Ever wonder what your last name says about your kinfolk ’s story ? Turns out , some of themost vulgar surnames in the U.S.reveal more than just derivation ; they suggest at migration patterns , moving in and ethnical influence across generations .
Thanks to data from the United States Census Bureau , we can hound how sealed last names rose to the top , and what their origins tell us about American society today .
From European colonist to immigrants from Latin America and Asia , every name carries a global inheritance of personal characteristics , culture and geographics .
1. Smith
The most pop surname in America , " Smith , " is a classic object lesson of a patronymic name bind to occupations . Derived from the Old English watchword " smitan " ( to afflict or strike ) , it originally referred to metalworkers — intend blacksmith , Goldsmith , or locksmiths .
With origin in England , the name became widespread as English - speak settler moved to North America . Today , over 2.4 million Americans bear this name .
2. Johnson
" Johnson " is another powerhouse last name , especially among both blanched andBlack Americans . It ’s a patronymic name meaning " son of John , " a name with Hebrew descent meaning " God is nice . "
It took off during the era of European settlement and by and by became common among enslaved masses who adopted the surnames of their owner or chose common family name after emancipation .
3. Williams
derive from the given name " William , " which come from Teutonic roots think of " resolute protector , " Williams is a common last name among Black Americans .
It hold the No . 3 spot in the U.S. and reflects the historical pattern of adopting cognomen that were comfortable to write , pronounce , and call up after the Civil War .
4. Brown
A name as simple as its colour , " Brown " probably begin as a sobriquet for someone with dark-brown hair , oculus , or article of clothing . It ’s a usual English surname with deep root in both the U.S. and Canada .
For Black Americans , the name became widespread post - emancipation , standardised to Johnson and Williams . The simpleness of its shape help solidify its place as one of the most pop last names .
5. Jones
" Jones " is the Welsh version of " John ’s boy " and has been a top American surname for generation . It ’s especially dominant in DoS with strong Welsh immigrant histories and among Black Americans .
The name offer up a glance into how personal names evolved into family name through the construct of patronymic inheritance .
6. Garcia
Here ’s where Latino last name glow . " Garcia " is the most vulgar Latino surname in the U.S. , holding the No . 6 spot overall .
Originally from the Basque part of Spain , it ’s been carry across Latin America and into the U.S. through waves of migration . Its raise reflects the growing influence and population of Hispanic residential area in the country .
7. Miller
It ’s an instance of how many surnames come from jobs that were decisive to a society ’s survival .
8. Davis
settle down in the Welsh patronymic custom , " Davis " mean " son of David . " It ’s widespread among both whitened and Black Americans and often linked to the same diachronic forces that made name like Williams and Johnson uncouth : English ancestry and post - slavery name selection .
9. Rodriguez
Another entrance make up Hispanic heritage , " Rodriguez " mean " boy of Rodrigo . " With beginning in Spain and deep roots in Latin America , this surname has grown in popularity alongside the rise in the Latino American population . Census information shows its preponderance especially in southwestern U.S. states .
10. Martinez
Yet another uncouth last name among Hispanic Americans , " Martinez " means " Logos of Martin . " It partake structural law of similarity with names like Johnson or Anderson and underscores the influence of Spanish assignment customs duty . As migration continues from Latin America , the name ’s popularity is likely to grow .
11. Lee
" Lee " present a unique intersection of cultures . It ’s both an English surname ( often colligate to geographic features like meadows ) and a Romanization of several Taiwanese family name , most notably 李 ( Li ) .
The gamey frequency of " Lee " among Asian Americans — peculiarly those of Chinese , Korean or Vietnamese origin — establish it one of the most unwashed last name in multicultural America .
12. Gonzalez
Gonzalez , " meaning " son of Gonzalo , " has Visigothic root and is another example of a democratic cognomen carried from Spain to Latin America and into the U.S. Its high frequence among Mexican Americans reflects the broader connexion between surnames and migration itinerary .
13. Hernandez
This Spanish family name , signify " son of Hernando , " is one of the most far-flung Latino names in the U.S. It ’s particularly uncouth in field with big Latin American population .
Hernandez is a vivid good example of how Spanish colonial and ethnic influence shaped the mod American surname landscape .
14. Anderson
deduct from the personal name Andrew , Anderson is a Norse and Scotch patronymic family name that mean " son of Andrew . " It play up in-migration from northern Europe and the adjustment of naming traditions in American society .
15. Thomas
While it might sound like a first name , " Thomas " as a surname has Gallic and English roots . It became vulgar across English - speaking land and offers an example of how first name sometimes became permanent family gens through generations .
16. Moore
" Moore " has several possible blood line , include as a reference to someone who survive near a moor or someone of gloomy complexion . Its far-flung use in the U.S. across dissimilar ethnic groups illustrates how surnames can have multiple meanings and stories behind them .
17. King
A surname like " King " may have originated as a nickname for someone who behaved in a regal personal manner or go in a royal home . It ’s comparatively plebeian in both livid and Black community , serving as another example of surnames derive from personal characteristics or occupations .
18. White
" snowy " often started as a descriptive name for someone with pale complexion or hair . It ’s one of many surnames gain from physical traits and has persisted due to its simplicity and broad pertinence .
19. Thompson
This name intend " Logos of Thom " and represents another variation of the patronymic designation trend . Common among both Americans and Canadians , it ’s rooted in English and Scottish tradition and stress the intergenerational link to ancestors .
20. Nguyen
" Nguyen " is the most common surname in Vietnam and has become one of the most popular surname among Asian Americans , particularly in res publica like California and Texas . It showcases the significant influence of in-migration from Southeast Asia to the U.S. in recent decades .
We created this article in conjunction with AI engineering , then made sure it was fact - checked and edit by a HowStuffWorks editor in chief .
