Last names that start with M stand out amongst a sea of names for being unique and fascinating. Their histories often trace their way back through generations past, from origins and cultures to occupations. Surnames serve more than simply labels; they help identify people by connecting them to family history.
Imagine when children hear their last name for the first time and feel immediately connected to their ancestors, their traditions, and their stories. From majestic Montgomery to humble Miller names with distinct tales and backgrounds, exploring them is more than a search: it’s an adventure through time, uncovering threads that connect humanity.
Are you ready to dive into this amazing M-name world together? Let’s make this trip unforgettable.
Mexican, Spanish & Hispanic Last Names Starting with M
Each surname in Spanish-Hispanic culture and Mexican heritage holds an incredible wealth of stories, histories, and deep cultural meaning. Meeting someone whose last name resonates with either Spanish rhythms or vibrant Mexican customs creates an instant connection to a rich tapestry of ancestry.
- Martínez: Spanish origin, meaning “son of Martín”.
- Morales: Spanish origin, meaning “mulberry tree”.
- Medina: Spanish origin, meaning “city” or “town”.
- Mendoza: Spanish origin, meaning “cold mountain.”
- Muñoz: Spanish origin, meaning “son of Muño”.
- Márquez: Spanish origin, meaning “son of Marcos.”
- Molina: Spanish origin, meaning “mill.”
- Meléndez: Spanish origin, meaning “son of Melendo”.
- Montes: Spanish origin, meaning “mountains”.
- Moreno: Spanish origin, meaning “dark-skinned.”
- Montero: Spanish origin, meaning “hunter.”
- Montalvo: Spanish origin, meaning “white mountain.”
- Mesa: Spanish origin, meaning “table” or “plateau.”
- Matos: Spanish origin, meaning “tribes” or “shrubs.”
- Menéndez: Spanish origin, meaning “son of Menendo”.
- Mira: Spanish origin, meaning “look” or “sight.”
- Madrigal: Spanish origin, referring to a “pastoral song.”
- Montoya: Spanish origin, meaning “hills and valleys.”
- Milla: Spanish origin, meaning “mile.”
- Mojica: Spanish origin, of uncertain meaning.
- Manso: Spanish origin, meaning “tame” or “meek.”
- Moya: Spanish origin, meaning “pile of stones.”
- Mayorga: Spanish origin, referring to the city of Mayorga in Spain.
- Maldonado: Spanish origin, meaning “ill-favored.”
- Munguía: Spanish origin, referring to the town of Munguía in Spain.
- Morón: Spanish origin, referring to a town in Spain.
- Medrano: Spanish origin, meaning “meadow.”
- Montemayor: Spanish origin, meaning “higher mountain.”
- Monclova: Spanish origin, referring to the city of Monclova in Mexico.
- Morales: Spanish origin, meaning “mulberry tree”.
- Marcos: Spanish Origin, meaning “Warlike, Martial”.
- Monroy: Spanish origin, meaning “Red mountain.”
- Milian: Spanish origin, likely a variant of “Emiliano,” meaning “rival” or “eager” from the Latin name “Aemilianus.
- Mejia: Spanish Origin, meaning “The anointed”
Japanese Last Names Starting with M

- Matsumoto: “Base of the pine tree.”
- Murakami: “village above.”
- Miyamoto: “Base of the shrine.”
- Maeda: “Front rice field.”
- Mori: “Forest.”
- Miyazaki: “shrine cape.”
- Masuda: “Increase rice field.”
- Matsuda: “Pine tree rice field.”
- Murata: “village rice field.”
- Mizuno: “water field.”
- Matsui: “pine tree well.”
- Matsumura: “pine tree village.”
- Miyake: “three houses.”
- Matsushita: “below the pine tree.”
- Mukai: “facing.”
- Minami: “Beautiful Ocean/wave.”
- Morioka: “forest hill.”
- Mitsuishi: “three stones.”
- Mizutani: “water valley.”
- Miyahara: “shrine meadow.”
Unique Last Names Starting with M
- Mackenzie: Scottish origin, meaning “son of the fair one.”
- Magnuson: Scandinavian origin, meaning “son of Magnus.”
- Mandel: German origin, meaning “almond.”
- Marshall: English origin, meaning “horse servant.”
- Menendez: Spanish origin, meaning “son of Menendo”.
- Meyer: German origin, meaning “mayor” or “leader.”
- Mitchell: English origin, meaning “who is like God.”
- Monroe: Scottish origin, meaning “mouth of the Roe river”.
- Morgan: Welsh origin, meaning “sea-born.”
- Morris: English origin, meaning “dark-skinned.”
- Murphy: Irish origin, meaning “sea warrior.”
- Murray: Scottish origin, meaning “settlement by the sea.”
- Meyer: German origin, meaning “mayor” or “leader.”
- Maddox: Welsh origin, meaning “beneficent.”
- Mason: English origin, meaning “stone worker.”
- Maxwell: Scottish origin, meaning “Mack’s stream.”
- Medrano: Spanish origin, meaning “meadow.”
- Miles: English origin, meaning “soldier.”
- Montague: French origin, meaning “pointed hill.”
- Moore: English origin, meaning “open land.”
- Moreau: French origin, meaning “dark-skinned.”
- Mosley: English origin, meaning “moss clearing.”
- Mullen: Irish origin, meaning “grinder.”
- Maclean: Scottish origin, meaning “son of the servant of St. John”.
- Morrisey: Irish origin, meaning “Choice of the sea.”
- Marley: English origin, meaning “pleasant wood.”
- Martineau: French origin, meaning “son of Martin.”
- McDowell: Scottish origin, meaning “son of Dougal, Dark stranger.”
- Michel: German origin, meaning “who is like God.”
- Mills: English origin, meaning “mill worker.”
- Moghadam: Persian origin, meaning “ahead” or “first.”
- Montesinos: Spanish origin, meaning “of the mountains.”
- McCall: Scottish origin, meaning “son of the bald man.”
- Mulligan: Irish origin, meaning “descendant of Maolagain.”
- MacPherson: Scottish origin, meaning “son of the parson.”
- Muir: Scottish origin, meaning “moor” or “sea.”
- Musgrave: English origin, meaning “mossy grove.”
- Melnyk: Ukrainian origin, meaning “miller.”
- Moffat: Scottish origin, meaning “long plain.”
- Malik: Arabic origin, meaning “king”.
- Maldini: Italian origin, meaning “one from Maldini, Italy.”
- Miralles: Catalan origin, meaning “watchtower.”
- Moyano: Spanish origin, meaning “of the wet ground.”
Irish Last Names Starting with M

- Madden: little dog.
- Maguire: son of the dark-haired one.
- Malley: a devotee of Saint John.
- Malloy: noble chief.
- Malone: servant of St. John.
- McAuley: son of Auley.
- McCarthy: loving.
- McDermott: son of Dermot.
- McDonagh: brown warrior.
- McEnroe: son of the warrior.
- McGowan: son of the blacksmith.
- McGrath: son of the priest.
- McGuinness: son of Angus.
- McHugh: son of Hugh.
- McKenna: son of Cionaodh.
- McLoughlin: son of Lochlann.
- McMahon: son of the bear.
- McNamara: hound of the sea.
- McShane: son of Shane.
- Mulcahy: battle chief.
French Last Names Starting with M
- Marchand: merchant.
- Marquis: nobleman.
- Martel: hammer.
- Moreau: dark-skinned.
- Mallet: little hammer.
- Marechal: English form Marshal.
- Maignan: powerful.
- Mallory: unlucky.
- Michaud: who is like God.
- Monet: Hearing or listening.
- Moulin: mill.
- Mallet: hammer.
- Masson: stone worker.
- Ménard: brave or hard.
- Mercier: merchant.
- Montaigne: mountain.
- Montgomery: Gumarich’s mountain.
- Morin: dark-skinned.
- Moulin: mill.
- Murat: elevated.
Famous Last Names Starting with M

- MacArthur: American general.
- Mandela: South African leader.
- Moore: American actress.
- Murray: American actor.
- Manning: American football player.
- Marlowe: English playwright.
- McGregor: Scottish actor.
- Miller: American playwright.
- McKellen: British actor.
- Matisse: French painter.
- Melville: American author.
- Mozart: Austrian composer.
- Manson: American singer.
- Madonna: American singer.
- Mao: Chinese leader.
- Magritte: Belgian painter.
- McCarthy: American actress.
- Miyamoto: Japanese game designer.
- Mitchell: Canadian musician.
- Monet: French painter.
- Morrison: American author.
- Mendes: Canadian singer.
- Murakami: Japanese author.
- Murray: British tennis player.
- McDormand: American actress.
- Mandela: South African leader.
- Marlowe: English playwright.
- Monroe: American actress.
- Morrison: American singer.
- Musk: American entrepreneur.
German Last Names Starting with M
- Müller: miller (as a profession)
- Meier: mayor or leader.
- Maier: farmer.
- Möller: miller.
- Maurer: wall builder.
- Metzger: butcher.
- Moser: who lived near a peat bog.
- Morgenstern: morning star.
- Mohr: dark-skinned.
- Mauersberger: from the stone wall.
- Mundt: mouth.
- Mann: man.
- Müntzer: coin minter.
- Mielke: milk or dairy.
- Meissner: from Meissen.
- Melzer: maltster or brewer.
- Müllheim: from the mill home.
- Mühler: miller.
- Merkel: boundary or border.
Russian Last Names Starting with M
- Medvedev: bear.
- Mikhailov: son of Mikhail.
- Morozov: frost.
- Melnikov: miller.
- Makarov: son of Makar.
- Maslov: oil.
- Mikhaylov: son of Mikhail.
- Malyshkin: small or young.
- Muratov: son of Murat.
- Miroshnichenko: miller.
- Maksimov: son of Maksim.
- Mordvinov: Mordvin (an ethnic group).
- Mishin: of Misha.
- Mytishchev: from the town of Mytishchi.
- Muranov: dark-skinned.
- Mozharov: from Mozharov.
- Morozkin: little frost.
- Mironov: of Miron.
- Matskevich: son of Matskev.
- Markov: son of Mark.
Italian Last Names Starting with M
- Macina: millstone.
- Maggiore: elder or greater.
- Malatesta: bad head.
- Mancini: left-handed.
- Mannino: hand.
- Marchetti: little Marcus.
- Marino: of the sea.
- Martino: of Mars.
- Mazzei: mace.
- Meloni: melons.
- Migliore: better or best.
- Minelli: little one.
- Monti: mountains.
- Moro: dark-skinned.
- Muzzi: from the town of Muzzana.
Greek Last Names Starting with M
- Makris: long or tall.
- Manos: hands.
- Mantzaris: of Mantzaros.
- Marinos: of the sea.
- Markos: of Mark.
- Mavros: black or dark.
- Melis: Honey.
- Metaxas: silk.
- Michalakis: son of Michalis.
- Mitsotakis: little Mitsos.
- Moraitis: from the Morea.
- Moussas: muses.
- Mylonas: miller.
- Mourikis: of Mouriki.
- Mpakogiannis: son of Mpako.
Scottish Last Names Starting with M
- MacDonald: son of Donald.
- MacGregor: son of Gregor.
- MacIntyre: son of the carpenter.
- MacKay: son of fire, Aodh.
- MacKinnon: son of the fair one.
- MacLean: son of the servant.
- MacLeod: son of Leod.
- MacMillan: son of the bald man.
- MacNab: son of the abbot.
- MacNeil: son of Neil.
- MacPherson: son of the parson.
- MacQuarrie: son of Guaire.
- MacRae: son of grace.
- MacTaggart: son of the priest.
- MacTavish: son of Thomas.
English Last Names Starting with M
- Mansfield: field by the river.
- March: borderland or boundary.
- Marsh: dweller near the marsh.
- Marshall: horse servant.
- Martin: of Mars, the God of war.
- Mason: stone worker.
- Matthew: the gift of God.
- Mercer: merchant.
- Merrill: pleasant hill.
- Middleton: middle settlement.
- Mills: mill worker.
- Milton: mill town.
- Mitchell: who is like God.
- Monroe: mouth of the Roe river.
- Montgomery: Gumarich’s mountain.
- Moore: open land or swamp.
- Morgan: sea-born.
- Morris: dark-skinned.
- Morton: town near the moor.
- Mullins: dweller at the mill.
- Murdoch: sea warrior.
- Murray: settlement by the sea.
- Myers: son of the mayor.
Importance Of Last Names In Cultural Identity.
Last names hold immense cultural meaning and represent much more than simply labels.
1. They’re a powerful link to our ancestry.
Last names can provide insight into our roots, connecting us to generations past and preserving rich family histories.
2. They foster a sense of belonging.
Sharing our names with family and community members strengthens bonds while solidifying our place in this world.
3. Last names often carry cultural significance
Last names can reflect traditions, professions, or regions where someone originates, adding depth and texture to personal narratives. Embracing these culturally resonant aspects of our surnames can enhance our understanding of who we are and where we came from.
Conclusion
This comprehensive list of over 200 last names starting with “M,” offers endless possibilities when searching for the ideal surname. Whether used personally or in a creative project, these monikers will spark creativity! Please share this article and tell us which name is your top pick!