Meaning and origin
The last name Glass has its origin in Scotland, deriving from the Gaelic word "glais" meaning grey-green or blue. It likely originated as a descriptive name for individuals with striking or colorful eyes. Over time, it evolved into a hereditary surname and was used to identify families with a common ancestor. The Glass surname has also seen variations such as Glasse and Glas, reflecting regional and dialectical differences.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
Similar spellings
#823
Glass was the 823rd most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 41,802 people, about 14 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Glass
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Glass is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.