Surname profile
Kelly
The surname Kelly has several documented origins: an Irish patronymic from Ó Ceallaigh, a Scottish locational name from Kelly near Arbroath or Kellie in Fife, and an English…
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How family names were formed
Patronymic surnames
Names passed down from a father's given name. Explore how patronymic surnames took shape across languages and generations, with profiles and sources for further research.
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Showing 25–36 of 57 profiles
- Surname profile
Kennedy
Kennedy is an Irish Gaelic patronymic meaning ‘grandson of Cinnédidh’ and also a distinct Scottish clan name from Carrick, Ayrshire. The Gaelic personal name combines elements meaning ‘chief’…
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Lynch
The surname Lynch has two independently documented origins: a topographic English form meaning "hill" and a patronymic Irish form meaning "descendant of Loingseach." The name appears in both…
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López
The surname López is a Spanish patronymic derived from the personal name Lope, meaning ‘wolf’ in Latin. Its origin is Iberian, spread across Spain and the Americas, but…
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MacDonald
The surname MacDonald (and its variant McDonald) is a patronymic name meaning "son of Dòmhnall", originating in Scottish and Irish Gaelic. It derives from the personal name Donald,…
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Mackenzie
The Mackenzie surname originates from Scotland, derived from the Gaelic Mac Coinnich meaning "son of Coinneach"—a personal name meaning "comely" or "handsome." It is a patronymic surname with…
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Maddox
Maddox is an anglicised Welsh surname, listed as a variant of Maddock. It derives from the Welsh personal name Madog (also recorded as Matoc), a diminutive of mad,…
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Martin
The surname Martin derives from the Latin name Martinus, meaning ‘of Mars’ or ‘warlike’, with additional Gaelic patronymic forms in Scotland. It has multiple independent origins and is…
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Martínez
Martínez is a Spanish patronymic surname meaning "son of Martín"; it originates from the Latin personal name Martinus. The name spread widely in Spanish‑speaking regions and appears in…
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McCarthy
McCarthy is an Irish patronymic surname meaning "son of Cárthach" and historically linked to the powerful MacCarthy clan of County Cork. The name has multiple spelling variants but…
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Meredith
Meredith is a Welsh surname derived from the personal name Meredydd (Old Welsh Morgetiud). The name is patronymic, meaning it comes from a male ancestor's given name. The…
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Morgan
The surname Morgan is of Welsh origin, derived from the personal name Morcant. In Ireland it also appears as an anglicised form of Ó Muireagáin, meaning "descendant of…
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This directory includes published profiles. Review status is shown on each card. A surname may belong to more than one origin or formation type.