Surnames range from long and melodic to short and sweet.
Today it is all about the shortest surnames with this list of one syllable last names! Take a look through this list of names from all around the world and see if you can spot any you recognise.
These names come from all over the world, from the Old English surname Brown to the Latin James. There are also some great last names that can also be used as first names like Ash or Mauve.
There are lots of popular short surnames, including James, derived from Latin name Jac, and the last name Black, from the Middle English word 'blak(e)'. Find more popular surnames in this list!
1. Ash (Anglo-Saxon origin) meaning "ash tree", that indicates a person who lives near ash trees.
2. Aust (German and English origin) meaning "derived from Aust", is the coolest last name.
3. Bai (Mongol and Chinese origin) meaning "the color white".
4. Bain (Scottish origin) meaning "white".
5. Baines (Old English and French origin) meaning "bones".
6. Ball (Anglo-Saxon and Old English origin) meaning "someone who had a rotund or stocky stature."
7. Banks (English and Scottish origin) meaning "someone who lived near a hillside or a bank of land," is an interesting British last name.
8. Barnes (Old English origin) meaning "a person who worked or lived in a barn".
9. Barr (English and Old French origin) meaning "someone who lived by a gateway or barrier".
10. Bass (Old French origin) meaning "of humble origin", is a cool surname.
11. Bates (English origin) meaning "son of Bate".
12. Batts (Old English origin) meaning "son of Batt".
13. Beake (Old English and Old French origin) meaning "the beak of a bird".
14. Bean (English origin) meaning "farmer", is a cool last name.
15. Beck (Germanic and Hebrew origin) meaning "brook".
16. Bell (Irish origin) meaning "bell ringer or bell maker", a common Irish last name.
17. Benn (Old English origin) meaning "bear cub" or "warrior", this is one of the best last names.
Unique One Syllable Last Names
There are so many cool one syllable last names such as Bright, which originated from Anglo-Saxon tribes. Find more in this list!
18. Anse (Latin and French origin) meaning "cove".
19. Aud (Danish, Norwegian and Swedish origin) meaning "wealthy".
20. Bard (Old Norse origin) meaning "peace after a battle".
21. Bast (French origin) meaning "saddle pad for a beast of burden".
22. Bing (Old English and Anglo-Saxon origin) meaning "dweller by the hollow".
23. Bligh (Old English origin) meaning "cheerful".
24. Boyne (Scottish and Irish origin) meaning "dweller by the river Boyne".
25. Briggs (English origin) meaning "dweller by the bridge".
26. Coe (English origin) meaning "jackdaw bird", is a unique last name.
27. Dand (Anglo-Saxon origin) meaning "the dweller in the valley".
28. Daw (English, Welsh, and Irish origin) meaning "the beloved one". It is also a nickname for David.
29. Dice (English origin) meaning "luck", is one of the cool last names.
30. Elm (English and German origin) meaning "people who lived near an elm tree or in an elm grove".
31. Flann (Irish and Gaelic origin) meaning "red haired".
32. Frens (French origin) meaning "Frenchman".
33. Hoyt (Old English origin) meaning "people who lived high, or on a hill".
34. Ish (Indian origin) meaning "master".
35. Jauns (Hebrew origin ) meaning "heel".
36. Jepp (Danish origin ) meaning "son of Jeppe".
37. Jex (Hebrew origin) meaning "Jehovah has favored".
38. Karp (German, Polish, and Jewish origin) meaning "fisherman".
39. King (English and Scottish origin ) meaning "originally a tribal leader".
40. Lenz (German origin ) meaning "spring".
41. Lev (Slavic origin ) meaning "lion", is one of the coolest last names.
42. Loup (French origin) meaning "wolf".
43. March (German origin) meaning "'boundary".
44. Mauve (American origin ) meaning "purplish color".
45. Moi (African and French origin ) meaning "me".
46. Neith (Greek form of Egyptian origin) meaning "water".
47. Ner (Hebrew origin) meaning "'lamp".
48. Oz (Hebrew origin) meaning "strength".
49. Pell (Middle English and Old French origin) meaning "dealer in furs".
50. Pim (Old English origin) meaning "son of Euphemia".
Ancient One Syllable Last Names
The list presents you with some ancient last names meanings that are one syllable long.
51. Knight (Anglo-Saxon origin) meaning "serving lad".
52. Prynne (Old French origin) meaning "superior".
53. Red (Old English origin) meaning "red haired".
54. Sadb (Irish origin) meaning "sweet" or "goodly", is one of the unique Irish surnames.
55. Shir (Hebrew origin) meaning "song".
56. Short (Anglo-Saxon origin) meaning "short height person".
57. Shri (Indian origin) meaning "diffusing light".
58. Smith (Old English origin) meaning "one who works in a metal related job".
59. Swift (Anglo-Saxon origin) meaning "rapid runner".
60. Tord (Scandinavian and Old Norse origin) meaning "peace" or "love".
61. Tyne (Ancient English origin) meaning "to dissolve or disperse".
62. Ull (German origin) meaning "wolf power".
63. Var (Norse origin) meaning "Goddess of oaths and promises".
Bachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art
Georgia StoneBachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art
Georgia is an experienced Content Manager with a degree in French and Film Studies from King's College London and Bachelors degree from Université Paris-Sorbonne. Her passion for exploring the world and experiencing different cultures was sparked during her childhood in Switzerland and her year abroad in Paris. In her spare time, Georgia enjoys using London's excellent travel connections to explore further afield.
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