The Cowboy is a mysterious figure. Originally just a word referring to cow herders in the American West, ‘cowboy’ has since been transformed by the Western fiction genre into an archetype that bears little relevance to any sort of cow herding. Cowboys are clever, strong, honorable, independent, courageous, and effortlessly cool. And that’s exactly the feeling that their last names elicit from us. In other words, The Cowboy Archetype epitomizes all the virtues held in high regard by Western American culture. Here you’ll find multiple hand-picked lists of popular and niche cowboy last names to inspire you.
What are Cowboy Last Names?
Cowboy last names have a special allure to them; they’re almost like stage names, and sometimes actually are. There’s a sweet sound to them that drips off the tongue like molasses, evoking a sense of glamour, warmth, and excitement in us. The last names of Cowboys are often either nouns or descriptors of individual or family traits. This is in contrast to most common names, which are usually indicators of social status, occupation, or paternal lineage. Whether we realize it or not, this distinction further creates the sense that these names belong to those that are above and beyond the confines and conventions of ‘ordinary society.’ They’re independent mavericks that march to the beat of their own drum.
In this article, you’ll find the most comprehensive lists of cowboy last names. Although the underlying association of coolness and independence applies across the board, there are also niche collections of last names for several different purposes.
Top 100 Cowboy Last Names
These are the most popular cowboy last names; that means they are relatively common, easily recognizable, and easily usable for cowboys.
- Houston
- Carson
- Lawson
- Bowman
- Weston
- Lawton
- Holden
- Slade
- Dallas
- Carter
- Hooper
- Boone
- Masters
- Stetson
- Boden
- Courtright
- Strauss
- Nelson
- Walker
- Cassidy
- Steele
- Bowerman
- Buck
- Cooper
- Marshall
- Cartwright
- Hunter
- Snyder
- McKnight
- Timberman
- McCoy
- Garrett
- Wolfe
- Dawson
- Buchanan
- Whitehorse
- Nash
- Chase
- Garrison
- Costa
- Blanco
- Wilder
- Locke
- Dunbar
- Sterling
- Teague
- Dodge
- Wolff
- Madsen
- Oakley
- Ryder
- Winchester
- Reno
- Dollarhide
- Haberman
- Hickok
- Kodiak
- Laramie
- LaRoche
- Montana
- West
- Palmer
- Weaver
- Hudson
- Chapman
- Wheeler
- Morrison
- Curry
- Blake
- Sherman
- Moody
- Whitaker
- Decker
- Wyatt
- McCall
- Hinton
- Duke
- Starr
- Cash
- Lockhart
- Crockett
- Silver
- Gage
- Lincoln
- Rider
- Skelton
- Flint
- Chance
- Barkley
- LaRue
- Schulze
- Oaks
- Gartner
- Colt
- Gunner
- Maverick
- Blackmore
- Dakota
- Holston
- McCaffery
Unique Cowboy Last Names
Cowboy last names already have a bit more of a ‘unique’ factor than many traditional Western last names, but these Unique Cowboy Last Names take it a step further. These are for the ones that can’t be forgotten, for better or for worse.
- Archer
- Beckett
- Bradley
- Brody
- Bryce
- Burke
- Callaway
- Cameron
- Casey
- Chester
- Christie
- Clay
- Clayton
- Clinton
- Cody
- Cole
- Collier
- Deacon
- Denver
- Destry
- Dillon
- Durango
- Edmondson
- Eli
- Elias
- Fisher
- Fletcher
- Grady
- Grayson
- Harvey
- Hawk
- Heath
- Hennessy
- Jacobs
- Jameson
- Jasper
- Justice
- Kane
- Kelly
- Kent
- Knox
- Levi
- Lucas
- Mack
- Mason
- Milo
- Murphy
- O’Quinn
- Palermo
- Pancho
- Payton
- Porter
- Ranger
- Ray
- Reese
- Remington
- Rock
- Rockford
- Roper
- Samson
- Simpson
- Solomon
- Tanner
- Tate
- Travis
- Tripp
- Troy
- Wade
- Wayne
- Wesley
- Williamson
- Winston
- Woodward
- Zane
Cool Cowboy Last Names
These last names inspire a sense of awe and admiration. Many of the coolest-sounding cowboy last names differ from mundane last names in that they often refer to nouns, adjectives, personality traits, or physical traits, which causes a positive association between these meanings and the person in question.
- Armstrong
- Beck
- Becker
- Bowen
- Bronson
- Cables
- Cade
- Calvin
- Cordell
- Earl
- Easton
- Ellison
- Ford
- Gable
- Harlan
- Harrison
- Holt
- Huntley
- Judge
- Lee
- Redd
- Ridge
- Rivers
- Sheppard
- Smith
- Tucker
- Wild
- Willis
- Wylie
- Yates
Cute Cowboy Last Names
Cowboy last names can also be cute. Many icons of the American West, especially outlaws, took on names that had a childlike, cutesy flair. This creates an interesting, ironic contrast to the gritty, dangerous nature of what life was like for these people.
- Amos
- Ash
- Ashby
- Asher
- Ashton
- Bear
- Benjamin
- Bowie
- Braden
- Brady
- Brice
- Byrne
- Campbell
- Carlin
- Cason
- Chandler
- Courtney
- Crosby
- Dexter
- Eden
- Fischer
- Flynn
- Gabrielson
- Hale
- Harris
- Harry
- Hawthorne
- Hayes
- Kyle
- Lake
- Leon
- Mackenzie
- Madison
- McKinley
- Miles
- Mills
- Nolan
- Owens
- Parker
- Perry
- Peyton
- Price
- Reeves
- Shannon
- Sierra
- Sloan
- Sutton
Strong Cowboy Last Names
As the Western fiction genre has expanded greatly in the past century, there are just so many different kinds of cowboy figures. What underlies all of them, however, is strength, and that is why we compiled this list of Strong Cowboy last names.
- Aaron
- Barrett
- Baxter
- Calhoun
- Clarke
- Clifton
- Colter
- Dean
- Gannon
- Goddard
- Grant
- Hewitt
- Hillman
- Hogan
- Jackson
- Jennings
- Johnson
- Judd
- Keegan
- Laird
- Leroy
- Logan
- Moe
- Patterson
- Paxton
- Powell
- Quinlan
- Scott
- Sutherland
- Thatcher
- Trent
- Wagner
- Ward
- Webb
Old Cowboy Last Names
As Western culture has now been around for two centuries, naming conventions have changed over time, as new demographics enter the sphere and older ones leave. This list of Old Cowboy last names harkens back to the early days of the American West, creating a sense of age, curiosity, and respect.
- Abraham
- Ambrose
- Ames
- Clark
- Coleman
- David
- Earle
- Floyd
- James
- Joseph
- Lawrence
- Louis
- Luther
- Lyle
- Malcolm
- Morris
- Randall
- Robert
- Roderick
- Roland
- Roy
- Russell
- Vaughn
- Walter
- Warren
See more Old Fashioned Last Names
Cowgirl Last Names
The American West was full of fascinating, badass ladies as well. Taking inspiration from all the gunslingers and outlaws in full skirts, these popular cowgirl last names have the edge and spunk you’d expect, but with an added flair of glamour and femininity.
- Addison
- Allison
- Ashley
- Austin
- Avery
- Bailey
- Bellamy
- Blythe
- Brinkley
- Bristol
- Cady
- Colby
- Collins
- Dale
- Darby
- Delaney
- Dove
- Drew
- Fallon
- Finley
- Flora
- Fox
- Francis
- Gentry
- Grace
- Greer
- Hadley
- Haley
- Harley
- Harlow
- Harper
- Hayden
- Hope
- Jensen
- Kasey
- Kinsey
- Kirby
- Lacey
- Landry
- Lane
- Laney
- Larkin
- Lynn
- May
- Miley
- Monroe
- Morgan
- Paige
- Pearl
- Piper
- Posey
- Presley
- Quinn
- Raya
- Regan
- Rhea
- Riley
- Rose
- Rowan
- Ruby
- Ruth
- Sage
- Sawyer
- Shelby
- Sparrow
- Taylor
- Whitney
- Wren
Southern Cowboy Last Names
We often talk about the American West as if it were a monoculture, but it’s important to remember that each region of the United States touched by the frontier is colorful and unique in its own right, often populated by different demographic groups with different aesthetics and different cultural values. These Southern Cowboy last names reflect the unique people that the deserts and wet swamplands of the American South created.
- Anders
- Bedford
- Brent
- Brock
- Brooks
- Clement
- Clifford
- Corbin
- Cornelius
- Coy
- Crawford
- Curtis
- Dalton
- Davis
- Elliott
- Forrest
- Frederick
- Garland
- Gavin
- Graham
- Gray
- Hampton
- Hollis
- Jefferson
- Keaton
- Marsh
- Maxwell
- Montgomery
- Otis
- Owen
- Prescott
- Preston
- Roberts
- Samuel
- Sullivan
- Thomas
- Tobias
- Tyler
Old Western Cowboy Last Names
These Old Western Last Names are the classics. They’re like your grandfather’s beat-up old truck; maybe it’s not the fastest or shiniest whip around, but it’s a reliable, invincible tank with timeless design and tons of great memories. That’s exactly the warmth, security, and nostalgia these Old Western Last Names will bring you.
- Adams
- Autry
- Baldwin
- Barbarosa
- Bennett
- Bodie
- Brooke
- Cardinale
- Cather
- Chisholm
- Cord
- Dietrich
- Donovan
- Duniway
- Eagle
- Earp
- Fry
- Gilman
- Goode
- Guthrie
- Hagen
- Hart
- Heyes
- King
- Layne
- Macahan
- McCain
- McCord
- Montoya
- Mulhall
- Nichols
- Ramsey
- Rogers
- Ross
- Scull
- Shane
- Sicking
- Stanwyck
- Steinfeld
- Stone
- Terrel
- Texan
- Tonto
- Troop
- Welch
- Woody
Famous Cowboy Last Names from History
Certain last names, like ‘Cassidy’ or ‘Carson,’ are best known for their association with actual historical figures of the West. As we immortalize their exploits and turn them into legends, we create a permanent association between certain names and certain occupations, personalities, and traits. This is why we’ve compiled this list of Famous Cowboy last names from History.
- Acord
- Bascom
- Bass
- Bishop
- Bowdre
- Brocius
- Bullock
- Champion
- Charley
- Clanton
- Colcord
- Drumm
- Duck
- Eaton
- Evans
- Hardin
- Helm
- Henry
- Higgins
- Horn
- Ikard
- Kohrs
- Love
- Loving
- Miller
- Milton
- Mossman
- Pickett
- Pierce
- Ringo
- Roberson
- Roosevelt
- Rudabaugh
- Scurlock
- Selman
- Tibbs
- Worden
- Younger
Last Names of Professional Rodeo Riders
Rodeo is half-sport, half-theater, so it’s only reasonable that Professional Rodeo Riders either possess from birth or endow themselves with names that are catchy and quick on the tongue. This list of Professional Rodeo Rider’s last names compiles names that elicit a sense of strength, determination, and showmanship.
- Akridge
- Allred
- Ambler
- Anderson
- Bach
- Bessert
- Blanchard
- Bloxom
- Bradford
- Brashears
- Brewer
- Brodoway
- Broussard
- Buell
- Burchett
- Busby
- Call
- Camarillo
- Capshaw
- Casper
- Churchill
- Combs
- Conrado
- Cooley
- Corder
- Corkill
- Cowan
- Cox
- Crawley
- Crimber
- Critton
- Crossley
- Cunningham
- Dryden
- Eldred
- Elshere
- Fambro
- Forsberg
- Foster
- Franklin
- Frazier
- Friedrich
- Gallino
- Geiger
- Gellerman
- Gibson
- Gill
- Goss
- Greenup
- Griffith
- Hansen
- Hedeman
- Herman
- Herod
- Hollings
- Hougen
- Hovland
- Hughes
- Hyland
- Irwin
- Jordan
- Jorgenson
- Kautzman
- Kight
- Kindred
- Kinsel
- Kirkland
- Kirkpatrick
- Lang
- Larsen
- Lester
- Leverington
- Lickley
- Lindsey
- Lindstrom
- Lord
- Lyne
- Mann
- Marchi
- Marcilio
- Martin
- McFadden
- McHale
- McNamee
- Merritt
- Meyers
- Miner
- Mitchell
- Moore
- Motes
- Mulford
- Munn
- Murray
- Myers
- Nunes
- Pace
- Peck
- Perkins
- Petersen
- Reid
- Richardson
- Ricker
- Robbins
- Rule
- Sams
- Sanchez
- Scales
- Schell
- Schnaufer
- Schuster
- Self
- Shaw
- Shepherd
- Sickler
- Simmons
- Simonson
- Small
- Smallwood
- Sparks
- Stannard
- Steiner
- Taggart
- Thompson
- Vick
- Vieira
- Vondette
- Wallace
- Wardell
- Warwick
- Weast
- Welsh
- Whitmire
- Whitters
- Will
- Willert
- Williams
- Wilson
- Winn
- Wood
- Woodard
- Woolman
- Wright
- Young
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More Lists:
Last Names of Famous Cowboys
Butch Cassidy was best known as the leader of the outlaw gang, Butch Cassidy’s Wild Ones, whose exploits were immortalized in the 1969 film, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Cassidy is an Irish name, and depending on the exact translation, can mean either ‘clever one’ or ‘curly-haired.’
Montie Montana was a cowboy and rodeo rider, also known for his extensive stuntman work in Western films from the 1930s-60s. ‘Montie Montana’ is a stage name; he was born Owen Harlen Mickel. The surname Montana is a reference to the Western American state of Montana, whose name is an anglicization of the Spanish word ‘montaña,’ meaning ‘mountain.’
Kit Carson was an American frontiersman, living at times as a trapper, mountain guide, and army officer. His life and exploits have proved massively inspiring to the Western fiction genre. Carson is a surname found throughout Ireland and Scotland, and has two possible meanings; the first being a patronymic meaning ‘Son of Carr,’ and the second, which interprets the name as a Scandinavian one, meaning ‘Son of Marsh-Dwellers.’
Wyatt Earp was a lawman involved in several notorious shootouts, the most famous of which took place at the O.K. Corral, and has been countlessly adapted for film, television, and stage. The family name Earp is an Old English name with older Anglo-Saxon roots, and means ‘swarthy’ or ‘of dark complexion.’
Belle Starr was a female American outlaw associated with several different gangs, whose violent death remains a mystery. Although her name sounds like that of a glamorous Hollywood actress, it’s indeed her own. Starr is a Middle English name adapted from the earlier word ‘starre,’ which means ‘star.’
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