Researching the origins of your family’s Canadian surname can often tell you something about your ancestors’ lives, such as their occupations or the region from which they come. The most common surnames in Canada are primarily of European origin, reflecting the country’s history of colonization and immigration. Surnames came about in the early Middle Ages in Europe as the population grew and it became necessary to distinguish people of the same given name.
Origins of Canadian Surnames
The earliest settlers to Canada were from France, mainly settling in eastern Canada in the colony of New France. Colonists from Great Britain, Scotland and Ireland followed. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, immigrants came from Russia, Ukraine, Scandinavia, and western and eastern Europe, adding many other surnames that reflect the country’s diverse cultural heritage. Surnames of Indigenous, Asian, and African origin, among others, can be found throughout Canada.
In 2016 and 2021, according to Statistics Canada, the most common surnames in Canada were:
- Smith is an occupational surname from the Old English smið, meaning “one who works with metal.” It is one of the most widespread surnames in the English-speaking world and other countries where metalworking was a common trade. Smith is the most common surname in seven provinces in Canada.
- Brown is another occupational surname from Old English brun or brūn, meaning “brown” or “dark-coloured.” It may have been used to describe someone’s hair colour, complexion, or clothing.
The following three surnames are French-Canadian:
- Tremblay is a French-Canadian surname from Old French trembler, meaning “to tremble” or “to shake.” It may have been used as a nickname to describe someone timid, nervous, or easily frightened. Alternatively, it may have derived from a place name with trembling trees or quaking earth. A list of famous Canadians with the surname Tremblay can be found here.
- Martin is both a given name and a surname. It comes from the Latin word Martinus, derived from the Roman god Mars. Its meaning is in reference to the “god of war” or “warlike.” The popularity of the names comes from the French Catholic Saint Martin of Tours, a fourth-century bishop, and Martin Luther, a catalyst of the Protestant Reformation.
- Roy is also both a given name and a surname. The name comes from the Norman roy, meaning “king,” and Old French rei or roi. The name also comes from the Scottish Gaelic nickname ruadh, meaning red.
Other common surnames in Canada include:
The popularity of surnames varies from province to province.
Famous people with Canadian surnames
- George Brown: one of the Fathers of Confederation
- Rosemary Brown: a British Columbia legislator who was the first black woman to run for the leadership of a political party in Canada
- Mae Martin: Canadian comedian
- Russell Martin: Canadian baseball player
- Gabrielle Roy: Canadian author
- Gildor Roy: Canadian actor
- Patrick Roy and Nicolas Roy: Canadian hockey players
Tips for researching Canadian surnames
Provincial and regional archives are a good resource for researching surnames popular in the province and local regions. Archivists will likely be familiar with the surnames of the original settlers. Also, contact provincial, regional and local genealogical societies who will have resources about the early pioneers in the area.
Create surname maps. Plotting your family’s surnames may help you locate where most people with your surname lived in Canada. Plotting the surnames in a smaller area, such as a township, might help you make connections in your family history research. Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has a vast collection of historical documents that can help you trace the history of your surname, including census records, ship passenger lists, immigration records, city directories and voters lists. Many of these records are available on the LAC website.
By looking into your family names in Canada, you can discover where your ancestors came from, learn more about their neighbors and possibly connect with relatives who can share more family history with you.
Top five surnames in each Canadian province and territory
Newfoundland and Labrador
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
New Brunswick
Quebec
Ontario
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Alberta
British Columbia
Yukon
Northwest Territories
Explore more about Canadian surnames
- Last names on MyHeritage
- Canadian historical record collections on MyHeritage
- Ten Reasons Your Ancestor Was in Canada at Legacy Family Tree Webinars
- Maximizing the Library and Archives Canada Website at Legacy Family Tree Webinars