200+ Most Common Last Names (With Meanings)
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.”
Abbott – father or priest
Acevedo – grove of holly trees
Acosta – near the coast
Adams – son of Adam (man)
Ainsworth – estate associated with Ains
Alford – ford near the river
Allison – son of Allen
Alston – stone settlement
Andersen – son of Anders
Ashley – ash tree meadow
Atkinson – son of Atkin
Austin – great, venerable
Baker – bread maker
Ballard – brave or bold
Banks – dweller by riverbanks
Barrett – bear strength
Beard – hair on the face
Beck – stream or brook
Becker – barley maker
Bellamy – beautiful friend
Benton – bent grass settlement
Bishop – overseer of church
Blackwell – dark stream
Bollinger – dweller by the spring
Boone – blessing or good
Bradbury – broad fort
Briggs – near the bridge
Brock – badger or strong hill
Brown – dark complexion or hair
Bryce – speckled, freckled
Buchanan – canon’s house
Bullock – young bull
Burns – by the stream
Byrne – brown-skinned
Calhoun – narrow river bend
Carlson – son of Carl
Carter – cart driver
Cash – marsh dwellers
Cobb – bold leader
Cole – charcoal; dark
Conway – holy river
Cook – maker of food
Cooper – barrel maker
Cousins – relative, kinsman
Crawford – crow ford
Cummings – descendant of Cummin
Curtis – polite or courteous
Davidson – son of David
Decker – roof worker
Delaney – slender river dweller
Dennis – follower of Dionysus
Dillon – loyal; faithful
Donovan – dark; brave
Dorsey – from the gorse hill
Doughty – brave; resolute
Dudley – meadow of Dudda
Duncan – dark warrior
Dunn – brown or swarthy
Eastman – dweller to the east
Eaton – settlement by the river
Fenton – marsh town
Fisher – fisherman
Fletcher – arrow maker
Forbes – field or forest
Forrest – woods dweller
Fowler – bird catcher
Fox – cunning; fox-like
Francis – French or free man
Franks – French people
Freeman – free man
Fuller – cloth worker
Gallagher – foreign helper
Galloway – stranger or exile
Garrett – spear strength
Gibson – son of Gibb
Gilbert – bright pledge
Giles – young goat
Gordon – great hill
Grant – large or great
Gray – grey hair or complexion
Greene – green grass dweller
Griffin – strong lord
Guzman – nobleman
Hale – hero; healthy
Haley – hay clearing
Hamilton – beautiful hill
Hanson – son of Hans
Harris – son of Harry
Hartman – strong as a hart (stag)
Hawkins – son of Hawk
Hayes – hedged area
Henderson – son of Hendry
Higgins – descendant of Higgin
Hill – dweller by the hill
Holland – land of holly
Holmes – near islands or holly
Houston – Hugh’s town
Hudson – son of Hud
Hughes – heart, mind, spirit
Irvine – green water
Jarvis – spear servant
