Last names starting with P offer a rich linguistic and cultural heritage tapestry. From popular surnames like Parker and Phillips to unique monikers like Pendergrass and Piccolo, P-initial surnames span various origins and meanings. These names often reflect our ancestors’ occupations, locations, patronymics, or personal characteristics. Whether you’re researching your family history, choosing a new surname, or simply curious about onomastics, exploring P surnames can provide fascinating insights into genealogy and etymology. This comprehensive guide presents 530 diverse last names beginning with P, categorized into popular, awesome, common, unique, pretty, adorable, beautiful, modern, famous, and gorgeous selections. Let’s embark on this alphabetical journey through the world of P surnames!
53 Popular Last Names That Start with P
Popular P surnames are those that have stood the test of time and remain widely used today. These names often have deep historical roots and may be found across various cultures and regions. From occupational names to patronymics, this list showcases some of the most prevalent P surnames in contemporary society.
| Last Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Parker | Park keeper or gamekeeper |
| Phillips | Son of Philip |
| Peterson | Son of Peter |
| Powell | Son of Howell |
| Palmer | Pilgrim |
| Perry | Dweller near a pear tree |
| Pearson | Son of Piers |
| Payne | From the Old French for villager |
| Patterson | Son of Patrick |
| Porter | Doorkeeper or gatekeeper |
| Price | Son of Rhys |
| Patel | Landowner or village headman |
| Peck | Dweller by the peak or hill |
| Parsons | Son of Parr or parish priest |
| Perkins | Son of Peter |
| Pittman | Pit worker or coal miner |
| Pollard | Person with a closely cropped head |
| Poole | Person who lived near a pool |
| Pratt | Cunning or crafty person |
| Pugh | Son of Hugh |
| Puckett | Diminutive of Puck (goblin or sprite) |
| Pritchard | Son of Richard |
| Pennington | From the town by the pennant-shaped hill |
| Pickett | Pointed or peaked |
| Peacock | Nickname for a vain or showy person |
| Petty | Small or minor |
| Parrish | From the parish |
| Patton | Son of Patrick |
| Pace | From the Latin “pax” meaning peace |
| Phelps | Son of Philip |
| Pitts | Dweller near a pit or hollow |
| Polk | From a place name meaning “pool” |
| Poe | Peacock or proud person |
| Posey | Bunch of flowers |
| Paulson | Son of Paul |
| Paxton | From the town of Paxton |
| Pendleton | From the hill town |
| Petersen | Son of Peter (Danish/Norwegian variant) |
| Pfeiffer | Piper or fife player |
| Piper | Player of pipes or flutes |
| Plummer | Plumber or lead worker |
| Pollock | From a place name meaning “pool” |
| Pond | Dweller near a pond |
| Pope | Nickname for someone who acted pompously |
| Popovich | Son of the priest |
| Post | Messenger or courier |
| Potts | Diminutive of Philpot (lover of peace) |
| Pound | Keeper of the animal pound |
| Povey | From the Welsh “ap Hywel” (son of Howell) |
| Prescott | Priest’s cottage |
| Prevost | Provost or town official |
| Prichard | Son of Richard |
| Proctor | Steward or caretaker |
53 Awesome Last Names That Start with P
Awesome P surnames stand out for their unique sound, meaning, or historical significance. These names often have a certain flair or charisma that makes them memorable. From powerful-sounding names to those with intriguing origins, this list showcases some truly awesome P surnames.
| Last Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Phoenix | Mythical bird that rises from its own ashes |
| Prometheus | Greek titan who gave fire to humans |
| Paladin | Knight or heroic champion |
| Pax | Latin for “peace” |
| Percival | Arthurian knight of the Round Table |
| Peregrine | Traveler or pilgrim |
| Phalanx | Ancient Greek military formation |
| Phantom | Ghost or apparition |
| Phoebus | Ancient Greek god of light and sun |
| Pilgrim | Religious traveler |
| Pinnacle | Highest point or peak |
| Piper | Player of pipes or flutes |
| Pirate | Sea robber or buccaneer |
| Platinum | Precious metal |
| Polaris | North Star |
| Poseidon | Greek god of the sea |
| Praetor | Ancient Roman magistrate |
| Praxis | Practice or custom |
| Predator | Hunter or pursuer |
| Prodigy | Person with exceptional abilities |
| Prometheus | Greek titan who gave fire to humans |
| Proteus | Greek sea god known for changing shape |
| Proxima | Nearest or next |
| Psyche | Soul or mind in Greek mythology |
| Pulsar | Pulsating star |
| Puma | Large wild cat |
| Pyro | Fire-related |
| Pythagoras | Ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician |
| Paragon | Model of excellence |
| Paradox | Seemingly contradictory statement |
| Parallax | Apparent change in position of an object |
| Parapet | Defensive wall |
| Pariah | Outcast or social reject |
| Parley | Conference or discussion |
| Parson | Clergyman or priest |
| Partisan | Strong supporter of a cause |
| Passaic | Native American word for “valley” |
| Passion | Strong emotion or enthusiasm |
| Patriot | Person devoted to their country |
| Patron | Supporter or regular customer |
| Pax | Latin for “peace” |
| Paxton | From the town of Paxton |
| Peacemaker | One who reconciles differences |
| Peake | Dweller by a pointed hill |
| Peerless | Without equal |
| Pelican | Large water bird |
| Pendulum | Swinging weight used to regulate clocks |
| Pendragon | Chief leader in Celtic languages |
| Penguin | Flightless seabird |
| Penrose | Head of the moor |
| Pentacle | Five-pointed star symbol |
| Penumbra | Partial shadow in an eclipse |
| Peregrine | Traveler or pilgrim |
53 Common Last Names That Start with P
Common P surnames are those frequently encountered in everyday life. These names have widespread usage across various communities and often have straightforward origins related to occupations, patronymics, or geographical features. This list presents some of the most common P surnames you’re likely to come across.
| Last Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Page | Young servant or attendant |
| Painter | One who paints for a living |
| Palma | Palm tree |
| Palmer | Pilgrim |
| Palmieri | Palm bearer |
| Paquette | Diminutive of Pasquier (Easter) |
| Parish | Someone from the parish |
| Park | Someone who lived near a park |
| Parkinson | Son of Parkin (diminutive of Peter) |
| Parnell | Diminutive of Piers (rock) |
| Parr | Dweller by the enclosure |
| Parris | Son of Patrick |
| Parrott | Derived from the given name Peter |
| Paschal | Born at Easter |
| Pasquale | Born at Easter (Italian) |
| Passmore | Dweller by the path over the moor |
| Pastor | Shepherd or priest |
| Patch | Son of Patrick |
| Pate | Son of Patrick |
| Paterson | Son of Patrick |
| Patino | Diminutive of Pato (duck) |
| Patrick | Son of Patrick |
| Patton | Son of Patrick |
| Paul | Son of Paul |
| Pauley | Son of Paul |
| Paulsen | Son of Paul |
| Paulson | Son of Paul |
| Pavlov | Son of Paul (Russian) |
| Payne | From the Old French for villager |
| Peabody | Mountain man |
| Pearce | Son of Piers (rock) |
| Pearson | Son of Piers (rock) |
| Peck | Dweller by the peak or hill |
| Pedersen | Son of Peter (Danish/Norwegian) |
| Peebles | From the town of Peebles in Scotland |
| Peel | Dweller by the stockade |
| Peña | Rocky hill |
| Pender | Bridge keeper |
| Pendleton | From the hill town |
| Penn | Dweller by the pen (animal enclosure) |
| Pennington | From the town by the pennant-shaped hill |
| Penny | Son of Piers (rock) |
| Peralta | High rock |
| Perdue | Lost |
| Pereira | Pear tree |
| Perez | Son of Pedro (Peter) |
| Perkins | Son of Peter |
| Perreault | Son of Peter |
| Perrin | Son of Peter |
| Perry | Dweller near a pear tree |
| Person | Son of Piers (rock) |
| Peters | Son of Peter |
| Petersen | Son of Peter (Danish/Norwegian) |
53 Unique Last Names That Start with P
Unique P surnames are those that stand out for their rarity or distinctive qualities. These names often have interesting origins, unusual spellings, or uncommon meanings. This list showcases some of the most unique and intriguing P surnames you might encounter.
| Last Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pabst | Pope |
| Pacino | Little peace |
| Paddock | Small enclosed field |
| Padgett | Little page or servant |
| Pafford | From Pavford (path by the ford) |
| Pagano | Pagan or villager |
| Paget | Little page |
| Paglia | Straw |
| Pahler | Pole maker |
| Paine | Villager |
| Pakula | From Paul |
| Palacio | Palace |
| Palliser | Fence maker |
| Palma | Palm tree |
| Palmisano | From Palmizzi (little palm) |
| Palo | Stake or pole |
| Palumbo | Dove |
| Panas | Lord |
| Pancake | Maker of pancakes |
| Pankow | Son of Panko (diminutive of Pan) |
| Pankratz | Son of Pankraz (all-powerful) |
| Panza | Belly |
| Panzica | Little belly |
| Paolini | Little Paul |
| Papageorgiou | Son of George (Greek) |
| Pape | Pope |
| Papineau | Little pope |
| Papp | Priest |
| Paquette | Little Easter |
| Paradis | Paradise |
| Parham | Pear homestead |
| Parisi | From Paris |
| Parkhurst | Wood on a hill |
| Parkinson | Son of Parkin (little Peter) |
| Parmenter | Tailor |
| Parnell | Little Peter |
| Parris | Son of Patrick |
| Parrott | Little Peter |
| Parry | Son of Harry |
| Parsons | Son of Parr or parish priest |
| Pascoe | Easter |
| Pasquarelli | Little Easter |
| Passarelli | Little sparrow |
| Pastorino | Little shepherd |
| Patchett | Little patch of land |
| Patin | Ice skate |
| Patino | Little duck |
| Patnode | Not stupid |
| Patroni | Patron |
| Pattison | Son of Patt (Patrick) |
| Pavone | Peacock |
| Pawlak | Son of Paul (Polish) |
| Pawlowski | Son of Paul (Polish) |
53 Prettiest Last Names That Start with P
Pretty P surnames are those that have an aesthetically pleasing sound or evoke beautiful imagery. These names often have romantic or poetic connotations and may be derived from nature, colors, or pleasant concepts. This list presents some of the prettiest P surnames you might come across.
| Last Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pace | Peace |
| Padgett | Little page or servant |
| Page | Young attendant |
| Paget | Little page |
| Painter | One who paints |
| Palma | Palm tree |
| Palmer | Pilgrim |
| Paloma | Dove |
| Paquette | Little Easter |
| Paradise | Heaven |
| Parisi | From Paris |
| Paris | From the city of Paris |
| Parke | Park |
| Parkinson | Son of little Peter |
| Parnell | Little rock |
| Parris | Son of Patrick |
| Parrish | From the parish |
| Parsons | Son of Parr or parish priest |
| Pascal | Born at Easter |
| Pascoe | Easter |
| Pasquale | Born at Easter |
| Passion | Strong emotion |
| Patel | Landowner |
| Patience | Virtue of patience |
| Patino | Little duck |
| Paton | Noble |
| Patton | Noble |
| Pauley | Little Paul |
| Paxton | Peace town |
| Payne | From the Old French for villager |
| Peach | Peach fruit |
| Peacock | Beautiful bird |
| Pearl | Precious gem |
| Pearle | Precious gem |
| Pearlman | Pearl trader |
| Pearson | Son of Piers |
| Peck | Dweller by the peak |
| Pemberton | Farm belonging to Penbert |
| Pena | Rock |
| Pendleton | Town on the hill |
| Penn | Enclosure |
| Penner | Feather |
| Penny | Coin |
| Peony | Flower |
| Pepper | Spice |
| Peralta | High rock |
| Perkins | Little Peter |
| Perle | Pearl |
| Perna | Leg |
| Perri | Little rock |
| Perrin | Little rock |
| Perry | Pear tree |
| Petal | Flower part |
53 Adorable Last Names That Start with P
Adorable P surnames are those that have a charming or endearing quality. These names often have diminutive forms, cute meanings, or associations with lovable things. This list presents some of the most adorable P surnames you might encounter.
| Last Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Paca | Easter |
| Pacey | Peace |
| Packard | Orchard keeper |
| Padget | Little page |
| Paget | Little page |
| Paille | Straw |
| Paisley | Church or cemetery |
| Pajak | Spider |
| Palma | Palm tree |
| Palomino | Young dove |
| Panda | Bear-like animal |
| Pander | Panther |
| Pansy | Flower |
| Panter | Panther |
| Pao | Bubble |
| Papillon | Butterfly |
| Papp | Father |
| Paquette | Little Easter |
| Paradis | Paradise |
| Pardy | Little Peter |
| Paris | From the city of Paris |
| Parish | From the parish |
| Parke | Park |
| Parry | Son of Harry |
| Parson | Clergyman |
| Pascoe | Easter |
| Pasquale | Born at Easter |
| Patino | Little duck |
| Paton | Noble |
| Patton | Noble |
| Pauley | Little Paul |
| Paxton | Peace town |
| Payne | Villager |
| Peach | Peach fruit |
| Peacock | Beautiful bird |
| Pearl | Precious gem |
| Pearle | Precious gem |
| Pearlman | Pearl trader |
| Pearson | Son of Piers |
| Peck | Dweller by the peak |
| Pemberton | Farm belonging to Penbert |
| Pena | Rock |
| Pendleton | Town on the hill |
| Penn | Enclosure |
| Penner | Feather |
| Penny | Coin |
| Peony | Flower |
| Pepper | Spice |
| Peralta | High rock |
| Perkins | Little Peter |
| Perle | Pearl |
| Perna | Leg |
| Perri | Little rock |
| Perrin | Little rock |
| Perry | Pear tree |
| Petal | Flower part |
53 Beautiful Last Names That Start with P
Beautiful P surnames are those that have an aesthetically pleasing sound or evoke beautiful imagery. These names often have romantic or poetic connotations and may be derived from nature, colors, or pleasant concepts. This list presents some of the prettiest P surnames you might come across.
| Last Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pace | Peace |
| Padgett | Little page or servant |
| Page | Young attendant |
| Paget | Little page |
| Painter | One who paints |
| Palma | Palm tree |
| Palmer | Pilgrim |
| Paloma | Dove |
| Paquette | Little Easter |
| Paradise | Heaven |
| Parisi | From Paris |
| Paris | From the city of Paris |
| Parke | Park |
| Parkinson | Son of little Peter |
| Parnell | Little rock |
| Parris | Son of Patrick |
| Parrish | From the parish |
| Parsons | Son of Parr or parish priest |
| Pascal | Born at Easter |
| Pascoe | Easter |
| Pasquale | Born at Easter |
| Passion | Strong emotion |
| Patel | Landowner |
| Patience | Virtue of patience |
| Patino | Little duck |
| Paton | Noble |
| Patton | Noble |
| Pauley | Little Paul |
| Paxton | Peace town |
| Payne | Villager |
| Peach | Peach fruit |
| Peacock | Beautiful bird |
| Pearl | Precious gem |
| Pearle | Precious gem |
| Pearlman | Pearl trader |
| Pearson | Son of Piers |
| Peck | Dweller by the peak |
| Pemberton | Farm belonging to Penbert |
| Pena | Rock |
| Pendleton | Town on the hill |
| Penn | Enclosure |
| Penner | Feather |
| Penny | Coin |
| Peony | Flower |
| Pepper | Spice |
| Peralta | High rock |
| Perkins | Little Peter |
| Perle | Pearl |
| Perna | Leg |
| Perri | Little rock |
| Perrin | Little rock |
| Perry | Pear tree |
| Petal | Flower part |
53 Modern Last Names That Start with P
Modern P surnames are those that have a contemporary feel or have gained popularity in recent times. These names often have sleek, stylish sounds or are associated with modern professions and lifestyles. This list showcases some of the most modern P surnames you might encounter.
| Last Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pace | Peace |
| Paxton | Peace town |
| Palmer | Pilgrim |
| Parker | Park keeper |
| Patton | Noble |
| Payne | Villager |
| Pearson | Son of Piers |
| Peck | Dweller by the peak |
| Penn | Enclosure |
| Perry | Pear tree |
| Peterson | Son of Peter |
| Phillips | Son of Philip |
| Pierce | Son of Piers |
| Pike | Fish |
| Pittman | Pit worker |
| Poole | Dweller near a pool |
| Porter | Doorkeeper |
| Powell | Son of Howell |
| Pratt | Cunning or crafty person |
| Preston | Priest’s town |
| Prince | Royal title |
| Proctor | Steward or caretaker |
| Pruitt | Brave or valiant |
| Puckett | Little goblin |
| Pugh | Son of Hugh |
| Pullen | Little Paul |
| Purcell | Little pig |
| Putnam | Homestead of Putta |
| Pyle | Dweller near a pile or stake |
| Palmero | Pilgrim (Spanish) |
| Paredes | Walls (Spanish) |
| Pacheco | Frenchman (Spanish) |
| Padilla | Small pot (Spanish) |
| Pardo | Brown (Spanish) |
| Parra | Grape vine (Spanish) |
| Paz | Peace (Spanish) |
| Peña | Rocky hill (Spanish) |
| Pereira | Pear tree (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
| Pimentel | Pepper (Portuguese) |
| Pinto | Painted or spotted (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
| Pinho | Pine tree (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
| Pacheco | Frenchman (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
53 Famous Last Names That Start with P
Famous P surnames are those that are well-known due to their association with notable individuals in various fields such as entertainment, sports, politics, and science. This list presents some of the most famous P surnames and their meanings.
| Last Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Parker | Park keeper |
| Phillips | Son of Philip |
| Peterson | Son of Peter |
| Powell | Son of Howell |
| Palmer | Pilgrim |
| Perry | Pear tree |
| Pearson | Son of Piers |
| Payne | Villager |
| Patterson | Son of Patrick |
| Porter | Doorkeeper |
| Price | Son of Rhys |
| Patel | Landowner |
| Peck | Dweller by the peak |
| Parsons | Son of Parr or parish priest |
| Perkins | Son of Peter |
| Pittman | Pit worker |
| Pollard | Person with a closely cropped head |
| Poole | Person who lived near a pool |
| Pratt | Cunning or crafty person |
| Pugh | Son of Hugh |
| Puckett | Little goblin |
| Pritchard | Son of Richard |
| Pennington | From the town by the pennant-shaped hill |
| Pickett | Pointed or peaked |
| Peacock | Nickname for a vain or showy person |
| Petty | Small or minor |
| Parrish | From the parish |
| Patton | Son of Patrick |
| Pace | From the Latin “pax” meaning peace |
| Phelps | Son of Philip |
| Pitts | Dweller near a pit or hollow |
| Polk | From a place name meaning “pool” |
| Poe | Peacock or proud person |
| Posey | Bunch of flowers |
| Paulson | Son of Paul |
| Paxton | From the town of Paxton |
| Pendleton | From the hill town |
| Petersen | Son of Peter (Danish/Norwegian variant) |
| Pfeiffer | Piper or fife player |
| Piper | Player of pipes or flutes |
| Plummer | Plumber or lead worker |
| Pollock | From a place name meaning “pool” |
| Pond | Dweller near a pond |
| Pope | Nickname for someone who acted pompously |
| Popovich | Son of the priest |
| Post | Messenger or courier |
| Potts | Diminutive of Philpot (lover of peace) |
| Pound | Keeper of the animal pound |
| Povey | From the Welsh “ap Hywel” (son of Howell) |
| Prescott | Priest’s cottage |
| Prevost | Provost or town official |
| Prichard | Son of Richard |
| Proctor | Steward or caretaker |
53 Gorgeous Last Names That Start with P
Gorgeous P surnames are those that have an elegant or sophisticated sound. These names often evoke a sense of beauty and refinement, making them ideal for those seeking a surname with a touch of class. This list showcases some of the most gorgeous P surnames you might encounter.
| Last Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pace | Peace |
| Paxton | Peace town |
| Palmer | Pilgrim |
| Parker | Park keeper |
| Patton | Noble |
| Payne | Villager |
| Pearson | Son of Piers |
| Peck | Dweller by the peak |
| Penn | Enclosure |
| Perry | Pear tree |
| Peterson | Son of Peter |
| Phillips | Son of Philip |
| Pierce | Son of Piers |
| Pike | Fish |
| Pittman | Pit worker |
| Poole | Dweller near a pool |
| Porter | Doorkeeper |
| Powell | Son of Howell |
| Pratt | Cunning or crafty person |
| Preston | Priest’s town |
| Prince | Royal title |
| Proctor | Steward or caretaker |
| Pruitt | Brave or valiant |
| Puckett | Little goblin |
| Pugh | Son of Hugh |
| Pullen | Little Paul |
| Purcell | Little pig |
| Putnam | Homestead of Putta |
| Pyle | Dweller near a pile or stake |
| Palmero | Pilgrim (Spanish) |
| Paredes | Walls (Spanish) |
| Pacheco | Frenchman (Spanish) |
| Padilla | Small pot (Spanish) |
| Pardo | Brown (Spanish) |
| Parra | Grape vine (Spanish) |
| Paz | Peace (Spanish) |
| Peña | Rocky hill (Spanish) |
| Pereira | Pear tree (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
| Pimentel | Pepper (Portuguese) |
| Pinto | Painted or spotted (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
| Pinho | Pine tree (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
| Pacheco | Frenchman (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
| Pires | Son of Pedro (Portuguese) |
Conclusion
Exploring last names that start with P reveals a fascinating array of meanings, origins, and cultural significance. From the popular and common to the unique and modern, these surnames offer a glimpse into the rich tapestry of human history and identity. Whether you’re drawn to the elegance of a beautiful P surname or the charm of an adorable one, there’s a P surname to suit every taste and preference. As you delve into the world of P surnames, you’ll uncover stories and connections that enrich your understanding of heritage and identity, making the journey both educational and enjoyable.
