Last names that start with K are known worldwide. These K surnames have strong roots and deep meaning. Khan, Kennedy, and King are the most popular ones.
People love these names for family history research. Each K last name comes from a different culture. Find the best K surnames right here.
Last Names That Start With K

Last names that start with K carry rich meaning and deep cultural roots. These K surnames come from diverse origins across the world.
| Last Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Khan | Leader / Ruler | Turkic / Mongolian |
| Kennedy | Helmeted Chief | Irish |
| King | Ruler | English |
| Knight | Warrior / Soldier | English |
| Kim | Gold | Korean |
| Kelly | Bright-Headed | Irish |
| Knox | Round Hill | Scottish |
| Klein | Small | German |
| Koch | Cook | German |
| Kumar | Prince | Indian |
| Kaur | Princess | Punjabi |
| Kapoor | Camphor | Indian |
| Kowalski | Blacksmith | Polish |
| Kovač | Blacksmith | Slavic |
| Katz | Priest | Hebrew |
| Keane | Sharp / Fighter | Irish |
| Kelley | Warrior | Irish |
| Kerr | Wet Ground | Scottish |
| Kline | Small | German |
| Kruger | Innkeeper | German |
| Krause | Curly Hair | German |
| Kraft | Strength | German |
| Kristensen | Son of Kristen | Danish |
| Kwan | Powerful | Chinese |
| Kobayashi | Small Forest | Japanese |
| Kato | Increase | Japanese |
| Kimura | Tree Village | Japanese |
| Karimi | Generous | Persian |
| Karimov | Son of Karim | Uzbek |
| Kyriakos | Lord / Master | Greek |
Looking for more popular surnames? Explore our full collection of family names beginning with J from cultures around the world.
Last Names That Start With A K
Last names that start with A K are unique and carry deep cultural meaning. These AK surnames come from rich traditions across the world.
| Last Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Akbar | Great / Powerful | Arabic |
| Akram | Most Generous | Arabic |
| Akande | Crown Brings Honor | Yoruba |
| Akintola | Bravery | Yoruba |
| Akpan | First Born Son | Nigerian |
| Akaike | Red Pond | Japanese |
| Akashi | Bright Stone | Japanese |
| Akagi | Red Tree | Japanese |
| Akerman | Field Worker | English |
| Akers | Field / Farmland | English |
| Akridge | Oak Ridge | English |
| Akroyd | Oak Clearing | English |
| Akgun | White Day | Turkish |
| Akay | White Moon | Turkish |
| Akcay | White River | Turkish |
| Akdemir | White Iron | Turkish |
| Akdogan | White Falcon | Turkish |
| Akin | Brave / Warrior | Turkish |
| Akinci | Raider / Warrior | Turkish |
| Akman | White / Pure | Turkish |
| Aktop | White Hill | Turkish |
| Aksel | Father of Peace | Scandinavian |
| Aksoy | Pure Lineage | Turkish |
| Aksu | White Water | Turkish |
| Aktas | White Stone | Turkish |
| Akturan | White Settlement | Turkish |
| Akwasi | Born on Sunday | Ghanaian |
| Akwuobi | Great Warrior | Nigerian |
| Akyol | White Path | Turkish |
| Akyuz | White Face | Turkish |
Looking for more surname inspiration? Explore our complete collection of family names beginning with I from cultures around the world.
Japanese Last Names That Start With K

Japanese last names that start with K are deeply rooted in nature, history, and tradition. These K Japanese surnames reflect the beauty and depth of Japanese culture.
| Last Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Kobayashi | Small Forest | Japanese |
| Kato | Add / Increase | Japanese |
| Kimura | Tree Village | Japanese |
| Kondo | Near the Field | Japanese |
| Kawamoto | Base of the River | Japanese |
| Kawasaki | River Cape | Japanese |
| Kawaguchi | River Mouth | Japanese |
| Kitamura | North Village | Japanese |
| Kitagawa | North River | Japanese |
| Kuroda | Black Field | Japanese |
| Kubo | Small Place | Japanese |
| Kubota | Small Rice Field | Japanese |
| Kurosawa | Black Swamp | Japanese |
| Kuwahara | Mulberry Field | Japanese |
| Kaneko | Gold Child | Japanese |
| Kaneda | Gold Field | Japanese |
| Kanagawa | Metal River | Japanese |
| Kashiwagi | Oak Tree | Japanese |
| Kasai | River West | Japanese |
| Kase | River Inlet | Japanese |
| Katayama | One-Sided Mountain | Japanese |
| Kataoka | One-Sided Hill | Japanese |
| Kishi | Beach / Shore | Japanese |
| Kishimoto | Base of the Shore | Japanese |
| Komori | Small Forest Guard | Japanese |
| Kosaka | Small Hill | Japanese |
| Koyama | Small Mountain | Japanese |
| Kozuki | Small Moon | Japanese |
| Kumagai | Bear Valley | Japanese |
| Kunieda | Country Rice Field | Japanese |
Looking for more popular surnames from different letters? Explore our complete guide on family names beginning with H and discover their unique meanings and origins.
Russian Last Names That Start With K
Russian last names that start with K carry strong historical and cultural significance. These K Russian surnames reflect the pride and heritage of Russian tradition.
| Last Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Kozlov | Goat | Russian |
| Kuznetsov | Blacksmith | Russian |
| Korolev | King | Russian |
| Kovalev | Blacksmith | Russian |
| Karpov | Carp Fish | Russian |
| Kalinin | Blacksmith | Russian |
| Kapitonov | Captain | Russian |
| Karasev | Crucian Carp | Russian |
| Karelin | Karelian Region | Russian |
| Kasatkin | Swallow Bird | Russian |
| Kastrov | Beaver | Russian |
| Kazakov | Cossack | Russian |
| Kirillov | Lord | Russian |
| Kislov | Sour | Russian |
| Kislitsyn | Sour Plant | Russian |
| Klimov | Clement | Russian |
| Klyuev | Key / Spring | Russian |
| Knyazev | Prince | Russian |
| Kolesnikov | Wheel Maker | Russian |
| Kolobov | Round Bread | Russian |
| Komissarov | Commissioner | Russian |
| Konovalov | Horse Doctor | Russian |
| Konstantinov | Constant / Firm | Russian |
| Kopytov | Hoof | Russian |
| Korchagin | Pot Maker | Russian |
| Korobov | Box Maker | Russian |
| Kostin | Bone | Russian |
| Kotov | Cat | Russian |
| Krasikov | Beautiful | Russian |
| Krylov | Wing | Russian |
Looking for more popular surnames from different letters? Explore our full collection of family names beginning with G from cultures around the world.
Polish Last Names That Start With K

Polish last names that start with K hold deep historical roots and strong cultural identity. These K Polish surnames reflect the rich traditions and heritage of Polish people.
| Last Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Kowalski | Blacksmith | Polish |
| Kowalczyk | Son of Blacksmith | Polish |
| Kaczmarek | Inn Keeper | Polish |
| Kaminski | Stone Place | Polish |
| Krawczyk | Tailor | Polish |
| Krzyżanowski | Cross | Polish |
| Kubiak | Jacob | Polish |
| Kucharski | Cook | Polish |
| Kulczyk | Round / Ball | Polish |
| Kurek | Rooster | Polish |
| Kurowski | Rooster Village | Polish |
| Kasprzak | Treasurer | Polish |
| Kasperski | Treasurer | Polish |
| Kalinowski | Viburnum Tree | Polish |
| Kaleta | Purse / Bag | Polish |
| Kałuża | Puddle | Polish |
| Kantor | Singer / Cantor | Polish |
| Kapusta | Cabbage | Polish |
| Karaś | Crucian Carp | Polish |
| Karbowski | Notch / Mark | Polish |
| Kardas | Companion | Polish |
| Karwowski | Carp Village | Polish |
| Kłos | Ear of Grain | Polish |
| Kłosowski | Grain Village | Polish |
| Knapik | Button Maker | Polish |
| Kniaź | Prince | Polish |
| Kobylski | Mare / Female Horse | Polish |
| Kochanowski | Beloved | Polish |
| Koczwara | Troublemaker | Polish |
| Kolasa | Carriage | Polish |
Looking for more popular surnames from other letters? Explore our complete collection of family names beginning with C from cultures around the world.
Unique Last Names That Start With K
Unique last names that start with K are rare, bold, and full of deep meaning. These K surnames stand out from the crowd and come from fascinating origins around the world.
| Last Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Kavanagh | Handsome / Beloved | Irish |
| Kazimierczak | Peace Destroyer | Polish |
| Kealoha | The Love | Hawaiian |
| Kealohilani | Heavenly Light | Hawaiian |
| Kedemah | Eastern One | Hebrew |
| Kehinde | Second of Twins | Yoruba |
| Kekoa | The Warrior | Hawaiian |
| Kemunto | She Who Loves | Kenyan |
| Kenyatta | Musician | Kenyan |
| Keohane | Warrior Fighter | Irish |
| Kergozou | House in the Valley | Breton |
| Kerouac | House in the Swamp | Breton |
| Keshabyan | Hair of God | Armenian |
| Kgatla | Clan of Leopard | Tswana |
| Khachiyan | Cross Bearer | Armenian |
| Khachaturian | Cross Stone | Armenian |
| Khalilzadeh | Son of Friend | Persian |
| Khamitov | Protector | Kazakh |
| Khatiwada | Cliff Dweller | Nepali |
| Khosrowshahi | King of Kings | Persian |
| Khumalo | Descendant of Zulu | Zulu |
| Kibuuka | War God | Ugandan |
| Kikwete | Strong Root | Tanzanian |
| Kilpatrick | Son of Patrick | Scottish |
| Kinuthia | One Who Clears Bush | Kenyan |
| Kipchoge | One From the Forest | Kenyan |
| Kirabo | Gift From God | Ugandan |
| Kitagawa | North River | Japanese |
| Kjeldsen | Son of Kettle | Danish |
| Koskenniemi | Rapids Land | Finnish |
Conclusion
Last names that start with K are powerful and diverse. These K surnames come from cultures all around the world. Each name carries a unique story and strong identity. K last names are popular and recognized in every region. They reflect rich history, deep roots, and great meaning.
FAQs
What is the most popular last name that starts with K?
Khan is the most popular K last name. It is widely used across Asia and South Asia.
What cultures have last names starting with K?
K last names come from Irish, German, Japanese, Korean, and Indian cultures.
What is the origin of K surnames?
K surnames come from Arabic, English, German, Japanese, and Sanskrit languages.
Are K last names common in the USA?
Yes, King, Kelly, and Knight are very common K last names in the USA.
What does the letter K mean in surnames?
The letter K in surnames often means strength, power, or nobility.

