This article is all about last names that start with M. Whether you’re interested in genealogy, naming your baby, or just curious about the origins of different surnames, this article is for you. We’ll explore the most common last names beginning with M, as well as some unique and lesser-known options.
Last Names That Start With M
Understanding Last Names that Start with M
Last names, also known as surnames, are an important part of our identity. They are passed down from generation to generation and can reveal a lot about our family history, culture, and even our profession. In this article, we will explore some of the most common last names that start with the letter M and their meanings.
One interesting fact about last names is that they can have different origins. Some last names are derived from a person’s occupation, while others are based on a person’s location or physical characteristics. For example, the last name Miller comes from the occupation of a miller, while the last name Martin comes from the Latin name Martinus, meaning warlike.
Top 10 Most Popular Last Names That Start With M
Here are the top 10 most popular last names that start with M, along with their meanings and origins:
Last Name | Meaning | Origin |
---|---|---|
Miller | One who grinds grain | English |
Martin | Warlike | Latin |
Moore | A person who lived on a moor | English |
Mitchell | One who is like God | English |
Murphy | Sea warrior | Irish |
Martinez | Son of Martin | Spanish |
Morgan | Sea defender | Welsh |
Mason | A worker in stone | English |
Myers | A bailiff or steward | English |
Murray | A person who lived by the sea | Scottish |
Less Common Last Names That Start With M
Here are some less common last names that start with M and their unique histories:
Last Name | Meaning | Origin |
---|---|---|
Macaluso | Son of Luso | Italian |
Macri | A massive person | Greek |
Mabins | Child | Welsh |
Maldonado | From Maldon | Spanish |
Medina | City in Saudi Arabia | Arabic |
Mendez | Son of Mendo | Spanish |
Meyer | A farmer | German |
Mills | Worker in a mill | English |
Morrison | Son of Morris | Scottish |
Common Last Names That Start with M
In this section, we will take a look at some of the most common last names that start with the letter M. Whether you’re interested in genealogy, history, or just curious about the meaning behind your last name, we’ve got you covered.
Most Common Last Names
According to the latest census data, the most popular last name beginning with M in the United States is Miller, followed by Martin and Mitchell. Here are some more common last names that start with M:
- Moore
- Murphy
- Morgan
- Myers
- Mason
- Murray
- Marshall
- Montgomery
- Manning
- Medina
Last Names with Meanings
Many last names beginning with M have interesting meanings and origins. Here are some examples:
Last Name | Meaning |
---|---|
Macdonald | Son of Donald |
Mackenzie | Son of Kenneth |
Maddox | Beneficent |
Mahoney | Bear |
Malone | Descendant of the servant of St. John |
Mann | Man |
Marquez | Son of Marcos |
Mathews | Gift of God |
Maynard | Brave strength |
Mcbride | Son of Bridget |
M Last Names from Different Origins
Last names that start with the letter M can be found all over the world, with different origins and meanings. In this section, we will explore the origins of M last names from different regions of the world.
European M Last Names
Many M last names in Europe have roots in Latin, Greek, or Germanic languages. Here are some examples:
Last Name | Origin | Meaning |
---|---|---|
Martin | Latin | “of Mars,” the Roman god of war |
Miller | Germanic | occupational name for a miller |
Meyer | Germanic | occupational name for a steward or administrator |
Martinez | Spanish | patronymic from the personal name Martin |
Mancini | Italian | from the Latin name Magnus, meaning “great” |
Asian M Last Names
In Asia, M last names can be found in countries like China, Japan, and Korea. Here are some examples:
Last Name | Origin | Meaning |
---|---|---|
Ma | Chinese | from the name of a state in ancient China |
Matsuda | Japanese | from the Japanese words for “pine tree” and “rice paddy” |
Moon | Korean | from the Korean word for “door” |
Mukherjee | Indian | from the Sanskrit words for “high” and “chariot driver” |
African M Last Names
In Africa, M last names can be found in countries like Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa. Here are some examples:
Last Name | Origin | Meaning |
---|---|---|
Mohammed | Arabic | from the name of the prophet Muhammad |
Moyo | Swahili | from the Swahili word for “heart” |
Mandela | Xhosa | from the Xhosa word for “strength” |
Mubarak | Arabic | from the Arabic word for “blessed” |
M Last Names by Country
American M Last Names
In the Americas, M last names can be found in countries like the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Here are some examples:
Last Name | Origin | Meaning |
---|---|---|
Martinez | Spanish | patronymic from the personal name Martin |
Murphy | Irish | from the Irish Gaelic word for “sea warrior” |
Mendez | Spanish | patronymic from the personal name Mendo |
Miller | English | occupational name for a miller |
English Last Names
English last names that start with M often have meanings related to nature or location. For example:
Name | Meaning |
---|---|
Marsh | Dwells by a marsh |
Meadows | Lives near meadows |
Moore | Lives by a moor or boggy area |
Moss | Dwells near a peat bog or mossy area |
Irish Last Names
Irish last names that start with M often have meanings related to clan names or locations. For example:
Name | Meaning |
---|---|
MacCarthy | Son of Carthach, an early Irish king |
MacDermott | Son of Diarmuid, a legendary Irish warrior |
MacMahon | Son of Mathghamhain, meaning bear |
Murphy | Descendant of Murchadh, meaning sea warrior |
Scottish Last Names
Scottish last names that start with M often have meanings related to clan names or locations. For example:
Name | Meaning |
---|---|
MacGregor | Son of Gregory, meaning watchful or vigilant |
MacIntyre | Son of the carpenter |
Mackenzie | Son of Coinneach, meaning handsome |
McLeod | Son of Leod, meaning ugly |
Italian Last Names
Italian last names that start with M often have meanings related to occupations or locations. For example:
Name | Meaning |
---|---|
Marino | Sailor |
Martini | Little Martin |
Mazzini | Little hammer |
Monti | From the mountain |
Moretti | From the moors |
Spanish Last Names
Spanish last names that start with M often have meanings related to patronymics or locations. For example:
Name | Meaning |
---|---|
Martinez | Son of Martin |
Mendoza | From Mendoza, a city in Spain |
Montoya | From a mountain village |
Munoz | Son of Munio, meaning monk |
Popular M Last Names in Detail
In this section, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular M last names, along with their meanings and origins.
Miller
Miller is currently the most popular last name starting with M in America, with over 1 million people having this surname. The name comes from the Old English word “mylenweard,” which means “guardian of the mill.” This name likely originated from someone who worked at a mill or owned one.
Moore
Moore is another popular last name beginning with M, with over 700,000 people having this surname. The name comes from the Old French word “more,” which means “dark-skinned.” This name was likely given to someone with dark skin or hair.
Martin
Martin is a common last name that comes from the Latin name “Martinus,” which means “of Mars.” This name was popularized by Saint Martin of Tours, a 4th-century bishop who was known for his kindness and generosity.
Martinez
Martinez is a Spanish last name that means “son of Martin.” This name is a patronymic, meaning it was originally used to identify someone as the son of a man named Martin.
Murphy
Murphy is an Irish last name that means “sea warrior.” This name was likely given to someone who lived near the sea or worked as a sailor.
Mitchell
Mitchell is a last name that comes from the Old English name “Micahel,” which means “who is like God.” This name was popularized by Saint Michael the Archangel, a biblical figure who was known for his strength and bravery.
Morris
Morris is a last name that comes from the Old French name “Maurice,” which means “dark-skinned.” This name was likely given to someone with dark skin or hair.
Morgan
Morgan is a Welsh last name that means “sea-born.” This name was likely given to someone who was born near the sea.
Montgomery
Montgomery is a last name that comes from the Old French name “Gomeric,” which means “man power.” This name was likely given to someone who was strong and powerful.
Medina
Medina is a Spanish last name that means “city.” This name was likely given to someone who was from a city or lived in one.
Mendoza
Mendoza is a Spanish last name that means “cold mountain.” This name was likely given to someone who lived near a cold mountain.
Mullen
Mullen is an Irish last name that means “bald.” This name was likely given to someone who was bald or had very little hair.
Murray
Murray is a Scottish last name that means “sea warrior.” This name was likely given to someone who lived near the sea or worked as a sailor.
Myers
Myers is a last name that comes from the Old Norse name “Mýrar,” which means “marsh.” This name was likely given to someone who lived near a marsh or swamp.
Uncommon, Unique, and Famous M Last Names
Uncommon M Last Names
Here are some uncommon last names that start with M:
Last Name | Meaning |
---|---|
Mabray | Scottish surname meaning “son of the steward” |
MacGowan | Irish surname meaning “son of the smith” |
Maddox | Welsh surname meaning “son of Madoc” |
Maguire | Irish surname meaning “son of the carpenter” |
Makin | English surname meaning “son of the little one” |
Malloy | Irish surname meaning “descendant of the hero” |
Manley | English surname meaning “from the man’s meadow” |
Marley | English surname meaning “pleasant wood” |
McAllister | Scottish surname meaning “son of Alistair” |
McMillan | Scottish surname meaning “son of the tonsured one” |
Unique M Last Names
Here are some unique last names that start with M:
Last Name | Meaning |
---|---|
MacCormack | Irish surname meaning “son of Cormac” |
MacDowell | Scottish surname meaning “son of Dougal” |
MacGregor | Scottish surname meaning “son of Gregor” |
MacInnes | Scottish surname meaning “son of Angus” |
MacKinnon | Scottish surname meaning “son of the fair one” |
MacLeod | Scottish surname meaning “son of Leod” |
MacPherson | Scottish surname meaning “son of the parson” |
Maddalena | Italian surname meaning “Magdalene” |
Mancini | Italian surname meaning “little left-handed one” |
Marconi | Italian surname meaning “son of Marcus” |
Famous M Last Names
Here are some famous last names that start with M:
Last Name | Notable Person |
---|---|
Mandela | Nelson Mandela, South African anti-apartheid revolutionary |
McCartney | Paul McCartney, English musician and member of The Beatles |
McConaughey | Matthew McConaughey, American actor |
McQueen | Steve McQueen, American actor |
Monroe | Marilyn Monroe, American actress and model |
Murray | Bill Murray, American actor and comedian |
Musk | Elon Musk, South African-born American entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX |
Myers | Mike Myers, Canadian actor and comedian |
How to Pronounce M Last Names
We have put together a list of common last names that start with M and included their pronunciation. Keep in mind that some of these names may have multiple pronunciations depending on the language or dialect.
Here are some of the most common last names starting with M and their pronunciation:
Last Name | Pronunciation |
---|---|
Martinez | mar-TEE-nez |
Miller | MIL-er |
Mitchell | MITCH-ell |
Moore | MOOR |
Morales | mo-RAH-les |
Morgan | MOR-gun |
Morris | MOR-iss |
Murphy | MUR-fee |
Murray | MUR-ee |
Here are some other last names starting with M and their pronunciation:
Last Name | Pronunciation |
---|---|
MacArthur | mak-AHR-thur |
Macdonald | mak-DON-uld |
Mackenzie | mak-EN-zee |
MacLeod | mak-LOUD |
Maddox | MAD-ux |
Maguire | ma-GYRE |
Mahoney | ma-HO-nee |
Malloy | MAL-oy |
Manning | MAN-ing |
Marquez | mar-KEZ |
Martin | MAR-tin |
Mason | MAY-son |
Mathews | MATH-yooz |
Maxwell | MAKS-wel |
Maynard | MAY-nard |
McAllister | mak-AL-iss-ter |
McCarthy | muh-KAR-thee |
McCarty | muh-KAR-tee |
McClain | muh-KLAYN |
McDaniel | muh-DAN-yul |
McDonald | mak-DON-uld |
McFarland | muh-KAR-land |
McGee | muh-GEE |
McGrath | muh-GRATH |
McGuire | muh-GYRE |
Mcintosh | muh-KIN-tosh |
McKay | muh-KAY |
McKinney | muh-KIN-nee |
McLaughlin | muh-KLAWG-lin |
McMahon | muh-MAHN |
McMillan | muh-MIL-en |
McNamara | mick-NA-mar-uh |
McNeil | muh-NEEL |
McPherson | muh-FUR-sun |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some popular last names that start with M?
Here are some popular last names that start with M:
Last Name | Meaning |
---|---|
Miller | One who grinds or mills grain |
Mitchell | Son of Michael |
Murphy | Sea warrior |
Martin | From the Latin name Martinus, meaning “of Mars” |
Moore | One who lived on a moor or heath |
What are some unique last names that start with M?
Here are some unique last names that start with M:
Last Name | Meaning |
---|---|
MacGyver | Son of Ivor |
McCallister | Son of Alasdair |
McQuade | Son of Walter |
Morgenstern | Morning star |
Marzullo | From the Italian word for “small march” |
What are some good last names that start with M for a character?
Here are some good last names that start with M for a character:
Last Name | Meaning |
---|---|
Montgomery | From the hill belonging to Gumarich |
Maverick | An unbranded calf |
McAllister | Son of Alasdair |
MacKenzie | Son of Coinneach |
Monroe | From the mouth of the Roe River |
What are some Mexican last names that start with M?
Here are some Mexican last names that start with M:
Last Name | Meaning |
---|---|
Mendoza | From the town of Mendoza in Spain |
Morales | From the Latin word moralis, meaning “moral” or “ethical” |
Martinez | Son of Martin |
Montoya | From the town of Montoya in Spain |
Moreno | Dark-skinned |
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