100 Most Common Last Names
Last names often tell a story—a story about ancestry, geography, or occupation.
Some surnames are common across distances that can vary across cultures, sometimes with entirely different histories.
Tracing through the medieval trades, even noble lineages, or ancient places, common names reveal surprising information about our history.
Here we will consider the meanings behind some of the most common surnames worldwide and how they gained popularity.
Who knows? You just may learn something about your last name.
Most Common last names
Smith – Occupational name for a blacksmith (Old English).
Johnson – “Son of John” (Hebrew origin, meaning “God is gracious”).
Williams – “Son of William” (Germanic origin, meaning “resolute protector”).
Brown – Derived from a nickname for someone with brown hair or complexion (Old English).
Jones – “Son of John” (Welsh origin).
Garcia – Of Basque origin, possibly meaning “young” or “bear.”
Miller – Occupational name for someone who worked in a mill (Old English).
Davis – “Son of David” (Hebrew origin, meaning “beloved”).
Rodriguez – “Son of Rodrigo” (Spanish origin, meaning “famous ruler”).
Martinez – “Son of Martín” (Latin origin, from Mars, the Roman god of war).
Anderson – “Son of Andrew” (Greek origin, meaning “manly” or “brave”).
Taylor – Occupational name for a tailor (Old French origin).
Thomas – From the Aramaic name meaning “twin.”
Hernandez – “Son of Hernando” (Spanish origin, meaning “bold voyager”).
Moore – Derived from a place name meaning “marshland” (Old English).
Jackson – “Son of Jack” (English origin, meaning “God is gracious”).
White – Originally a nickname for someone with white hair or pale complexion.
Harris – “Son of Harry” (Germanic origin, meaning “home ruler”).
Clark – Occupational name for a clerk or scholar (Latin origin).
Lewis – Derived from a Germanic name meaning “renowned warrior.”
Walker – Occupational name for someone who walked on cloth to thicken it (Old English).
Hall – Derived from someone who lived near or worked in a large house or hall.
Allen – Of Celtic origin, meaning “handsome” or “rock.”
Young – Nickname for a younger person or junior in a family (Old English).
King – Originally a nickname for someone who acted like a king or served a king.
Wright – Occupational name for a craftsman or builder (Old English).
Lopez – “Son of Lope” (Spanish origin, meaning “wolf”).
Hill – From someone who lived on or near a hill (Old English).
Scott – Originally a name for someone from Scotland.
Green – Nickname for someone who lived near a grassy area or was youthful.
Adams – “Son of Adam” (Hebrew origin, meaning “man” or “earth”).
Baker – Occupational name for a baker (Old English).
Gonzalez – “Son of Gonzalo” (Spanish origin, meaning “battle” or “war”).
Nelson – “Son of Neil” (Irish and Scandinavian origin, meaning “champion”).
Carter – Occupational name for a transporter of goods by cart (Old English).
Mitchell – From the Hebrew name Michael, meaning “Who is like God?”
Perez – “Son of Pedro” (Spanish origin, meaning “rock” or “stone”).
Roberts – “Son of Robert” (Germanic origin, meaning “bright fame”).
Phillips – “Son of Philip” (Greek origin, meaning “lover of horses”).
Evans – “Son of Evan” (Welsh origin, a form of John, meaning “God is gracious”).
Turner – Occupational name for someone who worked with a lathe (French origin).
Torres – “Towers” in Spanish, referring to someone who lived near a tower.
Parker – Occupational name for a gamekeeper (Old French).
Collins – “Son of Colin” (Greek origin, meaning “victory of the people”).
Edwards – “Son of Edward” (Old English origin, meaning “wealthy guardian”).
Stewart – Occupational name for a steward or caretaker (Scottish origin).
Flores – “Flowers” in Spanish, possibly a nickname for a cheerful person.
Morris – Derived from the Latin Mauritius, meaning “dark-skinned” or “Moorish.”
Murphy – From the Irish Ó Murchadha, meaning “descendant of Murchadh” (sea warrior).
Cook – Occupational name for a cook or chef (Old English).
Bell – Occupational name for a bell ringer or maker (Old English).
Bryant – Derived from the Old Breton name Brian, meaning “noble” or “strong.”
Campbell – Scottish name meaning “crooked mouth” (Gaelic: Caimbeul).
Chavez – Spanish surname meaning “keys,” possibly referring to a locksmith.
Cruz – Spanish name meaning “cross,” often of religious significance.
Daniels – “Son of Daniel” (Hebrew origin, meaning “God is my judge”).
Dixon – “Son of Dick” (Richard), meaning “brave ruler” (Germanic origin).
Fisher – Occupational name for a fisherman (Old English).
Ford – Refers to someone who lived near a river crossing (Old English).
Foster – Occupational name for a foster parent or someone who maintained forests.
Graham – Scottish surname meaning “gravelly homestead.”
Griffin – Welsh name meaning “strong lord.”
Gutierrez – “Son of Gutierre” (Spanish origin, meaning “ruler of the army”).
Harper – Occupational name for a harp player (Old English).
Hawkins – Possibly means “little hawk” or “son of Hawk” (Old English).
Henderson – “Son of Henry” (Germanic origin, meaning “home ruler”).
Holland – Originally a geographic surname for someone from the Netherlands or an English region of the same name.
Holmes – From Old English holm, meaning “island” or “river meadow.”
Howell – Welsh name meaning “eminent” or “distinguished.”
Hunt – Occupational name for a hunter (Old English).
Jenkins – “Son of Jenkin,” a diminutive of John (Hebrew origin, meaning “God is gracious”).
Kelley – Irish surname meaning “descendant of Ceallach” (bright-headed or warlike).
Kennedy – Irish surname meaning “helmet-headed” or “ugly head.”
Knight – Occupational name for a servant or soldier (Old English).
Lambert – Germanic surname meaning “bright land” or “famous land.”
Lawrence – Derived from the Latin Laurentius, meaning “from Laurentum” (a city in ancient Rome).
Little – Nickname for a small or younger person.
Long – Descriptive name for a tall person.
Lynch – Irish surname meaning “descendant of Loingseach” (mariner or warrior).
Marshall – Occupational name for a horse servant or military commander (Old French).
Mason – Occupational name for a stoneworker (Old French and Old English).
Matthews – “Son of Matthew” (Hebrew origin, meaning “gift of God”).
McCarthy – Irish surname meaning “loving” or “charitable.”
McDonald – Scottish surname meaning “son of Donald” (world ruler).
Mendez – “Son of Mendo” (Spanish origin, meaning “knowledge” or “sacrifice”).
Miles – Derived from the Germanic Milo, meaning “gracious” or “merciful.”
Morales – Spanish surname meaning “mulberry trees” or someone who lived near them.
Navarro – Spanish surname meaning “from Navarre” (a region in Spain).
Neal – Irish and Scottish surname derived from Niall, meaning “champion” or “cloud.”
Norris – Originally meant “northerner” (Old French and English).
Ortega – Spanish surname derived from ortiga, meaning “nettle” (a type of plant).
Palmer – Occupational name for a pilgrim who carried palm branches.
Patrick – Derived from Latin Patricius, meaning “nobleman.”
Payne – Derived from Latin paganus, meaning “villager” or “country dweller.”
Ramirez – “Son of Ramiro” (Spanish origin, meaning “wise and famous”).
Reed – Nickname for someone with red hair or ruddy complexion.
Rios – Spanish surname meaning “rivers.”
Sanders – “Son of Alexander” (Greek origin, meaning “defender of the people”).
Silva – Portuguese and Spanish surname meaning “forest” or “woodland.”
Vargas – Spanish surname possibly meaning “steep slope” or “hut.”
