150+ Best Last Names That Mean Misfortune

Last names often tell a story about family history and can reflect important meanings. Some last names have darker meanings, linked to misfortune, tragedy, or bad luck. These names might come from ancient beliefs, historical events, or even occupations that carried a heavy burden. Understanding these last names can shed light on how our ancestors viewed life.

Today, we will look at last names associated with misfortune. From names that imply sadness to those linked to grievous events, these surnames have powerful stories behind them. By uncovering these meanings, we can gain insight into past cultures and the challenges they faced.

Last Names That Mean Misfortune

1. Sorrow

The Sorrow surname is a direct reflection of sadness and grief, representing its bearer as someone who embodies misfortune or tragedy.

2. Bane

Bane refers to something that causes distress or ruin. This last name literally signifies someone who brings misfortune to others.

3. MacNaughton

This Gaelic name means ‘son of the unfortunate one’. Hence, it carries a lineage of misfortune and hardship.

4. Doan

The surname Doan means ‘burden’ or ‘sorrow’. It reflects the weariness of those who have faced many trials in life.

5. Woe

This last name directly connects to the word for sorrow, making it a strong representation of misfortune.

6. Foulke

Foulke means ‘to be unlucky’ or ‘unfortunate’, embedding misfortune in its very meaning.

7. McKee

The name McKee, derived from Irish, can mean ‘descendant of Ceid’, but traditional contexts often relate it to unfortunate events in history.

8. Blight

Blight indicates decay and hardship, representing a family’s history of trials and misfortunes.

9. Gloom

This surname signifies darkness and despair, presenting a family lineage marked by misfortune.

10. Caine

Caine often refers to a ‘sorrowful’ person, making it linked to misfortune in emotional realms.

11. Drear

The last name Drear ties closely to sadness and despair, embodying the essence of misfortune.

12. Lament

This surname directly refers to expressions of grief or sorrow, inherently linking it to misfortune.

13. Dole

Dole means sadness or grief, reflecting strong ties to misfortune and hardship.

14. Foulks

This last name signifies being unfortunate or unlucky, thus connoting a legacy of misfortune.

15. Despair

The name Despair evokes feelings of hopelessness, making it representative of true misfortune.

16. Bouchard

Bouchard, which can relate to someone who causes trouble or misfortune to others, aligns closely to the theme.

17. Montalvo

This name can mean ‘mountain pass’, but it is also associated with tales of misfortune in history.

18. Tragedy

Surnames like Tragedy symbolize despair, inherently linked to misfortune.

19. Putz

Putz has connections to mistakes or faults, representing a lineage of misfortune.

20. Malice

Malice refers to the desire to cause harm, creating a connotation of sent misfortune.

21. Cursed

The last name Cursed directly implies a sense of misfortune, making it a powerful example.

22. Doom

Doom embodies an inescapable fate, often associated with calamity and disaster.

23. Malevolence

This name embodies the idea of ill will, leading to misfortune for oneself and others.

24. Hectic

Hectic reflects chaotic and troubled life experiences tied to misfortune.

25. Peril

The name Peril symbolizes danger and risk, often resulting in unfortunate circumstances.

26. Caden

Caden signifies battles or strife, linking to the burdens of misfortune.

27. DeVille

This name implies a connection to ill-fated places or a history of misfortune.

28. Blashford

Blashford connects to a theme of crying or sadness, thus resonating with misfortune.

29. Grievous

Grievous directly ties to suffering, making it an apt representative of misfortune.

30. Morrow

Referring to tomorrow, this name also invokes the concept of losses from the past.

31. Caldwell

This surname, which can imply a cold well, can symbolize misfortune through drought or despair.

32. Tyndale

The name Tyndale evokes tragedies linked to historical events, adding to its misfortune narrative.

33. Norrell

Norrell means ‘from the north’, but Northern folklore often associates it with hard times.

34. Devereux

This name can also imply disaster, showing a legacy of misfortune.

35. Thorn

The Thorn surname represents pain and suffering through its association with thorny situations.

36. Darnell

Darnell indicates a type of plant that often grows in poor conditions, thus symbolizing misfortune.

37. Corvus

Crows are symbols of death and misfortune in many cultures, linking this surname to tragedy.

38. Hawthorn

This name highlights the beauty of nature yet invokes caution, as hawthorns are often seen as linked to a tragic fate.

39. Galt

This unique surname encompasses themes of ruin and misfortune, often found in older tales.

40. Sisk

The surname Sisk connects to misfortune through its pronunciation which resembles words for sorrow.

41. Grave

This last name very clearly represents the finality and sadness linked to misfortune.

42. Tarn

Tarn can evoke feelings of isolation and sadness, directly tying it to misfortune.

43. Nightingale

This name often symbolizes sorrowful themes, singing of loss and despair.

44. Drinkwater

This captivating name may signal hardship and struggle associated with obtaining basic needs.

45. Dummett

This last name can reflect a history of being unlucky, as it associates with a negative connotation.

46. Fenner

The name Fenner symbolizes wetlands often seen as places of misfortune.

47. Teague

This name links closely to misfortune, as it can imply sorrow through its roots.

48. Tómas

Connecting to biblical narratives, Tómas often reflects themes of doubt and misfortune.

49. Nevill

This name is linked to historical misfortunes, often remembered through tragic contexts.

50. Backus

Backus signifies trouble or hardships faced in life, hence connecting to misfortune.

51. Forde

Meaning ‘river crossing’ can symbolize challenging life journeys and misfortune.

52. Craze

This surname denotes chaos or tumult, inherently linked to themes of misfortune.

53. Gwynne

The last name Gwynne symbolizes sorrow, directly tying it to misfortune in various contexts.

54. Kilvet

Meaning ‘unlucky’, Kilvet is a clear representation of a name tied to misfortune.

55. Stoned

Stoned signifies emotional burdens and can connect to a history of misfortunes.

56. Holloway

This name is connected to a depressive setting, often invoking feelings of misfortune.

57. Longshadow

A name suggesting the looming presence of sadness or hardship associated with misfortune.

58. Vox

This surname represents a voice often raised in lament, signifying misfortune.

59. Ardent

A connotation of fiery passion tied to a tragic or unfortunate past.

60. Wynd

This name suggests a winding path that could symbolize challenging life journeys filled with misfortune.

61. Shade

Shade often represents darkness, hinting at a history of misfortune.

62. Sable

This name again emphasizes darkness, directly linking to feelings of sorrow and misfortune.

63. Fray

Fray signifies conflict and struggles in life that align with the themes of misfortune.

64. Barrow

Barrow has associations with mounds marking the resting areas of the unfortunate and dead.

65. Galloway

This last name reflects ties to historical executions, thus connecting to misfortune.

66. Crumble

The surname Crumble invokes images of decay and disintegration, truly reflecting misfortune.

67. Vex

Vex refers to distress, thus embodying feelings of misfortune.

68. Forsaken

Forsaken connects deeply with the idea of abandonment, strongly implying misfortune.

69. Bitter

This last name directly signifies hardship and unpleasant experiences, linking closely to misfortune.

70. Riddle

Riddle suggests confusion and complexity, resonating with the difficulties tied to misfortune.

71. MacDonald

A name historically tied to tragic events, linking it to themes of misfortune.

72. Phantom

This surname embodies the idea of loss or things left behind, inherent in misfortune narratives.

73. Destitute

This last name emphasizes poverty, showcasing a family history steeped in misfortune.

74. Wretched

A clear reflection of despair and unfortunate circumstances, embodying its connection to misfortune.

75. Mourn

This name quite transparently links to sorrow, evoking themes of misfortune.

76. Chagrin

Chagrin often represents feelings of embarrassment or disappointment, closely tied to misfortune.

77. Penance

This surname reminds us of remorse and suffering, linking directly to misfortune.

78. Causton

Means ‘burned ground’, representing the devastation often linked to misfortune.

79. Fragile

This name signifies vulnerability and breakage, resonating with themes of misfortune.

80. Ashby

Ashby can symbolize the regrowth following destruction, reflecting a history of misfortune.

81. Naughton

This name points to negative outcomes, representing a theme of misfortune.

82. Casserole

Embodies the essence of gathering after loss, implying stories of misfortune.

83. Craven

This surname means cowardly, often linking to the misfortune of facing fears.

84. Grumpy

Grumpy signifies a constant state of dissatisfaction, inherently linking to misfortune.

85. Hurley

Typically represents overwhelming challenges faced, symbolizing a legacy of misfortune.

86. Mourning

This name is thoroughly associated with loss and sorrow, making it profoundly representative of misfortune.

87. Pitch

Pitch connects to dark and unhappy themes, resonating with misfortune.

88. Kreiger

This surname reflects battles faced through trials, linking to misfortune narratives.

89. Lamentation

Directly refers to sorrowful expressions, embodying feelings of misfortune.

90. Plight

Plight speaks to difficult circumstances, clearly linking to themes of misfortune.

91. Snafu

Indicating complicated situations, Snafu connects to misfortune through its meaning.

92. Fumble

This name denotes hardships through mistakes, thus superficially relating to misfortune.

93. Scorn

The last name Scorn represents disdain and pain, tying it to misfortune.

94. Thornberry

This surname brings to mind painful plant life, showcasing misfortune.

95. Quagmire

Quagmire symbolizes being stuck in a troublesome situation, hence connecting to misfortune.

96. Shackle

The surname Shackle signifies being bound by struggles, evoking misfortune themes.

97. Hurt

This name embodies emotional pain, resulting in strong connections to misfortune.

98. Tenebris

Connecting to darkness, Tenebris symbolizes sorrow and hence misfortune.

99. Stumble

This name signifies falling down, perhaps alluding to a life filled with misfortune.

100. Graves

Graves relates directly to loss and death, making it a poignant representation of misfortune.

101. Broken

Broken refers to being shattered, symbolizing the hardships tied to misfortune.

102. Miasma

Miasma represents pollution and decay, metaphorically linking to misfortune.

103. Vile

This surname symbolizes negativity, connecting to themes of misfortune.

104. Cripple

Cripple indicates a stable connection to weakness or misfortune.

105. Ghost

The last name Ghost implies lingering sorrows tied to misfortune.

106. Bleak

Bleak directly indicates hopelessness, evoking a sense of profound misfortune.

107. Cinders

Cinders represent the remnants of a fire, linking to loss and misfortune.

108. Evenfall

This name represents the twilight of life, tying it to the themes of misfortune.

109. Drudge

Meaning hardship, this name symbolizes the burden of misfortune.

110. Shackleton

Evoking images of a harsh past, Shackleton symbolizes encounters with misfortune.

111. Perkins

This last name has associations with calamity, linking directly to misfortune.

112. Fracture

Fracture symbolizes breakage and damage, intrinsically connecting to themes of misfortune.

113. Pestilent

This name represents decay or disease, tying thematically to misfortune.

114. Juggernaut

Representing a force that causes destruction, Juggernaut captures dire misfortune.

115. Desolation

Directly representing emptiness and despair, Desolation connects profoundly to misfortune.

116. Gloomy

This last name evokes feelings of sadness and despair, aligning with the idea of misfortune.

117. Widow

Widow connects directly with themes of loss, representing deep misfortune.

118. Troubled

The name Troubled signifies a life filled with challenges, representing misfortune.

119. Hobbled

This surname links to being held back or impeded, symbolizing misfortune.

120. Merriman

Merriman evokes an ironical connection where its cheerful tone juxtaposes misfortune.

121. Dasher

Dasher conveys a sense of urgency tied to unfortunate situations.

122. Hatred

Hatred signifies a complex emotion often linked to unfavorable circumstances and misfortune.

123. Fear

Implying dread, this surname links closely to the theme of misfortune.

124. Torment

Torment represents suffering, highlighting its connection to misfortune.

125. Lyre

The Lyre often evokes songs of sorrow, thus aligning with themes of misfortune.

126. Drought

Drought signifies lack and hardship, linking it to significant misfortunes.

127. Grieve

The surname Grieve connects directly to mourning, evoking themes of misfortune.

128. Melancholy

Melancholy symbolizes profound sadness, making it a strong representation of misfortune.

129. Blunder

The last name Blunder signifies mistakes made that lead to unfortunate results.

130. Torrey

This name directly connects with troubled waters, linking to themes of misfortune.

131. Curdt

Curdt offers themes of misfortune due to misread intentions.

132. Burnt

Burnt symbolizes loss through damage, creating a strong connotation of misfortune.

133. Despondent

This surname implies hopelessness, directly relating to themes of misfortune.

134. Choke

This name symbolizes feeling trapped, thus connecting to misfortune narratives.

135. Ruin

Ruin signifies the loss of structure or stability, connecting deeply with misfortune.

136. Whittle

This last name suggests gradual erosion of happiness, relating closely to misfortune.

137. Decay

Decay signifies a decline or deterioration, symbolizing unfortunate events.

138. Scowl

Scowl suggests a perpetual display of dissatisfaction, hinting at a life of misfortune.

139. Falsehope

Falsehope means the absence of joy, thus representing misfortune deeply.

140. Ragged

Ragged evokes images of ruined fabric embodying the life fabric marked by misfortune.

141. Quarrel

Quarrel represents conflict, inherently linking it with misfortune.

142. Chained

This surname connects to being bound by unfortunate experiences, symbolizing misfortune.

143. Groan

This name symbolizes a voice of distress, making it an apt reflection of misfortune.

144. Trudge

This surname signifies the weariness of a long journey, highlighting misfortune.

145. Heartbreak

Heartbreak directly links to loss and sorrow, showcasing misfortune.

146. Pity

Pity reflects sympathy caused by unfortunate circumstances, connecting it to misfortune.

147. Riven

This name symbolizes being torn apart, representing deep-seated misfortune.

148. Famine

Famine signifies extreme shortage, embedding its meaning into the legacy of misfortune.

149. Insult

This surname reflects disrespect and pain caused to others, linking thoroughly to misfortune.

150. Mischief

This name connects to troublesome events, showcasing a legacy tied to misfortune.

Final Thoughts

Exploring last names that mean misfortune has revealed a wealth of stories that reflect human struggles and experiences. These surnames tell tales steeped in sadness, loss, and the burdens of life. By understanding these names, we gain insight into how ancestors perceived tragedy and adversity.

Each name carries with it a legacy of emotions and encounters that resonate with many of us today. It emphasizes the lessons learned through hardship and the strength found in overcoming misfortune.

We encourage you to delve deeper into the meanings of names by exploring topics such as names that mean misfortune or names that mean cursed. Uncovering these stories reminds us of the rich tapestry of human history.

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