By Staff Writer | Last Updated August 4, 2015
Some common last names for Native Americans are Begay, Yazzie, Locklear, Garcia and Martinez. A few other commonly used American Indian names are Hunt, Wilson, Tsosie, Smith and Oxendine.
Many common Native American last names correspond with a specific tribe and its history. The last name Begay originates from the Navajo word “biye,” which means “his or her son.” It may have also had Norman ancestry, applied to someone who stuttered frequently.
The last name Locklear is common among the Cherokee peoples. The name comes from Medieval western Europe and is strongly affiliated with Anglo-Saxon culture. It is an occupational last name applied to locksmiths. Some famous modern Locklears are Heather Deen Locklear, Ormer Leslie Locklear and Gene Locklear.
Several common Native American last names actually have Spanish origin. The last name “Martinez” derives from the name “Martin.” It is common among people in the American Southwest, specifically Texas and New Mexico, as well as among residents of the island nation of Cuba.
The last name Yazzie is a Navajo name with unexplained meaning. As of June 2015, most people with the last name Yazzie reside within the State of Pennsylvania. Other large groups of Yazzies exist in New York, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
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