I first became interested in the idea of ‘cool last names’ when I met someone called Ben Wildblood in an orchestra I was playing in. My surname is Williams, a name that goes unnoticed, but ‘Wildblood’, that was a last name to be proud of.
There are many sites on the internet offering lists of cool last names aimed at writers looking for inspiration for their next character creation. These lists will suggest names such as ‘Bloodfang’ or ‘Starchaser’, but I have scoured The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain to find you 100 of the coolest genuine British surnames, most of which have been around since the Middle Ages and are still around today.
If you have these surnames in your family tree, then hats off to you! You will find tracing your family history much easier with an unusual surname and we’ve got plenty of advice to start you on your journey. Unusual family names are a gift for family historians – who wouldn’t rather research their ‘Sexey’ family to their ‘Smith’ ancestors?
However, if you are just looking for some cool last names for your next piece of fiction or character creation, then you have come to the right place.
Cool last names beginning with A
Alefounder
An inspector of ale – clearly a very important job – this name is very rare but was most likely to be found in Essex.
Allbones
A Lincolnshire variant of Alban (white) rather than a description of someone skeletal, but I like it.
Anguish
Thought to have come about from an English mishearing of the Scottish name Angus rather than a tormented family. It’s a very rare name and mostly found in Norfolk.
Arrowsmith
Yes we know someone who makes arrows is usually a Fletcher (which is also a cool surname), but there’s something definitely cool about the last name Arrowsmith.
Ashkettle
We’re not sure an Ashkettle is a thing and there were only five people bearing the name recorded in the 1881 census, but it’s still an unusual last name. Ashburner is also up there but a lot more common.
Axe
The experts are divided on whether this refers to the weapon or a river in Devon, either way it’s a cool last name.
Cool last names beginning with B
Barefoot
Probably derived from the practise of going barefoot as a form of penance, this last name was most common in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and parts of London but is diminishing.
Barleycorn
Who doesn’t want to be named after a crop? Lots of people, it seems, as this name is also gradually disappearing from the UK.
Bedgood
Bed is always good in our opinion. This rare last name from South West England actually stems from Middle English bidden God ‘pray to God’.
Blackadder
Made famous by Rowan Atkinson in the eponymous hit TV series, this Scottish last name stems from a place in Berwickshire, Scotland, but I like to think that poisonous snakes were also involved.
Blanchflower
Meaning ‘white flower’ or ‘white flour’, we prefer to go with the more romantic notion of a pure blossom than just the nickname of a miller or baker. It sounds like the sort of plant you are sent on a quest to gather in fantasy games. As a tip, if you are looking for a Blanchflower, head to Norfolk.
Blizzard
If you are going to be named after a weather system, it may as well be one that sounds cool.
Bloodworth
Nobody knows where this last name comes from. It may be the last trace of a lost place-name. How cool is that?
Brownsword
In theory this means ‘copper sword’ but, as nobody in their right minds would make a sword from copper, the experts at The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain think it came from a place in Cheshire called Brownswolds. I think the ‘copper sword’ is cooler though.
Buzzard
There are plenty of surnames based on birds, but birds of prey are definitely the most cool. However, apparently the buzzard was considered an inferior kind of hawk, useless for falconry, so The Oxford Dictionary of Surnames suggests it could also denote a ‘second-rate person’. Oops.
Cool last names beginning with C
Cakebread
Cakebread is a kind of flattened bread. Who wouldn’t want to be named after something that sounds so delicious?
Candy
In the Victorian era, this cool last name was most common in Somerset. The name probably comes from the Middle English candi, which was crystallized cane sugar and may have been used to refer to a sugar merchant.
Castlehouse
An Englishman’s house is his castle, they say, making this a very cool name. It actually comes from Castle House in Gomersal, West Yorkshire.
Catchlove
If you think this last name sounds romantic, think again. The ‘love’ here refers to the Anglo-Norman world for ‘wolf’. Basically, Catchlove is a wolf-hunter. How cool is that?
Champion
This is a relatively common last name compared to many of the ones in this list, but it’s still cool. Who wouldn’t want to be a Champion?
Chattaway
Nobody knows the origins of this surname, although it seems to have originated in Warwickshire.
Christmas
It’s not entirely clear why this became a surname, but who wouldn’t want to be named after such a great holiday? We are also fans of the last name Easter which was particularly strong in Norfolk.
Commander
Lots of surnames are based on occupations, but not many are as cool as this last name.
Conquer
This last name is found in Scotland and England and is probably a reduced form of Conqueror. We also like the surname Conquest.
Cool
Well if you’re creating a list of cool last names, you have to include this one! It’s a Manx/Irish surname and in the Victorian era could be found (along with Coole) mostly on the Isle of Man and in Gloucestershire.
Coolbear
Only 24 people were recorded with this cool last name in the 1881 census and it’s now close to extinction. It’s a great name, let’s hope it doesn’t get lost to history.
Courage
We like The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names’ description of this originating from the Middle English corage ‘valour, fortitude’. Not sure bearers of this name will delight in the suggestion that it may also have been used as an adjective denoting someone ‘stout of body’.
Crusher
This sounds like the made-up name of a wrestler, but it dates back to at least the 18th century in Durham, England.
Cutmore
A sharp last name most common in London and surrounding areas.
Cool last names beginning with D
Daddy
We like to think this last name originated from the familiar term for ‘father’, but the name can be traced back to medieval originals, whereas the term ‘daddy’ for ‘father’ seems to have originated in the 16th century. Perhaps it was just someone’s name?
Dangerfield
This cool last name has nothing to do with a hazardous meadow. It actually originates from a Norman name suggesting someone who came from Angerville.
Dearlove
This romantic last name has interesting origins. According to The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names it originates from the Middle English derne ‘secret, hidden’ and love ‘love, sexual pleasure’. We wonder what secret or hidden love that was?
Doubtfire
Perhaps made a bit too famous by the Robin Williams film Mrs Doubtfire, this is still a pretty cool last name. It stems from the Middle English to fear fire.
Downhill
A locative surname, meaning it is based on a place-name, we can’t help feeling this is a last name you would have to try and keep positive with.
Drinkwater
This is a name that would suit those of a more temperate disposition. It dates from the Middle Ages at a time when most people would have drunk ale – water not always having been a safe option. Whoever was given the name at that time would be pleased to know there were almost 4,000 Drinkwaters recorded in the 1911 census.
Cool last names beginning with E
Earwaker
Although this last name sounds like it should be applied to someone who can really make a noise, it actually derives from Old English meaning a boar watcher. It is one of those English names that isn’t pronounced how it looks. It’s traditionally pronounced ‘Erricker’.
Elves
Along with the surname Elvin, this is great for all those fans of fantasy. It is thought to have the same root as the personal name Eloise and dates from the Norman era.
Cool last names beginning with F
Firestone
This cool last name has Jewish origins and is a literal translation of the German Feuerstein meaning ‘flint’.
Floodgate
Floodgates go back as long as surnames judging by this entry. There were over 50 of them in London and Kent in 1881.
Flowerdew
Although it sounds more like some mystical ingredient necessary for a magic potion, Flowerdew actually stems from Old French flur (de) Dieu ‘flower of God’. The gardener Bob Flowerdew, often on British TV and radio, is a lovely example of where a name fits a person. We also liked the more common last name Flowerday.
Foxworthy
Named after a place in Devon, this rare last name is worthy of any ‘fox’.
Fullalove
This last name was a nickname meaning ‘full of love’ and originates from the Middle Ages.
Cool last names beginning with G
Giggle
Sounding rather like the name of one of the Mr Men, this shares an origin with the more common surname Jeckell and is based on an Old Breton name meaning ‘Generous lord’. It first appears as a personal name were Bretons settled after the Norman Conquest in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Unfortunately the name seems to be dying out. Perhaps sounding like a Mr Man isn’t considered cool by some.
Godsave
Based on a nickname from Middle English (on) Godes half ‘(on) God’s behalf’. It’s the equivalent of the modern phrase ‘for God’s sake’ and was perhaps given to someone who used the expression frequently.
Goldhawk
If a hawk is cool, then surely Goldhawk is cooler?
Goodheart
There are lots of good parts of the body that can make up a surname. We like Goodheart best, but you could also be descended from a Goodbody, Goodhand or Goodhead.
Goodenough
A surname for someone with low expectations! Having said that, the Goodenoughs are still going strong with 1,420 recorded in the 2011 census.
Goodluck
A surname for the more fortunate! According to The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names it’s actually a reinterpreted form of the surname Gullick, but I think we can all agree which one is cooler.
Gotobed
This cool medieval name outlasted its siblings Gotokirke and Gotoreste but is now in danger of also going extinct.
Cool last names beginning with H
Hailstone
The experts at The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names weren’t entirely sure whether this last name derived from the Old English personal name Ailstan or from a place called Hailstone (there’s one in Cricklade, Wiltshire).
Halfpenny
There are lots of last names based around money including Farthing, Grote, Penny and Shilling. We rather like this one best though.
Healing
This name exudes gentle positivity. It has two origins, one Irish, similar to the surname Heelan and the other is English from a place called Healing in Lincolnshire.
Honeybun
There are a number of English surnames that start with ‘Honey’ – we also liked Honeyball, Honeybell and Honeycombe – but our favourite has to be Honeybun. Who wouldn’t want a last name that sounds like a tasty term of endearment?
Cool last names beginning with I
Ironman
You don’t have to be a hardcore triathlete or a fan of the Marvel cinematic universe to appreciate that Ironman is a very cool last name.
Cool last names beginning with J
January
It may be a cold month, but this is definitely a cool last name.
Justice
Found in pockets of Scotland as well as England in historic records, the surname Justice came from a ‘judicial officer or judge’ according to The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names. The surname is thriving according to records.
Cool last names beginning with K
Kinghorn
There are lots of British surnames starting with ‘King’ but we particularly like this one which has Scottish origins from the barony of Kinghorn in Fife.
Cool last names beginning with L
Liquorish
Love it or loathe it as an edible item, Liquorish is a pretty cool last name. In 1881 it could mostly be found in the East Midlands.
Longyear
2020 was the year for this last name. There are lots of great British surnames that begin with ‘Long’ – we also like Longbottom, Longcake and Longfoot. And of course there is Longfellow, made famous by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Loveluck
Most common in Glamorgan, Wales in 1881, this surname is one of many British surnames that begin with ‘Love’. The surname Lovelace has belonged to a number of renowned people, and Brits of a certain age will remember the TV series about an antiques dealer called Lovejoy, but we also like Lovelady, Loveland, Loveless, Loverock and Loverseed (!).
Cool last names beginning with M
Manhood
Mostly found in London and Essex in 1881, this surname is probably just a variant of Mainwood, but it’s still cool.
Manyweathers
Unlike the more common English last name Merryweather, this rare last name is probably a better reflection of the changeable weather of Britain.
Meatyard
If Butcher is an awkward last name for vegetarians and vegans, then this one goes the extra mile. Numbers are diminishing so perhaps it’s too uncomfortable for some.
Melody
More common as a first name, Melody is also a cool last name, especially if your family were ever musical.
Middleditch
Looking at the origins of this surname, the experts at The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names believe the specific ditch that gave the world this last name was probably somewhere in eastern England.
Midwinter
There is also the surname Winter (as well as Summer and Spring) but we love the more poetic feel of this seasonal surname.
Moneypenny
This last name may have become a little bit too famous with the long-suffering Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond franchise, but it’s still a cool surname. There were just 66 Moneypennys recorded in the 1911 census but 100 years later that number had increased to 116 recorded in the 2011 census.
Muddyman
Muddyman (also Muddiman) may sound like the name you would expect from someone who really needs to leave their boots at the door, but it actually derives from the Old English mody man meaning someone who is ‘proud, haughty, angry, fierce, bold, brave, rash’. It has the same origins as our word moody.
Cool last names beginning with N
Needles (Needle)
Named after someone who made or worked with needles.
Newlove
This may have derived from a nickname, although no medieval evidence of the name has yet been found according to The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names.
Cool last names beginning with O
Outlaw
You can’t help but think of Robin Hood and his band of merry men when you see this cool last name.
Overthrow
There are lots of surnames that start with ‘Over’ but Overthrow is definitely the coolest.
Cool last names beginning with P
Paradise
Derived from the Middle English for a garden or park, this beautiful last name could be found mostly in the west of England in 1881.
Prizeman
This cool last name may be rare, but it is truly a winner.
Proudlove
Although one of the suggested origins of this name is that it was a nickname for a proud lover, we rather like the other suggestion which is that it derives from the Norman Old French for a fierce she-wolf!
Cool last names beginning with Q
Quick
There were 3316 Quicks registered in the 1881 census, mostly in the South West of England.
Cool last names beginning with R
Rainbird
Derived from the Normal personal name ‘Rainbert’, we think it sounds rather poetic and is definitely a cool last name. The more common last name Rainbow is thought to have similar origins.
Rawbone
Related to the surname Rabone, we certainly think Rawbone is cooler, and with only 227 people registered with that last name in the UK in 2016 it has added rarity value if you have this surname in your family.
Cool last names beginning with S
Sexey
The most famous Sexey was Hugh Sexey (1556-1619), a royal auditor of the Exchequer under Queen Elizabeth I. He founded a school in Somerset that still bears his name to this day. There are fewer than 100 Sexeys out there in the UK and their numbers are diminishing. It’s a tricky last name to pull off, but hats off to those who do!
Sparrowhawk
Birds of prey are cool. Being named after one is definitely cool. This last name is on the up in London and is relatively common in Aston, as William Mundy discovered when he uncovered a link to Shakespeare.
Sunshine
This last name is sure to bring a ray of happiness to its bearers.
Sweetapple
In spite of this being such a cool last name, the numbers of its bearers are dwindling.
Sweetlove
Another romantic name most commonly found in Kent and London.
Cool last names beginning with T
Tankard
Evocative of ancient taverns, this surname may have Norman roots come from the Old French personal name Tancard, but it could equally just have been a nickname for someone who made drinking vessels. The name is most commonly found in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
Thundercliffe
We also like the surname Thunder, but Thundercliffe sounds extra dramatic. It probably evolved from the surname Tunnicliffe which is a locative name from Tonacliffe near Healey in Rochdale, Lancashire. It seems some Tunnicliffe’s probably decided that Thundercliffe sounded better and we can’t argue with that.
Toogood
The experts at The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names think that the first recipients of this surname may have been given the moniker as an ironic nickname. The surname thrives though, especially in Somerset.
Truelove
Another romantic last name (see also Sweetlove, Fullalove and Newlove) that can still be found especially in London and the West Riding of Yorkshire.
Twelvetrees
One of the coolest things about the surname Twelvetrees is how it developed. According to Harry Parkin the author of The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain, the surname derives from the village of Wheldrake, near York. In the 13th and 14th centuries the researchers came across the name ‘de Queldrik’ and ‘de Queldrig’ for people who came from Wheldrake. Gradually some families started to alter the name, including Tweltrigge in the 16th century. Tweltrigge had changed to Twelltricke in 1666, then Twelftree in 1691 and Twelvetree in 1705. Gradually the ‘s’ got added, probably because it felt as if it should be plural!
Cool last names beginning with U
Unthank
This rather Orwellian sounding surname is most likely to be found in the North Riding of Yorkshire. It comes from the Old English denoting the dwelling of a squatter.
Cool last names beginning with V
Valiant
Valiant is the sort of last name you want to give to a knight in shining armour. With Norman roots, there are now fewer than 100 bearers of this surname in the UK today.
Victory
Don’t be mislead by this English-sounding name. It is thought to be a mistranslation of an Irish name. It’s still a cool last name to have.
Cool last names beginning with W
Winpenny
This last name may have derived from a medieval nickname for a gambler. It’s most common in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
Wildblood
Wildblood must surely be one of the coolest last names in this list. It suggests an untamed spirt.
Wildsmith
There are quite a few last names beginning with ‘wild’ and all of them cool. We also liked Wildbore and Wildgoose.
Wizard
Wizard as a last name? Really? Who wouldn’t want that! The name comes from the Middle English wisard meaning ‘wise man’ but we’re all thinking Harry Potter and Gandalf.
Winterflood
Thought to be a locative name from a lost place, likely to have been in Essex, this name reflects the Anglo-Saxon tendency to use their least favourite season when naming lots of places. They really felt the cold.
Wolf
If you are going to be named after an animal, it doesn’t come much cooler than a wolf. The surname Wolf comes with variants such as Wolfe, Wolff and Woolf (as in Virginia Woolf). This spelling was more common among the Jewish population of London.
Cool last names beginning with Y
Younghusband
The term ‘husband’ here comes from the Middle English for a farmer. We also liked the last names Youngjohns, Youngman and Youngson.