se Gethyldiga
- se Getreowa
- se Gingra
- se Glada
S, continued
- se Gleawa
- se Goda
- se Græga
- se Greata
- se Grimma
- se Halga
- se Hara
- se Hea
- se Hearda
- se Hluda
- se Holda
- se Hrada
- se Hwata
- se Hwita
- se Inlenda
- se Langa
- se Leofa
- se Lufsuma
- se Lytla
- se Mæra
- se Micla
- se Mihtiga
- se Milda
- se Modiga
- se Myrcisca
- se Northerna
- se Northhymbrisca
- se Ofermoda
- se Reada
- se Retha
- se Rica
- se Rihtwisa
- se Rofa
- se Romanisca
- se Sæliga
- se Scearpa
- se Sceorta
- se Scyttisca
- se Smala
- se Snella
- se Snotra
- se Stearca
- se Stilla
- se Stitha
- se Stranga
- se Styrna
- se Sutherna
- se Swearta
- se Sweta
- se Swifta
- se Thicca
- se Thrista
- se Thynna
S, continued
- se Unforhta
- se Uplendisca
- se Utlenda
- se Welega
- se Westerna
- se Wilda
- se Wisa
- se Wlanca
- se Wylisca
- se Wynsuma
- se Yldesta
- se Yldra
- Seaber
- Seaborn
- Seabright
- Seagar
- Sealtere
- Seaman
- Seamere
- Seamestre
- Seavers
- Seely
- seo Ænlice
- seo Æthele
- seo Beorhte
- seo Blithe
- seo Brune
- seo Eadige
- seo Fægre
- seo Fæle
- seo Freolice
- seo Halge
- seo Hwite
- seo Leofe
- seo Leohte
- seo Lithe
- seo Milde
- seo Reade
- seo Sælige
- seo Scyne
- seo Smylte
- seo Snotre
- seo Swete
- seo Tile
- seo Torhte
- seo Wise
- seo Wlitige
- seo Wynsume
- Seolforsmith
- Seward
- Sewell
- Sewin
- Sharp
S, continued
- Shepherd
- Shipwright
- Short
- Shreeve
- Sibbald
- Sibyrhtes brothor
- Sigeberhtes dohtor
- Sigeeadig
- Sigefæst
- Sigehelmes dohtor
- Sigeredes dohtor
- Sigerices dohtor
- Sigerof
- Sigewulfes dohtor
- Siggers
- Sirett
- Small
- Smart
- Smith
- Smithes sunu
- Snaw
- Snelgar
- Snell
- Snelling
- Sothfæst
- Sparrow
- Sparrowhawk
- Spearwa
- Spot
- Stanley
- Stannard
- Stær
- Stark
- Steallere
- Stearcheort
- Stedefæst
- Steormann
- Stidolph
- Stigweard
- Still
- Stithmod
- Stithwulfes laf
- Stoddard
- Streona
- Strong
- Swan
- Swanneshals
- Sweet
- Sweeting
- Sweetlove
- Sweetman
- Swift
- Swithhelmes nefa
- Swithredes nefa
T: 29 names
- Tannere
- Tapper
- Tæppere
- Tate
- Tatwines mæg
- Thain
- Thegn
- Thegnes dohtor
- Theodredes wif
- Theodrices wif
- Thew
- Thick
- Thingfrithing
- Thornley
- Thristhydig
- Thurstanes sunu
- Thynne
- Tidwulfes brothor
- Tilwines wif
- Tireadig
- Tirfæst
- Tollere
- Torhthelmes mæg
- Torhtredes mæg
- Treowwyrhta
- True
- Truelove
- Trueman
- Tungerefa
U: 5 names
- Uccea
- Uhtredes dohtor
- Ule
- Ullyatt
- Unwin
W: 101 names
- Wade
- Wægnere
- Wægnwyrhta
- Wainwright
- Wakeman
- Wælses eafora
- Walwin
- Wærferthes nefa
- Warman
- Wærmundes nefa
- Wærmunding
- Wealcere
- Wealhstod
- Webb
- Webba
- Webban dohtor
- Webbestre
- Webster
- Whatman
- Wheelwright
- Whitbread
- Whitcombe
- Whitehead
- Whiting
- Whitlock
- Whitman
- Whittard
- Wicgerefa
- Wicnere
- Widger
- Wiga
- Wigheardes brothor
- Wighelmes brothor
- Wightman
- Wiglafes eafora
- Wigmundes brothor
- Wigredes brothor
- Wigstanes brothor
- Wihtgares brothor
- Wihtlæging
- Wihtredes brothor
- Wihtrices brothor
- Wilbert
- Wild
- Wilding
- Wildman
- Wilfrithes mæg
- Wilmer
- Winbolt
- Winemundes wif
W, continued
- Winn
- Winston
- Wise
- Wiseman
- Wisfæst
- Wishydig
- Wita
- Wodening
- Wolf
- Wolfenden
- Wolfit
- Wolsey
- Wolstan
- Wonreding
- Woodward
- Wooldridge
- Woolgar
- Woollard
- Woollett
- Woolmer
- Woolner
- Woolnough
- Woolrich
- Woolston
- Woolven
- Woolward
- Woolway
- Wren
- Wrenna
- Writere
- Wuduweard
- Wulf
- Wulfgares sunu
- Wulfgeates sunu
- Wulfhelmes sunu
- Wulfheres sunu
- Wulfmæres sunu
- Wulfnothes sunu
- Wulfrices sunu
- Wulfsiges sunu
- Wulfstanes bearn
- Wulfstaning
- Wulfweardes sunu
- Wyard
- Wyborn
- Wybrow
- Wyman
- Wymond
- Wynhelmes wif
- Wynsiges wif
- Wyrhta