100 Most Common Last Names in The US: Data For 2025

Your last name says more than you think. It traces centuries of movement and even reveals entire migration patterns! For example, two Hispanic surnames, Garcia and Rodriguez, broke into the top 10 most common last names in the United States. This rise shows significant demographic changes and means that naming trends follow the story of migration. Here are the top 5 most popular last names in the US today:

1. Smith – 2,537,726 individuals
2. Johnson – 1,947,213 individuals
3. Williams – 1,678,901 individuals
4. Brown – 1,549,832 individuals
5. Jones – 1,443,019 individuals

Some names reflect English roots carried across the Atlantic in the 1600s. Others, like Nguyen and Garcia, reflect newer waves of movement in modern America. In this article, we'll go beyond counting the names; we'll take a close look at where these last names came from and what they tell us about the country.

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Statistics About Common Last Names in the US

Every last name tells a story, but the data shows us which ones dominate. The 2025 records show that the most common American last names have roots in English and Spanish-speaking cultures, and they also reveal that Asian-origin surnames are on the rise.

• Approximately 16.5% of Americans shared the top 100 surnames.
• Six of the 15 most common last names in the United States are already of Spanish-language origin
• Nguyen has climbed the charts in recent years and now outranks many old-school European surnames. This shows how much the immigration patterns have changed the country. 
• Names like Kim and Patel have also seen a sharp rise over the past 20 years, reflecting the growth of Korean and Indian communities across the U.S.
• Surnames like Smith, Baker, and Taylor (all rooted in traditional job titles) are still holding onto their place in American naming history.

Where Do The Most Common American Last Names Come From?

Names like Smith, Garcia, Nguyen, and O’Connor don’t land on the same list by accident. They were brought here by generations of people building new lives in the U.S. Many of the most familiar names (Johnson, Brown, Taylor) have English origins. Some came from old professions like tailoring or blacksmithing, while others were based on family lineage, like “son of John.”

Irish and Scottish names (Murphy, Kelly, Campbell...) became more common when waves of immigrants arrived in the 1800s, especially during the Irish famine. So did the German names like Miller, Schmidt, and Meyer, after millions of Germans settled across the U.S. during that same period.

Hispanic surnames like Garcia, Martinez, and Lopez tell a newer story. These names have steadily climbed the rankings in recent decades because they were fueled by immigration from Latin America and growing Latino communities with strong family ties.

You’ll also see names like Washington, Harris, and Jackson, which are common among African Americans. Many of these names were adopted during or after slavery: taken from slaveholders or chosen as a way to reclaim identity.

Then there are Nguyen, Kim, and Patel: names that reflect more recent immigration from Vietnam, Korea, and India. Their rise shows the growing number of Asian-American families in the country today.

How American Surnames Have Evolved Over Time

American surnames have never really been fixed. Thanks to immigration and cultural blending, they've changed a lot over the years. Some names rose in popularity as communities grew, while others faded or were changed entirely. For example, when families arrived in the U.S. generations ago, many chose to simplify their names or had them changed for them. Long or hard-to-pronounce names were often shortened or switched for their anglicized versions. For example:

• Schwarz became Black
• Di Giovanni turned into DeJohn
• Kowalski was sometimes shortened to Cole

These shifts happened because people needed to find a place in a country that made it easier to fit in if their name sounded more "American." At the same time, some surnames started climbing up. As we already said, some Hispanic names have seen a rise in rankings over the past few decades due to the growth of Latino communities.

Other names, especially ones with Eastern European or German roots, have become less common. That didn't happen because people disappeared, but because names were changed or lost along the way. There are a few key reasons for surname popularity changes over time:

• Immigrant families adjusting their names to fit in
• Name changes after marriage or hyphenated names
• Cultural shifts and identity changes
• Population growth in Latino, Asian, and multiracial communities

Interesting Facts About US Last Names

Most people know a Smith or a Johnson. But America is full of surprises in more ways than one: names with wild backstories and multiple origins you wouldn't expect. Let's go beyond the common surnames and take a look at some unusual facts about last names in the U.S.:

Rare Last Names with Surprising Stories

Some last names in the U.S. feel so unexpected, they make you pause and take a second look. They're real, though, and many have fascinating roots.

• Pea: This is a legitimate surname that shows up in U.S. census records. It likely came from the French name Dupuis or an English place name, but many people confuse it with the vegetable.
• Shakespeare: Yes, there are families in the U.S. with the last name Shakespeare. It’s rare, but it exists, and it’s often passed down by families proud of the literary legacy.
• Clutterbuck: It might sound like a made-up name from a comedy sketch, but Clutterbuck is a real British surname that has shown up in historical records.
• Featherstonehaugh: This one looks like a tongue-twister but is pronounced “Fanshaw.” It’s another old British name that occasionally turns up in American archives.

Last Names with More Than One Origin

Some surnames don’t fit neatly into one box. They could trace back to different cultures and even meanings, depending on the family.

• Glass: This name might come from someone who worked with glass, but it also shows up in German-Jewish families and in Gaelic, where it means “green” or “gray.”
• Fox: This English last name also has Irish roots (Ó Sionnaigh) and even turns up in some Native American naming traditions.

Names That Came From Jobs or Places

Back when surnames were first becoming a thing, a lot of them described what you did or where you lived. Some of those have stuck and are still used today.

• Pickleman: This one’s exactly what it sounds like: someone who made or sold pickles. You don’t hear it much anymore, but it’s out there.
• Wainwright: This name means “wagon builder.” It’s rare now, but it was once carried by workers in early American towns and villages.
• Sidebottom: Originally, this referred to someone living in a valley beneath a hill.

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What Last Names Can Tell Us

A last name can tell you much more than you realize. Once you start digging into the origins of the most common American surnames, you'll find stories about immigration, family history, and even old jobs. Here's what to keep in mind:

• Names like Garcia, Rodriguez, and Martinez have jumped in the rankings over the past few decades as Hispanic communities grew across the U.S.
• Some last names have multiple meanings or origins. For example, Lee could be Chinese, Korean, or English depending on the family.
• Many names started out as job titles (Smith, Cooper) or place names (Hill, Brooks) and stuck around for centuries.
• A few rare ones like Clutterbuck or Pickleman have managed to survive.

If you're writing about the development of American culture or anything related to people's roots, data about surnames can be valuable for your work. And if you ever need help connecting the dots, EssayHub's write my essay services make it easier to turn interesting details into well-written papers.