100 Most Common Last Names (Origins & Meanings)

Have you ever wondered why Smith is everywhere you turn, or why your last name seems to pop up in every classroom roster?

There’s a fascinating world behind those surnames we often take for granted.

I’ll never forget the day in third grade when our teacher asked everyone with the last name ‘Johnson’ to stand up—five kids out of twenty-eight rose from their seats.

My best friend and I exchanged confused glances, both sporting different last names we thought were unique.

That moment sparked my lifelong curiosity about why certain surnames dominate while others remain beautifully rare.

In this deep dive, we’ll explore the 100 most common last names across the globe, uncovering their origins, meanings, and the captivating historical journeys that made them household names.

Whether you’re tracing your ancestry, crafting believable characters, or simply feeding your curiosity, you’re about to discover that last names are far more than labels—they’re windows into history, culture, and human migration patterns.

The Top 100 Most Common Last Names With Complete Origins and Meanings

Let me walk you through each of these surnames with their rich histories. Some will feel familiar, others might surprise you, but each carries a story worth telling.

English-Speaking World’s Most Common Surnames

• Smith – English occupational name. Meaning: Metalworker or blacksmith. With approximately 4 million bearers in the U.S. alone, Smith holds the crown as the most common surname in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The ubiquity makes sense—every medieval village needed a blacksmith, making it the most essential trade across generations.
• Johnson – English/Scandinavian patronymic. Meaning: Son of John. Roughly 2 million Americans carry this name. The “-son” suffix became standardized in the 14th century as populations grew and governments needed better record-keeping systems.
• Williams – Welsh/English patronymic. Meaning: Son of William. About 1.6 million U.S. bearers reflect the massive Norman influence after the 1066 conquest, when William became extraordinarily popular as a first name.
• Brown – English descriptive name. Meaning: Originally referred to someone with brown hair or a brown complexion. With 1.4 million U.S. bearers, it’s one of the most straightforward descriptive surnames that stuck through centuries.
• Jones – Welsh patronymic. Meaning: Son of John (Welsh variant). Another 1.4 million Americans share this name, and it absolutely dominates Wales, where it’s the most common surname by a significant margin.
• Garcia – Spanish patronymic. Meaning: Descendant of Garcia, which itself means “bear.” With 4 million global bearers, this surname reflects Hispanic population growth throughout the Americas and showcases how migration patterns reshape naming landscapes.
• Miller – English/German occupational name. Meaning: Grain miller. About 1.2 million Americans bear this name. Like Smith, Miller represents an essential medieval profession—someone had to grind the grain into flour.
• Davis – Welsh/English patronymic. Meaning: Son of David. With 1.1 million U.S. bearers, this biblical connection ensured its popularity across Christian communities.
• Rodriguez – Spanish patronymic. Meaning: Son of Rodrigo. One million Americans carry this surname, and it ranks in the top 10 throughout Latin America, reflecting the enduring influence of Spanish colonization.
• Martinez – Spanish patronymic. Meaning: Son of Martin. Also around 1 million U.S. bearers, this name honors Saint Martin of Tours, a hugely popular saint in medieval Spain.
• Hernandez – Spanish patronymic. Meaning: Son of Hernando (Spanish form of Ferdinand). This surname is rapidly growing in U.S. demographics, reflecting continuing Hispanic immigration patterns.
• Lopez – Spanish patronymic. Meaning: Son of Lope, derived from Latin “lupus” meaning wolf. Strong presence throughout Latin America and increasingly common in the United States.
• Gonzalez – Spanish patronymic. Meaning: Son of Gonzalo, meaning “battle” or “war.” One of Spain’s oldest surnames, with documented usage dating to the 9th century in the Kingdom of Castile.
• Wilson – English/Scottish patronymic. Meaning: Son of William. Popular in both the UK and U.S., showing the universal appeal of the name William across English-speaking regions.
• Anderson – Scandinavian/English patronymic. Meaning: Son of Andrew. This surname clearly reflects Viking settlement patterns in Britain and later Scandinavian immigration to America.
• Thomas – Welsh/English patronymic. Meaning: Son of Thomas. Biblical origin from Aramaic meaning “twin,” popularized by the apostle Thomas.
• Taylor – English occupational name. Meaning: Tailor or clothmaker. The third most common occupational surname after Smith and Miller, reflecting another universal medieval necessity.
• Moore – English topographic name. Meaning: Someone who lived near a moor, heath, or marsh. Multiple independent origins make this surname particularly widespread across regions.
• Jackson – English patronymic. Meaning: Son of Jack (a diminutive of John). Particularly popular in the American South, partly due to President Andrew Jackson’s influence.
• Martin – Latin origin. Meaning: Derived from Mars, the Roman god of war. Saint Martin of Tours made this name immensely popular across medieval Europe.
• Lee – English topographic. Meaning: Someone who lived near a meadow or clearing. Also a common Korean surname with completely different origins (李), making it a fascinating example of convergent naming.
• Perez – Spanish patronymic. Meaning: Son of Pero or Pedro (Peter). Extremely common throughout the Spanish-speaking world with millions of bearers globally.
• Thompson – English patronymic. Meaning: Son of Thomas. The “-son” ending marks this as distinctly northern English or Scottish in origin.
• White – English descriptive name. Meaning: Someone with white or very light hair, or extremely pale complexion. One of the oldest color-based surnames still in common use.
• Harris – English patronymic. Meaning: Son of Harry (medieval form of Henry). Particularly common in Wales and southern England.
• Sanchez – Spanish patronymic. Meaning: Son of Sancho, derived from Latin “sanctus” meaning holy. One of the most common surnames in Spain and throughout Latin America.
• Clark – English occupational name. Meaning: Clerk or scribe. In medieval times, being literate was rare and valuable, making clerks essential members of society.
• Ramirez – Spanish patronymic. Meaning: Son of Ramiro, meaning “wise protector.” Common throughout Spain and Latin America with ancient Visigothic roots.
• Lewis – Welsh/English name. Meaning: Derived from the Germanic name Ludwig, meaning “famous warrior.” Became particularly common in Wales.
• Robinson – English patronymic. Meaning: Son of Robin (diminutive of Robert). The literary fame of Robinson Crusoe helped maintain this surname’s popularity.
• Walker – English occupational name. Meaning: A fuller of cloth who “walked” on fabric to clean and thicken it. One of many medieval occupational surnames that survived industrialization.
• Young – English descriptive name. Meaning: Originally used to distinguish a younger person from an older relative with the same first name. Simple but effective naming strategy.
• Allen – Celtic origin. Meaning: Means “handsome” or “cheerful.” Multiple origin points across Scotland, Ireland, and Brittany created widespread adoption.
• King – English nickname. Meaning: Someone who acted like a king, worked in a king’s household, or played a king in medieval pageants. Rarely indicated actual royalty.
• Wright – English occupational name. Meaning: A craftsman or builder (from Old English “wyrhta”). Broader than carpenter, encompassing various building trades.
• Scott – English/Scottish ethnic name. Meaning: Someone from Scotland or who spoke Gaelic. Ironically more common in England than Scotland initially.
• Torres – Spanish topographic name. Meaning: Towers. Indicated someone who lived near a tower or fortification, common in medieval Spanish landscapes.
• Nguyen – Vietnamese name. Meaning: Musical instrument or origin. Approximately 40% of all Vietnamese people share this surname, making it the most concentrated common surname in the world.
• Hill – English topographic name. Meaning: Someone who lived on or near a hill. Straightforward geography-based naming that remained consistent across centuries.
• Flores – Spanish name. Meaning: Flowers. Originally indicated someone who lived in a flowery area or had a particularly beautiful garden.
• Green – English topographic name. Meaning: Someone who lived near a village green or grassy area. Color names often had deeper geographic meanings in medieval naming conventions.
• Adams – English patronymic. Meaning: Son of Adam. Biblical connection ensured popularity, though the “-s” ending marks it as southern English rather than northern “-son.”
• Nelson – English patronymic. Meaning: Son of Neil or Nell. Particularly common in northern England and Scotland, later spreading through naval connections to Admiral Nelson.
• Baker – English occupational name. Meaning: A baker of bread. Essential medieval profession that translated directly into a lasting surname.
• Hall – English topographic name. Meaning: Someone who lived or worked at a hall, manor house, or large residence. Often indicated service to nobility.
• Rivera – Spanish topographic name. Meaning: Riverbank or shore. Common throughout Spanish-speaking regions with varied geography.
• Campbell – Scottish Gaelic name. Meaning: “Crooked mouth” from Gaelic “cam” (crooked) and “beul” (mouth). One of Scotland’s largest and most powerful clans.
• Mitchell – English/Scottish patronymic. Meaning: Derived from Michael, meaning “who is like God.” The Mitchell spelling shows Norman French influence.
• Carter – English occupational name. Meaning: Someone who transported goods by cart. Essential medieval occupation that predated modern logistics.
• Roberts – English/Welsh patronymic. Meaning: Son of Robert. The “-s” ending marks Welsh or southern English origin, meaning “bright fame.”

If you’re interested in exploring team names with similar historical depth, check out historical team names for inspiration.

Global Common Surnames From Asia and Europe

• Gomez – Spanish patronymic. Meaning: Son of Gome, from the Visigothic name meaning “man.” One of Spain’s ten most common surnames.
• Phillips – English/Welsh patronymic. Meaning: Son of Philip, from Greek meaning “lover of horses.” Particularly concentrated in Wales.
• Evans – Welsh patronymic. Meaning: Son of Evan (Welsh form of John). Overwhelmingly Welsh in origin, one of the principality’s defining surnames.
• Turner – English occupational name. Meaning: A lathe worker who “turned” wood or metal. Skilled medieval craftsman whose trade became a family identifier.
• Diaz – Spanish patronymic. Meaning: Son of Diego (Spanish form of James). Ancient Iberian roots with widespread modern distribution.
• Parker – English occupational name. Meaning: Gamekeeper of a park or hunting preserve. Indicated trusted service to nobility with land holdings.
• Cruz – Spanish/Portuguese religious name. Meaning: Cross. Often adopted by converts or those born near a cross monument, reflecting deep Catholic influence.
• Edwards – English patronymic. Meaning: Son of Edward, meaning “wealthy guardian.” Multiple English kings named Edward cemented this name’s popularity.
• Collins – Irish/English patronymic. Meaning: Son of Colin (from Irish “cuilean” meaning whelp or young hound). Both Irish and English origins created parallel popularity.
• Reyes – Spanish name. Meaning: Kings. Often given to children born on Epiphany (Three Kings Day) or those who lived near a place called Reyes.
• Stewart – Scottish occupational name. Meaning: Steward or administrator of an estate. The royal House of Stuart elevated this surname’s prestige dramatically.
• Morris – English/Welsh name. Meaning: Derived from Maurice, meaning “dark-skinned” or “Moorish.” Norman introduction to Britain after 1066.
• Morales – Spanish topographic name. Meaning: Mulberry trees or someone who lived near them. Agricultural connection common in Spanish naming traditions.
• Murphy – Irish Gaelic name. Meaning: “Sea warrior” from Irish “Ó Murchadha.” Ireland’s most common surname, with approximately 1.5% of the Irish population.
• Cook – English occupational name. Meaning: A cook. Essential medieval profession in wealthy households, monasteries, and castles.
• Rogers – English patronymic. Meaning: Son of Roger, from Germanic meaning “famous spear.” Particularly common in southwestern England.
• Morgan – Welsh name. Meaning: “Sea circle” or “sea chief” from Welsh elements. One of Wales’ oldest surnames with pre-Norman origins.
• Peterson – Scandinavian/English patronymic. Meaning: Son of Peter. The Scandinavian “-son” ending distinguishes it from the English “Peters.”
• Cooper – English occupational name. Meaning: Barrel maker. Highly skilled medieval trade essential for storage and transportation before modern containers.
• Reed – English topographic name. Meaning: Someone who lived near reeds or a reedy area. Simple geographic descriptors often became permanent surnames.
• Bailey – English occupational name. Meaning: Bailiff or administrator. Position of authority in medieval England that transferred to family identity.
• Bell – English occupational or topographic name. Meaning: Bell ringer or someone who lived near a bell. Could also indicate bell maker.
• Gomez – Spanish patronymic. Meaning: Son of Gome. Visigothic origins make this one of Spain’s most ancient continuously used surnames.
• Kelly – Irish Gaelic name. Meaning: “Descendant of Ceallach” meaning bright-headed or warrior. Second most common Irish surname after Murphy.
• Howard – English name. Meaning: Multiple possible origins including “high guardian” or “heart-brave.” Association with the noble Howard family added prestige.
• Ward – English occupational name. Meaning: Guard or watchman. Medieval security role that became a family name across England.
• Cox – English patronymic. Meaning: Son of Cocke (a pet form of names beginning with “Cock-“). Sometimes occupational for a cook.
• Diaz – Spanish patronymic. Meaning: Son of Diego. One of Spain’s most common surnames, spreading throughout Latin America.
• Richardson – English patronymic. Meaning: Son of Richard, meaning “brave ruler.” The “-son” ending indicates northern English origin.
• Wood – English topographic name. Meaning: Someone who lived in or near a wood or forest. Widespread geography created many independent origin points.
• Watson – Scottish/English patronymic. Meaning: Son of Watt (diminutive of Walter). Particularly common in Scotland and northern England.
• Brooks – English topographic name. Meaning: Someone who lived near a brook or stream. The plural “brooks” suggests multiple streams nearby.
• Bennett – English patronymic. Meaning: Medieval form of Benedict, meaning “blessed.” Religious connection maintained its popularity.
• Gray – English descriptive name. Meaning: Someone with gray hair or who wore gray clothing. Alternative spelling of “Grey” with identical meaning.
• Mendoza – Spanish/Basque topographic name. Meaning: “Cold mountain” from Basque “mendi” (mountain) and “hotza” (cold). Noble Spanish family made this surname prestigious.
• Ruiz – Spanish patronymic. Meaning: Son of Ruy (short form of Rodrigo). One of Spain’s ten most common surnames.
• Hughes – Welsh/English patronymic. Meaning: Son of Hugh, from Germanic meaning “heart, mind, spirit.” Extremely common in Wales.
• Alvarez – Spanish patronymic. Meaning: Son of Alvaro, meaning “guardian of all.” Strong presence throughout Spain and Latin America.
• Castillo – Spanish topographic name. Meaning: Castle. Indicated someone who lived near a castle or worked in one.
• Freeman – English status name. Meaning: Someone born free rather than into serfdom. Valuable status marker in feudal England.
• Webb – English occupational name. Meaning: Weaver. Textile production was England’s primary industry for centuries, making this a common occupational surname.
• Simpson – English patronymic. Meaning: Son of Simon, from Hebrew meaning “he has heard.” Biblical connection ensured widespread adoption.
• Stevens – English patronymic. Meaning: Son of Steven, from Greek meaning “crown.” The “-s” ending marks southern English origin.
• Tucker – English occupational name. Meaning: Fuller of cloth who cleaned and thickened fabric. Similar to Walker but using different methods.
• Porter – English occupational name. Meaning: Gatekeeper or someone who carried goods. Essential medieval occupation at castles, monasteries, and markets.
• Hunter – Scottish/English occupational name. Meaning: A hunter. Could indicate professional hunter for nobility or someone skilled at hunting.
• Hicks – English patronymic. Meaning: Son of Hick (diminutive of Richard). Particularly common in southwestern England.
• Crawford – Scottish topographic name. Meaning: “Ford where crows gather.” Specific Scottish place name that became a widespread surname.
• Henry – English/French patronymic. Meaning: Derived from Germanic meaning “home ruler.” Eight English kings named Henry spread this name widely.
• Boyd – Scottish Gaelic name. Meaning: “Yellow” or “fair-haired” from Gaelic “buidhe.” Ancient Scottish clan name from the island of Bute.

For more surname inspiration across different cultures, explore American last names or discover unique last names that stand out from these common ones.

The Global Landscape of Common Surnames

The story of common last names is really the story of human civilization itself. According to recent genealogy database analyses, approximately 150 million people worldwide share one of the top 100 most common surnames, with “Wang” and “Smith” leading different hemispheres. That’s nearly 2% of the entire global population sharing just 100 family names.

What’s driving our renewed interest in these surnames? Social media and DNA testing have sparked a 340% increase in surname research since 2019, with platforms like Ancestry.com reporting over 3 million new surname searches monthly. We’re living in an era where technology finally lets us answer questions our grandparents could only guess at.

Here’s something that might surprise you: surnames became standardized at wildly different times across cultures. European surnames solidified between the 11th-16th centuries, driven by growing populations and taxation needs.

Meanwhile, Chinese surnames date back over 5,000 years, making them some of humanity’s oldest continuous family identifiers. The adoption patterns reveal fascinating insights into social structures—occupational surnames like Smith and Miller dominate Western cultures, while patronymic systems flourished in Scandinavian regions, literally naming children after their fathers generation after generation.

Immigration waves reshaped surname distributions dramatically in the Americas. Colonial influences spread European surnames globally, and modern globalization creates entirely new surname-blending patterns as families merge across cultural boundaries.

Understanding Surname Categories: How Names Were Created

Most common last names fall into four distinct categories, each revealing something different about our ancestors’ lives.

Occupational surnames came from jobs—Smith (blacksmith), Miller (grain miller), Taylor (tailor), and Baker speak to essential medieval professions. These names tell us what skills communities valued most. Trust me, if you’re researching genealogy and find an occupational surname, you’ve got a direct window into what your ancestors did for generations.

Patronymic surnames simply mean “son of” or “daughter of” someone. Johnson (son of John), Williams (son of William), and the Spanish surnames ending in “-ez” all follow this pattern. The fascinating thing here is cultural variation—Scandinavian countries used “-son,” Welsh and English used “-s,” and Spanish used “-ez.”

Topographic surnames describe where someone lived—Hill, Brooks, Wood, Moore. These names paint vivid pictures of the medieval landscape. Imagine being introduced as “John who lives by the green” and eventually that description just becomes your family’s permanent identifier.

Descriptive surnames captured physical characteristics or personality traits—Brown, White, Young, Armstrong. Picture this: a village needs to distinguish between three men named John, so they become John Brown (dark-haired), John White (pale), and John Strong (exceptionally powerful). Eventually those descriptors stick for generations.

Why Certain Surnames Dominated: Historical and Social Factors

Here’s the thing about common surnames—their prevalence isn’t random. Several powerful historical forces created the patterns we see today.

Occupational concentration explains Smith’s overwhelming dominance. Every village needed a blacksmith, but not every village needed a fletcher (arrow maker) or a chandler (candle maker). The more essential the profession, the more people carried that name forward.

Royal and noble influence spread certain names faster than others. When kings and queens popularized names like Henry, Edward, or Elizabeth, their subjects followed suit. The patronymic surnames derived from these names naturally multiplied.

Migration waves reshuffled surname distributions dramatically. The massive 19th and early 20th-century immigration to America brought millions of people whose surnames weren’t common in English-speaking countries but became increasingly visible—Garcia, Nguyen, Kim, and Patel now rank among America’s most common surnames in many regions.

Religious influence can’t be understated. Biblical names—Thomas, Davis (David), Adams—maintained popularity across centuries because Christian communities valued these connections. Similarly, Spanish surnames often reflect Catholic traditions and saints.

Regional Variations in Common Surnames

The beauty of common surnames lies in their regional specificity. What’s ubiquitous in one country might be rare in another.

In Ireland, Murphy and Kelly dominate with distinctly Gaelic origins. Meanwhile, Scotland shows a different pattern with MacDonald, Campbell, and Stewart reflecting clan heritage. Wales has its own top ten, heavily featuring Jones, Williams, Davies, and Evans—all patronymics showing the Welsh preference for this naming style.

Cross the Atlantic, and American surname distributions reflect immigration history beautifully. The Northeast shows strong Irish and Italian influence. The Southwest showcases Hispanic surnames rising rapidly in rankings. The Upper Midwest reveals Scandinavian immigration patterns with Peterson, Anderson, and Carlson appearing frequently.

Asian surnames follow completely different concentration patterns. In China, just 100 surnames cover approximately 85% of the population. Wang alone represents roughly 93 million people. Korea shows similar concentration with Kim, Lee, and Park covering nearly half the population.

Looking for surnames with specific cultural backgrounds? Check out Irish last names or Spanish last names for deeper cultural context.

Practical Tips for Researching Your Common Surname

Having a common surname can feel like a genealogical curse—try finding your John Smith among millions—but I’ve learned some strategies that actually work.

Start specific and work backward. Don’t begin your search with just a surname. Gather every detail—birthdates, locations, middle names, occupations. That “Smith” becomes much more searchable when you know you’re looking for “Robert James Smith, born 1887 in Lancashire, England, worked as a coal miner.”

Use location as your secret weapon. Common surnames often have regional concentrations even when they’re widespread overall. A Miller in Pennsylvania might trace to German immigrants, while a Miller in Massachusetts could have English Puritan roots. Geographic clustering reveals migration patterns that help distinguish your family line.

Embrace DNA testing strategically. When paper trails go cold—which they often do with common surnames—DNA testing through services like AncestryDNA or 23andMe can connect you with genetic cousins who’ve already researched branches of your family tree. I’ve seen this breakthrough countless brick walls.

Check for spelling variations. Common surnames often have multiple spellings that evolved over time or changed during immigration. Smith might appear as Smythe or Smyth. Brown could be Browne. Don’t limit your search to one spelling.

Look beyond the obvious records. Birth, marriage, and death certificates are starting points, but newspapers, city directories, land records, and military records often contain the distinguishing details that separate your ancestor from the dozens of others with identical names.

Join surname-specific groups. Online genealogy communities often have groups dedicated to specific surnames. The collective knowledge of hundreds of researchers investigating the same surname creates an invaluable resource.

The Future of Common Surnames: Emerging Trends

Surname landscapes keep shifting, and current trends suggest fascinating changes ahead.

Hyphenated surnames are growing exponentially, particularly among younger generations who want to preserve both family lines. This creates entirely new surname combinations that might become common in future generations.

Cultural blending through intermarriage creates new surname patterns. Children increasingly carry surnames from diverse cultural backgrounds, slowly shifting what we consider “common” in multicultural societies.

Legal name changes happen more frequently now than in previous generations. People are reclaiming indigenous surnames, adopting chosen surnames that better reflect their identity, or dropping surnames they feel don’t represent them. These individual choices collectively reshape surname statistics over time.

Digital footprints now influence surname perception. A surname that’s common statistically might feel rare if it lacks strong online presence, while surnames of celebrities or influencers might feel more common than they actually are.

For creative surname alternatives beyond the most common, explore cool last names or fantasy last names for inspiration.

Why Common Surnames Matter: More Than Just Statistics

I get it—when you first discover your surname is incredibly common, it might feel disappointing. Where’s the uniqueness, the special family legacy?

But here’s what I’ve learned through years of name research: common surnames connect you to massive historical movements. A common surname means your ancestors were part of essential professions, major migration waves, or culturally significant patterns. That Smith surname? Your ancestors literally built medieval society. That Garcia surname? You’re connected to centuries of Spanish influence across continents.

Common surnames also create unexpected connections. Share your surname with someone, and you’ve got an instant conversation starter, a point of connection across otherwise different lives. These surnames serve as social bridges in ways rare surnames simply can’t.

Most importantly, your surname’s commonness doesn’t define your family’s uniqueness. Every family tree branches differently, every lineage holds distinct stories, and every person bearing even the most common surname writes their own chapter in that name’s ongoing story.

Conclusion: Celebrating Our Shared Naming Heritage

The 100 most common last names represent far more than demographic statistics—they’re living history, cultural artifacts that have survived wars, migrations, social upheavals, and technological revolutions. From Smith to Nguyen, from Murphy to Wang, these surnames connect us to ancestral stories that shaped the modern world.

Whether you carry one of these common surnames or something wonderfully rare, understanding surname origins enriches how we see ourselves and others. These names remind us that we’re all part of larger human stories—stories of survival, adaptation, community, and heritage that stretch back centuries.

What’s your surname story? Take some time to research your family name’s origins, meanings, and geographic roots. You might be surprised what you discover about the people who carried your name through history before passing it on to you. And if you’re working with characters, babies, or pets who need surnames, now you’ve got a comprehensive understanding of the most popular options and the rich stories they carry.

Looking for more naming resources? Explore last names for characters or dive into powerful last names that make strong impressions.

What’s your family surname origin story? Share in the comments below—I’d love to hear which of these common surnames connects to your heritage and what you’ve discovered about your family’s naming journey.