140 Jamaican Last Names (Surnames) & Their Meanings/Origin

By

Jamaica’s rich cultural tapestry is beautifully woven into its surnames. Each name tells a story – of ancestral roots, colonial history, and the indomitable Jamaican spirit. From the English plantations to African traditions, from Chinese and Indian migrations to indigenous influences, Jamaican last names reflect the island’s remarkable diversity.

Let’s explore these names categorized by origin to give you a comprehensive understanding of Jamaica’s naming traditions.

English & British-Influenced Jamaican Surnames

The most common category, reflecting Jamaica’s colonial past under British rule:

  1. Brown – Originally denoted someone with brown hair or complexion
  2. Williams – “Son of William,” one of Jamaica’s most prevalent surnames
  3. Johnson – Meaning “son of John,” extremely common island-wide
  4. Smith – Occupational name for metalworkers, Jamaica’s 5th most common surname
  5. Campbell – Scottish origin meaning “crooked mouth”
  6. Thompson – “Son of Thomas,” popular since colonial times
  7. Wilson – Meaning “son of Will,” brought by British settlers
  8. Davis – “Son of David,” common among freed slaves
  9. Anderson – “Son of Andrew,” widespread in Jamaica
  10. Henry – Germanic origin meaning “home ruler”
  11. Clarke – Occupational name for clerks or scholars
  12. Gordon – Scottish name meaning “great hill”
  13. Stewart – Originally denoted a household steward
  14. Reid – Signified someone with red hair
  15. Morgan – Welsh name meaning “sea-born”
  16. Forbes – Scottish surname meaning “field”
  17. Sinclair – French origin meaning “bright”
  18. Lawrence – From Laurentum, an ancient city
  19. Francis – Means “Frenchman” or “free man”
  20. Powell – Welsh name meaning “son of Hywel”

African-Derived Jamaican Surnames

These names preserve African heritage and naming traditions:

  1. Adebayo – Yoruba for “the crown meets joy”
  2. Banjoko – Yoruba meaning “born in wealth”
  3. Okeke – Igbo name for those born on Eke market day
  4. Nkrumah – Akan name for “ninth-born child”
  5. Mensah – Akan name for “third-born child”
  6. Osei – Akan meaning “noble” or “royal”
  7. Ababio – Akan name for Thursday-born children
  8. Cudjoe – From Akan “Kojo” (Monday-born male)
  9. Quashie – From Akan “Kwasi” (Sunday-born male)
  10. Yeboah – Akan meaning “warrior”
  11. Agyeman – Akan for “savior of the nation”
  12. Boateng – Akan meaning “something great happened”
  13. Kwarteng – Akan name for Wednesday-borns
  14. Owusu – Akan name for Sunday-borns
  15. Sarpong – Akan meaning “one who gives thanks”
  16. Tandoh – Fante name for second-born twins
  17. Ansah – Akan meaning “independent one”
  18. Bonsu – Akan name meaning “noble”
  19. Danso – Akan meaning “trustworthy”
  20. Frimpong – Akan name for Friday-borns

Irish & Scottish Jamaican Surnames

From indentured servants and colonial administrators:

  1. Murphy – Irish for “sea warrior”
  2. McKenzie – Scottish “son of Kenneth”
  3. O’Connor – Irish “descendant of Conchobhar”
  4. Ferguson – Scottish “son of Fergus”
  5. McDonald – Scottish “son of Donald”
  6. McCarthy – Irish “son of Cárthach”
  7. Doyle – Irish “dark stranger”
  8. Gallagher – Irish “foreign helper”
  9. Bennett – From “Benedict” meaning blessed
  10. Donovan – Irish “dark warrior”
  11. Burke – Norman origin meaning “fortified hill”
  12. Daley – Irish “assembly” or “gathering”
  13. Finley – Scottish “fair warrior”
  14. Fitzgerald – Norman “son of Gerald”
  15. Graham – Scottish “gravelly homestead”
  16. Higgins – Irish “descendant of Uiginn”
  17. Kennedy – Irish “helmeted chief”
  18. McLeod – Scottish “son of Leod”
  19. Nolan – Irish “descendant of Nuallán”
  20. Quinn – Irish “descendant of Conn”

Spanish-Influenced Jamaican Surnames

Remnants of early Spanish colonization:

  1. Rodriguez – “Son of Rodrigo”
  2. Santos – Means “saints”
  3. Fernandez – “Son of Fernando”
  4. Dias – Portuguese/Spanish for “days”
  5. Lopez – “Son of Lope” (wolf)
  6. Garcia – Means “bear”
  7. Martinez – “Son of Martin”
  8. Hernandez – “Son of Hernando”
  9. Vasquez – “Son of Vasco”
  10. Ramirez – “Son of Ramiro”
  11. Alvarez – “Son of Álvaro”
  12. Castillo – Means “castle”
  13. Cortez – Means “courteous”
  14. Delgado – Means “thin” or “slender”
  15. Espinoza – Means “thorny”
  16. Flores – Means “flowers”
  17. Gomez – “Son of Gome”
  18. Gonzalez – “Son of Gonzalo”
  19. Mendoza – Place name meaning “cold mountain”
  20. Perez – “Son of Pedro”

Chinese Jamaican Surnames

From 19th century Chinese immigrants:

  1. Lee – Means “plum tree”
  2. Chin – Means “gold”
  3. Chang – Means “prosperous”
  4. Wong – Means “king” or “yellow”
  5. Lam – Means “forest”
  6. Chen – Means “dawn” or “great”
  7. Ho – Means “good” or “peace”
  8. Lowe – Cantonese meaning “old”
  9. Wah – Means “harmony”
  10. Chung – Means “middle” or “loyal”
  11. Fong – Means “fragrant”
  12. Kong – Means “empty” or “sky”
  13. Lue – Means “to travel”
  14. Ng – Cantonese surname meaning “yellow”
  15. Pang – Means “enclosure”
  16. Sang – Means “mulberry tree”
  17. Siu – Means “little”
  18. Tai – Means “great”
  19. Tang – Refers to the Tang dynasty
  20. Yee – Means “ceremony” or “rite”

Indian Jamaican Surnames

From indentured laborers who arrived post-1838:

  1. Singh – Sanskrit for “lion”
  2. Khan – Means “leader” or “ruler”
  3. Sharma – Means “protection” or “joy”
  4. Persaud – Sanskrit for “one who gives happiness”
  5. Ramdeen – Derived from Hindu deity Ram
  6. Maharaj – Means “great king”
  7. Prasad – Means “grace” or “offering”
  8. Gopie – From “Gopi” meaning “cowherd”
  9. Bissoon – Variant of “Vishnu”
  10. Lutchman – Means “fortunate man”
  11. Bahadur – Means “brave” or “hero”
  12. Balram – Combination of Bal (strength) and Ram
  13. Boodram – Variant of “Budhram” (wise)
  14. Chatoor – Means “four” in Hindi
  15. Dass – Means “servant” or “devotee”
  16. Gopaul – Variant of “Gopal” (cow protector)
  17. Harripersad – Means “servant of Hari (Vishnu)”
  18. Jagdeo – Means “world giver”
  19. Kissoon – Variant of “Krishna”
  20. Mahabir – Means “great warrior”

Indigenous & Unique Jamaican Surnames

Reflecting Jamaica’s diverse heritage:

  1. Marlow – Possibly from place name
  2. Beckford – English but widely Jamaican
  3. Bartley – Means “birch tree meadow”
  4. Walters – “Son of Walter”
  5. McFarlane – Scottish “son of Parlan”
  6. Wynter – Variant of “Winter”
  7. Sterling – Means “little star”
  8. Goldson – Means “son of Gold”
  9. Blake – Means “dark” or “pale”
  10. Bennett – From Benedict meaning “blessed”
  11. Chambers – Occupational name for chamberlain
  12. Dixon – “Son of Dick”
  13. Ellis – Welsh form of Elijah
  14. Fuller – Occupational name for cloth worker
  15. Griffiths – Welsh “strong lord”
  16. Holness – Variant of “holiness”
  17. Isaacs – “Son of Isaac”
  18. Jarrett – Germanic “spear brave”
  19. Knight – Occupational name for mounted soldier
  20. Linton – Place name meaning “flax town”

Final Thoughts

Jamaican surnames are living history – each one a thread in the island’s cultural fabric. Whether your name reflects English colonialism, African roots, Chinese heritage, or Indian ancestry, it contributes to Jamaica’s unique identity. These names have survived centuries of change, carrying forward the stories of those who came before us.

Do you recognize your family name here? What stories does your Jamaican surname tell? Share your family’s naming traditions in the comments – let’s celebrate this rich heritage together!

Scroll to Top