Victorian surnames hearken back to an exciting time in history. Technology was rapidly changing, social and political changes rocked the status quo of many nations, and some of the greatest literature was written during the reign of Queen Victoria. On this page, you’ll find out about the most popular Victorian surnames and hand-picked lists of Victorian surnames to fit your different needs.
What are Victorian Last Names?
In the Victorian Era, last names could hold different meanings. Surnames first came into use in England around 1000 AD with the Norman invasion, and commonly described the name of a person’s father, occupation, or place of birth. Unlike today, surnames could change between generations due to changing occupations or birthplaces. By around the 1400s, surnames became tied to genealogy and thus more permanent. Victorian last names could mean that their ancestors were involved in a specific field of work, that they were of noble background, or that their families came from specific places in England.
Characteristics of Victorian last names include unique spelling, creative names, and names that have deep meanings. Victorian last names could indicate one’s social class, or whether one is part of the nobility. Contemporary researchers can even use Victorian surnames to track social mobility and wealth. Victorian last names give us a glimpse into a bygone era of change and adventure. Enjoy our list of Victorian last names for characters below.
Top 100 Victorian Last Names
This list contains recognizable last names that were prominent during the Victorian era. This is a perfect way to start your journey to find a classic Victorian last name.
- Franklin
- Wright
- Price
- Ferguson
- Porter
- Hart
- Bishop
- Gilbert
- Howell
- Leonard
- Thornton
- Warner
- Watson
- Fletcher
- Crawford
- Harmon
- Lloyd
- Wheeler
- Newton
- Butler
- Walton
- Webster
- Sherman
- Glover
- Floyd
- Hartman
- McKenzie
- Houston
- Davenport
- Jefferson
- Eaton
- Solomon
- Hardin
- Livingston
- Frederick
- Conrad
- Bentley
- Harding
- Sampson
- Osborn
- Tillman
- Grace
- Pryor
- Corbett
- Grady
- McKinley
- Godwin
- Ludwig
- Hilliard
- Cornelius
- Abel
- Wilkes
- Moreland
- Keene
- Mallory
- Oakley
- Ambrose
- Hobson
- Benedict
- Fenton
- Titus
- Hayward
- Wilburn
- Tobias
- Luther
- Ellsworth
- MacKenzie
- Asher
- Dewey
- Wylie
- Hyman
- Easton
- Culpepper
- Haskell
- Jasper
- Dallas
- Florence
- Ruby
- Jonas
- Burley
- Archibald
- Ralph
- Blythe
- Hornsby
- Raleigh
- Truman
- Merton
- Ulysses
- Enfield
- Ackley
- Carleton
- Halen
- Meriwether
- Wellington
- Fogg
- Wilford
- Newell
- Berkeley
- Augustus
- Clarence
Unique Victorian Last Names
These Victorian last names are sure to stand out of the crowd, even in the 1800s. This list highlights Victorian surnames that are memorable and distinctive.
- Amos
- Bailey
- Blaine
- Blair
- Brooks
- Buck
- Buford
- Burch
- Burrell
- Byron
- Carlin
- Carlisle
- Dale
- Dewitt
- Elliott
- Elmore
- Ely
- Emerson
- Emery
- Ernest
- Ervin
- Evans
- Everett
- Farley
- Francis
- Hayden
- Hayes
- Haywood
- Hollis
- Jeremiah
- Kirby
- Leighton
- Levy
- Lincoln
- Loyd
- Lyle
- Lyman
- MacLean
- Marion
- Maxwell
- Maynard
- Middleton
- Monroe
- Morgan
- Murry
- Ramon
- Raynor
- Reese
- Robinson
- Roe
- Rowland
- Royce
- Rubin
- Spencer
- Terrell
- Tracy
- Valentine
- Wesley
- Wiley
Old Fashioned Victorian Last Names
Even the Victorian era had what they would call old family names. These names were used over the centuries and into the Victorian era and are perfect for exhibiting the deeper history of Victorian people and families.
- Alford
- Anthony
- Barney
- Barton
- Bertram
- Bertrand
- Bradford
- Carl
- Carlton
- Cecil
- Chester
- Clem
- Clifford
- Coleman
- Dudley
- Earl
- Edmond
- Erwin
- Ferdinand
- Furman
- Hamilton
- Hannah
- Herbert
- Herman
- Hester
- Hilton
- Hoyt
- Hubert
- Humphrey
- Irving
- Jobe
- Joyce
- Kirk
- Lambert
- Lester
- Marvin
- May
- Melvin
- Meyer
- Milton
- Morris
- Morton
- Nelson
- Neville
- Nicholas
- Norris
- Orlando
- Oswald
- Pierce
- Randolph
- Roland
- Rudolph
- Seymour
- Shelton
- Sumner
- Sylvester
- Thurston
- Vernon
- Wade
- Wallace
- Wilbur
- Willis
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Rare Victorian Last Names
These last names are especially uncommon, even in the Victorian era, and in certain instances considered upper-class. You won’t find familiar names on this list, but you may find one that is perfect for your Victorian character.
- Ainsley
- Algernon
- Allerton
- Alton
- Bartholomew
- Berton
- Columbus
- Courtenay
- Emmanuel
- Giles
- Godfrey
- Griffith
- Grover
- Hendry
- Irvin
- Ives
- Lysander
- Marston
- Mathias
- Milford
- Moss
- Myles
- Nevin
- Nolan
- Osmond
- Roderick
- Rolland
- Salvador
- Sena
- Smyth
- Verner
Cute Victorian Last Names
These cute Victorian last names are perfect combinations of antique and adorable.
- Addison
- Austin
- Bell
- Birch
- Brice
- Cameron
- Christie
- Clemens
- Cotton
- Curley
- Curtis
- Dalton
- Darcy
- Easter
- Eden
- Ellis
- Harley
- Harris
- Harrison
- Hartley
- Huey
- Ivory
- Lacy
- Larkin
- Lewis
- Minor
- Murray
- Otis
- Otto
- Palma
- Paris
- Perry
- Willard
- Wilson
Cool Victorian Last Names
These last names are perfect for Victorian adventurers and adventure aficionados. Listed below are some cool-sounding Victorian last names.
- Axton
- Booker
- Bruno
- Burton
- Calvin
- Cleveland
- Dayton
- Felix
- Garrett
- Hampton
- Hunter
- Lawson
- Mack
- Marshall
- Palmer
- Richmond
- Ripley
- Roman
- Samson
- Temple
- Troy
- Urban
- Usher
- West
British Victorian Last Names
The Victorian era was marked by tales of chivalry and honor, of strength and courage in rapidly changing times. These British and English last names are marked by their strength.
- Allan
- Alston
- Augustin
- Augustine
- Baxter
- Bennett
- Benton
- Boyd
- Bryant
- Clayton
- Clifton
- Clinton
- Colson
- Cornell
- Damon
- Dean
- Doyle
- Eldridge
- Ernst
- Fritz
- Goodwin
- Harlan
- Heath
- Henderson
- Irwin
- Jennings
- Johnson
- Jones
- Jose
- Judd
- Marcus
- Millard
- Mitchell
- Moore
- Osborne
- Sanford
- Thurman
- Turner
- Vance
- Ward
- Webb
- Williams
Romantic Victorian Last Names
Victorian-era pictures and paintings may often look quite serious, but the Victorians knew how to love. These names are the perfect combination of classically Victorian and timelessly romantic.
- Alfonso
- Andres
- Angelo
- Cicero
- Emanuel
- Francisco
- Frederik
- Jacques
- Juan
- Lorenzo
- Louie
- Luis
- Manuel
- Mateo
- Matias
- Miguel
- Pierre
- Tomas
- Wilhelm
Gothic Victorian Last Names
Looking for some last names that speak to your inner Mary Shelley? These names would fit seamlessly on the pages of the greatest Gothic novels and will fit your every Goth need.
- Aaron
- Antonio
- Ash
- Bethel
- Carlos
- Casper
- Christian
- Dexter
- Jordan
- Lee
- Logan
- Lucas
- Luna
- Noah
- Raphael
- Salazar
- Shade
- Snow
- Sullivan
- Villin
Virtue-related Victorian Last Names
These curated names reflect the highest virtues of Victorian society. This carefully curated list holds last names that speak to honor, righteousness, and virtue as important traits.
- Angel
- Clement
- Concepcion
- Coy
- Early
- Earnest
- Freeman
- Friend
- Golden
- Grant
- Hardy
- Hope
- Joy
- Judge
- Justice
- King
- Merritt
- Noble
- Pleasant
- Ransom
- Royal
- Sterling
- Verity
- Will
- Worth
- Young
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Last Names of Famous Victorians
Charles Dickens was born in 1812 in Landport, England, now part of modern-day Portsmouth, England. He was one of Europe’s greatest and most prolific writers, and his stories are retold in movies, plays, museums, and even festivals. What would the Christmas season be like without watching one of the many movies based on A Christmas Carol? The Victorian surname of Dickens was first recorded in Staffordshire, England, in the early 1200s, making it one of the earliest surnames in England. Original spellings included Dicon, Digun, and Dycon, and the name meant that the person was the child of someone named Richard.
Charles Darwin was born in 1809 in Shrewsbury, England, and his name would become synonymous with the theory of evolution, a revolutionary concept that changed how we understand the development of life on earth. Our understanding of biology is shaped by his observations while he sailed on the HMS Beagle. His family name was first recorded in Oxfordshire, England, in the late 1200s, and was a geographically based name. Darwin was originally spelled Darwen and refers to the Darwen river, also spelled Darwent, in Lancashire.
Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy, in 1820. Her passion for humanity led her to become a nurse when she moved to her parent’s homeland of England, but her legacy was solidified during her time serving as a nurse during the Crimean War. Under her reforms, the ward where she worked became a hygienic space of healing and reduced death in her ward by two-thirds. The surname Nightingale was also found on historical rolls by the 1200s and was used by those known for having beautiful singing voices like that of the nightingale.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel was born in 1806 in Portsea, England, and is considered one of the greatest Britons to have ever lived because of his work as an engineer. His work expanded into addressing transportation issues, and he helped build bridges and tunnels that are used almost 200 years after his death. Railways and shipping lines he designed crossed counties and oceans, leading to economic growth and connections. His name predated the Norman conquest of England and was used by the Anglo-Saxons of Britain. It is based on the Old English word Burnel and refers to one who has dark hair.
Benjamin Disraeli was born in London, England, in 1804. He would make his mark on history through his work in politics and civic engagement despite England’s antisemitism. He served as Prime Minister after years of working in Parliament, and he shaped England’s foreign policy in a way that helped define the political and economic landscape of the Victorian era. The surname Disraeli is Italian in origin and means ‘from Israel.’
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