Southern last names carry deep historical and cultural significance, mirroring the robustness of southern music, genteel customs, generous cuisine, and literature. Southern last names can be strong, yet filled with charm, and reflect the hospitality southerners are known for. On this page, you’ll find the most popular southern last names, as well as curated lists of southern last names.
What are Southern Last Names?
The American south has been a melting pot of cultures throughout its history. The first inhabitants were Native Americans. Later, the Spanish began exploring the area in the late 1400s, while the French and British followed in the early 17th century. When crops like tobacco and cotton were introduced, large farms known as plantations became the foundation of the economy of the south. Slave traders capitalized on the need for more labor and began enslaving people from Africa to work these plantations. Over time, these diverse cultures blended into each other. Southern last names we know and love today are products of these contrasting cultural influences.
The south, known for its charm, is an inviting place. Southerners are kind, warm, and welcoming. And as a result, southern names are unique from other areas and bring images of warm hospitality to mind. On this page, you’ll find a comprehensive list of Southern names.
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Top 100 Southern Last Names
These common southern last names are among the best the south has to offer. They are sure to bring to mind images of rich southern culture.
- Reynolds
- Dixon
- Underwood
- Houston
- Dawson
- Hunter
- Armstrong
- Carter
- Kennedy
- Harper
- Cunningham
- Parker
- Lawson
- Lucas
- Walker
- Freeman
- Tucker
- Bowman
- Levi
- Keller
- Cash
- Shelton
- Holt
- Reeves
- Lee
- Strauss
- Bowen
- Rodgers
- Newton
- Walton
- Goodwin
- Harrington
- Shepherd
- Carson
- Clayton
- Porter
- Baskin
- Davenport
- Gates
- Kane
- Baxter
- Sawyer
- Wiley
- Solomon
- Nolan
- Bullock
- Gaines
- Ray
- Spears
- Buckley
- Conrad
- Harding
- Fry
- Sanford
- Dudley
- Jarvis
- Ferrell
- Delaney
- Hartley
- Tillman
- Hewitt
- Hollis
- Madison
- Corbin
- Dempsey
- Grady
- Tatum
- Thurman
- Connell
- Lovell
- Hoyt
- Hackett
- Urban
- Cullen
- Layton
- Adair
- Abel
- Presley
- Mallory
- Grover
- Woodson
- Whittaker
- Thayer
- Chadwick
- Clinton
- Fenton
- Redding
- Iverson
- Chester
- Callaway
- Witherspoon
- Clancy
- Braxton
- Harley
- Harlan
- Fanning
- Farrow
- Winchester
- Spalding
- Harrelson
See Top 5,000 Last Names
Strong Southern Last Names
These southern last names are strong and bring to mind individuals of confidence and character.
- Abbott
- Augustine
- Baird
- Baron
- Bedford
- Boyd
- Brannon
- Brennan
- Brent
- Calder
- Callahan
- Daniels
- Davidson
- Donovan
- Faust
- Fitzpatrick
- Forbes
- Gable
- Gannon
- Hale
- Hawthorne
- Ingram
- Laird
- Law
- Merrick
- Millard
- Patterson
- Prentice
- Quinlan
- Redmond
- Roberts
- Rollins
- Shaw
- Stratton
- Sutton
- Thatcher
- Warner
- Webb
- Webster
- Weldon
- Whitaker
- Wilson
See more Strong Last Names
Unique Southern Last Names
These unique southern last names are sure to leave an impression of the joys of southern culture.
- Addison
- Ambrose
- Barclay
- Barnes
- Bates
- Beckett
- Benton
- Boone
- Briggs
- Brooks
- Calloway
- Cameron
- Cassidy
- Chance
- Chandler
- Chase
- Clay
- Cole
- Coleman
- Collins
- Conway
- Cook
- Cornelius
- Dallas
- Dalton
- Dexter
- Dunn
- Eastman
- Easton
- Ellington
- Ellis
- Ford
- Fuller
- Grayson
- Hampton
- Hart
- Heath
- Henderson
- Hope
- Hunt
- Jefferson
- Jenkins
- Keegan
- Kingsley
- Knox
- Landon
- Landry
- Langston
- Lawton
- Leighton
- Lincoln
- Logan
- Marshall
- McKenzie
- Mercer
- Noble
- O’Hara
- Palmer
- Paxton
- Perkins
- Powell
- Ridge
- Riggs
- Ripley
- Ryder
- Samson
- Shelby
- Sherman
- Sterling
- Sumner
- Wade
- Warren
- Wesson
- Willard
- Wyatt
See more Unique Last Names
Rare Southern Last Names
Names on this list will draw attention. These names are rare, but still, they connect us back to the south.
- Ames
- Anders
- Balfour
- Cordell
- Creighton
- Dorsey
- Fulton
- Guthrie
- Milton
- Moss
- Nicodemus
- Riordan
- Roderick
- Roper
- Sadler
- Salinger
- Southern
- Ulmer
- Vela
See more Rare Last Names
Cute Southern Last Names
Many southern last names are as endearing and charming as the southerners who bore them. These names are sure to remind you of the south.
- Ashton
- Avery
- Baker
- Berry
- Bowie
- Bradley
- Cagney
- Casey
- Connor
- Curtis
- Elliot
- Felix
- Finch
- Finley
- Flynn
- Grace
- Hadley
- Huey
- Ivory
- Jordan
- Kenny
- Lake
- Laney
- LaRue
- Lauren
- Layne
- Leon
- Maddison
- Maxey
- Murray
- Paige
- Payton
- Perry
- Piper
- Ramsay
- Rhodes
- Rudy
- Saylor
- Shepard
- Sloan
- Starr
- Teagan
- Tilley
- Tully
- Wilkie
- Woody
See more Cute Last Names
Cool Southern Last Names
Cool southern last names immediately identify someone with roots firmly planted in the south. These surnames connect with southern pedigree, heritage, and way of life.
- Anderson
- Banks
- Bethel
- Brewster
- Byrd
- Champion
- Cleveland
- Dell
- Dodge
- Fox
- Gage
- Harlow
- Judge
- Link
- Locke
- Mack
- Maddox
- Merritt
- Oakley
- Rider
- Saxton
- Slater
- Temple
- Thorn
- Thorne
- Truitt
- Truman
- Vail
- Worthy
See more Cool Last Names
Old Southern Last Names
Old southern last names are graceful and sophisticated. They remind us of days gone by, making us nostalgic for years past.
- Amos
- Barton
- Bradford
- Broderick
- Brogan
- Brown
- Clark
- Clement
- Clifford
- Earle
- Early
- Felton
- Harmon
- Henry
- Hester
- Hoover
- Irving
- Jarrett
- Kirby
- Luther
- Martin
- May
- Melvin
- Mills
- Miranda
- Randall
- Raymond
- Reagan
- Robbins
- Russell
- Sheldon
- Sherwood
- Thurston
- Vernon
- Whitney
- Wilkes
- Wright
See more Old Fashioned Last Names
Redneck Last Names
With its large plantations and few big cities, the south maintains much of its rural feel. The names on this list are some of the best ‘Redneck’ and ‘Hillbilly’ last names the south has to offer.
- Butler
- Caldwell
- Calhoun
- Callan
- Carleton
- Charlton
- Crawford
- Delmont
- Draven
- Ellsworth
- Elrod
- Garland
- Gomer
- Green
- Griffith
- Hancock
- Harman
- Hawkins
- Haywood
- Heinrich
- Hopper
- McDowell
- Montgomery
- Norton
- Pollock
- Potter
- Prentiss
- Riorden
- Rogers
- Rutherford
- Stafford
- Stansfield
- Thornton
- Washington
- Weaver
- Wescott
- Wilburn
- Woodrow
Country Southern Last Names
Country living can be synonymous with the south. These names bring to mind warm breezes and sipping sweet tea on the front porch.
- Allan
- Asher
- Bailey
- Bayard
- Braden
- Brady
- Bryson
- Buford
- Chambers
- Colby
- Collier
- Corbett
- Crockett
- Curry
- Daley
- Dean
- Duvall
- Finn
- Fletcher
- Garner
- Gavin
- Granger
- Hailey
- Haley
- Huston
- Jansen
- Judd
- Keaton
- Kenyon
- Laughlin
- Leroy
- Levy
- Livingston
- Lyman
- McClain
- McCormick
- McCoy
- McKinnon
- Otis
- Packer
- Parson
- Paterson
- Prescott
- Roy
- Saddler
- Satchel
- Saunders
- Sheridan
- Sutherland
- Taggart
- Talbot
- Tierney
- Winfield
See more Country Last Names
More Lists:
- → See all Last Name Categories ~ Start Here
- Last Names for Characters
- Western Last Names
- Country Last Names
- Cowboy Last Names
- Cool Last Names
- Unique Last Names
Famous People with Southern Last Names
Many famous people have had southern last names. Neil Armstrong was an American astronaut and aeronautical engineer whose last name is Southern. In 1969, as commander of the Apollo 11 spacecraft, Armstrong became known for being the first man to walk on the moon. Armstrong is a name of Scottish origin. It means ‘son of a very strong man.’
Morgan Freeman is an American actor who also has a southern last name. Many people are familiar with Freeman’s distinguishable deep voice. He rose to prominence as an actor in the late 1980s and has acted in a wide variety of films. Freeman is Old English and means ‘free man.’
Ron Howard is another American actor with a southern last name. Howard is an actor and director known for creating some of Hollywood’s most remarkable movies. He gained attention as a child actor when he played Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show. Howard comes from an English word meaning ‘brave, spirit.’
Another famous person with a southern last name is Dean Martin. Martin was a singer, actor, comedian, and film producer. His charisma and confidence earned him the nickname ‘King of Cool’ and he was well-known as a member of the Rat Pack. Martin is of Latin origin and means ‘from mars.’
Baseball player Ernest Banks also has a southern surname. Banks was a shortstop and first baseman for the Chicago Cubs from 1953-1971. Nicknamed both ‘Mr. Cub’ and ‘Mr. Sunshine,’ Banks is considered by many to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time. The family name Banks has Anglo-Scottish origins and means ‘one who lives on banks of a river.’
