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Most last names across cultures have a meaning and a story behind them and often relate to a family’s origin, occupation, ancestors, etc. So, if you are looking for last names that start with ‘s,’ we have got you covered. Names are derived from so many factors. It can be occupational, habitational, or even geographical. We have explored multiple trusted websites, name databases, and social media forums to bring this list of diverse surnames that start with S. Read on to learn about these last names that start with ‘S’ from across the world.
Common Last Names Starting With S, In Different Origins
Italian Last Names that start with S
1. Sabina
This surname is pronounced sah-BEE-nah. It originated from the Old French masculine name ‘Sabin’ or feminine ‘Sabine’. These words are derived from the Latin words ‘Sabinus’ or ‘Sabina’, meaning a member of the Sabine tribe.
2. Saccone
The surname Saccone, pronounced Sah-KOH-nay, is derived from an old Tuscan name ‘Saccus’ or ‘Sacco’, meaning ‘a sac’. This surname was given to those who made sacks and bags as their occupation. ‘Saccone’ seems to have evolved from the word ‘Sacco’ in the Salerno province of Italy.
3. Saggio
Saggio is an Italian surname that means ‘wise’ and ‘learned’. Its phonetic spelling is SAH-joh. The surname was derived from the Latin word ‘Sagax’, meaning ‘sharp’.
4. Sala
Sala or Salas are both different variations of the same last name. These last names are derived from the word ‘Sal’, which means ‘building’. Sala is pronounced SAH-lah. Oskar Sala, the German composer and a pioneer of electronic music was a famous bearer of this last name.
5. Saladino
The last name Sah-lah-DEE-noh has unusual Muslim origins and has different forms and meanings in French and Italian. The meaning of this surname is ‘to open conjecture’. Famous personalities with this surname include Gaspar Saladino and Irving Saladino, among others.
6. Sanna
This common Italian surname is pronounced as SAHN-nah. It means ‘Lily’.
7. Santoro
Italy has had its own share of saints, also depicted in the many prized artworks by known artists like Leonardo da Vinci and others. The last name ‘Santoro’ is pronounced as sahn-TOH-ro. It is named after feasts and saints and means ‘feast of all the saints’. Rodrigo Santoro, a Brazilian actor, is one of the notable bearers of this surname.
8. Sartori
Sartori, pronounced sahr-TOH-ree, is derived from the word ‘Sartos’, which means ‘tailor’. This is another occupational surname that is popular in Italy. The surname is borne by Alessio Sartori, an Italian rower who has won both gold and bronze Olympic medals.
9. Scotti
This is an Italian last name beginning with ‘S’. ‘Scotti’ is pronounced as skaw-tee. It was a last name given to people who emigrated to Italy from Scotland. ‘Scotto’ is a variation of this last name.
10. Segreto
Translating to ‘confidant’ in Italian, the last name ‘Segreto’ has its origins in the Latin word ‘secretum’, which means ‘a hidden place’. This surname’s phonetic spelling is seh-greh-toh. It was given to secret couriers and spies.
11. Serra
Also used as a first name, this common Italian last name means ‘ridge or a chain of hills’. To pronounce this name, you could follow its phonetic spelling—seh-rah.
12. Sica
This last name is pronounced see-kah. It means ‘victory’ and originates from the word ‘Sigi’.
Check out other popular Italian surnames here!
Greek Last Names Starting With S
13. Sacca
A surname similar to the Italian surname ‘Saccone’, Sacca is the occupational name given to the ‘maker and seller of sacks’. Its phonetic spelling is sah-kah.
14. Salamon
Also spelled ‘Solomon,’ it is a popular first and last name. This surname is derived from the ‘Son of Solomon’, an ancestor of the Greeks. Salamon is pronounced as sal-uh-muhn.
15. Samaras
This is an occupational surname that means ‘saddle maker’. It is pronounced as sah-mah-ras. The last name is borne by personalities such as Antonis Samaras, the Prime Minister of Greece, and Georgios Samaras, the Greek footballer.
16. Sarris
This Greek surname has a Turkish origin and means ‘blonde’ or ‘light or fair-haired’. This two-syllable name is pronounced sah-riss.
17. Savas
This Greek last name originates from the word ‘Sabbath’ or Saturday and is taken from the Greek version of the holy ‘Sabbath’. Its phonetic spelling is sah-vahs.
18. Scala
SKAH-lah has its roots in Italy. It is a common Greek surname that means ‘ladder’, ‘steps’, or stairway.
19. Selinofoto
This is a Greek last name that means ‘moonlight’. To pronounce this five-syllable surname, you can follow its phonetic spelling—seh-lee-noh-foh-toh.
20. Servopoulos
‘Opoulos’ is common in Greek last names and means ‘descendant of’. The last name ‘Servopoulos’ means a ‘descendent of a Serb’. It’s pronounced ser-voh-poo-luhs.
21 Sideris
This Greek surname is pronounced si-dair-iss. It has a rather interesting connection to the metal iron. ‘Sideris’ originates from the Greek word ‘iron’ and is in fact, a wishful phrase used in Greek that translates to ‘may a child grow as strong as iron’.
22. Sotiropoulos
This surname originates from the Greek first name Soterios and is derived from the Latin word for ‘nestling’ or ‘chick’. It is pronounced as so-tee-roh-poo-lis.
23. Stefanopoulos
Stef-uh-NOHP-uh-lis is a Greek surname. It means a ‘son or descendent of Stefano’.
Check out more traditional and popular Greek last names in this article!
Irish Last Names Starting With S
24. Saar
Though this surname has multiple meanings from different origins, this surname translates to ‘The son of Sayer’ in Ireland. It is pronounced as sahr.
25. Sack
The last name ‘Sack,’ pronounced sak, is now commonly found in both Britain and Ireland. But did you know the name has an Irish descent? It is derived from the French word ‘Sage’ and was used to denote the ‘wise’.
26. Saddler
Saddler is an occupational surname among the Irish. It was given to anyone who made saddles back in ancient times. Its phonetic spelling is sad-luhr.
27. Salt
Irish with ‘Salt’ as their last name have their family roots in Medieval England. The surname came about due to the geographical location called ‘Of Salt’, a township in the parish of St. Mary and St. Chad. This last name is pronounced as sawlt.
28. Samson
Translating to ‘the Son of Samson,’ sam-suhn is also found in many medieval manuscripts in Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales.
29. Samuel
The Irish last name ‘Samuel’ originates from Medieval English and Hebrew texts introduced by Crusaders in the 12th century. The name means ‘the name of God’ and is pronounced as sam-yoo-uhl.
30. Scully
Scully, pronounced skull-ee, is a common Irish surname and is the anglicized and shortened form of ‘O Scolaidhe’, which means a ‘descendent of a scholar’.
31. Sheehy
It is an anglicized version of ‘Sitheach’ which means ‘peaceful’ in Gaelic. Sheehy is pronounced as shee-hee. It is a common Irish last name that also means ‘mysterious’.
32. Sheeran
Do you know that the famous singer Ed Sheeran has Irish roots? Well, the last name sheer-uhn is derived from ‘O Sheeran’, or the anglicized ‘O Sirin’, meaning ‘descendant of Sirin or Sioran’. The word ‘Sioran’ also means ‘long-lasting’.
33. Sloan
Are you a fan of Grey’s Anatomy? Then you must have surely heard of the surname ‘Sloan’. This last name’s phonetic spelling is slohn. It is an anglicized form of ‘Sluaghadhan’, an old Irish word for ‘raid’.
34. Sullivan
Do you know that Sullivan from the Frost & Sullivan group has Irish origins? Well, the last name ‘Sullivan’ is an anglicized form of ‘O Suileabhain’, which means ‘descendant of Suileabhan’. This last name is pronounced as suh-lih-vuhn.
Find these Irish last names amusing? Check out our list of popular last names here!
Did you know?Polish Last Names Beginning With S
35. Sadowski
This surname denotes a person who belongs to the Sadowice or Sadowo province in the country. The word ‘Sadowski’ means ‘sad’ or ‘garden’ in Polish. Its phonetic spelling is sah-dov-skee.
36. Serafin
This Polish last name, pronounced seh-rah-fin, is derived from ‘serafim’, which means ‘fiery ones’ in Hebrew. Thus, the name has a Biblical origin.
37. Sikora
Sikora is a Polish last name which is a nickname for a small, dark person. It is pronounced si-kohr-uh and translates to ‘titmouse’, a small bird.
38. Sitko
The Polish last name ‘Sitko’ is derived from the word ‘sito’, which translates to ‘a fine sieve’. Its phonetic spelling is sit-koh.
39. Skala
This surname is pronounced as skah-lah. It originated in Poland and was used to refer to someone who lived around a prominent rock. Interestingly, the word ‘Skala’ means ‘rock’.
40. Slusarki
Poland has plenty of occupational last names. One among them is Slusarski, which is used to refer to locksmiths. This name is derived from the word ‘Slusarz’, meaning ‘locksmith’. To pronounce this name, you can follow the phonetic spelling—sloo-sar-skee.
41. Smolak
Another occupational Polish last name, ‘Smolak’ means ‘pitch’ and is derived from ‘Smola’. It is pronounced as smoh-lahka and is usually given to a person who is a ‘distiller of a pitch’.
42. Sneigowski
Derived from the word ‘Sneig’ meaning ‘snow’, Sneigowski is a surname given to those who live around snow. This name is pronounced as snay-goh-skee.
43. Sobol
Sobol is a Polish last name that was given to a fur trader. It is derived from the word ‘sobol’, a type of Marten (a wild animal). Its phonetic spelling is soh-bol.
44. Sokolowski
The last name Sokolowski is derived from the word ‘Sokol’,and means ‘falcon’. Soh-koh-loh-skee was given to those who belonged to any of the different places in the Sokolow province in Poland.
45. Sowka
This last name is unique and is derived from the Polish word for owl ‘sowa’. Its phonetic spelling is soh-vkah.
46. Starek
The name Starek is pronounced as stah-rehk. This surname was earlier a nickname and has developed into a surname over the years. It is derived from the word ‘stary’, which means ‘old’.
47. Starowsta
This surname is derived from the Polish word meaning ‘leader’. Its phonetic spelling is stah-rohv-stah.
Explore more Polish last names in this article.
Spanish Last Names That Start With S
48. Salas
Salas, pronounced sah-lahs is a Spanish last name for someone who works at a manor house. It is a plural form of the word ‘sala’. This surname is borne by the baseball player Jose Salas.
49. Salazar
The phonetic spelling of Salazar is sah-lah-zahr. This last name is derived from the combination of ‘Sala’, meaning ‘hall’, and ‘Zahar’, meaning ‘old’. Therefore, the word ‘Salazar’ means an ‘old hall’. It is also used to refer to people who were originally from the town of Salazar in Spain.
50. Salvador
This last name is derived from the Latin word ‘Salvator’, meaning ‘savior’. It is pronounced as sahl-vah-door. Salvador has also been used as a first name by popular figures, such as the Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali.
51. Sanchez
Sanchez is a very common Spanish last name found across the world. ‘Sanchez’ means the ‘Son of Sancho’. The word ‘Sancho’ is derived from the Latin word ‘Sanctius’, meaning ‘holy’ or ‘saintly’.
52. Santana
Santana is a combined form of the name ‘Saint Anna’. It is the last name for people who live near the church of St. Anna. Its phonetic spelling is shan-tah-nah.
53. Santiago
This last name is derived from the name ‘Saint James’. The surname is said to have been given to people who lived near and around the church of St. James. It is pronounced as sahn-tee-ah-go.
54. Serrano
‘Serrano’ means a ‘series of mountains’. This last name is pronounced Seh-rah-noh. It was given to people who lived close to a mountain ridge or a chain of hills.
55. Sevilla
This last name was given to people who lived in the city of Seville in Spain. Its phonetic spelling is seh-vee-yah.
Did you know?56. Solano
This last name is given to people who belonged to Solano in Spain. It is derived from the word ‘Sol’, meaning ‘Sun’ in Spanish, and is pronounced as so-lah-noh.
57. Sosa
This Spanish last name is derived from the Latin word ‘salsus’, meaning ‘salty’. The surname, pronounced soh-sah, was given to people who lived near the river Sousa.
58. Sotomayor
This Spanish surname was given to people who lived in villages surrounded by forests or groves. The phonetic spelling of Sotomayor is soh-toh-my-or.
Found these Spanish names interesting? Here are a few more popular Spanish last names!
German Last Names Starting With S
59. Schafer
This popular German surname is derived from the word ‘Schafer’, which means shepherd in German. Its phonetic spelling is shay-fur.
60. Schmidt
This German last name is derived from the German word for ‘smith’, and was given to a blacksmith. This bold last name is pronounced as shmidt.
61. Schroder
Schroder is an occupational German last name for a tailor. Its phonetic spelling is shroh-der. The word ‘Shroder’ translates to ‘to cut’. This last name is borne by Gerard Schroder, the former Chancellor of Germany.
62. Schneider
Another occupational last name found among people of German origin, Schneider is used for a tailor or a woodcutter. To pronounce it, you can follow the phonetic spelling—shny-der.
63. Stauder
Stauder, pronounced stow-der is a toponymic German last name given to someone who belongs to a thicketed area.
64. Schoff
This last name is derived from the German word ‘Schoup’ meaning ‘sheaf of grains’, and was given to an individual who was a brewer by occupation. Some people believe that the origin of this last name is from the word ‘Scheffe’, which means ‘juror’. However, it’s usually pronounced as shohf.
65. Schwing
Derived from the word ‘Swingen’ meaning ‘swing’ or ‘swingle’ in German, this last name was given to someone who removes the fiber from the flax plant using a wooden instrument called a swingle. Its phonetic spelling is shwig.
66. Schwein
An occupational name in German, ‘Schwein’ is the last name given to someone who rears and tends to swine and hogs. This name is pronounced as shvine.
67. Steuber
This common German last name is derived from ‘Stuba’, which means ‘room’ in German. You will be surprised to know that this occupational surname, pronounced stoy-ber, is given to someone who owns a tavern, inn, or accommodation for travelers.
Check out a few more popular German last names here!
Jewish Last Names Starting With S
68. Sachs
This is a common toponymic Jewish surname given to people who belonged to Saxony in Germany. The word ‘Sachs’ is derived from ‘sahs’, which means ‘knife’ or ‘small sword’ in Old German. Its phonetic spelling is sahks.
69. Sackman
A popular surname among Jews, ‘Sackman’ is derived from the word ‘Sack’, meaning ‘seed of the holy’. You can pronounce this name as sahk-muhn.
70. Sandler
Did you know Adam Sandler was Jewish? The last name ‘Sandler’ is derived from the word ‘sandler’, which means ‘shoemaker’. People with this last name, pronounced san-dler, had ancestors who were cobblers.
71. Sas
This is a Jewish surname adopted by people who wrote the religious texts of the Jews. Its phonetic spelling is sahs.
72. Sasson
Sasson, pronounced sah-son, is a Jewish surname derived from ‘Sason’, meaning ‘joy’ or ‘happiness’ in Hebrew. Siegfried Sassoon, the World War I poet, is one of the bearers of this last name.
73. Schatzman
The word ‘Schatz’ in German means ‘treasure’. This last name is pronounced shahtz-muhn and translates to ‘treasure man’.
74. Schapiro
A variant of another Jewish last name ‘Shapiro’, ‘Schapiro’ is a toponymic name for the Jews who lived in Speyer, a city in Germany. It is pronounced shuh-peer-oh.
75. Shulman
This last name is derived from the word ‘shul’ meaning ‘synagogue’. This Jewish last name’s phonetic spelling is shool-muhn. It was adopted by people from the Shamash family line, who were caretakers of a synagogue.
76. Spiegelberg
SPEE-guhl-berg is not toponymic or occupational but an ornamental one. ‘Spiegelberg’ literally translates to ‘mirror mountain’. This last name is borne by the American film director, producer, and writer, Steven Spiegelberg.
77. Sternbach
This Jewish surname is derived from the German words ‘Stern’ meaning ‘star’ and ‘bach’, meaning ‘stream’. This last name is pronounced stern-bahkh.
78. Stillman
Though it was a nickname, this Jewish surname also has a German origin. It is derived from ‘still’, meaning ‘quiet’ and ‘mann’, meaning ‘man’. When these two elements are together, this name is pronounced stil-muhn.
Also check out these traditional Jewish last names.
Japanese Last Names Starting With S
79. Sato
One of the most common surnames found in Northeastern Japan, sah-toh is derived from the words ‘Sa’, a bureaucratic title, and ‘To’ a Japanese character for Fuji. The word ‘To’ connects people with this surname to the Fujiwara Clan. There are many variations of this surname, including ‘Saitou’, ‘Saitoh’ and ‘Saito’.
80. Sakai
In Japanese, the language is predominantly character-based. The Japanese character ‘Sake’ is ‘rice wine’ and also means ‘well’. The phonetic spelling of Sakai is sah-kai. There are quite a few popular personalities with this surname, including Kiyoshi Sakai and Maki Sakai.
81. Sakaguchi
This Japanese surname is found in Western Japan and means ‘the one who lives on the slope’. Its phonetic spelling is sah-kah-goo-chee.
82. Sakamaki
Sah-kah-mah-kee is an ancient Japanese last name. It is a combination of the words ‘Saka’, meaning ‘slope’, ‘incline’, or ‘hill’, and ‘Maki’, meaning ‘shepherd’, ‘feed’, or ‘pasture’.
83. Sakurai
Sakurai translates to ‘cherry blossomed well’ and is commonly found in the eastern part of Japan. This last name is pronounced sah-koo-rai.
84. Sano
Sano, pronounced sah-noh, means ‘small field’ in Japanese.
85. Sasaki
The letter ‘Sa’ means ‘help’ and ‘ki’ means ’tree’. Sah-sah-kee is also popular in the Northeastern parts of Japan.
86. Shibata
This last name has two meanings as per Japanese pronunciation. While one name means ‘rice paddy’ and belongs to the Tachibana family, the other name means ‘brushwood’ found on the island of Kyushu. Its phonetic spelling is shee-bah-tah.
87. Shima
This Japanese last name is pronounced shee-mah. It means ‘island’ and is mostly found in the Kyoto-Osaka area of Japan.
88. Sone
This surname is common in the Eastern parts of Japan and on the Ryukyu Islands. Sone, pronounced soh-neh, means ‘former’ or ‘ancestor’ in Japanese.
89. Sugimoto
The surname soo-gee-moh-toh is found among the descendants of Miura and Ishii families. Sugimoto means ‘the one who lives beneath the cedars’ and refers to a village near Kamakura.
90. Suzuki
This famous Japanese surname means ‘bell tree’ and is derived from the pampas grass called ‘Susuki’ found in Japan. Interestingly, soo-zoo-kee is the second-most common surname in Japan.
Here are a few more popular Japanese last names you might have heard of!
French Last Names Starting With S
91. Sale
Sale is pronounced sayl. In French, it means ‘salty’. This surname is believed to have been given to those who lived near or worked in a salty marsh.
92. Sartre
This French surname’s phonetic spelling is sahr-truh. It has an occupational origin. It was given to people who sewed clothes as it is said to have been derived from the Latin word ‘Sartor’ meaning ‘tailor’. A famous bearer of this name is Jean-Paul Sartre, the French philosopher, playwright, novelist, and existentialist.
93. Sauveterre
This surname has two parts– ‘sauve’, which means ‘safe’ and ‘terre’, which means ‘land’. When these elements are put together, it is pronounced soh-vuh-ter.
94. Schaeffer
Though a common French surname, Schaeffer, pronounced shay-fuhr, has its roots in Germany. It is derived from ‘schafaerre’, meaning ‘manager’ or the ‘head of the household’.
95. Segal
Segal is a French occupational surname that means ‘a grower or a seller of rye’. The surname’s phonetic spelling is see-gahl. It has Latin origins and is derived from the word ‘secale’, meaning ‘rye’.
96. Sergeant
This French surname is pronounced sahr-juhnt. It is derived from the word ‘sergent’, meaning ‘servant’. This word is derived from the Latin word ‘servire’, which means ‘to serve’.
97. Serres
This is a toponymic French surname that has been derived from the word ‘serre’, meaning a ‘ridge’ or ‘chain of hills’. Its phonetic spelling is ser-uhs.
98. Serrurier
This French surname’s phonetic spelling is ser-roo-ree-ay. It was given to people who were locksmiths by profession.
99. Simon
See-muhn, which has French origins, is a common last name found in Europe. The literal translation of ‘Simon’ is ‘to listen’.
100. Soulier
This is another French occupational surname derived from an old French word ‘soulier’, meaning shoemaker. It may also have been derived from the word ‘soule’, meaning ‘platform’. Its phonetic spelling is soo-lee-ay.
Find out more about traditional and classy French last names in this article.
American Last Names That Start With S
101. Sampson
The last name ‘Sampson’ is modified from ‘Samson’, which means the ‘son of Samson’. Sampson is pronounced sam-suhn. There are many other variations of this name, including Sansum, Samson, and Samsen.
102. Sanders
This American last name is derived from Alexander the Great. Its phonetic spelling is san-duhrz. Bernie Sanders is a famous person with this surname, introduced in Britain by crusaders and later found its way to America.
103. Sawyer
Did this American last name remind you of Mark Twain’s famous Tom Sawyer? This surname is an occupational one that finds its origin in Medieval England. The surname means ‘sawer of wood’. Its phonetic spelling is soy-uhr.
104. Scott
This last name has Scottish origins and was associated with a Scotsman who conquered Scotland’s west coast in the 5th century AD. Its phonetic spelling is skawt. Walter Scott is a famous writer with this last name.
105. Shaw
This is a Geographical American surname that has an English origin. It was a surname given to people who resided beside a small wood or shaw.
106. Shelton
This name is derived from the word ‘Scylf’ in Old English, which means ‘shelf’, ‘enclosure’, or ‘settlement’. To pronounce this name, you can follow its phonetic spelling—shel-tuhn.
107. Shepherd
Shepherd, pronounced shep-uhrd, is one of the common British surnames in the US. This last name is an occupational one and was given to someone who tends to sheep and cattle.
108. Sidney
Sidney is a popular first and last name in the USA and comes in different spellings. Sidney is pronounced sid-nee. In Old English, ‘Sidney’ means‘ wide island’.
Sidney or Sydney is a much-loved last name that has been a part of popular fiction. K.M Sheard, a writer, says, “Sydney Carton of A Tale of Two Cities is one of my personal favorite characters — I’ve mentioned before my preference for the flawed hero, and Sydney epitomizes flawed hero so well. Nowadays, Sidney is the preferred spelling (i).”
109. Simmons
The last name ‘Simmons’ is believed to have an English lineage and became popular among the Cornish People. Its phonetic spelling is sim-uhnz.
110. Simpson
Simpson is a popular last name in the US. Simpson means ‘the son of Sim or Simon’. The surname sim-p-suhn became famous because of the cartoon of the same name.
111. Smith
Smith is a common surname in the US. It is an occupational last name (1). It refers to a metalworker or a blacksmith. A famous personality with this last name is Will Smith .
112. Spencer
The last name ‘Spencer’ will take you straight to British nobility. But, ‘Spencer’ is also a common American surname and has its roots in England. It is derived from the word ‘spense’, which means ‘pantry’. Its phonetic spelling is spen-sur.
113. Stanley
Though a popular American last name, ‘Stanley’ is derived from Old English and means ‘stone clearing’. It is pronounced stan-lee. Many notable individuals carry this surname.
114. Stevens
Stevens is one of the well-known American surnames with roots in the European continent. It means the ‘son of Stephen’. Its phonetic spelling is stee-vuhns.
115. Stone
Stone, pronounced stohn, is an American last name with British origins. This toponymic name was given to anyone who lived near a rock, a stone-boundary marker, or a stone monument.
116. Stewart
Stewart has Scottish origins and was a title given to the officer, who looked after estates of a royal or noble household. Martha Stewart, the American businesswoman, is a popular individual with this last name. The phonetic spelling of this name is stew-urt.
117. Sullivan
This American surname has Irish origins and is derived from the word ‘suil’ meaning ‘eye. ‘Sullian’ is the 92nd most common surname in the US and the third most common in Ireland. Sullivan is pronounced sull-ih-vuhn.
118. Summer
Summer, pronounced sumh-er, is a first name and last name of both English and German origin. American jazz cellist Mark Summer is a popular personality with this last name.
119. Summerfield
This American surname finds its roots in Britain from Summerfield in Wiltshire. It is a habitational last name and is pronounced sumh-er-feeld.
120. Swanson
This is a relatively common American last name derived from the word ‘swein’, which means ‘servant’. The phonetic spelling of Sawnson is swan-suhn.
A few American last names are also used as first names. Check out this interesting article to know more!
Discover More Names
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.
Illustration: Common Last Names That Start With S With Meanings
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are the last names Sullivan and O’Sullivan related?
Yes, the name Sullivan is a first name and surname, while O’Sullivan is its variant and is used as a surname. O’Sullivan means ‘of Sullivan’ in Irish and refers to someone who is a descendant of a person named Sullivan.
2. Are the last names Smith and Schmidt related?
Yes, Smith is an occupational surname referring to those who worked as blacksmiths. The name comes from Old English. Schmidt is the Middle High German variant of the name and has the same meaning.
3. Are last names starting with S more common in certain cultures?
Some cultures or languages may seem to have more last names starting with the letter S. However, surnames beginning with S are almost found in every culture. It is only that some surnames tend to get more widespread recognition or attain popularity than others.
Surnames or last names generally have fascinating histories and deep-rooted origins. Regardless of the origin or location, each name has a story to tell. While some last names have unusual meanings, others may simply reflect their forefathers’ occupations. Due to migration and colonization, some last names can be found in more than one country. So, the next time you come across a celebrity or individual with any of the above-mentioned last names that start with ‘S,’ you may be able to better understand their background without even asking.
Infographic: Last Names That Start With “S”
Last names such as Sheeran and Smith are famous around the globe. So, scroll through this infographic to know the origins of some last names starting with the letter S. If the letter S is among your favorites, this list of last names starting with the letter will be a worthy read.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Last names starting with ‘S’ originate from diverse cultural and geographical backgrounds, including Italian, Greek, Irish, Polish, Spanish, German, Jewish, Japanese, and American, each carrying distinct meanings.
- Many surnames reveal ancestral ties, offering insights into a family’s history and heritage.
- Last names like Saddler (saddle maker) and Schmidt (blacksmith) originate from traditional occupations, highlighting valued skills and trades in their cultures.
- Surnames like Sevilla (from Seville) and Sadowski (from Sadowice or Sadowo) reflect geographical origins, connecting family names to specific locations.
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. What the Dickens! — Part II.https://namenookdotcom.wordpress.com/tag/sidney/
References
- Names Have Meaning: A Research Guide for Baby Names and Family Names
https://www.nypl.org/blog/2015/06/01/names-research-guide
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