Two word last names

A double-barrelled name is a type of compound surname, typically featuring two words (occasionally more), often joined by a hyphen. Examples of some notable people with double-barrelled names include Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Sacha Baron Cohen.

In the Western tradition of surnames, there are several types of double surname (or double-barrelled surname^[1]). If the two names are joined with a hyphen, it may also be called a hyphenated surname. The word «barrel» possibly refers to the barrel of a shotgun, as in «double-barreled shotgun».

In British tradition, a double surname is heritable, usually taken to preserve a family name that would have become extinct due to the absence of male descendants bearing the name, connected to the inheritance of a family estate. Examples include Harding-Rolls and Stopford Sackville.

In Hispanic tradition, double surnames are the norm, and not an indication of social status. A person used to take the (first) surname of their father, followed by the (first) surname of their mother (i.e. their maternal grandfather’s surname). In Spain, parents can choose the order of the last names of their children since the year 2000, with the provision that all children from the same couple need to have them in the same order. The double surname itself is not heritable. These names are combined without hyphen (but optionally combined using y, which means «and» in Spanish). In addition to this, there are heritable double surnames (apellidos compuestos) which are mostly but not always combined with a hyphen. Hyphenated last names usually correspond to both last names of one of the parents but both last names can be hyphenated, so some Hispanics may legally have two double-barrelled last names corresponding to both last names of both parents. Many Spanish scholars use a pen name where they enter a hyphen between their last names to avoid being misrepresented in citations.

In German tradition, double surnames can be taken upon marriage, written with or without hyphen, combining the husband’s surname with the wife’s. (More recently the sequence has become optional under some legislations.) These double surnames are «alliance names» (Allianznamen).

British tradition[edit]

Many double-barrelled names are written without a hyphen, causing confusion as to whether the surname is double-barrelled or not. Notable persons with unhyphenated double-barrelled names include prime minister David Lloyd George (who used the hyphen when appointed to the peerage), politician Iain Duncan Smith, composers Ralph Vaughan Williams and Andrew Lloyd Webber, military historian B. H. Liddell Hart, soldier and translator C. K. Scott Moncrieff, evolutionary biologist John Maynard Smith, astronomer Robert Hanbury Brown, actresses Kristin Scott Thomas and Helena Bonham Carter (the last of whom has said the hyphen is optional, and indeed several of her relatives use it in their names),^[2] and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen (whose cousins, psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen and film-maker Ash Baron-Cohen, use the hyphen in their names).

In Wales, many families have double-barrelled surnames. The preponderance in Wales of only a few surnames (such as Jones, Williams, and Davies) led to the usage of double-barrelled names to avoid confusion of unrelated but similarly-named people.^[3] Lloyd George, Vaughan Williams and Llewelyn Davies are examples of this phenomenon.

A few British noble or gentry families have «triple-barrelled» surnames (e.g. Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe; Cave-Browne-Cave; Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound; Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby; Smith-Dorrien-Smith; Vane-Tempest-Stewart; Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes). These indicate prima facie the inheritance of multiple estates and thus the consolidation of great wealth. These are sometimes created when the legator has a double-barrelled name and the legatee has a single surname, or vice versa. Nowadays, such names are almost always abbreviated in everyday usage to a single or double-barrelled version. For example, actress Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe calls herself Isabella Calthorpe. There is at least one example of an unhyphenated triple-barrelled surname: that of the Montagu Douglas Scott family, to which the Dukes of Buccleuch belong.

There are even a few «quadruple-barrelled» surnames (e.g. Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefusis, Hovell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce, Montagu-Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie, Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax, Lane Fox Pitt-Rivers, and Stirling-Home-Drummond-Moray). The surname of the extinct family of the Dukes of Buckingham and Chandos was the quintuple-barrelled Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville.

Captain Leone Sextus Denys Oswolf Fraudatifilius Tollemache-Tollemache de Orellana Plantagenet Tollemache-Tollemache is sometimes incorrectly quoted as the man with the most ever «barrels» in his surname (six).^{[citation needed]} The UK Registry Office confirms that his surname was ‘Tollemache-Tollemache’ and the other names are forenames.

Traditions in Iberian Peninsula[edit]

In Spain, surnames are strictly regulated by the Civil Code and the Law of the Civil Registry.^[4] When a person is born, the law requires them to take the first surname of the father and then the first surname of the mother. Thus, when D. Julio Iglesias de la Cueva and Dª Isabel Preysler Arrastía had a son called Enrique, he legally was Enrique Iglesias Preysler. On the other hand, actual double-barrelled names exist (called apellidos compuestos), such as Calvo-Sotelo or López-Portillo. For example, Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo y Bustelo is the son of Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo and Mercedes Bustelo Vázquez. Such names may reflect the attempt to preserve a family name that would be lost without this practice. The creation of such names must be approved by request to the Ministry of the Interior.^[5]

Spain’s hidalgo families often used double-barrelled names in conjunction with the nobiliary particle «de» (of). Toponymic family such as the surnames García de las Heras, Pérez de Arce or López de Haro combine a regular family name with the branch of the family. For example, the «López» branch hailing from the Rioja town of Haro, La Rioja. Surnames associated with Spanish nobility follow the same custom, such as the Álvarez de Toledo, Ramírez de Arellano or Fernández de Córdoba. In these cases, the first surname indicates the original name of the family, whereas the second surname denotes the nobiliary fief of that family. In this context, the conjunction «de» (of) reflects that the family used to be the feudal lords of that place. Thus, the Ramírez were the lords of the village of Arellano, in Navarra.

In Portugal, where most of the population have two to four surnames (apelidos de família), the practice of using a double combination of surnames is very common. The person can either use a paternal and a maternal surname combined (Aníbal Cavaco Silva) or use a double last name that has been passed down through one of the parents (António Lobo Antunes). The last surname (normally the paternal one) is usually considered the «most important», but people may choose to use another one, often favouring the more sonant or less common of their surnames in their daily or professional life (such as Manuel Alegre or José Manuel Barroso, who is known in Portugal by his double surname Durão Barroso). The use of more than two surnames in public life is less common, but not unusual (see Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen). Combined surnames of two gentry families from Portugal are also prevalent, such as Nogueira Ferrão.

One historic early aviator, Alberto Santos-Dumont, is known to have not only often used an equals sign (=) between his two surnames in place of a hyphen, but also seems to have preferred that practice, to display equal respect for his father’s French ethnicity and the Brazilian nationality of his mother.^[6]

Continental Germanic tradition[edit]

In Germany, a double surname (German: Doppelname) is generally joined with a single hyphen. Other types of double surnames are not accepted by German name law. However, exceptions are made for immigrants and for marriages where the double surname already was the official name of one partner before marriage.^{[citation needed]} A 1993 law forbids surnames with more than two components.^[7] Prior to this, it was permitted for adults (e.g., Simone Greiner-Petter-Memm and formerly Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann-Maier-Leibniz^[7]) but their children would not inherit the name.^[7] The 1993 ban was upheld by the Constitutional Court in 2009.^[7] The crew members of the famous First World War light cruiser SMS Emden were allowed to add the name Emden with a hyphen to their surname as a special honour after World War I. There is the possibility that one partner can combine both names by a hyphen. Thus, one of them then bears a double name (Doppelname). (Herr Schmidt and Frau Meyer-Schmidt (or Frau Schmidt-Meyer); the children have to be called Schmidt). Only one partner can take this option, making it impossible for both partners to have Doppelnamen (thus, there would be no Herr Meyer-Schmidt and Frau Meyer-Schmidt). Until the late twentieth century it was only possible for a woman to add her maiden name onto that of her husband’s, not the other way round, therefore Ms. Schmidt would become Mrs. Meyer-Schmidt. This tradition has continued for the most part.

In Switzerland, double surnames are traditionally written with a hyphen and combine the surnames of a married couple with the husband’s surname in first place and the wife’s second. This double name is called «alliance name» (German: Allianzname). The first name as such, however, is the official family name, which will be inherited by their legitimate children. So, for example, if Werner Stauffacher is married to Gertrud Baumgarten, both can use the name Stauffacher-Baumgarten. Their children, however, bear only the surname Stauffacher. Prominent bearers of an alliance name are Micheline Calmy-Rey (former Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs), Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf (former Federal Minister for Finance), and Johann Schneider-Ammann (Federal Minister for the Economy). While it is traditional for the family name to be that of the husband, either name may be chosen, with the person who changes their surname being allowed to hyphenate on their original name.^[8] Alternatively, both partners may keep their own name and choose which of the surnames is passed on to children at birth of their first child.^[8]

Doubling of surnames is also practised by the Dutch. An example is the name of Dutch footballer Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. According to The Guardian, his name derives from «the 17th century, when two farming families in the Enschede area of the Netherlands intermarried. Both the Vennegoor and Hesselink names carried equal social weight, and so – rather than choose between them – they chose to use both. ‘Of’ in Dutch translates to ‘or’, which means that a strict translation of his name reads Jan Vennegoor or Hesselink.»^[9][10] Some of these Dutch surnames also survive in South Africa, for example, the rugby player Rohan Janse van Rensburg’s surname is Janse van Rensburg, not only van Rensburg (which is itself an existing surname). In addition, it was common for wives to be known by their husband’s surname (first) and her original/birth name (second) hyphenated. Nowadays, couples can choose any combination of surnames for official use (although their legal name will remain unchanged). Most prevalent remains for the wife to either use a hyphenated surname or use her original/birth name. Few husbands use a hyphenated surname. All children of a couple need to go by the same surname (either their father’s or their mother’s); and won’t normally have a hyphenated surname.

Scandinavia[edit]

Denmark has a tradition of double surnames originating in the 19th century. This was a result of two naming acts obliging commoners to adopt heritable surnames, passed first for the Duchy of Schleswig in 1771, and then for Denmark proper in 1828. Most people chose their patronymic as their heritable surname, resulting in an overwhelming dominance of a few surnames.

To reduce the risk of mistaken identity, many Danes started using their mothers’ original/birth names as a heritable middle name (similar to the Russian or Hispanic system), rather than as a second given name (as in the Anglo-Saxon system). One example is three successive prime ministers of Denmark all sharing the same last name, Rasmussen, so they are usually referred to by their middle name: Nyrup, Fogh and Løkke, respectively.

Currently, the Danish order of names invariably places the patronymic -sen at the end, regardless of whether that name has been passed down by the father or mother, or adopted through marriage. Unlike the Russian or Hispanic systems, this surname-style middle name is not considered a proper last name in official documents, unless hyphenated into one compound name.

Poland[edit]

In Poland, a double surname (Polish: nazwisko złożone, «complex surname») is generally joined with a hyphen. Polish surnames (Polish: nazwisko, singular), like those in most of Europe, are hereditary and generally patrilineal, i.e., passed from the father on to his children. A married woman usually adopts her husband’s name. However, other combinations are legally possible. The wife may keep her original/birth name (Polish: nazwisko panieńskie, literally: «maiden surname») or add her husband’s surname to hers, thus creating a double name (nazwisko złożone). A married man can also adopt his wife’s surname, or add it to his. Polish triple-barreled surnames are known to exist; an example is the one borne by Ludwik Kos-Rabcewicz-Zubkowski, a university professor and writer, living in Canada.

Russia[edit]

In Russia, double-barreled surnames are somewhat uncommon, but normal and accepted practice, often associated with some families of note wishing to preserve both of their lineages. Federal law #143-FZ «On Civil State Acts» explicitly allows double-barreled names in its Article 18, but limits such compound surnames to two parts only.

Статья 18. Запись фамилии, имени и отчества ребенка при государственной регистрации рождения

1. При государственной регистрации рождения фамилия ребенка записывается по фамилии его родителей. При разных фамилиях родителей по соглашению родителей ребенку присваивается фамилия отца, фамилия матери или двойная фамилия, образованная посредством присоединения фамилий отца и матери друг к другу в любой последовательности, если иное не предусмотрено законами субъектов Российской Федерации. Не допускается изменение последовательности присоединения фамилий отца и матери друг к другу при образовании двойных фамилий у полнородных братьев и сестер. Двойная фамилия ребенка может состоять не более чем из двух слов, соединенных при написании дефисом.

Translated:

Article 18

1. During state registration of birth, the surname of the child is recorded according to the surname of his parents. With different surnames of the parents, by agreement of the parents, the child is assigned the surname of the father, the surname of the mother or a double surname formed by joining the surnames of the father and mother to each other in any sequence, unless otherwise provided by the laws of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. It is not allowed to change the sequence of joining the surnames of the father and mother to each other when forming double surnames for full brothers and sisters. The double surname of the child may consist of no more than two words, connected when written with a hyphen.

Turkish tradition[edit]

Turkish tradition offers options to couples after the marriage for the naming conventions. Renewing the national identity card to reflect the changes has two options, one is to use the man’s surname for the newly formed family’s surname, the second is to use two surnames for the family noting that one is the bride’s original/birth name, the latter is the groom’s surname. This highlights the equal importance of men and women in Turkish history since 2008, by giving legal opportunity to use whichever is preferable for partners.

French-Canadian tradition[edit]

Until the late 19th century, some families had a nom-dit tradition. This was a family nickname (literally a «said name»). The origins of the noms-dits were various. Some noms-dits were the war-name of the first settler, while he was a soldier: Hébert dit Jolicœur (Pretty Heart, cf. Braveheart), Thomas dit Tranchemontagne (mountain chopper). Some denoted the place of origin of the first settler: Langevin (Anjou), Barbeau dit Poitevin (Poitou). Others denoted a characteristic of the person or of his dwelling: Lacourse, Lépine, Larivière.

Recent developments[edit]

Since the late 20th century, increasingly permissive legislation on the inheritance of surnames in Western countries has led to the emergence of non-traditional or ad hoc combined surnames.^{[clarification needed]}
For example, Hispanic American politician Antonio Villar and his wife Corina Raigosa adopted the «blended» surname Villaraigosa upon their marriage in 1987.^[11]

In Belgium and Germany, member states of the European Union, courts have refused to register children under the surname given according to a foreign naming tradition.^[12]

In France, a practice abolished in 2010^[13] was to use two consecutive hyphens (—) (not the same as a «long hyphen» or dash, or with a double hyphen) to distinguish between recently formed double surnames and ancient hyphenated family names (French: nom composé). The use of double surnames is legal but not customary. Children traditionally take on their father’s surname (or, more recently, optionally their mother’s).

In Canada, especially Quebec, it is common for children born since the 1970s to bear both parents’ surnames, with no established rules as to whether the father’s or mother’s name should come first. (In Quebec, under the provisions of the Civil Code enacted in 1980,^[14] both spouses must retain their original surnames upon marriage.) This situation was frequent enough that naming laws had to be amended in the early 1990s when those with double surnames began to marry, and wished themselves to give their children double surnames. In such cases, any combination involving at most two elements of the father’s or the mother’s surname is permitted.^[15]

Finland liberalised their name law in 2017, allowing double surnames in some cases, either hyphenated or as such. A double name can be formed when marrying or getting children, combining the surnames of the spouses or the parents, respectively. Double names can be combined by taking one part of each. Either spouse or both can take a double name. Based on a family’s foreign name tradition, children can get surnames also based on a grandparent’s surname.^[16] The former law, from 1985, allowed either taking their spouse’s surname and optionally continuing using their own surname as a hyphen-joined prefix, but formally they did not get a double surname and their children got the spouse’s surname.^[17]

With the rise of same-sex marriage, many same-sex couples have hyphenated each other’s names upon marriage.^[18] For instance, American attorney and former chair of the Libertarian National Committee Joe Bishop-Henchman changed his surname from Henchman upon marriage to his husband Ethan Bishop, who also changed his surname to Bishop-Henchman at that time.

Non-Western surname traditions[edit]

Most Chinese surnames are a single character. However, in modern times, some families are now combining the surnames of the parents to create new names. Some examples of notable double-barrelled surnames include the Changchien clan in Taiwan. This practice is different from having a Chinese compound surname, where more than one character is used in a surname.

In 2007, PRC officials suggested that parents should be encouraged to create two-syllable (two-character) surnames for their children by combining their parents’ (one-syllable) surnames; this could make people’s names more unique, and «could help solve the problem of widely recurring names».^[19]

In India, double surnames are comparatively common, especially in Bengal, examples including Roy Chaudhury (sometimes written as Chowdhury), Ghosh Dastidar and Das Gupta.^{[citation needed]} In recent^[when?] years, a few notable married women have been keeping their original/birth surnames resulting in a double-barrelled name such as Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar, Padmaja Phenany Joglekar.

In Nigeria, a double barrelled surname is adopted when an aristocratic woman marries a lower ranked man. It also occurs when a ruling family adopts the forename of their patriarch as part of their surname to distinguish themselves from others that might share their surname. An example of the former is that of the Vaughan-Richards family, a branch of the family of the Nigerian royal-turned-American emancipated slave Prince Scipio Vaughan, who maintain their mother’s last name as well as their father’s. An example of the latter is that of the royal family of King Adeniji Adele of Lagos, who are distinguished from their numerous Adele cousins by the use of the double barrelled name Adeniji-Adele.

Filipino naming tradition[edit]

The Filipino naming tradition is derived from the Hispanic system but was influenced by the American (Anglo-Saxon) naming tradition when the Philippines became a United States colony in 1901.
A child will customarily carry the mother’s original/birth name as the middle name and carry the father’s surname. When a woman marries, she keeps her original/birth surname and adds the husband’s surname, but does not typically hyphenate it. So, when Maria Santos Aguon marries José Lujan Castro, her name becomes Maria Aguon Castro and their children will typically carry the middle name Aguon, and the surname Castro.^{[citation needed]}

For Filipinos, the middle name is usually the maternal surname, which is the original/birth surname of a person’s mother. The use of the maternal surname as middle name is from American influence, where Filipinos adopted English naming customs, when they once used Spanish naming customs, that used two surnames (paternal and maternal) joined with the particle y (or e before /i/), which remains in use but became restricted to very formal purposes, police records and legal proceedings. In the original Spanish naming system, the middle name corresponds to the paternal surname, not the maternal surname as used in the Philippines today. For Filipinos, this middle name (or the maternal surname) is usually being abbreviated in less formal communications to a middle initial. Thus, a person with the full name Juan Santos Macaraig, with Santos the middle name in the present order, may become Juan S. Macaraig with the middle name abbreviated, and Juan Macaraig y Santos in the Spanish system, such as those used in names on police records, especially those seen on name placards held by a convicted person on official mug shots. The Philippine system, using «given name-middle name-surname» order (or «Christian name-mother’s surname-father’s surname») coincidentally follows the Portuguese naming system that uses two surnames, the first being maternal and the second being paternal.

But, the maternal surname may not be the middle name at some cases. It may be a second given name, like what the term really means, as in Jose P. Laurel, where «P.» (a middle initial) corresponds to Paciano.

In illegitimate children, the middle name is the original/birth surname of the father, and the middle name (maternal surname) of the mother as surname. But the surname becomes of the father’s surname upon legal and administrative acknowledgment by his/her father. The child of a single father takes no middle name, even when the mother’s identity is known.

To illustrate that, the daughter of an unmarried couple named Ana Cristina dela Cruz Manansala and Jose Maria Panganiban Lozada, named ‘»Maria Cristina'», will be named Maria Cristina Manansala dela Cruz (or Ma. Cristina M. dela Cruz), with Ana Cristina’s middle name, dela Cruz, as surname. But once Jose Maria wants to acknowledge her as his child legally and administratively, Maria Cristina will take the surname Lozada, but keep the maternal surname Manansala as middle name, thus, Maria Cristina Manansala Lozada (or Ma. Cristina M. Lozada). As the daughter of only Jose Maria, Maria Cristina will be rather called Maria Cristina Lozada or Ma. Cristina Lozada, even when the mother is known.

In married women, the middle name usually corresponds to the original/birth surname, but on professional society, women usually add the husband’s surname after their original/birth name, keeping the maternal surname. A married woman may decline taking the husband’s surname and keep her original/birth name as no Philippine law compels women to take her husband’s surname. Thus, a woman named Maria Concepcion Perez Limchauco (or Ma. Concepcion P. Limchauco), once marrying Juan Pablo Sanchez Marasigan (or Juan Pablo S. Marasigan) may take the name Maria Concepcion Perez Limchauco-Marasigan (or Ma. Concepcion P. Limchauco-Marasigan), maintaining the maternal surname Perez, Maria Concepcion Limchauco Marasigan (or Ma. Concepcion L. Marasigan), taking the original/birth surname Limchauco as middle name and Marasigan as married surname, or keep her original/birth names, remaining Maria Concepcion Perez Limchauco.

See also[edit]

• Bilingual tautological names
• Double name
• Dual naming
• Name blending
• List of double placenames

References[edit]

• #1

Post cool two-word last names you know! Make sure they are a two word last name and not a middle and last name. I’ll start:

Antwaan RANDLE EL, NFL wide receiver
ZHU-GE Liang, Shu strategist
SI-MA Yi, Wei strategist

Mise

isle of lucy

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• #2

There’s a guy who works in IT whose surname is «Chippington-Derrick». He even says things like «oh bother» in emails. It’s fantastic.

Borachio

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bhsup

Deity

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Grisu

Draghetto

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• #5

I forgot the exact name, but a client at my last place of employ went by a typical «von Something» name, except hat he also had a first name as part of his last name….so his last name was something like «Peter von Aarburg». So when he phoned you, you’d instinctively just great him by the second part of his name (Hello Mr. von Aarburg). I’m sure he was terribly annoyed by that.

Ok, so it’s a three-word last name….

W|M

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• #6

My mother once worked with a guy in the army who was referred to as Major Dick.

Antilogic

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• #8

I’m guessing last names that have two actual words in them don’t count (i.e. Max Fightmaster)?

There’s a guy who works in IT whose surname is «Chippington-Derrick». He even says things like «oh bother» in emails. It’s fantastic.

That sounds so stereotypically English it is uncomfortable.

Reminds me of an election porn story where Hillary time-travels to pull her past self forward to be a young and exciting VP pick on her ticket.

Borachio

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• #9

Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is not only double-barrelled but includes the word «and», too.

Glassfan

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• #10

Irony, borderline sarcasm. I give it an 89!

• #11

What about thos of us who actually have two last names?

• #14

[insert Hellenistic ruler first epithet] + Soter.

• #15

van Persie.

Borachio

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• #17

De Saint-Exupéry.

Cool name. Very cool guy.

First, some examples of names with Two-word surnames

Charles De Gaulle
Martin Van Buren
Kristin Scott Thomas
Helena Bonham Carter
Antonio Garcia Pascual
Marco Del Negro
Vincent Van Gogh
Piero Della Francesca [also written as "Piero della Francesca"]

(In case you’re curious: The first two are former Presidents of their respective countries; the middle two are actresses; the next two are professional economists; and the final two are painters. Vincent, hopefully, needs no special introduction…)

With all of these names, it would be quite wrong (i) to typeset their names as C. D. Gaulle, M. V. Buren, K. S. Thomas, etc. or (ii) to generate citation call-outs of the form «Negro and Pascual 2015». (Correct: Del Negro and Garcia Pascual 2015.)

To inform BibTeX that it’s not dealing with authors (or editors…) with one first name, one middle name (De, Van, Scott, Bonham, etc), and one surname and, instead, with authors/editors that all have one first name and a two-word surname, the names should be entered into the author and editor fields either as (using commas)

De Gaulle, Charles
Van Buren, Martin
Scott Thomas, Kristin
Bonham Carter, Helena
Garcia Pascual, Antonio
Del Negro, Marco
Van Gogh, Vincent
Della Francesca, Piero

or as (using curly braces)

Charles {De Gaulle}
Martin {Van Buren}
Kristin {Scott Thomas}
Helena {Bonham Carter}
Antonio {Garcia Pascual}
Marco {Del Negro}
Vincent {Van Gogh}
Piero {Della Francesca}

I personally prefer the first of the two possibilities.

Turning to the final part of your query: Both Jan A. {Van Mieghem} and Van Mieghem, Jan A. are syntacically correct, in the sense that BibTeX has enough information to figure out what the surname component is. That said, I personally prefer the second form, viz., Van Mieghem, Jan A..

---

Aside: Note that the case of names containing a two-word surname is quite distinct from the case of names that contain a «von component» and a single-word surname.

excellent question.  short answer: no.  Long answer follows:

WikiTree guidelines are to try to match what the person used, but as far back as you’re looking, there wasn’t a lot of consistency. And Kimball’s been educating me about how the Dutch used patronymics, geographical origins and occupations to describe people — in other words, they didn’t really have last names.  Van Meteren-8 is on the ship’s passenger list as just Jan Joosten, for example.

But in WikiTree, we need to have an LNAB (last name at birth) and to merge a lot of profiles, they each merge into the lowest-numbered ID (keeps behind-the-scenes stuff humming along better).  So, in essence, you just need to agree on what you’ll use with others who share your line, figure out the lowest number for the person in question, lock the profile (I think maybe a supervisor needs to do this — I can do it for you when I’m back on line tonight), and add the template for the New Netherland Settlers project (locked profiles need to be affiliated with a project).  

Whatever’s decided, it’s not that any version is more right than the other, it’s just that we need to agree on one so that we can work toward the WikiTree goal of “one profile per person.”

OK. Now for Van Meter.  Before a couple of weeks ago, Ruth Van Meter / Vanmetre was the only one in my line I knew about. Then I found her father & I’ve been getting a crash course in Dutch ancestry ever since!  Kimball has done extensive research and has been really patient and kind in sharing with me.  Among the many things he taught me was that the «metre» (re) version wasn’t the best option, and that in the Netherlands (not New Netherland) it would have been «Meteren» — I’m still learning about whether or not it would be van or Van or one word or two.  Kimball preferred upper case M but didn’t mind whether it had a space or not.  Since the profile for my Ruth was already pretty robust, I preferred Van Meter and he OK’d that. I also used that for her father and grandfather. We went to Van Meteren for the great-grandfather.

Toward the bottom of the http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Project:New_Netherland_Settlers project page, you’ll see my notes on the profiles that I’ve been merging others into.  I think Bodine & Eltinge have question marks by them, as the group hasn’t weighed in on what style/spelling to use.  Basically, if you need to merge profiles using two different styles/spelling, post a question  to G2G about it (I’d suggest using the question button on each of the profiles and be sure to tag the question new_netherland )

Welcome aboard the New Netherland Settlers Project!

Cheers, Liz

First names are very important, but so are surnames.

While a first name gives a personal identity to your characters the second name or family name can be just as important, giving readers further context to their personality and heritage.

There are unique last names, manly last names, cool last names, and tough last names that you can choose from. While many last names that mean strong are popularly used today, there are also some uncommon last names that we’ve found. We’ve collected the strongest names from around the world for you to pick from.

We’ve put together a comprehensive list of more than 100 strong and interesting last names that any cool character would happily flaunt. If you’re interested in more options, you can also check out our list of interesting last names or cool last names.

Popular Strong Last Names

If you’re looking for a last name that’s already in popular use, this list is perfect for you.

1. Abbott (Hebrew origin), a popular name meaning “father” used to represent the head of a monastery.

2. Ahearn (Irish, Celtic origin), the name means “Lord of the horses”.

3. Albert (English origin), meaning “noble”. It also makes a great first name.

4. Allen (Irish, English, Scottish origin), the name means “little rock” or “harmony”.

5. Amery (German origin), this name means “divine”.

6. Anderson (Scottish and Scandinavian origin), this popular surname means “manly and brave”.  

7. Auger (French origin), this surname means “noble spear”.

8. Barrett (German, English origin), this last name means “mighty like a bear”.  

9. Barron (English origin), the name means “noble fighter or warrior”.

10. Bazin (Greek origin), this surname means “royal”.

11. Beaufort (French origin), this strong sounding last name is a combination of two words beau, meaning “beautiful” and fort, meaning “fortress or strong palace”.

12. Cadell (Celtic, Welsh origin), the name means “battle”.

13. Carnell (English origin), the name means “the castle defender”.

14. Charles (German origin), this surnames means “free man”.

15. Clair (Latin origin), this surname means “famous”.

16. Edouard (French origin), meaning “prosperous guardian”. This is the French equivalent surname of the English name Edward.

17. Ezekiel (Biblical origin), meaning “God strengthens”. This popular surname is also used as a first name.

18. Gaudin (German origin), this popular surname means “son of God”.

19. Schaeffer (German origin), this popular surname means “head of the household” or “manager”.

20. Ulrich (German origin), this surname means “ruler of the wolves”.

21. Warner (English origin), a surname meaning “covered warrior”.

22. Xander (Greek origin), this surname means “mankind’s protector”.

Unique Strong Last Names

If you’d prefer unique last names for your character as opposed to popular ones, take your pick from this list.

23. Adalwen (German origin), this unique last name means “noble friend”.

24. Aiken (English origin), this name means “little Adam” or “oaken”.

25. Alarie (French origin), this surname means “all power”.

26. Allard (French origin), this surname means “noble”.

27. Archambeau (German, Latin origin), this is one of the unique last names meaning “bold and daring”.  

28. Arne (Dutch and Scandinavian origin), meaning “strong like an eagle or ruler”. This is among the most unique last names.

29. Ayers (English origin), this unique last name means “heir to a fortune” and also represents the unforgettable Australian landmark, Ayers rock.  

30. Bartram (Danish, English origin), this unique last name means “glorious raven”. It was considered consecrated to the war God Odin in Norse mythology.

31. Baudelaire (French origin), meaning “dagger” or “small sword”. It is pronounced as Boh-deh-lair.

32. Bevan (Celtic origin), this name means “young soldier”.

33. Brandt (German origin), the name means “fiery torch”.

34. Bushida (Japanese origin), this unique last name means “warrior” or “Samurai”.

35. Cadman (Celtic, Welsh origin), the name means “warrior”.

36. Chadwick (English origin), this surname means “one who is from the town of warriors”.

37. Chevalier (French origin), this surname means “knight”.

38. Daigo (Japanese origin), this unique last name means “great enlightenment”.

39. Durand (French origin), meaning “enduring”. This is among the most unique last names.    

40. Fukuda (Japanese origin), this unique last name means “hope”.

41. Fukushima (Japanese origin), this means “fortune” or “blessed”. It is a surname from the Ryukyu Islands.

42. Gauthier (French origin), meaning “army ruler”. This is among the strong, unique last names.

43. Gavi (Hebrew origin), this means “God is my strength”. It is a unique last name that would be great for your baby.

44. Guillaume (Norman origin), meaning “protection” or “strength”. You may just like this unique last name.

45. Haku (Japanese origin), this name means “poetic”. If you like literature, you may want to consider giving your baby this strong surname.

46. Heroux (French origin), this means “wolf army”, which is a pretty tough surname to have. This surname is derived from ‘Hariwulf’, a German personal name that comprises two words – ‘Hari’ meaning “army” and ‘Wulf’, meaning “wolf”.

47. Ishizaki (Japanese origin), this surname means “stone peninsula”.

48. Ito (Japanese origin), meaning “the one”.

49. Kamiyama (Japanese origin), meaning “God”. This is a pretty big surname for your character to live up to.

50. Landry (German origin), it means “powerful ruler of the land”. This surname is derived from the personal name ‘Landric’, which is a combination of two words, land and ‘Ric’, which means “ruler or powerful”.

51. Robillard (German origin), derived from the words ‘hrod’, which means “glory”, and ‘Berht’, which means “illustrious”. This surname is a combination of two words, both with powerful meaning.

52. Varon (German origin), this surname means “protection”.

Strong Last Names After Notable Or Famous People

Why not pick a cool last name from notable and famous people for your character from this list?

53. Armstrong (English origin), this name means “son of the strong man”. It is meant for someone with strong arms. Famous holders of this surname include the jazz musician Louis Armstrong as well as the first person to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong.

54. Beckham (English origin), the name means “location of the small stream”. It is the surname of the renowned soccer player David Beckham.

55. Blaine (Scottish, Celtic origin), the name means “yellow”. It is the last name of American stunt performer and illusionist David Blaine.

56. Branson (English origin), the name means “son of Brand”. It is a variation of Brandon, which means “beacon hill”. Richard Branson, the British business magnate and investor has this surname.

57. Camus (French origin), a surname meaning “one who has a snub nose”. Albert Camus, the Nobel Prize winning author, journalist, and philosopher bear this surname.  

58. Carlisle (English origin), the name means “from the walled city”. Sir Anthony Carlisle was a British surgeon who discovered electrolysis.  

59. Cash (English origin), a surname meaning “maker of chests”. Johnny Cash was an American singer and songwriter.

60. Clinton (English origin), the surname means “town on a hill”. This is the surname of Bill and Hillary Clinton.

61. Cohen (Hebrew origin), this surname means “priest”. Samuel Cohen invented the neutron bomb or W70 warhead.

62. Cortez (Portuguese, Spanish origin), this is among the surnames that mean “polite” or “courteous”. Hernando Cortes was the Governor of New Spain and conquistador of the Aztec empire.

63. Darwin (English origin), this surname means “dear friend”. Charles Darwin was a British scientist who gave the theory of evolution.

64. Ford (English origin), meaning “crossing” or “pass”. This is the surname of the Ford Motor Company founder and American industrialist Henry Ford.

65. Frank (English origin), this surname means “free” and can even be used to denote someone from France. The surname of Anne Frank, whose diary during the Second World War is world renowned.

66. Gates (English origin), this surname means “dweller by the gates”. It is the surname of Microsoft founder and American businessman, Bill Gates.

67. King (American origin), the surname means “ruler”. This is the surname of the American Civil Rights campaigner, Martin Luther King.    

68. Monroe (Scottish origin), the surname means “from the hill”. Marilyn Monroe was an iconic American actress, model, and singer.  

69. Parker (English origin), meaning “park keeper”. This is among the cool last names with a simple meaning. Famous people with this surname include Sarah Jessica Parker and Tony Parker.  

Strong Last Names From Movies

Strong movie characters often have cool last names that would be the perfect fit for your character. Take your pick from this list.

70. Addams (English, Scottish origin), this surname means “son of Adam”. It is derived from “Adam”. Any of the ‘Addams Family’ members can be celebrated with the use of this name.

71. Balboa (Galician origin), this surname means “pleasant valley” and represents Rocky Balboa from ‘The Rocky’ series.

72. Connor (Irish origin), this surname means “lover of the wolves or hounds”. Sarah Connor from ‘The Terminator’ series makes this a tough last name to flaunt.

73. Corleone (Italian origin), this surname means “lion heart”. The Don Vito Corleone from Mario Puzo’s ‘The Godfather’ has this surname.

74. Hunt (English, Irish origin), this surname is an occupational one that relates to the act of hunting. Ethan Hunt from ‘The Mission: Impossible’ series serves as the inspiration for this name.

75. Jones (Hebrew origin), the surname refers to “one who has been favored by Jehovah”. Indiana Jones, the fictional archaeology professor from the American media franchise, has this surname.  

76. Kirk (Scottish origin), this surname means “church” and can be used to pay tribute to Captain Kirk from the ‘Star Trek’ series.

77. Montana (Spanish origin), the surname means “mountain” or is used to refer to a “mountainous region”. Tony Montana from ‘Scarface’ has this surname.  

78. Potter (English, German, Dutch origin), this occupational surname refers to a maker of storage vessels. ‘Harry Potter’ fans will love this one.  

79. Prime (English origin), the surname means “excellent” or “fine”. It is the surname of ‘The Transformer’ series character, Optimus Prime.

80. Stark (German or English origin), this last name means “rigid or strong”. Tony Stark or Iron Man from the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s ‘Avengers’ makes this a cool last name to have.

Last Names That Mean Strong

Want to keep it simple and choose a name that translates into ‘strong?’ Take your pick from among this list of super cool last names.  

81. Adkins (English origin), a name meaning “strong” or “made of oak”.

82. Bardin (German origin), this strong surname means “battle ax”.

83. Berengar (German origin), this strong surname means “bear and spear”.

84. Bernard (German origin), meaning “strong like a bear”.

85. Cadieux (French origin), this surname means “little fighter”.

86. Dufort (French origin), meaning “stronghold”. This is one of the most cool last names.  

87. Ekon (African origin), a name like this means “strong”.

88. Eros (Hungarian origin), this is the last name that means “strong”.  

89. Fermi (Italian origin), even this baby name means “strong”, “firm”, or “steady”.

90. Fortin (French origin), this surname means “strong”.

91. Gagliardi (Italian origin), this is a cool last name that means “vigorous or strong”.

92. Gerard (French origin), this surname combines two words, ‘Ger’ meaning “spear”, and ‘Hard’ meaning “strong or brave”.

94. Imala (Native American origin), a name meaning “strong minded”.

95. Kwan (Korean origin), a baby name meaning “strong”.

96. Proulx (French origin), this surname means “brave” or “valiant”. It is derived from the word ‘Preu’.

97. Ricard (French origin), this surname means “strong”, “powerful”, or “brave”.

98. Robustelli (Italian origin), the last name meaning “solid”, “firm”, or “strong”.  

99. Swithun (English origin), the name means “strong” or “quick”.

100. Thibaut (French origin), this surname means “bold” or “brave”. It is derived from the last name Theobald.

101. Willard (Anglo-Saxon origin), this means “strong willed”. It is taken from the first name Wilheard.

Kidadl has lots of great names articles to inspire you. If you liked our suggestions for strong last names, then why not take a look at names that mean strong spirit, or for something different, take a look at conventionally feminine names.