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