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Last names that start with A have been a part of the world since the beginning. Indeed, the first man on Earth was named Adam according to the Bible. These last names have morphed and adapted over the millennia and can now be found in almost all languages and cultures. While some of them are habitational, others are occupational. Yet others may be toponymic, while several last names may be patronymic. For instance, Spanish last names with A are often habitational or topographic, while Arabic last names starting with A are often patronymic or derived from a first name. As surnames, they sometimes may have been adopted from nicknames, too. Last names such as Averill, Amigable, and Apfel are some examples of last names transitioning from nicknames.
Even among cultural and linguistic differences, it is important to remember that these surnames sometimes carry a common thread. For instance, last names such as Albert, Andrews, Adam, and Alexander are found in several languages. The following list of last names starting with A will not only give you a glimpse of the versatility of the letter but also give you an idea of how widespread the usage of this letter is in generating last names.
Key Pointers
- Last names starting with A are found in almost every culture and language.
- These names may be habitational, occupational, and topographic, apart from patronymics.
- Some last names from A such as Abraham and Adam have Biblical significance, while Ali and Abdul have Quranic references..
- Some surnames such as Albert and Alexander are found in almost every European language with various spellings and pronunciations.
Last Names Starting With A
Last names that start with A span space and linguistic boundaries. These last names are listed according to their culture, religion, and language. These surnames reflect linguistic diversity and add cultural significance, as seen in their various adaptations across languages such as Spanish, Italian, and Arabic.
Spanish Last Names Starting With A
Spanish last names that start with A are found not only in Spain but also in several Spanish-speaking countries. Most of these last names double as Hispanic or Latino surnames, too.
1. Abadilla
Abadilla is a habitational name from La Abadilla in Cantabria. It means ‘abbey.’
2. Abarca
Abarca is a habitational name from the province of Palencia, It is derived from a nickname given to people wearing a traditional sandal.
3. Abascal
Abascal has Basque roots. It means ‘priest’s street.’
4. Abel
Abel is derived from the same given name and means ‘breath.’ It is also used as an English, French, Danish, German, and Portuguese surname.
5. Abrego
Also written as Ábrego in Spanish, this surname is derived from a nickname or a toponymic. It means ‘south wind’ in Spanish and ‘African’ in Latin.
6. Abril
Pronounced as a-BREEL, this surname is derived from the same given name. It is derived from the Latin Aprilis, meaning ‘April.’
7. Abundio
Derived from the same given name, Abundio means ‘abundant’ or ‘plentiful.’ It is also used as a Galician surname.
8. Acebo
Acebo is a habitational name. It is derived from several places with the same name and means ‘holly.’
9. Acevedo
Acevedo is a topographic surname meaning ‘holly tree.’ Elizabeth Acevedo is a Dominican-American author and poet. She is known for her novel The Poet X and was named the Young People’s Poet Laureate in 2022 by the Poetry Foundation (1).
10. Acosta
Acosta is a Spanish version of Da Costa. It means ‘riverbank,’ ‘slope,’ or ‘coast.’
11. Agua
Agua is either a topographic or occupational name. It means ‘water.’
12. Aguado
Aguado is also derived from agua, which means ‘water.’ It is a topographic or occupational name.
13. Aguilar
Aguilar is a habitational surname. It means ‘eagle.’
14. Aguirre
Aguirre has Basque roots. It means ‘open,’ ‘cleared,’ or ‘prominent.’ and is a topographic surname.
15. Alamilla
Alamilla is derived from the Spanish word alamillo meaning ‘poplar’ or ‘aspen.’ It is a topographic surname.
16. Alba
Alba was used as a nickname originally. It means ‘white.’
17. Alberto
Alberto is derived from the given name Albert and means ‘noble and bright.’ It is also a Portuguese surname.
18. Alfaro
Alfaro is a habitational surname derived from a city in La Rioja. It possibly has Arabic origins and means ‘watchtower.’
19. Alfonso
Alfonso is derived from the same given name. It means ‘noble and ready.’
20. Alonso
Alonso is a variant of Alfonso. It is also used as a first name.
21. Alvarado
Alvarado is a habitational name. It is derived from the Spanish word alba meaning ‘white.’
22. Álvarez
Also spelled as Alvarez, this surname means ‘son of Álvaro.’ It means ‘all aware,’ ‘all cautious,’ or ‘all guard.’
23. Amador
Amador is derived from the same given name. It means ‘lover of God.’
24. Anaya
Anaya is a habitational name that possibly has Arabic origins. It means ‘stagnant water’ or ‘path.’
25. Andrés
Andrés is derived from the same given name. It is a form of Andrew and means ‘manly’ or ‘masculine.’
26. Antonio
Antonio is derived from the same first name. It is related to Anthony and has Etruscan origins.
27. Antúnez
Antúnez is a variant of Antonio. It means ‘son of Antonio,’ and is derived from the first name.
28. Araujo
Araujo is the Spanish variant of the Portuguese Araújo. It is a habitational name.
29. Araya
Araya is a habitational name for a person from Araia in Basque Country. It is also a Japanese surname.
30. Arce
Arce is a topographical name pronounced as AR-theh or AR-seh. It means ‘maple tree.’
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31. Arechavaleta
Arechavaleta is a habitational name derived from the town of Aretxabaleta in Spain. It has Basque roots and means ‘oak trees.’
32. Arenas
Arenas is a habitational name. It is derived from the Spanish word arena, which means ‘sand.’
33. Arias
Arias is derived from a medieval first name of Germanic origin. Moisés Arias is an American actor with this surname. He appeared in several series and movies including Hannah Montana and Ender’s Game.
34. Arroyo
Arroyo is a topographic name. It means ‘stream’ or ‘brook’ in Spanish.
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Mexican Last Names That Start With A
Mexican last names that start with A are often habitational or topographical. They may have Spanish, Catalan, and Basque origins.
35. Abundis
Also written as Abundio, this Mexican surname is derived from the Old Spanish given name Abundio. It means ‘abundant’ or ‘plentiful.’
36. Aguayo
Aguayo is a habitational name derived from a town of the same name in Córdoba or from Santa Olalla de Aguayo in Cantabria.
37. Alavez
Alavez is an alternative version of Alavés. It is a habitational name from either the Araba province or from a place called Alavés in Huesca, Aragon.
38. Alejándrez
Alejándrez means ‘son of Alejandro.’ It is a form of Alexander and means ‘defending men.’
39. Alirez
Alirez is a Hispanic surname predominantly used in Mexico. It has Basque roots and means ‘near a pasture.’
40. Amézquita
Pronounced as AH-MEZ-KEE-TAH, this surname has Basque origins. It means ‘house in the meadow.’
41. Angulo
Angulo is a habitational name derived from Encima-Angulo in Burgos province. It has other variants including Angelo, Anguiano, Mangano, Mango, and Angle.
42. Arreola
Arreola is a variant of Arriola. It has Basque roots and means ‘house of stone.’
43. Ayón
Ayón is a variant of Ayllon. It is a habitational name derived from Ayllón in Segovia, Castile.
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Italian Last Names Starting With A
Italian last names that start with A are often rooted in Latin. They are quite similar to Spanish and Portuguese surnames.
44. Adauto
Aduato is derived from the same given name and means ‘augmented’ or ‘increased.’ It is also used as a Spanish and Portuguese surname.
45. Adriano
Adriano is derived from the same first name. It is associated with Hadrian and means ‘from Hadria’ in Latin.
46. Agosto
Agosto is derived from the same given name. It is associated with Augustus and means ‘exalted’ and ‘venerable.’
47. Albanesi
Albanesi is a habitational surname. It was originally given to people who came from Albania.
48. Albino
Albino is derived from the same given name and means ‘white’ and ‘bright.’ It is associated with Albus and is also used as a Portuguese and Spanish surname.
49. Alfredo
Alfredo is derived from Alfred and means ‘elf counsel.’ It is also used as a first name.
Trivia50. Ambrosio
Ambrosio is an Italian surname also used in Spanish and Portuguese. It is also used as a first name and means ‘immortal.’
51. Anacleto
Anacleto has Greek roots and means ‘invoked.’ It is used as a first name and also a Spanish and Portuguese surname.
52. Anastasio
Anastasio is an Italian and Spanish surname derived from the same first name. It means ‘resurrection.’
53. Aniceto
Aniceto is derived from the same given name. It means ‘unconquerable.’
54. Antoniz
Antoniz is an Italian surname that is derived from Anthony. It is also used as a Latin American surname.
55. Apollo
Apollo is an Italian and Spanish surname. It is derived from the Greek first name Apollo and means ‘protector’ or ‘patron.’
Did you know?56. Aquilino
Aquilino is derived from the same given name. It has Latin roots and means ‘eagle.’
57. Aquino
Aquino is a habitational name derived from an Italian town near Rome. It means ‘water.’
58. Armando
Armando is an Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese surname derived from the same given name. It is related to Herman and means ‘army man.’
59. Armenia
Armenia is a habitational surname for a person from the country of Armenia. It is also used as a Spanish, Portuguese, and Catalan surname.
60. Ascencio
Ascencio is an Italian and Spanish surname. It is associated with the ascension of Christ.
61. Augusto
Augusto is derived from the same given name. It is related to Augustus, which means ‘exalted’ or ‘venerable.’
62. Aurelio
Aurelio is another surname derived from a given name. It means ‘golden’ or ‘gilded.’
63. Aurora
Aurora means ‘dawn’ in Latin. It is also used as a Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, and Occitan surname.
64. Avamilano
Avamilano is an Italian and Spanish surname. It is derived from milano, which is the Italian word for Milan in Italy.
65. Avena
Avena is an occupational surname for a ‘grain grower’ or ‘grain merchant.’ It could also be a habitational surname from Avena in Calabria.
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Filipino Last Names Starting With A
Filipino last names that start with A are mainly derived from Spanish. These names may be used in different languages such as Tagalog, Cebuano, and Maranao.
66. Abaño
Also written as Abano, this surname means ‘water’ or ‘bath.’ It could be a topographic surname.
67. Abantas
Abantas is a Filipino surname with Maranao roots. It means ‘long-lived.’
68. Abas
Abas is derived from the Arabic given name Abbas and means ‘austere.’
69. Abayon
Abayano has Cebuano roots. It means ‘parallel,’ ‘analog,’ or ‘juxtapose.’
70. Abcede
Abcede is pronounced as ub-SEH-deh and is also written as Abcide. Besides being a Filipino surname, it is also an Italian and French surname.
71. Abdulmalic
Abdulmalic is derived from Abd al-Malik. It has Arabic roots and means ‘servant of the king.’
72. Abedin
Abedin is derived from the given name Abidin. It means ‘worshippers’ and is also used as a Bengali surname in India and Bangladesh.
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73. Abes
Pronounced as Ah-bez, this surname is possibly of Spanish origin. Abes is also used as an English surname and is pronounced as Aybz.
74. Abiera
Abiera has Spanish origins. It is found mainly in the Philippines and the Dominican Republic.
75. Advincula
Advincula is a variant of the Spanish surname Advíncula. It means ‘in chains’ and was used as a title for Saint Peter.
76. Agapito
Agapito is derived from the same given name and means ‘beloved.’ It is also used as an Italian surname.
77. Agoncillo
Agoncillo is believed to be a habitational surname. It is derived from an ancient Celtic settlement named Egon near La Rioja, Spain.
78. Aguinaldo
Aguinaldo is derived from the same first name and means ‘edge of the sword.’ Incidentally, it also coincides with the Spanish word for a bonus in Latin America. Emilio Aguinaldo was a notable bearer of this surname. He was the first President of the Philippines.
79. Agustinez
Agustinez means ‘son of Agustin.’ It is related to the Roman first name Augustus and means ‘exalted’ or ‘venerable.’
80. Alegado
Alegado is derived from the Spanish word alegado, which means ‘alleged’ or ‘claimed.’ It is used mainly in Tagalog.
81. Alejandrino
Alejandrino is derived from the same given name and is related to Alexander. It means ‘defending men.’
82. Alforque
Alforque is a habitational name. It is derived from a place of the same name in the Zaragoza province.
83. Almarez
Almarez means ‘son of Almario.’ Alternatively, it is a habitational name from several places in Zamora, Cáceres, and Vallodolid provinces. It has Arabic origins and means ‘the cultivated or arable land’ or ‘the guarded or fortified place.’
84. Almario
Almario is a variant of Armario, which means ‘wardrobe.’ It was possibly used as a nickname originally.
85. Alviar
Alviar is the Filipino variant of the Spanish surname Alvear. It is one of the more rarely used surnames in the Philippines.
86. Amigable
Amigable is derived from the Spanish vocabulary word amigable, which means ‘amicable.’ It was originally used as a nickname.
87. Amparo
Amparo is associated with Christianity as it is derived from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora del Amparo, or Our Lady of Refuge. It means ‘protection,’ ‘shelter,’ or ‘refuge.’
88. Añonuevo
Añonuevo means ‘new year’ in Spanish. It is a vocabulary word and was possibly given to a person born on New Year’s Day.
89. Anticristo
Anticristo means ‘antichrist’ in Spanish. It is rarely used.
90. Apellido
Alternatively written as Apelledo, this surname means ‘surname’ in Spanish. It possibly originated when people without a surname had to fill out an official form.
91. Apilado
Also written as Apelado, this surname means ‘stack’ or ‘pile up.’ Apilado is an occupational name.
92. Araullo
Araullo is the Filipino variant of the Portuguese Araújo and the Spanish Araujo. It is a habitational name.
93. Arcangel
Arcangel is derived from the Spanish word arcángel meaning ‘archangel.’ It is considered holy as it is associated with the Bible.
94. Arcilla
Arcilla means ‘clay’ and has Latin and Greek roots. Other forms of this surname include Arcila and Arcillas.
95. Asuncion
Asuncion is the unaccented form of Asunción. It means ‘assumption’ in Spanish and refers to the bodily assumption of Mary into heaven.
Did you know?96. Atienza
Atienza is a habitational name derived from the town of the same name in Guadalajara province in Spain. It is also used as a Latin American surname.
97. Austria
Also spelled Ostria, it was derived from the European country of the same name. It could refer to the Austrian Habsburg dynasty or could be an ethnic name.
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French Last Names Starting With A
French last names have a variety of influences from Latin to Arabic. These last names may be topographic or occupational.
98. Abadie
Abadie is a topographic name for a person living near an abbey or family chapel. It has Late Latin roots and means ‘priest’s house.’ It could also be a habitational name.
99. Aboubakar
Aboubakar is a French variant of the Nigerian given name Abu Bakr. It has Arabic roots and means ‘father of’ and ‘young camel.’ This surname is mainly used in Central and Western African countries where French is spoken.
100. About
About is derived from the same French word. It means ‘an extremity of a metallic or wooden element or piece.’ Edmond François Valentin About was a notable personality with this surname and a well-known French novelist and journalist.
101. Abreo
Alternatively written as Abreu, this surname is derived from the French given name Alfred. It means ‘elf counsel’ or ‘wise counselor.’
102. Achard
Achard is derived from the same given name and has Germanic origins. It means ‘edge,’ ‘blade,’ and ‘hard.’
103. Achille
Achille is a French and Italian surname derived from the same given name. It has Greek roots and may mean ‘pain.’
104. Agagnier
Agagnier means ‘winner’ and is derived from the French word gagner. Other forms of this surname include Gagnier and A’Gagnier and it is mainly used in French-speaking Canada.
105. Agreste
Agreste is the French version of the Italian surname Agresta. It means ‘rural’ or ‘rustic.’ It is also the French word for the grayling butterfly.
106. Aimé
Aimé means ‘loved’ or ‘love’ in French. It is mainly used in Haiti and French-speaking African countries.
107. Alarie
Alarie is derived from the Visigothic given name Alaric. It means ‘ruler of all’ and is used in Quebec.
108. Albertin
Albertin is the French form of the Italian Albertini and means ‘son of Alberto.’ These names are related to Albert and mean ‘noble and bright.’
109. Albinet
Alternatively written as Abinet, this surname is derived from the given name Albin. It means ‘white’ or ‘bright.’
110. Alexandre
Alexandre is associated with Alexander and means ‘defending men.’ It is also used as a first name in French.
111. Alicon
Alicon is derived from the Old French first name Alis and means ‘noble.’ It is also used as one of Mexican and Scottish surnames.
112. Alix
Alix is derived from the same given name. It is the French variant of Alice and means ‘noble.’
113. Allaire
Allaire is a habitational name from a village in Brittany. Other versions of Allaire include Dallaire, Allair, and Alair.
114. Allard
Allard is derived from the given name Adalhard. It has Germanic origins and means ‘noble’ and ‘hard.’
115. Alleman
Alleman is the French and German word for German. It is also spelled as Allemand, Allemon, and Allemond.
116. Alor
Alor is a French surname used mainly in Alsace and Lorraine. It has German origins and means ‘pure,’ ‘beautiful,’ and ‘clear.’ Alor is also a Mexican surname.
117. Alyea
Also written as Alee and Allee, this surname is derived from D’Ailly and is a habitational name derived from several places named Ailly in France. It is one of the more well-known French Huguenot surnames in the US.
118. Amarante
Derived from the same given name, this surname means ‘unfading’ and has Greek roots. It is also the name of a flower.
119. Amaury
Amaury is derived from the same given name. It is related to Amalric, which means ‘unceasing,’ ‘vigorous,’ and ‘brave.’ One of the most well-known people with this surname was Philippe Amaury. He was a media and publishing tycoon, known for publishing several famous newspapers and magazines and organizing events such as the Tour de France and the Dakar Rally.
120. André
Derived from the same first name, André is related to Andrew. It means ‘manly’ or ‘masculine.’
121. Anouilh
Anouilh is pronounced as A-NOOY. It has Catalan roots and means ‘slow worm,’ possibly used as a nickname for a slow person. Jean Anouilh, the French dramatist and screenwriter, was a notable personality with this name.
122. Arabie
Arabie is an ethnic name for a person from Arabia. It could also be considered a habitational name.
123. Arbour
Arbour is a variant of the English Harbour. It is an occupational name for a keeper of a lodging house. Alternatively, it could be associated with Herbert, which means ‘bright army.’
124. Arceneaux
Arceneaux is a Cajun French name and is a variant of Arsenault. It means ‘workshop’ and is an occupational name.
125. Archambault
Pronounced as AR-SHAN-BOL, this surname is derived from the same archaic French given name. It is related to Archibald, which means ‘pure,’ ‘holy,’ and ‘bold.’
126. Archeambeau
Archeambeau has Germanic roots and means ‘precious’ and ‘bold.’ Other forms of this surname include Archambault, Archambaut, Archambeault, Archambeaux, and Archambot.
127. Aristide
Pronounced as A-REES-TEED, this French surname is mainly used in French-speaking African countries. It is also used as a first name and means ‘best.’
128. Armand
Armand is derived from the same first name and is associated with Herman. It means ‘army man.’
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129. Arnaud
Pronounced as AR-NO, this surname is derived from the same given name. It is associated with Arnold and means ‘eagle power.’
130. Aubert
Another surname derived from a given name, Aubert is the French variant of Albert. It is pronounced as O-BEHR.
131. Augustin
Augustin is yet another surname that is derived from Augustus. It is also used as a first name.
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Greek Last Names Starting With A
Greek last names starting with A often have roots in Greek mythology. Moreover, patronymics make up a major part of these names.
132. Adamantidis
Adamantidis means ‘descendent or son of Adamantios.’ Adamantios is a given name that means ‘unconquerable,’ ‘adamant,’ or ‘unbreakable.’
133. Adamos
Adamos means ‘son of Adam.’ It has Hebrew origins and means ‘man’ or ‘to be red.’
134. Aetós
Aetós means ‘eagle’ in Greek. It could also be a patronymic derived from the given name Anthony.
135. Agar
Agar is a Greek, Italian, and French surname derived from the same given name. It is related to Hagar and means ‘flight.’
136. Agelastos
Agelastos originated as a nickname. It means ‘one who never laughs.’
137. Akropolitis
Akropolitis is a habitational surname for someone from Akropolis. It refers to any fortified place in ancient and medieval Greek cities.
138. Alexandropoulos
Alexandropoulos means ‘son of Alexandros.’ It is related to Alexander and means ‘defending men.’
139. Alexandrou
Alexandrou is another surname that means ‘son of Alexandros.’ It is one of the several names associated with Alexander.
140. Alexie
Alexie is derived from the same given name. It is related to Alexander and is also used as a Romanian surname.
141. Alexiou
Alexiou means ‘son of Alexis.’ It is derived from the first name that means ‘helper’ or ‘defender.’
142. Alexopoulos
Alexopoulos is created by combining the given name Alexios and the patronymic suffix -poulos. It means ‘defender’ or ‘helper.’
143. Anastasiadis
Anastasiadis means ‘son of Anastasios.’ It means ‘resurrection.’
144. Andino
Andino is derived from the Greek first name Andreas and means ‘manly.’ It is also used as a Spanish and Italian surname.
145. Angelopoulos
Angelopoulos is derived by combining the first name Angelos or Evangelos with the patronymic suffix -poulos. Angelos means ‘angel’ and Evangelos means ‘bringer of good news.’
146. Antoniou
Antoniou means ‘son of Antonios.’ It is related to Anthony and may have Etruscan origins.
147. Arcadiou
Arcadiou is a variant of Arkadiou, which means ‘son of Arkadios.’ It means ‘of Arcadia.’
148. Argentis
Argentis has Italian roots and means ‘silver.’ It is an occupational name for a silversmith or a nickname for a gray-haired person.
149. Argyris
Argyris means ‘silver’ in Greek. It originated as a nickname.
150. Aristidou
Aristidou means ‘son of Aristidis.’ It means ‘best.’
151. Artino
Artino is a habitational name. It is derived from the city of Arta in Epirus.
152. Aslamas
Aslamas is derived from the first name Aslamaz. It has Georgian origins and could mean ‘beautiful’ or ‘handsome.’
153. Athenogenis
Athenogenis is a habitational name. It means ‘of Athenian origin.’
154. Athinganos
Athinganos is derived from a nickname. It means ‘gypsy’ in Greek.
155. Avgoustidis
Avgoustidis means ‘son of Avgoustos.’ It is related to Augustus and means ‘exalted’ or ‘venerable.’
156. Avramidis
Avramidis means ‘son of Avram.’ It is associated with Abram, which means ‘high father.’
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Japanese Last Names Starting With A
Japanese last names that start with A are usually topographic. The meanings of these last names change according to the characters used to write those names.
157. Aba
Aba could be the variant of Yasuname or Awa. Accordingly, it could mean ‘calm wave’ or could be a habitational name.
158. Achi
Achi means ‘distant’ or ‘remote.’ It could be a topographic name for a person living in a remote area.
159. Adachihara
Adachihara means ‘leg,’ ‘limb,’ ‘stand,’ and ‘plain.’ It is a topographic name and may also be written as Adachibara or Adachiwara.
160. Agatsuma
Agatsuma means ‘upper’ or ‘top’ and ‘wife’ or ‘spouse.’ It is a rare surname in Japan. Hiromitsu Agatsuma, the well-known shamisen player, is a notable bearer of this surname.
161. Aha
Aha is either a variant of Yasunami or Awa. It could, thus, be a habitational name or could mean ‘calm wave.
162. Aikawa
Aikawa could either mean ‘together’ and ‘river’ or ‘love’ and ‘stream.’ It is a topographic name.
163. Akabane
Akabane means ‘red feather.’ It could have been derived from a nickname.
164. Akai
Akai means ‘red well’ or ‘red mine shaft.’ It might be considered a topographic surname.
165. Akiyama
Aki means ‘autumn’ and yama means ‘mountain’ or ‘hill.’ It is a topographic name.
166. Amano
Amano is derived from the Japanese characters ama, meaning ‘heaven,’ and no, meaning ‘field’ or ‘wilderness.’ It is a toponymic.
167. Aoki
The character ao means ‘green’ or ‘blue,’ while the character ki means ‘tree’ or ‘wood.’ The name may be a topographic one. Steve Aoki is one of the most well-known people with this surname. He is a Japanese-American DJ and music producer, known for his electronic dance music and for collaborating with several famous artists including Backstreet Boys and Linkin Park.
168. Aosaki
Aosaki is also written as Aozaki. It is a topographic name meaning ‘blue cape’ or ‘green promontory.’
169. Arakawa
Arakawa means ‘rough,’ wild,’ and ‘river.’ It is a topographic surname.
170. Arima
Arima means ‘possess’ and ‘horse.’ It might be a surname derived from a nickname.
171. Asano
Asano consists of two characters. Asa means ‘shallow’ and no means ‘field’ or ‘wilderness.’
172. Atsugi
Atsugi means ‘thick tree’ and could be a topographic name. It is also the name of a city in Kanagawa prefecture, known for being the US naval base.
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Latino Last Names Starting With A
Latino last names starting with A are found in Latin American countries. Often, these names carry traces of Latin, Greek, and Spanish.
173. Achio
Achio is a habitational name. It is derived from the town near Guadalajara and has Náhuatl origins.
174. Acuna
Acuna is derived from the name of the Acuna Indian tribe of Mexico. It can also be a habitational surname.
175. Agreda
Agreda is a Spanish habitational name. It is derived from the town of the same name in Soria province.
176. Aguiler
Aguiler is a variant of Aguilar or Aguilera. It is a habitational or topographic name meaning ‘eagle.’
177. Alicea
Alicea is derived from the given name Alicia. It is related to Alice and means ‘noble.’
178. Álváez
Álváez is a variant of Álvarez, which means ‘son of Alvaro.’ This surname is mainly used in Panama.
179. Alvalle
Alvalle is a topographic name meaning ‘the valley.’ It is also used as an Italian and French surname.
180. Amorena
Amorena is a shortened form of De la Morena, which may be a habitational name from Sierra Morena. Alternatively, it could be derived from a nickname from moreno, which means ‘brown.’
181. Arganda
Arganda is a habitational name. It is derived from several places with the same name in Spain.
182. Avellan
Avellan is a topographic name derived from a dry river with the same name in Murcia. It is also used as a Catalan surname.
183. Avenida
Avenida is pronounced as AV-AY-NEE-DA. It means ‘avenue.’
184. Avica
Avica is also written as Ávila and is a habitational name derived from a town of the same name in Old Castile. It is also used as a Portuguese surname.
American Last Names Starting With A
Many last names originating from other languages have been Americanized. These last names starting with A have roots in many languages.
185. Aanenson
Aanenson is the Anglicized form of the Norwegian surname Ånundson. It means ‘son of Ånund.’
186. Adelman
Adelman is an artificial surname used mainly among Ashkenazic Jews. It means ‘noble man.’
187. Alarid
Alarid has Spanish or Catalan roots and means ‘outcry.’ It could have been a nickname in earlier days.
188. Albany
Albany is a habitational name from Albany in New York. It may be derived from the title of the Dukes of Albany and comes from the English word Albion, which was the old name for Britain.
Trivia189. Andros
Andros is the American version of Andrews or Andronikos. It means ‘manly’ or ‘masculine.’
190. Antilla
Antilla is derived from the Finnish surname Anttila. It is related to Andrew and means ‘manly.’
191. Arabia
Arabia is the Americanized form of the French surname Arabie. It is given to a person from Arabia.
192. Arámbula
Arámbula is a variant of the Hispanic surname Aramburú. Arámbulo is a variant of this surname.
193. Arneson
Arneson is the Anglicized version of the Scandinavian last names or surnames Arnesen and Arnesson. It has Old Norse roots and means ‘eagle.’
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194. Arnoldson
Arnoldson means ‘son of Arnold.’ It has Germanic origins and means ‘eagle power.’
195. Arola
Arola means ‘area’ and has Latin roots. It is also a Spanish, Catalan, and Occitan surname.
196. Aronson
Aronson is a variant of the Swedish surname Aronsson and means ‘son of Aron.’ It is related to Aaron and has Hebrew origins.
197. Askew
Askew is a habitational name for a place named Aiskew in North Yorkshire. It has Old Norse origins and means ‘oak wood.’
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German Last Names Starting With A
that start with A not only have Germanic origins but also Latin and Old English roots. These names may be topographic or patronymic.
198. Aacker
Aacker is a variant of Acker. It is a topographic name meaning ‘field.’
199. Abegg
Abegg is a topographic name for a person who lived near the corner of a mountain. It is used both as a German and Swiss German surname.
200. Ach
Ach is a topographic name for a person who lived near a stream or spring. It has Old German roots and means ‘running water.’
201. Achilles
Achilles is a German surname that surprisingly has Greek roots. It is derived from the same given name and means ‘pain.’
202. Aders
Aders is a variant of Eders. It is a topographical name for a person who lived on a patch of uncultivated land.
203. Adolf
Adolf means ‘noble wolf’ and has Old German roots. It is also used as a first name.
204. Ahler
Ahler means ‘noble army.’ It is also used as a Dutch and Danish surname.
205. Ahrens
Ahrens is derived from the first name Arend and is related to Arndt and Arnold. It is also used as a Dutch and Jewish surname.
206. Aigner
Aigner is an Austrian German surname that means ‘owner.’ It is also used as a Jewish surname and has several variants including Agner, Igner, Aigen, and Eigen.
207. Ainstein
Ainstein is related to Einstein and means ‘one stone.’ It is also considered as one of the Latin American surnames.
208. Albrecht
Albrecht is derived from the same given name. It is related to Albert and means ‘noble and bright.’
209. Alexis
Alexis means ‘helper’ or ‘defender.’ It is also used as a first name and is a French, English, and Greek surname.
210. Altbauer
Altbauer is an occupational surname used among Austrian Germans. It means ‘old farmer,’
211. Altmeyer
Altmeyer is a status occupational surname. It means ‘old steward’ or ‘old headman.’
212. Amenu
Amenu is a topographic name for a person living at the end of a settlement or street. It has Middle High German origins.
213. Amrein
Amrein was given to a person who lived at the edge of a plowed land. It is used among Swiss Germans.
214. Amsler
Amsler is an occupational name for a bird catcher. It is derived from the German word Amsel, which means ‘European blackbird.’
215. Apfel
Apfel means ‘apple’ in German. It could have been a possible nickname before transitioning into a surname.
216. Arabel
Arabel is a variant of Grable and is an occupational name for a grave digger. It is also used as a Latino surname.
217. Arbeit
Arbeit means ‘work’ and is an occupational surname. It is spelled as Arbeid in Dutch.
218. Aretz
Aretz is a variant of Arndt and means ‘rule of the eagle.’ It is also used as an American surname.
219. Armbruster
Armbruster is an occupational surname meaning ‘crossbow maker.’ It has both Latin and Germanic influences.
220. Auer
Auer has Old High German roots and means ‘meadow by a river’ or ‘wetlands.’ It is also spelled as Aue.
221. Aust
Aust is derived from the archaic name for August. It means ‘exalted’ and ‘venerable.’
222. Axel
Axel is derived from the same given name and is related to Absalom. It means ‘my father is peace.’
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Irish Last Names Starting With A
Irish last names are usually Anglicized versions of Irish surnames. These surnames are typically patronymics.
223. Ahearne
Ahearne is the Anglicized form of Ó hEachthighearna, which means ‘descendant of Echthigern.’ It means ‘horse lord.’
224. Anderson
Anderson is the Anglicized form of the Gaelix surname Mac Ghille Andrais, which means ‘son of the devotee of Saint Andrew.’ It is also used as a Scottish and English surname.
225. Angus
Angus is derived from the first name Aonghus. It could either mean ‘one strength’ or ‘young son.’
226. Antrim
Antrim is also spelled as Anthrim and Entrim. It means ‘lone ridge.’
227. Aran
Aran is derived from the same given name and comes from the Aran Islands on the west coast of Ireland. It is also used as a biblical surname.
228. Ardagh
Ardagh is a rare Irish surname. It is a habitational name from a town of the same name in County Longford.
229. Argue
Argue is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Giolla Fhearga, which means ‘son of the servant of Saint Fearga.’ It is also used as a French surname.
230. Ashe
Ashe is the variant of Ash and is mainly found in Ireland. It means ‘ash tree’ and is a topographic name.
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English Last Names That Start With A
English last names that start with A have a variety of origins. These names have traveled a long way, sometimes to countries in Africa and Asia.
231. Abbey
Abbey could be either an occupational name or a topographic one. It was given to a person who lived near or worked at an abbey.
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232. Adair
Adair is derived from the given name Edgar. It has Old English elements and means ‘wealth’ and ‘spear.’
233. Alan
Alan is derived from the same given name and means ‘little rock’ or ‘handsome.’ It is spelled variously as Allan, Allen, and Allison.
234. Albert
Albert is a surname that is derived from the same given name. It means ‘noble and bright.’
235. Alexander
Alexander is one of the surnames in many different languages. It is derived from the same given name and means ‘defending men.’
236. Anna
Anna is one of the rare last names derived from a female first name. It means ‘favor’ or ‘grace.’
237. Armstrong
Armstrong means ‘strong arm’ in Middle English. Neil Armstrong is one of the most well-known people with this surname. He was the first person to walk on the moon. Another famous personality with this surname is Louis Armstrong, an American jazz musician, known for winning several awards for his work. Yet another notable bearer of this surname is Lance Armstrong, an American road racing cyclist.
238. Arnett
Arnett is derived from Arnold and means ‘eagle power.’ It could also be derived from the word arn, meaning ‘eagle,’ and the diminutive suffix -ett. Will Arnett is a famous name bearer. He is a Canadian-American actor and comedian, known for his work in Ice Age, Despicable Me, The Lego Movie, and Ratatouille.
239. Arterton
Arterton is a variant of Atherton and means ‘settlement.’ In recent years, a famous celebrity with this name is English actress Gemma Arterton.
240. Ascot
Ascot is a habitational name derived from the village of Arscott in Devon and means ‘Eastern cottage.’ It could also refer to the Ascot races in Berkshire.
241. Ashcroft
Ashcroft is a topographic name meaning ‘ash tree enclosure.’ It could also be a habitational name.
242. Asquith
Asquith is a habitational name from a village in North Yorkshire. It has Old Norse roots and means ‘ash tree woods.’ H.H. Asquith was the Prime Minister of the UK from 1908 to 1916. He was known as the Earl of Oxford and Asquith.
243. Astaire
Astaire is one of the most well-known English surnames. Fred Astaire, an American dancer, actor, and singer, was a famous bearer of this surname. He is regarded as the greatest popular music dancer of all time.
244. Atkinson
Atkinson means ‘son of Atkin,’ which is a diminutive of Adam. It has Hebrew roots and means ‘man’ or ‘to be red.’ Rowan Atkinson is one of the most famous personalities with this surname. He is an English actor and comedian, best known for his role as Mr. Bean.
245. Austen
Austen is a form of Austin and means ‘exalted’ and ‘venerable.’ One of the most well-known people with this name was English novelist Jane Austen. She is known for writing classic novels such as Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.
246. Averill
Averill has Old French roots and means ‘April.’ It was possibly used as a nickname for a person born or baptized in that month.
247. Ayers
Ayers could have several meanings. It could mean ‘heir,’ ‘temple army,’ or could be a habitational name for a person from Ayr in Scotland.
248. Ayton
Ayton is a habitational name from towns in Berwickshire and North Yorkshire. It could mean ‘river enclosure’ or ‘island town.’
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Korean Last Names Starting With A
Korean last names that start with A are rarely used. These last names may be derived from a nickname.
249. Ahn
Ahn is a variant of An. It means ‘peace’ and ‘quiet.’
250. An
An means ‘peace’ or ‘quiet.’ It is also used as a Chinese surname.
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Ghanaian Last Names Starting With A
Ghanaian last names may have Spanish origins. They are often used among specific tribes in Ghana.
251. Adade
Adade has Spanish origins and is a variant of the given name Adan or Adam. It means ‘man.’
252. Addo
Addo is a surname predominantly found among the Akan and Ga tribes of Ghana. It is also an Italian surname.
253. Adjei
Adjei is mainly found among the Ga and Akan peoples of Ghana. It is a variant of Agyei and means ‘messenger of God.’
254. Agyapong
Agyapong is usually used among the Akan tribe. It is derived from the same given name.
255. Antwi
Antwi is used among the Akan people of Ghana. It may also be found in other West African countries.
256. Assan
Assan is often used instead of Hassan. It is also an Arabic and Anglo-Saxon surname.
Basque Last Names Starting With A
Basque may be a small country in Spain but it has a rich culture. These last names reflect this culture in their origins.
257. Aburto
Aburto is a topographic name that means ‘place of kermes oaks.’ It is also used as a Spanish and Mexican surname.
258. Adames
Adames is derived from the first name Adame, which is a derivative of Adam. It means ‘man’ or ‘to be red.’
259. Aiza
Aiza is a topographic name. It means ‘rock’ or ‘stone.’
260. Allende
Allende has Latin roots and means ‘beyond’ or ‘beside.’ Isabel Allende is a renowned Chilean-American writer with this surname. She is known for her books The House of Spirits and City of the Beasts and for receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014.
261. Araquistain
Araquistain is a topographic name meaning ‘place of the ferns.’ It is believed to have originated in the Pyrenees.
262. Arellano
Arellano is a habitational name. It is derived from the town of the same name in Navarre.
263. Aritza
Aritza means ‘oak tree’ in Basque. It was one of the nicknames for Íñigo Arista, the first king of Pamplona.
264. Arizala
Arizala is the Castilian variant of Aritzala. It is a habitational name for a town in Navarre.
265. Armendariz
Armendariz means ‘herdsman.’ It could also be a habitational name.
Arabic Last Names Starting With A
Arabic last names that start with A are often used as first names, too. Most of these names are considered divine as they appear in the Quran.
266. Abbas
Abbas is derived from the same given name. It means ‘austere.’
267. Abdul
Abdul means ‘servant of’ and is often used in conjunction with other names such as Rahman and Aziz. It is also a Persian, Urdu, Pashto, Bengali, and Punjabi surname.
268. Adeeb
Adeeb is derived from the given name Adib. It means ‘courteous,’ ‘refined,’ and ‘educated.’
269. Afzal
Afzal is derived from the same first name. It means ‘better’ or ‘superior.’
270. Ahmad
Ahmad is derived from the same given name and means ‘most commendable’ or ‘most praiseworthy.’ It is also spelled as Ahmed.
271. Aisha
Aisha is one of the few surnames derived from the same female first name. It means ‘living’ or ‘alive.’
272. Ajam
Ajam means ‘foreigner’ or ‘non-Arab.’ It was originally used as a nickname.
273. Ali
Ali is derived from the same first name. It means ‘lofty’ or ‘sublime.’ Boxer and philanthropist Muhammad Ali is a popular public figure with this surname.
274. Amani
Amani is derived from the same first name and means ‘wishes.’ It is also used as a Tigrinya surname.
275. Ameen
Ameen is derived from the given name Amin. It means ‘truthful.’
276. Amjad
Amjad means ‘more glorious.’ It is also used as a first name.
277. Anwar
Written variously as Anwer, Anwaar, Anwari, and Anouar, this surname is derived from the same given name. It means ‘brighter’ and ‘more luminous.’
278. Arshad
Arshad is derived from the same given name. It means ‘more rightly guided,’ ‘more mature,’ and ‘more sensible.’
279. Audi
Also spelled as Awdi and Aoudi, this surname means ‘one who returns.’ It is used mainly in Lebanon and Palestine.
280. Ayyub
Ayyub is the Arabic form of Job. It is also used as a first name.
281. Azam
Derived from the same first name, Azam means ‘greater’ or ‘greatest.’ It is also spelled as Azzam.
282. Azhar
Azhar means ‘shining,’ ‘brilliant,’ and ‘bright.’ It is also a first name.
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Jewish Last Names Starting With A
Jewish last names that start with A may be related to the Torah/Hebrew Bible. These last names often change according to the language they are used in.
283. Aaron
Aaron is derived from the same given name. It has Hebrew roots and could possibly mean ‘exalted.’
284. Abraham
Abraham is perhaps one of the most popular surnames in Judaism. It is derived from the same first name and means ‘father of many.’
285. Abulafia
Abulafia has Arabic roots and means ‘father of health.’ It is also spelled as Aboulafia, Abolafia, and Abulafiya.
286. Adams
Adams is derived from the biblical name Adam. Bryan Adams is a well-known Canadian musician and singer with this surname.
287. Adler
Adler means ‘eagle’ in German. It is also used as a German surname.
288. Ailán
Ailán is a Jewish and Muslim surname derived from the Turkish personal name Aslan. It means ‘lion.’
289. Albaz
Albaz means ‘falconer’ and is used among Ashkenazi Jews. It is found predominantly among the Jews of Algeria and Morocco.
290. Altman
Altman is a variant of Alt and Alterman. It means ‘old man’ but could be translated as ‘wise man,’ too.
291. Amoo
Amoo is a variant of the first name Amos. It is also used as an English, Scottish, German, and Welsh surname.
292. Amram
Amram is derived from the same first name. It means ‘exalted nation.’
293. Amsel
Amsel is derived from the first name Anshel. It means ‘protection of God’ and is also used as a German surname.
294. Apfelbaum
Apfelbaum means ‘apple tree.’ It is a common surname among German Jews.
295. Asher
Asher is derived from the same first name and means ‘happy’ and ‘blessed.’ It is also used as an English surname.
296. Ashkenazi
Ashkenazi is taken from a nickname that was originally given by Jews in Slavic countries to Jews from Germany. It has Hebrew roots.
297. Austerlitz
Austerlitz is a habitational name derived from a town of the same name in the Czech Republic. It was the original surname of actor and comedian Fred Astaire.
298. Aviv
Aviv is derived from the same first name. It means ‘spring’ in Hebrew.
299. Axelrod
Axelrod has possible connections to Alexander. It is one of the oldest Ashkenazi Jewish surnames.
300. Azar
Azar means ‘He helped’ in Hebrew. It is a form of Ezer or Ezra.
301. Azaria
Azaria is derived from the first name Azariah. It means ‘God has helped’ in Hebrew.
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When you have to choose a name for your baby, a few hundreds of names may not be just enough. Keep digging our mine of baby names until you find that one precious gem.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the common origins of last names starting with A?
Last names starting with A may have a variety of origins. Some of the most common origins of last names such as Abrego and Alexander are Latin and Greek. However, these surnames may have other origins such as Germanic languages, Old English, Old French, Hebrew, and Arabic, too. Some examples of such surnames include Albert, Adair, Averill, Adams, and Abbas.
2. Are there any famous people with last names starting with A?
There are several well-known people with last names that start with A. Some of them include American boxer and philanthropist, Muhammad Ali, American singer and songwriter, Christina Aguilera, astronaut Neil Armstrong, filmmaker J.J. Abrams, and actresses Julie Andrews and Amy Adams.
From Adams to Alvarez, last names starting with A have a history of diverse origins and multiple meanings. These surnames transcend the boundaries of language and culture. They often originate as a way to differentiate people of different regions, occupations, or familial connections. Over time, however, they absorb the influences of their cultures and languages and evolve into a modern surname. Last names that start with A are just the doorway into an amazing world of stories waiting to be discovered. Celebrate your ancestry with these pieces of your past.
Infographic: 8 Most Popular Last Names Starting With A
Last names starting with A are found in most parts of the world and in almost all languages. These last names have varied origins, including Latin, Japanese, Sanskrit, Greek, and Arabic. Look at the infographic below for some popular last names starting with A that are enticing and have intriguing meanings.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
References
- Elizabeth Acevedo.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/elizabeth-acevedo-5aa950f8df1c6 - Apollo.
https://www.worldhistory.org/apollo/
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