Surnames that are varied, old, and have significant meaning.
Canada is a beautiful country known for its natural scenery and unique customs. Many Canadians have two last names, which comes from their European heritage. Canada has a rich mix of ethnicities and cultures due to high immigration in the 18th century. Most immigrants came from Europe, mainly France. This is why many Canadian last names have French origins. Canadian names typically include a first name, middle name, and last name. Our list includes special last names that hold significant meaning and strength. They come from different backgrounds, and we hope you connect with their importance. Check out our list of popular Canadian last names with their histories and meanings. Hopefully, you’ll find the perfect name for yourself or a loved one.
Top Canadian Last Names Or Surnames With Meanings
- Adams
MacAdam is a Scottish last name that comes from the name Adam. It is widely used in England and other countries.
- Allen
The last name Allen comes from the Celtic word Ailin, which means ‘little rock.’ Allen is a common surname in England, Scotland, and Wales, and also a variation of the surname MacAllen.
- Anderson
The last name of Greek origin comes from the Greek name ‘Andreas.’ This last name means ‘manly’ and ‘son of Andrew.’
- Armstrong
Armstrong was an astronaut and the first person to set foot on the moon. Armstrong is a Scottish last name that comes from the father being a strong man.
- Baker
Originating in Old English, the last name baker comes from the job of earning bread.
- Barbeau
The last name is often used by people who work in fishing and comes from the French word ‘barbel’ which means ‘fish.’
- Beaulieu
In French, ‘Beau’ means ‘fair’. It is a name given to someone who lives near a beautiful place.
- Belanger
The well-known Canadian last name that comes from French means ‘beautiful or divine anger.’
- Bell
The last name Bell has multiple possible origins. Some believe it could come from being near a bell, while others think it could come from making bells.
- Bennett
Bennett is a last name that comes from England and it means ‘blessed.’
- SheBergeron
This last name comes from the French word ‘Berger,’ which means ‘shepherd.’ The word ‘Berg’ means ‘mountain’ in Old German.
- Bernier
The French last name Bernier originally meant ‘huntsman’ as an occupation. It can also be traced back to English roots, where it means ‘son of Bernier.’
- Bouchard
The surname ‘Bouche’ in French translates to ‘big mouth,’ so the name may refer to someone who talks a lot. The last name Bouchard has its roots in Normandy and has a blend of Norman and German influences, where ‘Bourgh’ means ‘fort’ and ‘heard’ means ‘brave.’
- Boucher
The name of French origin translates to ‘butcher.’
- Brown
This last name means someone having brown hair or complexion.
- Cameron
Cameron is a common last name in Canada. Did you know that the name Cameron comes from Gaelic and means ‘crooked nose?’
- Campbell
The common surname comes from Gaelic words meaning ‘crooked’ and ‘mouth,’ which together signify ‘one with a crooked mouth.’
- Charon
It is a French last name given to someone who comes from Cairon, France.
- Charpentier
This French last name comes from the word meaning ‘carpenter.’
- Clark
The surname Clerk, which originated from Latin, is associated with the words ‘scribe’ or ‘secretary.’
- Chan
It is the Cantonese variation of the surname Chen, and it translates to ‘ancient.’
- Chen
Chen is a popular last name in East Asia that is known globally and it translates to ‘ancient.’
- Cloutier
In French, the word ‘clou’ translates to ‘nail,’ which is why the name Cloutier means ‘nailer.’
- Collins
The British name means ‘son of Colin,’ with Colin being a shortened version of Nicholas.
- Cook
This Old English name is as straightforward as it gets, it means ‘someone who cooks.’
- Cooper
The English last name Cooper comes from the German surname Kiefer.
- Cormier
The French last name Cormier comes from someone who lived close to a sorb tree.
- Cote
The name is of French origin and describes people who live close to a hill or a riverbank.
- Couture
The last name ‘Couture’ comes from the Latin word ‘consutra,’ which means ‘seam’ and refers to a family of tailors.
- Cyr
The French name Cyr comes from the Latin name ‘Cyricus’ and it means ‘master.’ This name was often given to those who were well-educated.
- Davis
Davis is a surname that comes from the Welsh surname Dyfed. It means ‘son of Davis.’
- Desjardins
The French name comes from a combination of where someone is from and their job, specifically meaning ‘gardener.’
- Dube
The last name Dube comes from France and means it belongs to someone from Douba.
- Edwards
The last name Edwards comes from English, Scottish, and Welsh backgrounds and it means ‘son of Edward.’
- Evans
The English version of the Welsh name means ‘son of Ifan,’ which evolved into the English name Evan.
- Ferguson
The name Ferguson comes from Scotland and it means ‘son of Ferguson’ or ‘son of the angry one.’
- Fortin
The surname comes from the French word ‘forte,’ which means ‘strong.’ It has English roots and translates to ‘a strong man.’
- Fournier
The French last name means ‘bakers.’
- Fraser
The common last name in Canada comes from Scotland and is believed to have been handed down from the Scottish clans Fraser and Fraser of Lovat.
- Gabor
It’s a last name from Norman French that means ‘joke.’
- Gagne
The surname linked to a person’s occupation means ‘farmer’ in French. Gagnon is another form of this surname.
- Gagnon
Gagnon is a French last name that comes from the powerful dog breed known as the mastiff.’
- Gauthier
The last name ‘Gauthier’ comes from German words ‘to govern’ and ‘armed’ and was traditionally given to lumbermen. In French, it is a common last name that means ‘forest.’
- Gill
The last name Gill comes from Old Norse and means ‘someone who lived close to a ravine.’
- Girard
Girard comes from the German name Gerhard and it means ‘brave spear.’
- Graham
The Old English name ‘Grantham’ refers to a person coming from the town of Grantham in England.
- Grant
Originating from Old English, French, and Latin, Grant is a name that describes someone who is tall or large. It is also the English version of the Irish surname MacGranny.
- Gray
The last name Gray comes from Gaelic roots and is the English version of the surnames McGraw or McGrath.
- Green
The last name comes from Old English and means ‘someone who lives close to grassy areas.’
- Grenier
It is a last name from Old French that originally meant someone who worked at a mill.
- Hall
The common last name Hall comes from England and Scotland and originally meant someone who worked in a big house.
- Hamilton
The last name Hamilton was passed down through generations from a town in Scotland called Hamilton. The name Hamilton comes from Old English and refers to a ‘crooked nose.’
- Harris
This last name from Ireland means ‘son of Harry.’
- Harvey
Derived from an old name in Breton, Harvey means ‘blazing iron’ and was historically given to warriors. The name was popular but disappeared in the 12th and 13th centuries, only to make a comeback in the 14th century.
- Hebert
In French, the name translates to ‘son of Hubert’ and is also the English equivalent of the German surname Heber.
- Hill
The ancient Old English last name ‘Hill’ refers to someone who resides close to a hill.
- Huppe
Huppe is a common last name in Canada that comes from Germany and translates to ‘the bird.’
- Jackson
In Canada, Jackson is a common name that comes from England and it means ‘son of Jack.’
- Johnson
The name Jackson comes from the Scottish roots and means ‘son of Jack.’
- Johnstone
It is a last name that comes from someone who is from the town of St. John.
- Jones
Jones, a surname of Welsh descent, is derived from the name ‘son of John.’
- Kelly
The English version of the famous Irish surname O’Ceallaigh is ‘descendent of war.’ In Gaelic, the prefix O’ before a name indicated a male descendent and Ceallaigh meant ‘to strife.’
- Kennedy
Kennedy is a surname that comes from Gaelic words, O’Cinneide or O’Ceanneidigh, which means ‘furious chief.’
- Khan
The name Khan became popular because of Genghis Khan, a ruler, and comes from Khagan, which means ‘ruler.’
- Kim
The last name Kim in Korea carries the meaning of ‘gold.’
- King
The last name King comes from the English word cyning, which means ‘tribal leader.’
- Lambert
The last name of English, French, and German descent translates to ‘bright land.’
- Landry
The name Landry has its origins in Germany. It comes from the German word Landric, which means ‘landlord.’
- Lapointe
This popular Canadian name comes from French roots. The French word ‘pointe’ means the tip of a spear and was given as a nickname to soldiers.
- Lavoie
Lavoie is a name that is commonly found in both Canada and France. It originally referred to someone who was not employed and lived near a road.
- Leblanc
In French, the word ‘blanc’ means ‘white,’ so the last name Leblanc means ‘someone with a fair complexion.’
- Leclerc
It is a French last name that translates to ‘the clerk.’
- Lee
The last name Lee comes from the Old English word Leah, which means ‘meadow’.
- Lefebre
The surname is related to someone’s occupation, as ‘fevre’ means ‘blacksmith’ in Old French.
- Lessard
The last name Lessard comes from places in Provence, France.
- Levesque
The name comes from Old French and is considered prestigious. The root word ‘eveske’ translates to ‘bishop.’
- Lewis
The name has various origins and meanings. In English, it comes from the Old Norman name Ludovicus which means ‘an athletic champion.’ It also has roots in German culture.
- Li
The common last name Li in China means ‘someone who resides close to a plum tree.’
- Lin
Lin is a popular last name in Canada and has its origins in middle Chinese. It translates to ‘forest.’
- Liu
The last name Liu comes from Mandarin ancestors from the Han dynasty. It also means ‘voice’ in the Ngoni tribe.
- Macdonald
The last name comes from Irish and Scottish roots and translates to ‘Son of Domhnall.’
- Marshall
In many countries, a common last name is based on the occupation of being a marshal.
- Martel
In Old French, the word ‘martel’ means ‘hammer,’ so this last name has a meaning related to a blacksmith.
- Martin
Mars, a common first or last name of Latin descent, became more well-known thanks to the Roman deity Mars. The name is derived from the Latin word for ‘descendant of Mars.
- McLean
‘Son of Gilleon’ is the meaning of this Gaelic surname.
- Miller
The surname Miller is both a name based on someone’s job and a name based on a specific place. It comes from England and Scotland and refers to someone who works in a mill or comes from the city of Glasgow.
- Michaud
It’s a prestigious French last name that means a person who is godly or holy. The surname can be traced back to Languedoc, France, where the Michaud family was prominent in the 17th and 18th centuries.
- Mitchell
The last name Mitchell comes from Hebrew and is updated from the name Michael, which means ‘son of God.’ It also has roots in Middle English and French languages.
- Moore
The name has different meanings depending on its origins. In Old English, it means ‘someone living close to open land,’ and in Gaelic, it comes from the word ‘mordha,’ which translates to ‘a noble person.’
- Morin
The last name comes from an Old French word ‘morin’ and reflects the idea of moor, meaning ‘dark and swarthy.’
- Morrison
The last name indicates being the son of Morris and is also connected to the Scottish clan Morrison.
- Murphy
The modern Irish name for ‘O’Murchadha’ is ‘descendant of sea warrior.’
- Murray
In Scottish, Murray is a name given to someone who lived near the sea. In Irish, it means ‘son of Mary.’
- Nadeau
The name ‘Christmas’ comes from the Poitou region in France.
- Nelson
The surname is Irish and comes from the baptismal meaning ‘son of Eleanor.’ It is also linked to Irish roots, representing ‘son of Niall or Neil.’
- Nguyen
The last name Nguyen refers to a musical instrument.
- Ouellet
Ouellet is a popular last name for French Canadians and means the origin of a spring.
- Paquette
This last name used in the past to refer to a seller, derived from the Old French word for ‘parcel.’
- Park
This last name means someone who lives close to a park.
- Parker
This last name originated from English means ‘someone who takes care of a park.’
- Parsons
The surname is derived from the father’s name ‘Parson’ and also indicates someone who worked for a parson.
- Patel
The last name of Indian descent signifies someone who owns land.
- Payne
The English last name became well-liked in Britain when the Normans conquered England. Its French roots mean ‘countrymen.’
- Pelletier
In French, the word ‘Pellet’ originally meant ‘skin,’ so the surname Pellet is thought to have an occupational origin, specifically as a fur trader.
- Peters
The name ‘Peter’ comes from Dutch and means ‘Peter’s son.’ It also has Latin roots, with the word ‘petras’ meaning ‘stones.’
- Poirier
Poirier is a French last name that comes from someone who lived near a pear tree.
- Poulin
Poulin, stemming from the French word ‘poul’ which translates to ‘chicken,’ is a term used to describe someone who breeds animals in their occupation.
- Powell
The English name is derived from the Welsh language, and it means ‘son of Hywel.’
- Reid.
The surname Reid comes from Scotland and describes someone with red hair. The origin of the surname Reid lies in its association with individuals of Scottish descent who have red hair.
- Reynolds
The surname comes from the German word Reginald and it means ‘powerful ruler.’
- Richard
The name Richard comes from the merging of two German words, ‘ric’ and ‘hard,’ which mean strong and courageous.
- Robert
This last name is of German origin and comes from the old version Hrodebert, which means ‘brave.’
- Robertson
The Scottish last name that comes from a father named Robert.
- Robinson
It means the son of someone named Robin, with Robin meaning ‘bright’ in Old English.
- Rogen
The name Rogen is Irish and it refers to someone with red hair.
- Ross.
Ross has ancestry from both Gaelic and German backgrounds. In Gaelic, it usually means ‘promontory’ and in German, it translates to ‘a horse.’
- Roy
The last name Roy is widely found in England, France, Bengal, and Scotland. The surname comes from the Old Norman language and means ‘king’.
- Russell
The last nameRussell originated from Anglo-Norman and means ‘red,’ typically referring to someone with red hair.
- Sartre
This French last name comes from the Latin word sartor and means ‘tailor’.
- Scott
Scott is a name that signifies someone who is a wanderer.
- Serrurier
The last name, which comes from French, refers to someone who works as a blacksmith.
- Shaw
The name comes from Old English and was used to describe people who lived close to the woods.
- Simard
Simard, which comes from Germany, translates to ‘famous victory.’
- Simpson
The lst name is a family name in English and Scottish that comes from the meaning ‘son of Simon.’
- Singh
The name Singh, which means ‘lion’ in Farsi, is used as a symbol to represent bravery.
- Smith
The last name in Old English means ‘blacksmith.’
- St.Jean
It is a name that comes from people whose ancestors were from the St. Jean region in France or Belgium.
- Stewart
Stewart comes from the Old German word stigeweard, which means ‘guardian of a house or steward.’
- Taylor
The name of French origin means ‘someone who sews clothes.’
- Thibault
The French last name comes from a Germanic background and translates to ‘brave individuals.’
- Thomas
It means the son of Thomas and is a common last name in England, Germany, and the Netherlands.
- Thompson
The name is of British origin and it means ‘son of Thomas.’
- Toussaint
With the meaning of ‘all,’ the French surname Tous was given to a child born on All Saints Day.
- Trembley
The last name can also be spelled as Tremblay and it comes from France, originally meaning a person who lives close to an Aspen tree.
- Turner
Turner comes from both English and French backgrounds and it means someone who operates a lathe machine.
- Urbain
The last name Urbain comes from the word ‘urban’ and means someone who is from a city.
- Vaillancourt
This last name French has its roots in the regions of Lorraine and Northern France. It is a name given to describe farms that are situated in low-lying areas.
- Van
In Dutch, ‘Van’ is usually used as a prefix for surnames, but in Canada, it is used as a surname itself. The word ‘Van’ means ‘from’ and is added before a person’s original place name as part of their surname.
- Villeneuve
The last name signifies ‘new community’ in French and was popular among new settlers in an area.
- Walker
The last name has origins in England, Scotland, and Germany. It was a surname given to someone who worked as a forest guard or inspector.
- Walsh
The last name Walsh came about following the Norman invasion of Ireland. It translates to ‘Briton’ or ‘foreigner’ and was bestowed upon the soldiers who were brought over from Britain.
- Wang
In ancient China, the surname Wang was used by rulers and meant ‘king.’
- Ward
This last name comes from Old English and Old Gaelic and was used to describe someone who was in charge of gates or acted as a guardian.
- Watson
The common last name means ‘son of Walter.’
- White
This surname is originated from ‘English’ and was typically given to someone who had a fair or white complexion.
- Williams
The last name Williams comes from England, France, and Italy. It is a name that means ‘descendant of William.’
- Wilson
‘Wil’ is a word that means ‘desire’ in English and Scottish. It can also refer to someone being the son of a person named William.
- Wood
The common English and Scottish last name is used for people who live close to a forest or woods.
- Young
The last name Young started to identify the younger children in a family. It is also the English version of the French name Dion.
- Zhang.
It is a last name often associated with fighters because it translates to ‘archer’ in Chinese.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many of the most popular last names in Canada come from Europe due to the migration of people from Europe in the past. Last names in Canada are often a combination of the names of one or both parents, connected by a hyphen. Women have the option to keep their last name after getting married, and it is not typical or required to take on their husband’s last name. Canadians have first names, but middle names and last names are not commonly used. Whether or not to use a middle or last name is up to the individual. In Canada, formal situations may call for using last names with titles to address someone, while informal situations generally use first names.
