most common american last names
The German form means "steward or baliff," as in the magistrate of a city or town. Wilson is a popular English or Scottish surname in many countries, meaning "son of Will," often a nickname for William. TWEET. Most Common Last Names in America . This is perhaps the most common last name identified with blacks. An English occupational name for a carter, or transporter of goods by cart or wagon. https://www.thoughtco.com/common-us-surnames-and-their-meanings-1422658 (accessed March 2, 2021). Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/common-us-surnames-and-their-meanings-1422658. A modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Murchadha," which means "descendant of sea warrior" in Gaelic. Derived from Middle English "wode. One who lived near a place where a cross was erected, or near a crossroads or intersection. Below we have a current list from 2010 of the topmost 25 last names in the USA. Kieron George, 21, North … ", Son of the man known as Thom, Thomp, Thompkin, or another diminutive form of Thomas, a given name meaning "twin.". Popularity of your last name. Other common names included Jones, Williams, Brown, Davis and Wilson. Gutierre is a given name meaning "he who rules. Smith. ", A patronymic surname meaning "son of Orton or Orta.". What are the other popular names? Similar to Johnson (above). During the last census, this name was the most common with over 774,000. "Son of Harry," a given name derived from Henry and meaning "home-ruler. The given name Peter is derived from the Greek "petros" meaning "stone.". This surname is of uncertain etymology but is often considered to derive from the Hebrew personal name Adam which was borne, according to Genesis, by the first man. John M Lund Photography Inc / Getty Images, Natalie Alexeeva (anakonda) / EyeEm / Getty Images, KTSDESIGN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images, Mallika Wiriyathitipirn / EyeEm / Getty Images. Find your ancestors, discover the origin and meaning of your last name, and build your family tree! All rights reserved (About Us). A nickname or descriptive surname often bestowed on a man who worked as a gamekeeper at a medieval park. ", A patronymic name meaning "son of Gutierre" (son of Walter). From the Old English "cyning," originally meaning "tribal leader," this nickname was commonly bestowed on a man who carried himself like royalty, or who played the part of the king in a medieval pageant. Like RICHARDS, Richardson is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Richard." A new List is usually put out every decade so we will be looking out to see if there are any new changes in 2020. We can stop the fourth wave. Some of the most common Irish last names are Murphy (Ó Murchadha in Gaelic), Kelly (Ó Ceallaigh in Gaelic), O’Sullivan (Ó Súilleabháin in Gaelic), and Walsh (Breathnach in Gaelic). African American last names, however, are a little different. Find out how surnames are ranked in popularity, how many people in the United States of America bear a particular name, and how the statistics change between 1990 and 2000 US Censuses. Most revolve around a "brook," or a small stream. Jump to navigation Jump to search. The "ez or es" added to the root signifies "descendant of. Name Number Name Number; 1: James: 4,735,694: Mary: 3,265,105: 2: John: 4,502,387: Patricia: 1,560,897: 3: Robert: 4,499,901: Jennifer: 1,467,664: 4: Michael: 4,330,025: Linda: 1,448,309: 5: William: 3,601,719: Elizabeth: 1,428,981: 6: David: 3,563,170: Barbara: 1,402,428: 7: Richard: 2,467,544: Susan: 1,104,407: 8: Joseph: 2,352,889: Jessica: 1,045,519: 9: Thomas: 2,160,330: Sarah: 993,847: 10: Charles: 2,106,078: Karen: 98… The given name Richard means "powerful and brave. Most Common African American Surnames By Count. Africa is one of the largest and most diverse continents in the world. If you have been doing research for a while, you know which ones they are. Some of the most popular ones stem from translations of Hebrew or German first names. Most of the surnames of the Brazilian population have a Portuguese origin, due to Portuguese colonization in the country (it is estimated that 80% of the Brazilian population has at least one Portuguese ancestor), while other South American countries were largely colonized by the Spanish. The United States of America has an interesting immigration history. 20 Common Australian Surnames and Their Meanings, 50 Most Common Danish Last Names and Their Meanings, Learn This Patronymic Surname Meaning "Son of Robert", Certificate in Genealogical Research, Boston University. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Even so, in the total general population, Williams ranks as the third most common last name overall. The United States Bureau of Census conducted a census in 2000, upon which this article will be mostly reliant for statistical data. Robinson was the 20th-most-popular name in 1990 but fell off the list. Williams. The name’s usage has grown almost 3 percent since 2000. A name given to a person who lived in or near a tower, from the Latin "turris. The following list of the most commonly occurring surnames in America includes … 1. Derived from the Old English word "geong," meaning "young.". © 2021 Advance Local Media LLC. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Common US Surnames and Their Meanings. Often it was a name given to one who lived in or near a "laye," a Middle English term meaning "clearing in the woods. SHARE . 31. Like most European countries, Polish last names are most often derived from place names, family patriarchs or nicknames that denote a trait. Most Common African American Last Names and Their Unspoken History . “The deeper we dig, the more we can continue to connect Italian-Americans,” said Arthur Himler, managing editor of the US World Herald. But even if your last name is common you are likely lucky enough to have a few rare gems in your family tree as a whole. 4. From the Old French "rey," meaning king, Reyes was often bestowed as a nickname for a man who carried himself in a regal, or kingly, fashion. ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/common-us-surnames-and-their-meanings-1422658. It was common in the 1600s for the Irish prefixes O and Mac to be dropped from Irish names. ThoughtCo. The surname Moore and its derivations have many possible origins, including one who lived at or near a moor, or a dark-complexioned man. Lee is a surname with many possible meanings and origins. Smith. Usage: Language + Letters. Lope comes from the Spanish form of Lupus, a Latin name meaning "wolf. ', A common form or corruption of Michael, meaning "big.". Using Census Bureau data, 24/7 Wall Street compiled a list of the top 50 last names in the U.S. Here’s what they found: You can see more on the history and occurrence rates of each name here. Wright. Clark. 15 Most Common US Surnames May Surprise You 6 of top 15 are traditionally Hispanic By Arden Dier, Newser Staff Posted Dec 16, 2016 9:30 AM CST. Keeper of a royal building or house. According to census records going back to the turn of the 20th century, “Smith” is the most popular name in the US. An English occupational name for a cook, a man who sold cooked meats, or the keeper of an eating house. Often considered to be a form of COCK (little), a common term of endearment. A patronymic surname taken from the ancient Latin given name Martinus, derived from Mars, the Roman god of fertility and war. A patronymic name derived from the given name Roger, meaning "son of Roger. Can you guess the 3 most-common last names in Alabama? A Celtic surname meaning "crooked or wry mouth," from the Gaelic "cam" meaning 'crooked, distorted' and "beul" for 'mouth. A patronymic name meaning "son of John (God has favored or gift of God)." So, as you can imagine, African surnames are also of broad spectrum. ", A patronymic surname meaning "son of Phillip." Initial: Pattern : the letters in the pattern are compared to the letters in the name * is a wildcard that matches zero or more letters. According to an analysis by 24/7 Wall Street, the surname Smith occurs slightly more than 828 times per 100,000 people in the U.S., or about 2.442 million times. 11. What is the popularity of your last name? ", The most common of several origins for the surname Perez is a patronymic name derived from Pero, Pedro, etc. Those are nearly as varied. More common than choosing an unusual last name in America, of course, is “Americanizing” the surname on arrival here. Common surnames sorted according to their ranks. An occupational name which originated in medieval times from the name of the trade, baker. 21. meaning "son of Pero. A patronymic surname meaning "son of Peter." Means "right and proper." Take a look at the map or our list below and see the most common last names in your state. Using Census Bureau data, 24/7 Wall Street compiled a list of the top 50 last names in the U.S. Here’s what they found: 1. A nickname often given to a man who was especially tall and lanky. ", A name generally given to one who lived on or near a hill, derived from the Old English "hyll. Also believed to have early Jewish origins. A patronymic name meaning " son of Ramon (wise protector). Most common black last names. A crown official or officer of the king in county or town. ", A patronymic derived from the given name Sancho, meaning "sanctified.". Discover the ethnic origin and meaning of last names. As it sounds, Anderson is generally a patronymic surname meaning "son of Andrew. The 2000 census puts the number of people having “Smith” as their surname at 2,376,206. (Tamas Kovacs/MTI via AP) APAP. The following tables include all … In the United States, Smith was the most common name inin 1990 and retained that spot ten years later. Similarly, Smith has been the most common last name in the United States since its founding, so it’s not surprising that … The most likely origin of this surname is "son of Robin," although it may also derive from the Polish word "rabin," meaning rabbi. ", Derived from a popular medieval first name, THOMAS comes from an Aramaic term for "twin. ", A patronymic name meaning "son of Gonzalo.". The following are among the most common last names of African Americans: Williams. Often refers to one who dwelled at or near the village green, or another similar area of grassy ground. #1 SMITH – A smith is a craftsman, and was used … According to an analysis by 24/7 Wall Street. This Welsh surname derives from the given name Morgan, from "mor," the sea, and "gan," born. 2. Kimberly Powell is a professional genealogist and the author of The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy. This Gaelic and English surname has many possible origins, but is most often derived from the personal name of the father, meaning "son of Colin." See also about American names. The singular form, EDWARD, means "prosperous guardian.". Garcia, a Spanish surname of Basque origin, and Rodriguez, meaning “son of Rodrigo,” were the eighth- and ninth-most common surnames in the United States. List of most common surnames in North America. A patronymic surname meaning "son of Nell," a form of the Irish name Neal which means "champion.". The most common meaning is "descendant or son of Garcia (the Spanish form of Gerald).". The Ross surname has Gaelic origins and, depending upon the origin of the family, could have several different meanings. Place names usually end in -ski (as evidenced in the list below), and these were exclusively for the elite and noble. ", This is the most common surname in Vietnam, but is actually of Chinese origin, meaning "musical instrument. List: Most common last names in the United States, top 1000. Generally, a surname originally used to describe someone with very light hair or complexion. Garcia jumped in popularity from 18th-most-popular name in 1990 to sixth-most-popular in 2010. Last year The US World Herald released a list of the 150 most common Italian last names in the U.S. Your Polish … Dear Mona, What are the most common first- and last-name combinations in the United States? This surname was most often used by a cleric, clerk, or scholar, one who can read and write. Lee, Wong, and Kim are the most common names in that state, and they don't show up anywhere else on the map. However, it soon became popular and fashionable to have a -ski ending last name, which made it the identifying trait of a Polish surname. You can probably name a ton of people with the last name Williams. The 25 most common surnames in Britain - and what they say about your family history. Smith, Johnson, Williams, Jones, Brown... Are you one of the millions of Americans sporting one of these top 100 common last names from the 2000 and 2010 censuses? An English occupational name for one who made and sold casks, buckets, and tubs. 25 of the Most Common Last Names in the USA 2019 . 3. She teaches at the Genealogical Institute of Pittsburgh and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/21). "Common US Surnames and Their Meanings." A team of researchers from the University of West of England are publishing the 45,000 most common last names If you’re looking for the most popular British last names and their meanings, you’re not alone in that one. The most common derivation of this surname is as an occupation name referring to a person who worked in a grain mill. It is a craft that was practiced in all countries, making the surname and its derivations the most common of all surnames around the world. The most common is believed to be someone who lived on or near a headland or moor. (2021, February 16). Last name. There are several possible origins for this common English surname, including "strong of heart" and "high chief.". ", Population Count: 804,240Rodriguez is a patronymic name meaning "son of Rodrigo," a given name meaning "famous ruler." A Gaelic name meaning warrior or war. Alternatively, this Spanish and Portuguese surname may mean one who lived near a mulberry or blackberry bush. ", An English occupational name for a tailor, from Old French "tailleur" for "tailor" which comes from the Latin "taliare," meaning "to cut.". More Filters. ", Patronymic name derived from "Jacob" and usually meaning "son of Jacob. A place name derived from various words for "large house," usually used to signify someone who lived in or worked in a hall or manor house. US actor and cast member Will Smith arrives to the promotional event for the movie Gemini Man in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. Even though the “changed at Ellis Island” explanation is a myth, many people did simplify or Anglicize their names after arriving in their new country. Addendum #1: presents an excerpt from a pdf entitled "Putting a Demographic Face on Names from Census 2000". The following list of the most commonly occurring surnames in America includes details on each name's origin and meaning. TruePeopleSearch.com is not a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).This site can't be used for employment, credit or … The most common origin of the Williams surname is patronymic, meaning "son of William," a given name that derives from the elements wil, "desire or will," and helm, "helmet or protection. 6 out of the Top 15 are Traditionally Hispanic Surnames . If you look at Census Bureau data, the most popular first names in Alabama for last year were Emma, Ava, William and Mason. Here are the top 1000 last names (surnames) in the United States, according to the last U.S. census.Is your family name on the list? "Common US Surnames and Their Meanings." The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. ", An English occupational name, meaning "one who works with a lathe.". American names are used in the United States. Johnson. This popular last name may be of German or English origin, with variant meanings. [Added October 6, 2017]. An ethnic or geographical name signifying a native from Scotland or a person who spoke Gaelic. SHARE. Select filters then press SEARCH below -Usage or language. Smith is an occupational surname for a man who works with metal (smith or blacksmith), one of the earliest jobs for which specialist skills were required. Population Count:Davis is yet another patronymic surname to crack the top 10 most common US surnames, meaning "Son of David (beloved). Smith, Johnson, Williams, Jones, Brown... Are you one of the millions of Americans sporting one of these top 100 common last names from the 2000 and 2010 censuses? This … The most common last names in Caribbean, Central and North American countries Zeleb.es 2 mins ago. Why was the O dropped from Irish names? It has a broad range of languages, cultures, traditions and ethnicities. The Spanish surname Diaz comes from the Latin "dies" which means "days." ", Often a patronymic name meaning "son of Evan. One who lived on a riverbank or near a river. 50 Most Popular American Last Names. This is an 8.1% increase from 2000 where they came across approximately 58,000 less Williams. A patronymic name meaning "son of Edward." Thanks to a growing number of reviews, we’ve expanded the list from 150 to 200. ", A patronymical surname meaning "son of Lope." Copied (Newser) – … Is John Smith really the most common name? ", Derived from the Germanic given name Lewis, meaning "renowned, famous battle.". A descriptive or nickname signifying a person with a red face or red hair. Powell, Kimberly. An occupational name for a "guard or watchman," from Old English "weard" = guard. An occupational name for a steward or manager of a household or estate. So your Portuguese ancestors may have changed from Ribeiro to Roberts or even to Brooks. An occupational surname for a fuller, or person who walked on damp raw cloth to thicken it. Due to a combination of immigration and colonization, the most common British surnames across the globe are of English origin. It's interesting to note, that since 1990, the only other time this surname report has been compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau, three Hispanic surnames—Garcia, Rodriguez, and Menendez—have risen into the top 10.