Last Names/Surnames

100+ Surnames That Start With C: Most Popular & Unique Last Names

Looking for Surnames that start with C? From familiar family names such as Clark, Campbell, Carter, Collins, Cooper, and Cook to distinctive choices such as Carrington, Caldwell, Chamberlain, Constantine, and Crawford, C surnames come from a wide range of cultures and naming traditions.

Surname databases show that C is a particularly diverse starting letter. Globally, surnames such as Chen, Cao, Cheng, Cruz, Castillo, Castro, Campbell, Carter, Collins, and Cooper are widely represented.

This collection of 100+ last names that start with C includes popular, unique, rare, and international surnames, along with their broad origins and naming insights. It can be useful for genealogy research, character naming, family-history projects, or anyone exploring surnames alphabetically.

Popular Surnames That Start With C

Some of the best-known surnames beginning with C include Clark, Campbell, Carter, Cook, Collins, Cox, Cooper, Cole, Coleman, Crawford, and Cohen. Ancestry’s U.S. Census-based surname directory lists Clark, Campbell, Carter, Cook, Collins, Cox, and Cooper among the most common C surnames in its historical U.S. data.

Surname	Origin
Clark	English
Campbell	Scottish
Carter	English
Cook	English
Collins	English / Irish
Cox	English
Cooper	English
Cole	English
Coleman	English / Irish
Crawford	Scottish / English
Cohen	Jewish
Carlson	Scandinavian
Cruz	Spanish / Portuguese
Castillo	Spanish
Castro	Spanish / Portuguese
Cameron	Scottish
Chapman	English
Chambers	English
Craig	Scottish
Cunningham	Scottish / Irish

FamilySearch also lists Campbell, Carter, Castillo, Castro, Christensen, Clark, Clarke, Collins, Cook, Cooper, Cox, and Cruz among popular C surnames.

100+ Last Names That Start With C

Here is an alphabetical collection of surnames beginning with C, with broad origins and traditional naming associations.

1. Cabrera

Cabrera is a Spanish surname derived from a place name associated with goats or a place where goats were kept.

2. Caldwell

Caldwell is an English surname derived from place names associated with a cold spring or stream.

3. Cameron

Cameron is a Scottish surname traditionally associated with a Highland clan and an old Gaelic personal-name tradition.

4. Campbell

Campbell is a famous Scottish surname associated with Clan Campbell and Scottish history.

5. Campos

Campos is a Spanish and Portuguese surname associated with fields or open countryside.

6. Cannon

Cannon is an English and Irish surname that can have occupational or nickname-based origins.

7. Carlson

Carlson is a Scandinavian patronymic surname meaning “son of Carl.”

8. Carter

Carter is an English occupational surname historically associated with someone who transported goods using a cart.

9. Carson

Carson is a surname found particularly in Scottish and Irish traditions, with several possible historical origins.

10. Carter

Carter is among the best-known English occupational surnames beginning with C.

11. Casey

Casey is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Cathasaigh.

12. Castillo

Castillo is a Spanish surname meaning “castle” and may have developed as a habitational name.

13. Castro

Castro is a Spanish and Portuguese surname associated with a castle, fortified settlement, or fortress.

14. Chapman

Chapman is an English occupational surname historically referring to a merchant or trader.

15. Charles

Charles can function as both a given name and surname. The surname developed from the personal name Charles.

16. Chavez

Chavez is a Spanish and Portuguese surname, particularly associated with Iberian and Latin American naming traditions.

17. Chen

Chen is one of the most widespread Chinese surnames globally. Its history is connected with the ancient state of Chen.

18. Cheng

Cheng is a Chinese surname with several possible historical origins and is widely found among Chinese communities.

19. Choi

Choi is a common Korean surname, traditionally written 최 in Korean.

20. Clark

Clark is an English surname derived from the occupational term for a clerk or literate person.

21. Clarke

Clarke is a spelling variant of Clark and has English and Irish surname traditions.

22. Coleman

Coleman is an English and Irish surname that developed from personal names and occupational traditions.

23. Collins

Collins is an English and Irish surname often associated with medieval personal names such as Colin.

24. Cooper

Cooper is an English occupational surname referring to someone who made or repaired wooden barrels and casks.

25. Cook

Cook is an English occupational surname referring to someone who prepared food.

26. Cooke

Cooke is a traditional spelling variant of Cook.

27. Cox

Cox is an English surname that may have originated as a nickname or from the diminutive form of a personal name.

28. Cohen

Cohen is a Jewish surname traditionally associated with the Hebrew term kohen, referring to a priestly lineage.

29. Costa

Costa is a surname found in Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and other Romance-language traditions. It is associated with a coast or slope.

30. Cruz

Cruz is a Spanish and Portuguese surname meaning “cross.”

31. Crawford

Crawford is a Scottish and English habitational surname associated with places bearing this name.

32. Craig

Craig is a Scottish surname derived from a Gaelic word associated with a rocky crag.

33. Cameron

Cameron is a prominent Scottish surname with long-standing clan associations.

34. Carr

Carr is an English and Scottish surname associated with geographical features such as marshland or woodland, depending on its regional origin.

35. Carroll

Carroll is an Irish surname derived from Gaelic Ó Cearbhaill.

36. Carlson

Carlson is a Scandinavian patronymic surname meaning “son of Carl.”

37. Christensen

Christensen is a Danish and Norwegian patronymic surname meaning “son of Christian.”

38. Christian

Christian can be both a given name and surname, derived from the personal name Christian.

39. Clayton

Clayton is an English habitational surname associated with places named Clayton.

40. Clifford

Clifford is an English habitational surname referring to a ford near a cliff.

41. Clinton

Clinton is an English surname associated with place names in England.

42. Clarke

Clarke is a widely used spelling variation of Clark.

43. Conway

Conway is a Welsh and Irish surname with several possible geographical and personal-name origins.

44. Cooper

Cooper is one of the classic English occupational surnames.

45. Cornell

Cornell is a surname found in English and other European naming traditions and can have several historical origins.

46. Cortez

Cortez is a Spanish surname related to the Spanish word cortés, meaning courteous or polite.

47. Cortes

Cortes is a Spanish and Portuguese surname with historical associations with courtly or courteous terminology.

48. Correa

Correa is a Spanish and Portuguese surname that has several possible historical origins.

49. Contreras

Contreras is a Spanish habitational surname associated with places named Contreras.

50. Costa

Costa is a common surname across Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian-speaking regions.

51. Cullen

Cullen is a surname of Irish and Scottish associations, with several possible geographical origins.

52. Cunningham

Cunningham is a Scottish surname associated with a historic region and Scottish clan.

53. Curtis

Curtis is an English surname derived from an Old French term associated with courteous or refined behavior.

54. Cameron

Cameron is strongly associated with Scottish Highland heritage.

55. Campbell

Campbell is one of the most recognizable Scottish clan surnames.

56. Calder

Calder is a Scottish and English surname associated with place names and rivers.

57. Caldwell

Caldwell is a distinctive English and Scottish surname associated with place names.

58. Callahan

Callahan is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Ceallacháin, meaning descendant of Ceallachán.

59. Callan

Callan is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Cathaláin.

60. Calhoun

Calhoun is a Scottish surname associated with the historic Scottish family and place-name tradition.

61. Carver

Carver is an English occupational surname associated with someone who carved wood or other materials.

62. Chandler

Chandler is an English occupational surname historically associated with a maker or seller of candles.

63. Chambers

Chambers is an English occupational or topographical surname connected with chambers or rooms.

64. Chandler

Chandler is a classic English occupational surname.

65. Chase

Chase is an English surname associated with hunting or a hunting ground.

66. Chatterjee

Chatterjee is an Indian surname particularly associated with Bengali naming traditions.

67. Chauhan

Chauhan is a prominent Indian surname with historical associations in northern and western India.

68. Chaudhary

Chaudhary is a widely used South Asian surname and title, with spelling variations including Chaudhuri and Chowdhury.

69. Choudhary

Choudhary is a spelling variation of Chaudhary found across several parts of South Asia.

70. Chandra

Chandra is used as both a personal name and surname in South Asia and is associated with the Sanskrit word for moon.

71. Chakraborty

Chakraborty is a Bengali surname derived from a Sanskrit title associated with a universal ruler.

72. Chowdhury

Chowdhury is a South Asian surname with historical associations with an administrative or landholding title.

73. Choudhary

Choudhary is another common spelling of the South Asian surname Chaudhary.

74. Chavan

Chavan is an Indian surname particularly associated with Maharashtra and other western Indian regions.

75. Chatterjee

Chatterjee is an established Bengali surname and an anglicized form of the Bengali Chattopadhyay.

76. Cheung

Cheung is a common Chinese surname, especially among Cantonese-speaking communities.

77. Chong

Chong is a surname found in Chinese, Korean, and other East Asian naming traditions.

78. Cho

Cho is a common Korean surname and also appears in Chinese-derived naming traditions.

79. Chang

Chang is a widely distributed Chinese surname with several historical lineages.

80. Chou

Chou is a Chinese surname associated with the Chinese character 周.

81. Choi

Choi is one of the most recognizable Korean surnames.

82. Chukwu

Chukwu is an Igbo surname from Nigeria associated with the Igbo language and naming tradition.

83. Camara

Camara is a surname particularly associated with West Africa, including Guinea and neighboring countries.

84. Cisse

Cissé is a surname widely found in West Africa and is especially associated with Mali, Guinea, Senegal, and surrounding regions.

85. Coulibaly

Coulibaly is a major West African surname, particularly associated with Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and neighboring countries.

86. Conde

Conde is a Spanish, Portuguese, and West African surname depending on the family and region.

87. Cardoso

Cardoso is a Portuguese and Spanish surname associated with cardos, or thistles.

88. Carvalho

Carvalho is a Portuguese and Galician surname associated with an oak tree.

89. Coelho

Coelho is a Portuguese surname meaning “rabbit.”

90. Cabral

Cabral is a Portuguese surname associated with places connected with goats. Its historical etymology is linked to the Latin capralis.

91. Caballero

Caballero is a Spanish surname derived from a word meaning knight or gentleman.

92. Cardona

Cardona is a Spanish surname associated with the Catalan place name Cardona.

93. Cardenas

Cárdenas is a Spanish surname associated with place names in Spain.

94. Carrillo

Carrillo is a Spanish surname with medieval origins and is associated with Spanish family history.

95. Calderon

Calderón is a Spanish surname that may have developed from an occupational or nickname tradition.

96. Camacho

Camacho is a Spanish and Portuguese surname with an uncertain but long-established history.

97. Cabrales

Cabrales is a Spanish surname associated with the place name Cabrales in Asturias.

98. Castañeda

Castañeda is a Spanish surname associated with a place name and the Spanish word for chestnut grove.

99. Cervantes

Cervantes is a Spanish surname with historical and literary associations.

100. Castellanos

Castellanos is a Spanish surname that can be associated with Castile or people connected with Castilian regions.

101. Carmona

Carmona is a Spanish surname derived from the place name Carmona.

102. Campos

Campos is a Spanish and Portuguese surname associated with fields.

103. Camargo

Camargo is a Spanish surname associated with a place name, particularly in northern Spain.

104. Cordero

Cordero is a Spanish surname meaning “lamb.”

105. Corder

Corder is an English surname that may have developed from occupational or descriptive origins.

106. Conway

Conway is a surname with Welsh and Irish traditions.

107. Corbett

Corbett is a surname of Norman-French and English associations.

108. Cornwall

Cornwall is an English regional surname associated with the county of Cornwall.

109. Cornwallis

Cornwallis is an English surname derived from the regional name Cornwall.

110. Constantine

Constantine is a surname derived from the personal name Constantine and has Greek and Latin historical roots.

Unique Surnames That Start With C

If you are looking for a distinctive family name, these C surnames have a memorable sound:

• Carrington
• Chamberlain
• Constantine
• Caldwell
• Crawford
• Cornwall
• Clearwater
• Cambridge
• Castleton
• Cavendish
• Channing
• Chesterfield
• Churchill
• Clarendon
• Clover
• Coleridge
• Courtenay
• Cranston
• Crescent
• Cumberland

Some of these surnames are uncommon in particular regions, while others are established family names with long histories. Rarity can vary significantly by country.

English Surnames That Start With C

Common English surnames beginning with C include:

• Carter
• Clark
• Clarke
• Cook
• Cooper
• Collins
• Cox
• Cole
• Coleman
• Chapman
• Chambers
• Carver
• Chandler
• Crawford
• Curtis
• Clayton
• Clifford
• Caldwell
• Carr
• Chase
• Carter
• Campbell
• Chapman
• Cornwall
• Conway

Many English surnames developed from occupations, places, personal names, nicknames, or landscape features.

Scottish Surnames That Start With C

Scottish C surnames include:

• Campbell
• Cameron
• Cunningham
• Craig
• Crawford
• Calder
• Campbell
• Carr
• Cameron
• Carmichael
• Chalmers
• Christie
• Colquhoun
• Cumming
• Cunningham

Scottish surname traditions often preserve links to clans, geographic locations, Gaelic personal names, and historic territories.

Irish Surnames That Start With C

Some Irish surnames beginning with C include:

• Carroll
• Casey
• Callahan
• Callan
• Cassidy
• Collins
• Carey
• Connolly
• Conway
• Cullen
• Crowley
• Cavanaugh
• Campbell
• Cooney
• Costello

Irish surnames can preserve information about Gaelic ancestry, personal names, occupations, and geographic origins.

Welsh Surnames That Start With C

Welsh surnames beginning with C include:

• Conway
• Cadwallader
• Cardiff
• Caradoc
• Ceredig
• Collins
• Carey
• Corbett
• Clayton
• Cadogan

Welsh surname traditions include patronymic names, place names, and surnames derived from older Welsh personal names.

Spanish Surnames That Start With C

Examples include:

• Cabrera
• Castillo
• Castro
• Campos
• Cardenas
• Carrillo
• Carmona
• Camacho
• Cardona
• Cervantes
• Contreras
• Cortez
• Cortes
• Correa
• Cordero
• Cruz
• Cabrales
• Castañeda
• Castellanos
• Calderon

Spanish surnames can be derived from places, occupations, nicknames, personal names, and geographic features.

Italian Surnames That Start With C

Italian surnames beginning with C include:

• Conti
• Costa
• Colombo
• Caruso
• Conte
• Coppola
• Cattaneo
• Caputo
• Catalano
• Cavallaro
• Corsi
• Coppola
• Carbone
• Castelli
• Cristiano

Italian surname traditions vary considerably by region. A surname’s spelling and historical meaning can change between northern, central, and southern Italy.

French Surnames That Start With C

Some French or French-associated C surnames include:

• Cartier
• Charpentier
• Chevalier
• Chevalier
• Clement
• Colin
• Caron
• Chauvin
• Clerc
• Chastain
• Courtois
• Chabot
• Cormier
• Cloutier
• Charbonneau

Many French surnames developed from occupations, personal names, nicknames, and places.

German Surnames That Start With C

Examples of German or German-associated surnames beginning with C include:

• Conrad
• Claus
• Christmann
• Cramer
• Cremer
• Cordes
• Carstens
• Clausen
• Christoph
• Conrad
• Cunz
• Christ
• Cappel
• Carius
• Cornelius

German surname traditions can include patronymics, occupational names, personal names, and regional forms.

Chinese Surnames That Start With C

When Chinese surnames are written in the Latin alphabet using common romanization systems, many begin with C:

• Chen
• Cheng
• Cao
• Cai
• Chang
• Chan
• Chao
• Chou
• Chu
• Cui
• Che
• Cai
• Cong
• Cen
• Cheng

Forebears lists Chen, Cao, Ceng, Cai, Cheng, Cui, Chang, Chan, and Chu among the most widespread surnames beginning with C globally.

Romanization matters when researching Chinese surnames. The same Chinese surname can sometimes appear in different Latin spellings depending on language, region, or romanization system.

Korean Surnames That Start With C

Examples of Korean surnames that appear as C in English romanization include:

• Choi
• Choe
• Cho
• Chang
• Cha
• Cheon
• Chun
• Choi

Romanization can produce different spellings for the same Korean family name. For example, Choi and Choe represent the same Korean surname written in different romanization conventions.

Indian Surnames That Start With C

India has an extremely diverse surname tradition. C surnames include names associated with different regions, languages, communities, and historical traditions.

Examples include:

• Chatterjee
• Chakraborty
• Chandra
• Chavan
• Chauhan
• Chaudhary
• Choudhary
• Chowdhury
• Chaturvedi
• Choudhari
• Chavhan
• Choudhuri
• Chaturvedi
• Chakma
• Charan
• Chandra
• Chetia
• Challa
• Chetry
• Chutia

Surname spelling can vary considerably across Indian languages and regions. For example, Chaudhary, Chaudhuri, Choudhary, and Chowdhury may represent related naming traditions but should not automatically be assumed to represent the same family.

African Surnames That Start With C

C surnames are also found across many African naming traditions.

Examples include:

• Camara
• Cisse
• Coulibaly
• Chukwu
• Conteh
• Coker
• Chisom
• Chukwuemeka
• Chukwuma
• Chuma
• Chanda
• Chibwe
• Chirwa
• Chileshe
• Chikosi

African surnames can reflect indigenous languages, ancestral names, occupations, geographic origins, religious traditions, and colonial-era spelling systems.

Short Surnames That Start With C

If you’re searching for a short last name, consider:

• Cai
• Cao
• Cha
• Chan
• Chen
• Cho
• Choi
• Chu
• Cole
• Cook
• Cox
• Cruz
• Carr
• Cole
• Cote

Short surnames can create a balanced combination with longer first names.

Long Surnames That Start With C

For a longer and more distinctive surname, consider:

• Chamberlain
• Carrington
• Chesterfield
• Constantine
• Cunningham
• Castellanos
• Chatterjee
• Chakraborty
• Charbonneau
• Cornwallis
• Cavendish
• Christofferson
• Cavanaugh
• Constantine
• Cunningham

Long surnames can be particularly useful for fictional characters, historical characters, creative writing, or naming projects.

Rare and Uncommon Last Names Starting With C

If you’re looking for an unusual C surname, consider:

• Carrington
• Chamberlain
• Cavendish
• Clarendon
• Clearwater
• Castleton
• Chesterfield
• Cornwallis
• Constantine
• Coleridge
• Courtenay
• Cranston
• Crescent
• Cumberland
• Charbonneau
• Cadwallader
• Brackenridge
• Chiswick
• Channing
• Cresswell

The term rare surname should be used carefully. A family name may be uncommon globally but well established in a particular country or region. Genealogy databases such as Geneanet and Forebears show that surname frequency and geographic distribution can vary significantly.

How Surnames That Start With C Developed

C surnames come from many different naming patterns. Understanding these patterns can provide useful clues when researching family history.

Occupational Surnames

Some surnames developed from a person’s occupation or role.

Examples include:

• Carter
• Carpenter
• Carver
• Chandler
• Chapman
• Cook
• Cooper
• Clerk

For example, Carter historically referred to someone who transported goods by cart, while Cooper referred to someone who made or repaired wooden casks.

Patronymic Surnames

Patronymic surnames developed from an ancestor’s personal name.

Examples include:

• Carlson
• Christensen
• Collins
• Callahan
• Callan
• Cunningham

These surnames can preserve evidence of older naming systems in which a person’s identity was connected to a parent or ancestor.

Habitational Surnames

Habitational surnames developed from places where families lived or originated.

Examples include:

• Caldwell
• Crawford
• Clayton
• Clifford
• Cornwall
• Conway
• Cardona
• Cabrera
• Castillo

Place-based surnames can sometimes provide useful clues for genealogical research, although they should not be treated as proof of ancestry by themselves.

Topographical Surnames

Some family names describe natural features near an ancestral home.

Examples include:

• Costa
• Campos
• Carr
• Calder
• Creek
• Cliff
• Cross

These names often developed independently in different regions.

How to Choose a Surname That Starts With C

If you’re choosing a C surname for a fictional character, pen name, family-history project, or creative purpose, consider these factors.

1. Consider the Sound

Say the complete first and last name aloud. Check whether the syllables and sounds flow naturally together.

2. Consider the Origin

If cultural authenticity is important, research the documented history of the surname before using it.

3. Check Spelling Variations

Many surnames have multiple spellings. Clark and Clarke, for example, are closely related spelling forms.

4. Think About Length

A short first name may work well with a longer surname such as Chamberlain, while a long first name may pair better with a short surname such as Cole.

5. Research Family Records

If your goal is genealogy, don’t rely on a surname alone. Birth certificates, marriage records, census records, immigration documents, and historical directories can provide stronger evidence about a family’s origins.

FAQs

1. What are some popular surnames that start with C?

Some widely recognized C surnames include Clark, Campbell, Carter, Cook, Collins, Cox, Cooper, Cole, Coleman, Crawford, and Cohen. Historical U.S. Census data also places several of these among the most common C surnames.

2. What are some unique surnames that start with C?

Some distinctive C surnames include Carrington, Chamberlain, Caldwell, Constantine, Cavendish, Cornwall, Coleridge, Clarendon, and Chesterfield.

3. What are some English last names that start with C?

Examples include Carter, Clark, Clarke, Cook, Cooper, Collins, Cox, Cole, Coleman, Chapman, Chambers, Carver, Chandler, Crawford, and Curtis.

4. What are some Irish surnames that start with C?

Examples include Carroll, Casey, Callahan, Callan, Cassidy, Carey, Connolly, Conway, Cullen, Crowley, and Costello.

5. What are some Scottish surnames that start with C?

Examples include Campbell, Cameron, Cunningham, Craig, Crawford, Calder, Carmichael, Chalmers, Christie, Colquhoun, and Cumming.

6. What are some Spanish surnames that start with C?

Some examples are Cabrera, Castillo, Castro, Campos, Cardenas, Carrillo, Carmona, Camacho, Cervantes, Contreras, Cortes, Correa, and Cruz.

7. What are some Indian surnames that start with C?

Examples include Chatterjee, Chakraborty, Chandra, Chavan, Chauhan, Chaudhary, Choudhary, Chowdhury, Chaturvedi, and Chakma.

8. What are some Chinese surnames that start with C?

Examples include Chen, Cheng, Cao, Cai, Chang, Chan, Chao, Chou, Chu, and Cui when represented using Latin-alphabet romanization. Many of these are highly widespread globally.

9. Are surname, last name, and family name the same thing?

In everyday English, surname, last name, and family name are often used interchangeably. However, naming customs vary across cultures, and not every society organizes names in the same way.

10. Can the same C surname have different origins?

Yes. Similar or identical surnames can develop independently in different countries. Migration, language changes, spelling variations, translation, and local naming customs can all influence surname development.

11. How can I find the origin of my C surname?

Start by identifying where your family lived and then examine historical records such as birth certificates, marriage records, census documents, immigration records, church registers, and historical directories. Surname databases can provide useful starting points, but family records are generally more valuable for establishing a specific family’s history.

Final Thoughts

Surnames that start with C offer an impressive mix of popular, unique, rare, and international last names. From familiar names such as Clark, Campbell, Carter, Collins, Cook, and Cooper to distinctive choices such as Carrington, Chamberlain, Constantine, Cavendish, and Coleridge, C surnames reflect centuries of linguistic and cultural history.

Whether you’re researching your family tree, creating a fictional character, exploring international names, or simply looking for a surname beginning with C, this collection of 100+ surnames that start with C provides a useful starting point.

Remember that surname origins can be complex. A surname’s meaning or geographic association does not necessarily establish a person’s ancestry. For genealogy, combine surname research with documented family records and geographic evidence.

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