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Native Americans inhabited America even before the arrival of the European settlers around the 15th century. Thus, Native American last names are a mixture of different traditions and cultures. The difference in their cultures arises because they were divided into several clans and tribes, each having its own culture, beliefs, language, and traditions (1). Among the tribes, there was not a set pattern for keeping names. Hence, some natives retained their traditional surnames, while the others adopted European surnames. The traditional names also indicated their habitation, clan, and occupation, and eventually, the influence of Portuguese, French, and Spanish names was also seen. Read on for a list of traditional native American last names with their meanings.
Native American Surnames
Some of these names are indigenous and have roots in other cultures and nations, including those that belonged to people who settled in America over the ages.
1. Alberty
The surname Alberty represented someone who was famous in everything. This is the Americanized spelling of the Italian last name Alberti, a family who moved to the United States in the 1920s.
2. Alexander
The surname Alexander originated in Scotland and was initially an Anglicized version of the Scottish Gaelic name MacAlasdair. The surname traveled to America over the years with European settlers. The surname means “defender of the men” or “conqueror of enemies.”
3. Bernard
Bernard or Bernhard is a masculine surname originating in France and West Germany. It is a combination of two elements, “bear” and “hard,” referring to someone brave or hardy. This Native American surname denotes someone as strong as a bear.
4. Branham
Branham is a combination of the Old English term “brom,” meaning “broom,” and “ham,” referring to “homestead” or “hamm,” meaning a “river meadow.”
5. Cornfield
This occupational surname was given to the Native Americans who worked in a cornfield.
6. Deere
This Native American last name is also an English family name. Deere is a variant of “dear,” meaning “precious.” The surname also has Irish roots as a variant of Dwyer.
7. Denton
The open creeks and prairies of Denton County were home to many native tribes. These Native Americans from Denton County adapted the surname Denton as a habitational or geographical surname.
8. Eubank
Eubank is a topographic name of English origin. It refers to someone who lives by or near a bank or ridge of yew trees. It is a combination of the Old English words “yew” and “bank.”
9. Gaylord
The surname Gaylord means “dandy” or a high-spirited and cheerful person. The name has an English origin. A variant of the surname is Gaillard.
10. Hensley
Hensley means “stallion” or “horse” in several Native American languages. This surname could also be a toponymic name referring to settlers from many places named Hensley in the UK.
11. Holt
Holt is a Proto-Germanic topographic surname referring to a small grove of trees. The name likely came to America with European settlers and later was adopted by Native Americans.
12. Irving
The surname Irving means “water” and comes from Scottish. It could also be a toponymic name referring to someone from any of the several places named Irving in the United States.
13. Kipp
This Native American surname has been derived from Middle English word Kipp. It likely comes from the Old English word “Cyppe,” meaning “to swell.”
14. Lewis
The surname Lewis is a Native American surname and means “victorious.” It likely comes from the Old German name Ludwig, meaning “famous battle.”
15. Maize
Maize is an occupational surname given to someone who picks maize or corn. It originates from “Maiz,” the Spanish word for maize or corn.
16. Paddock
The Native American surname Paddock finds its roots in Middle English. It is derived from the “parrock,” meaning a small enclosure, usually for horses. It could also be a toponymic name referring to someone who lived near a paddock.
Ancient Native American Last Names
Ancient Native American surnames were quite old-fashioned and slowly went out of style. Though they had an exciting history, these surnames may be hard to find in modern times.
17. Arrow
Ancient Native Americans were primarily hunters and used bows and arrows to hunt. This surname is given to such hunters. It is an occupational surname.
18. Blackrock
A Native American family living in or around the Black Rock area adopted the surname Blackrock.
19. Bravebird
This surname was a combination of two elements, brave and bird. It was based on the traits of a bird of prey, such as an eagle, and referred to someone with the gallant traits of the bird.
20. Chubbuck
Chubbuck is the Americanized spelling of the German name “Schubach,” meaning “fur.” ’. It was probably an occupational name given to a furrier. Chubbuck is also a city in Bannock County, Idaho, and could be considered a toponymic surname.
21. Countryman
This Native American last name was given to a family who lived in the country. The toponymic surname remained through the ages and is still common in modern times.
Did you know?22. Filemonsen
Filemonsen is a Scandinavian surname that means “son of Filemon.” Filemon comes from the Greek name Philemon, which means “affectionate.”
23. Huaman
This indigenous surname has its origins in pre-Hispanic Peru. Huaman is also a variant of Guaman or Waman, and is the name of a species of hawks or falcons. The word is from the Quechua language from South America.
24. Pompey
It is the Americanized variant of Pompei, a toponymic Italian surname referring to someone from the place called Pompei in Italy. The name Pompei likely comes from Sabellic languages and probably referred to the number five.
25. Summerhill
Summerhill is an English toponymic surname and a combination of the words “summer” and “hill.” The name likely refers to someone who lived by a hill used for summer grazing of cattle.
26. Swiftwater
Many Native American surnames originated from places located close to water bodies. Swiftwater is a toponymic last name referring to a family that lived near swiftly flowing waters.
27. Thunderhawk
Ancient Native Americans were considered to be hunters. The surname Thunderhawk is a combination of the power of thunder along with the hard work of a hawk.
28. Vance
Vance is a toponymic surname of Irish and English origin. It comes from the word “fen,” meaning a “marsh.” The surname refers to someone who lives by a marshland or fen.
29. Warcloud
The surname is a combination of the words “war” and “cloud.” The name may have been titular, given as a title to Native American war chieftains.
30. Welch
The Native American surname has English roots and refers to a person of Welsh origin. Another origin of the name could be the surname Walsh, which comes from Old English and means “foreigner.”
The Navajo tribe of Native America inhabited the Southwestern United States. In the Navajo Nation, the surnames were descriptive names or clan names adapted to the English language.
31. Acothley
The surname Acothley is of Native American origin and means a “cowboy.”
32. Adakai
In Native American parlance, Adakai referred to a gambler or card player.
33. Begay
The surname Begay has been derived from the Navajo word “biye,” which means “his son.”
34. Benally
This last name has been adopted from the Navajo word “binálí,” meaning “his grandchild.” Binali is further derived from the word “análí,” referring to a “paternal grandchild.”
35. Bitsuie
Bitsuie is a title derived from “bitsóí,” which means “his grandchild.” The surname is popular among Native Americans and Native Alaskans.
36. Bylilly
This Navajo surname comes from “bá,” meaning “him,” and “álílee,” meaning “magical power.” The Native tribes believed in magical powers bestowed upon some members. The name Bylilly was probably given to such people.
37. Cly
Cly is a Native American surname derived from the Navajo word “tlaai,” meaning “the left-handed.”
Did you know?38. Etsitty
Etsitty was a Native American surname given to a pounder, such as a meat pounder. This Navajo last name means “to pound.”
39. Hatathli
Hatathli in Navajo Native American means “medicine man.” The name likely referred to a shaman.
40. Nakai
Nakai means “someone who wanders,” and would have likely referred to hunters or gatherers within the tribe.
41. Nez
The meaning of Nez is “tall” or “big.” It is a common Native American Navajo last name.
42. Peshlakai
The last name Peshlakai is of Native American origin and means something “shiny and silvery.”
43. Tabaaha
The last name Tabaaha is of Native American origin and belongs to the Navajo clan. The word comes from “tabąąh,” meaning “shore” or “beach.” It referred to people or a clan living on the water’s edge.
44. Tsinajinnie
This last name comes from the name of a Native American clan that spoke the Navajo language. Tsinajinnie means “black-streak clan.”
45. Tsosie
Tsosie comes from the Native American suffix “-tsʼósí,” which means “‘slender” or “slim.” It is also a Navajo last name.
46. Uentillie
This Native American surname is derived from the Navajo title “ayóí,” meaning “very” and “áníldííl,” meaning “large.”
47. Uskilith
This Navajo surname is a shortened version of “Guyuskilith,” which is derived from the word “ashkiilgaii,” meaning “white boy.”
48. Yazzie
Yazzie originated from the Indigenous American Navajo word “yázhí,” meaning “little” or “the little one.”
Apache Last Names
The Apache are Native American tribes who originally resided in the South western United States. They are culturally connected to numerous other tribes and are considered distant cousins of the Navajo.
49. Altaha
Altaha is a Native American surname from the Apache tribe. This last name was normally borne by people who were stockmen.
50. Apache
Apache surname comes from the name of Apache, a famous Native American tribe. The name comes from the Native American language Zuni. It comes from the word “apacu,” meaning “Navajos.”
51. Chatto
Chatto is a toponymic name that originates from Scotland. It likely refers to places by the name Chatto in Southern Scotland.
52. Cosay
The last name Cosay was given to Apaches who were residents of the White Mountain Apache Reservation.
53. Dosela
Dosela is an Apache surname common among members of the Southwest American First Nations Tribes.
54. Ethelbah
This Apache surname was found amongst Native Americans who were residents of the White Mountain Apache Reservation.
55. Goseyun
Goseyun was an Apache surname common among the inhabitants of the White Mountain Apache Reservation.
56. Mescal
It comes from Mescalero Apache or Mescalero, an Apache tribe that lived around south-central New Mexico. Women of this tribe would gather a plant called Mescal Agave while men would actively process it, giving the tribe its name.
57. Nosie
Nosie is a Native American surname given to several tribes living in the White Mountain Apache Reservation.
58. Tessay
This Native American Apache last name was given to inhabitants of the White Mountain Apache Reservation.
Sioux Last Names
The Sioux are a league of several tribes from America. They were predominantly divided into three tribes, Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota (2). They spoke several indigenous languages, and the Dakota language was the most common of them. The Sioux have a rich heritage and were great warriors.
59. Akecheta
This last name in Lakota means “soldier.” Historically, this name was given to men fighting in wars or on duty.
60. Angpetu
This last name of the Lakota people means “day” or “daytime.” In some groups, this is used as a first name for a girl and means “radiant.”
61. Anoki
Anoki is a Native American last name meaning “actor.”
62. Canowicakte
The name means “forest hunter,” or a “good hunter of the forests.” The name is a fusion of the Lakota words “chunwanca,” meaning “forest,” “waoka,” meaning “hunter,” and “kte,” meaning “to kill.”
63. Cetanwakuwa
This Sioux name means an “attacking hawk,” or “to hunt and chase.”
64. Chaska
Chaska was probably derived from the Lakota word “chinksi,” meaning “son,” or the Dakota word “cinhintku” or “ciijca” also meaning “son.”
65. Chumani
This Native American last name means “drops of dew.” This dainty name can also be used as a first name for baby girls.
66. Enapay
This Sioux last name means having a “courageous appearance” or to “roar bravely in the face of danger.”
67. Galilhai
The Lakota last name Galilhai means “gentle” or “delicate.”
68. Howahkan
This last name of Native American origin means “mysterious voice.” In Lakota, it also means a “strong voice” or a “sacred voice.”
69. Ishtasapa
This Sioux Native American last name means “dark-eyed” in Lakota. The name is derived from the Lakota words “ista,” meaning “eye” and “sapa” denoting “black.”
70. Kadoka
Kadoka means “hole in the wall” and is rooted in the Sioux clan of America.
71. Mato
This last name comes from the Portuguese word “mato,” meaning “bush” or “scrubland.” It could be a toponymic last name for someone who lived near a bush or scrubland.
72. Maka
The surname comes from Lakota and means “soil,” “ground,” or “earth.”
73. Macawi
Macawi is a Lakota surname found in several Native American tribes. The word means “coyote.”
74. Nahimana
Nahimana comes from the Dakota language and means “secret.”
75. Ohitekah
Ohitekah is derived from the Lakota word “ohitika,” referring to someone bold, ferocious, and warlike.
76. Taté-iyòhiwin
This Native American last name means “reaching for the wind” or “every wind.”
Cherokee Last Names
The Cherokees are an indigenous group of Native Americans living in the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. They spoke the Cherokee language, which has very few speakers today. Several Cherokee surnames originate from the Cherokee language.
77. Ahoka
A toponymic last name Ahoka means “the district.”
78. Awiakta
Awiakta in Cherokee means “eye of the deer.”
79. Catawnee
The surname likely refers to a clan within the various Native American Cherokee tribes.
80. Chewey
The surname belonged to a group of families found in America and Canada.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do Native American last names differ from European last names?
Native American naming traditions connect to the family, clan, tribal affiliation, geographic location, or personal qualities. Unlike European last names, Native Americans assign two names at birth to the child, one of which is preferably kept secret and passed matrilineally. Native American last names are often taken up at any time throughout a person’s life to reflect their changing roles and status within the community (3).
2. Are any traditional practices or ceremonies associated with receiving a Native American last name?
The traditional practices associated with receiving a Native American last name includes several days of fasting, meditation, and introspection. However, depending on the tribe and the specific cultural traditions involved, the ceremonial naming process may vary. For example, some may receive their familial or tribal name during a postnatal ceremony, while others receive a personal moniker during a coming-of-age ceremony based on their occupation, location, or achievements (3) (4).
3. How can having a Native American last name contribute to a sense of identity and pride?
A Native American last name can enhance a person’s sense of identity and pride by offering a tangible connection to their ancestral heritage and cultural identity. It links indigenous traditions, values, and history, fostering a deep sense of belonging and respect for one’s Native American heritage.
Native Americans’ influence on the present-day American culture can be seen in their names, surnames, food, art, and culture. It has stood the test of time and can be seen in the modern era as well. These Native American last names and names are common yet unique in terms of their history and deep meanings. So, if you wish to know about the history of America, this collection of names and surnames can be an interesting way to start your research.
Infographic: Native American Last Names
Some of the most well-known American last names are inspired by various tribes and languages from across the globe. Here is an infographic that lists a few distinctive Native American surnames of different origins. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Native American last names showcase diverse cultural influences from various tribes and clans, each with unique traditions, beliefs, and languages.
- Many surnames are historically rooted and linked to occupations, locations, or traits, like maize for corn pickers and Lewis, which means victorious.
- Traditional practices for receiving a Native American last name involve fasting, meditation, and introspection, which can vary by tribe.
Did you you that many of the states in the United States are named after traditional Native American titles?. Learn how these names have shaped our nation’s history and culture.
References
1. NOVA; PBS
2. Lakota, Dakota, Nakota – The Great Sioux Nation;; Legends of America
3. Surnames in English of Native American Origin; Marquette University Library
4. Native American Naming Ceremonies; Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation (The Tribal Government)
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