Estonia

Surnames

Surnames (or family names) are hereditary and are often common to all members of a family.

Occupational surnames are derived from an occupation. Examples include Taylor, Smith, and Baker.

Toponymic surnames are derived from a place. Examples include Ayers (a person from Ayers, Scotland) and Bach (German for a person who lives near a stream).

Religious surnames are derived directly or indirectly from religious texts or traditions. Examples include Christian biblical names, Hebrew names from the Torah, and Muslim names from the Quran.

Nickname derived surnames are those based upon appearance, temperament, or personality. An example is the German surname Schwarzkopf (in German, schwarz=black, Kopf= head) meaning a person with dark hair.

Ornamental surnames are those that were adopted or forced upon individuals (and families) under political pressure.

Patronymic surnames are derived from the given name of a male ancestor. An example is the English patronymic surname Peterson, meaning son of Peter.

Female patronymic surnames (also known as female possessive suffix surnames) are a female form of a patronymic surname, most typically a patronymic surname with a feminine suffix added. For example, in Russian, the wife of Mikhail Gorbachev is Raisa Gorbachova, -ev is replaced with ova.

Matronymic surnames are derived from the given name of a female ancestor. An example is the English matronymic surname Tiffany.

Popular Surnames (Family) in Estonia

Rank	Name	Distribution
100	Nõmm	827
99	Orav	827
98	Gross	827
97	Kolk	827
96	Kruus	827
95	Järve	843
94	Ivanova	843
93	Kase	843
92	Molder	858
91	Pihlak	858
90	Rohtla	858
89	Aru	873
88	Tali	873
87	Johanson	873
86	Laane	873
85	Järv	873
84	Annus	873
83	Kala	873
82	Ott	889
81	Braun	889
80	Maasik	904
79	Kass	919
78	Kotkas	919
77	Tomingas	919
76	Aavik	934
75	Lang	934
74	Kangur	934
73	Uibo	950
72	Nurk	950
71	Sikk	965
70	Kikas	965
69	Hein	965
68	Kalda	965
67	Vares	996
66	Valk	996
65	Mitt	1,042
64	Leppik	1,042
63	Paju	1,042
62	Anderson	1,072
61	Kõiv	1,088
60	Martin	1,103
59	Tamme	1,103
58	Sarapuu	1,118
57	Adamson	1,134
56	Lember	1,134
55	Laas	1,134
54	Jogi	1,149
53	Lind	1,149
52	Sild	1,164
51	Palm	1,164
50	Arro	1,180
49	Li	1,195
48	Kütt	1,195
47	Parn	1,195
46	Poder	1,210
45	Paas	1,226
44	Ou	1,226
43	Kim	1,226
42	Parts	1,226
41	Pukk	1,241
40	Allik	1,256
39	Lõhmus	1,272
38	Mets	1,287
37	Toom	1,302
36	Lill	1,348
35	Raud	1,409
34	Roos	1,425
33	Puusepp	1,440
32	Jakobson	1,455
31	Ivanov	1,486
30	Kivi	1,486
29	Saks	1,517
28	Liiv	1,517
27	Teder	1,532
26	Rand	1,578
25	Kuusik	1,593
24	Vaher	1,639
23	Kull	1,654
22	Ots	1,685
21	Lepp	1,731
20	Laur	1,808
19	Kallas	1,900
18	Luik	1,900
17	Raudsepp	1,915
16	Kaasik	1,946
15	Ilves	1,976
14	Miller	1,992
13	Peterson	2,053
12	Kuusk	2,068
11	Magi	2,206
10	Lepik	2,344
8	Rebane	2,650
8	Oja	2,574
7	Koppel	2,742
6	Karu	2,803
6	Kukk	3,202
4	Sepp	4,351
3	Kask	4,948
2	Saar	6,020
1	Tamm	7,874