This article will explore the fascinating world of last names that start with S. We will also provide a list of popular and uncommon last names that start with S to help you find inspiration for your own family name or fictional character. Whether you’re interested in genealogy, naming your child, or just curious about the history of surnames, this article has something for everyone.
Last Names That Start with S
Understanding Last Names that Start with S
Last names, also known as surnames, are an important part of our identity and heritage. They are passed down from generation to generation, and can tell us a lot about our family history and ancestry.
In many cultures, last names are derived from the father’s name, occupation, or geographic location. For example, the last name “Smith” originally referred to someone who worked as a blacksmith. Other last names are based on physical characteristics, such as “Short” or “Brown”.
Last names that start with S are particularly interesting, as they are some of the most common surnames in the English-speaking world. Here are some examples of the most popular last names that start with S, along with their meanings:
Last Name | Meaning |
---|---|
Smith | Occupational name for a metalworker |
Scott | Derived from the Gaelic word for “wanderer” |
Stewart | Occupational name for a steward or manager |
Sanchez | Derived from the Spanish word for “saint” |
Stevens | Derived from the Greek name “Stephanos” |
Sullivan | Derived from the Irish name “O’Sullivan”, meaning “descendant of the little dark-eyed one” |
Last Names that Start with S
Common Last Names that Start with S
According to the 1940 census, Smith was the most common last name beginning with the letter S, followed by Scott and Stewart. In the United States, the most popular last name beginning with S is still Smith, with a total count of 2,442,977 people who have the surname. Here are some other common last names that start with S:
- Sanchez: This Spanish surname means “son of Sancho.”
- Singh: This Indian surname means “lion.”
- Sullivan: This Irish surname means “hawk-eyed.”
- Stevens: This English surname means “son of Steven.”
- Scott: This Scottish surname means “from Scotland.”
Other Common Last Names that Start with S
Other common last names that start with S include:
Last Name | Meaning |
Sanders | Son of Alexander |
Santos | Holy Ones |
Saunders | Son of Alexander |
Shaw | From the woods |
Shelton | From the shelf town |
Silva | Woods |
Simmons | Son of Simon |
Simpson | Son of Simon |
Sims | Son of Simon |
Snyder | Tailor |
Solis | Sun |
Spencer | Steward |
Stanley | Stone clearing |
Stephens | Son of Stephen |
Stevenson | Son of Steven |
Stewart | Steward |
Sable | Black |
Saffron | Yellow-orange color |
Salazar | Old hall |
Sandoval | Sandy valley |
Santiago | Saint James |
Sariel | God’s command |
Sato | Wise person |
Sayers | Carpenter |
Schaefer | Shepherd |
Seabrook | Brook by the sea |
Seaver | Sea rover |
Sefton | Village by the sea |
Selby | Willow farm |
Selwyn | Friend in the mansion |
Seward | Guardian of the sea |
Shaffer | Steward |
Shanks | Thin person |
Sharpe | Skilled worker |
Shaw | Thicket |
Sheffield | Clearing in the woods |
Last Names that Start with S by Region
European S Last Names
Some of the most common European surnames starting with S include:
- Smith: A surname that originally referred to someone who worked as a smith or metalworker.
- Scott: A surname that originated in Scotland and likely referred to someone from Scotland or someone who spoke Scottish Gaelic.
- Stewart: A surname that originated in Scotland and was originally used to refer to someone who was a steward or manager of an estate.
Other European surnames starting with S include:
- Sanchez: A Spanish surname that means “son of Sancho.”
- Schmidt: A German surname that means “smith.”
- Sokolov: A Russian surname that means “son of a falconer.”
Asian S Last Names
Some of the most common Asian surnames starting with S include:
- Suzuki: A Japanese surname that means “bell tree.”
- Song: A Chinese surname that means “pine tree.”
- Shin: A Korean surname that means “belief” or “trust.”
Other Asian surnames starting with S include:
- Sharma: An Indian surname that means “protection.”
- Singh: An Indian surname that means “lion.”
- Shah: A Persian surname that means “king.”
African S Last Names
Some of the most common African surnames starting with S include:
- Smith: A surname that was adopted by many African families during the colonial period.
- Soweto: A surname that refers to the township of Soweto in South Africa.
- Sani: A Nigerian surname that means “radiant.”
Other African surnames starting with S include:
- Salami: A Nigerian surname that means “savior.”
- Sibanda: A Zimbabwean surname that means “we have increased.”
- Sisulu: A South African surname that refers to the Sisulu family, a prominent political family in South Africa.
Last Names that Start with S in Popular Culture
Authors with Last Names that Start with S
Some of the most authors that have last names that start with S include:
- William Shakespeare
- J.D. Salinger
- Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel)
- David Sedaris
- George Saunders
- John Steinbeck
Actors with Last Names that Start with S
Some of the most famous actors that have last names that start with S include:
- Tom Selleck
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Will Smith
- Sylvester Stallone
- Meryl Streep
- Emma Stone
- Sharon Stone
- Patrick Stewart
- Ben Stiller
- Julia Stiles
Musical Artists with Last Names that Start with S
Some of the most famous musical artists that have last names that start with S include:
- Ed Sheeran
- Frank Sinatra
- Taylor Swift
- Paul Simon
- Bruce Springsteen
- Sam Smith
- Britney Spears
Unique Last Names that Start with S
Here are some unique last names that start with S:
Last Name | Origin |
---|---|
Sabat | Italian |
Sack | German |
Saddleback | English |
Saffell | English |
Sagebrush | American |
Salamone | Italian |
Salerno | Italian |
Samford | English |
Sandilands | Scottish |
Santamaria | Spanish |
Satterfield | English |
Sauvage | French |
Savidge | English |
Scarce | English |
Schantz | German |
Schatz | German |
Schley | German |
Schubert | German |
Scoggins | English |
Seabolt | English |
Seagraves | English |
Examples of S Last Names and Their Pronunciations
Here are 20 common last names that start with S and their IPA pronunciations:
Last Name | IPA Pronunciation |
---|---|
Smith | smɪθ |
Stevens | ˈstivənz |
Scott | skɑt |
Sanchez | ˈsæntʃɛz |
Sullivan | ˈsʌləvən |
Stewart | ˈstuːərt |
Sanders | ˈsændərz |
Simpson | ˈsɪmpsn̩ |
Schmidt | ʃmɪt |
Spencer | ˈspɛnsər |
Stone | stoʊn |
Stevens | ˈstivənz |
Shaw | ʃɑ |
Snyder | ˈsnaɪdər |
Saunders | ˈsɔndərz |
Sims | sɪmz |
Schultz | ʃʊlts |
Sharp | ʃɑrp |
Silva | sɪlvə |
Stanley | ˈstænli |
Note: IPA stands for International Phonetic Alphabet, which is a system of phonetic notation based on the sounds of spoken language.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some famous last names that start with S?
- Smith
- Stevens
- Scott
- Stewart
- Sanchez
What are some girl last names that start with S?
- Simmons
- Scott
- Stone
- Sullivan
- Stevens
What are some last names that start with Sa?
- Salazar
- Sanders
- Sandoval
- Santiago
- Santos
What are some last names that start with Sh?
- Shaw
- Shepard
- Shields
- Short
- Shaffer
What are some last names that start with St?
- Stevens
- Stewart
- Stone
- Stanton
- Stiles
What are some good last names that start with S?
- Scott
- Stone
- Sullivan
- Stevens
- Sawyer
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