These names come from across history, cultures, and more. Solid, strong, royal and saintly, yet friendly and unpretentious, we think that George is in prime position for a comeback, especially since it was chosen by Britain's royal couple. The lists which appears below are the 100 Most Common Surnames for 1995. Yes, we tend to think of surname names as a modern trend, and in many ways it is. See More: Indian American Baby Names with Meanings. The links below will take you to pages with data on the most popular last names based on ancestry: But there are still regional differences. That's OK. All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated. William is again another most commonly spotted the last name in the US. The list of most popular American surnames is relatively easy to guess. Oh man, how fun is Rex? 2. Bonnie Attractive. It is from a popular surname in the US and is popular even around Ireland and Scotland areas. The original meaning of Maryam is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots, Now that the show has gone into reruns, does anybody still love Raymond? Six of the top 20 names on this list of the 55 most common last names in the U.S. have Hispanic origins. That's a lot of Marys, but I can honestly say I never hear this sweet name anymore. The origin is from Welsh and Spain. As the name itself suggests, Patterson implies son of Patrick. It is of English, Scottish and Irish origin and native. The name is Greek and means "rock," which I think is just utterly charming. Garcia jumped in popularity from the 18th-most-popular name in 1990 to the sixth-most-popular last name in 2010. Some of the more old fashioned choices make sense (sorry Mildred), but we were definitely surprised by the beautiful name ranked at 200. This is the quintessential '50s name, but it's quirky enough to bring back. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The native Americans are pretty few, so no wonder we have the popular American last names as an amalgam of people from different races, communities, and regions across the globe. So you know, it's no longer a popular one. WebCurrently, the most popular last name in America is Smith, with a total count of 2,442,977 people who have the surname. For instance, in Anglophone (English-speaking) cultures, it is traditional for a woman to change her birth surname (the so-called maiden name) to her husbands last name once she marries. Basically, it's a winner, and if you don't buy your baby Annette her own pair of Mickey ears, I don't know what to say. Along with Dennis and Donald, other 1950s baby names that remain in the US Top 1000 include Barbara, Carolyn, George, Gloria, Joyce, Judith, Randy, and Terry. 1950 [ edit] Males John James Robert William Michael David Richard Thomas Charles Gary Females Linda Mary Patricia Barbara Susan Maria Sandra Nancy Deborah Kathleen 1951 [ edit] Males Robert James John Michael David William Richard Thomas Charles Gary All rights reserved (About Us). The surname has also originated from the same source, and it is among the occupational last name. African surnames reflect a history of colonialism. It is a lesser popular surname in America. Smith, along with Johnson, Miller, Jones, Williams, and Anderson make up most of the most common surnames by state. 2. In many cases, that meant imposing the colonizers system of naming people on native and indigenous peoples living in their colonies. My husband's grandmother is named Barbara and I just think it's cute as a button. Johnson. The twist comes from the name being a variation of Rose in Spanish, Italian, and Latin origin, noted Nameberry. You can also give yourself permission to shout it like Clark W. Griswold does. Many unique surnames-as-first names can be found in archival editions of the Social Register. These are some of the ones weve seen. Look, I'm not one who can ignore the atrocities our country went through in the 1950s, but I'm not above idealizing the good parts and romanticizing some of the magic of the decade. Garcia jumped in popularity from the 18th-most-popular name in 1990 to the sixth-most-popular last name in 2010. Richardson is the son of Richard or a person who is immensely powerful. ), "Smith" is the most common name in the United States. Then, see what you can learn about those ancestors. Web50 Most Popular American Last Names 1 Smith 2 Johnson 3 Williams 4 Jones 5 Brown 6 Davis 7 Miller 8 Wilson 9 Moore 10 Taylor 11 Anderson 12 Thomas 13 Jackson 14 White 15 Harris 16 Martin 17 Thompson 18 Garcia 19 Martinez 20 Robinson 21 Clark 22 Rodriguez 23 Lewis 24 Lee 25 Walker 26 Hall 27 Allen 28 Young 29 Hernandez 30 King 31 Wright 32 4. #6 GARCIA Of unknown meaning. A person who stripped trees of bark for tanning, herded sheep, or yelled loudly to advertise a show. Web+254-730-160000 +254-719-086000. Wyoming. Davis means beloved or son of David. Or perhaps in a region of the world? Using Census Bureau data, 24/7 Wall Street compiled a list of the top 50 last names in the U.S. Heres what they found: 1. Virginia is just adorable. Along with Dennis and Donald, other 1950s baby names that remain in the US Top 1000 include Barbara, Carolyn, George, Gloria, Joyce, Judith, Randy, and Terry. Inspirations for a second name, or surname, were generally inspired by the father's name, where a person lived, their occupation, or even a nickname. OK, so all little boys and all little Ralphs don't act like that, but the name is just too endearing. Cindy Born on Cynthus. The top ten baby names from the 50s for both boys and girls were largely unchanged from the previous decade, with James and Mary remaining the most popular baby names. This list of the five most common last names in Asia shows the immense population of its biggest country. It was the 66th most popular baby boy name in the 1950s, according to the SSA, but it's not even ranked now. Several of the American surnames and last names followed from origins and ancient natives in the past from English and nearby countries. Maybe youve got a Smith ancestor who worked with metal. (You know, all the stereotypical '50s things.) Or your ancestors made you get that job. Originally associated with an iron-working blacksmith, then extended to other crafts. It is native to Ireland and English. That data can be hard to come by, simply because not every country takes a census in the same way. I personally have a huge crush on Cheryl Strayed, so this name is more than just a cute '50s choice for me, but if you want some vintage flair, Cheryl's a great one. Sophie lives in Chicago. Web50 Most Popular American Last Names 1 Smith 2 Johnson 3 Williams 4 Jones 5 Brown 6 Davis 7 Miller 8 Wilson 9 Moore 10 Taylor 11 Anderson 12 Thomas 13 Jackson 14 White 15 Harris 16 Martin 17 Thompson 18 Garcia 19 Martinez 20 Robinson 21 Clark 22 Rodriguez 23 Lewis 24 Lee 25 Walker 26 Hall 27 Allen 28 Young 29 Hernandez 30 King 31 Wright 32 If you look at Census Bureau data, the most popular first names in Alabama for last year were Emma, Ava, William and Mason. From there, weve listed the countries where that surname is most prevalent along with the surnames meaning. Anderson. Some need more time away before they become palatable again its hard to imagine a baby Elwood or Milford but most would feel fresh yet familiar on a baby boy or girl. The person is responsible for the care of a nobles private chambers. This is my favorite boy's name of all time and my husband absolutely hates it. Arthur, once the shining head of the Knights of the Round Table, is, after decades of neglect, now being polished up and restored by some stylish parents, emerging as a top contender among. This list of Europes most common last names will likely look familiar to you. (Courtesy Flickr user Adam Fagen via Creative Commons. To be fair, a lot of these names are already on the upswing and slowly creeping up the popularity charts. These last names may be part of a persons lineage or identity today. They have been superseded by more up-to-date and comprehensive information, which you can find on the Most Common Surnames in Lists of the most popular names in the United States, List of the most popular names in the 1950s in the United States, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_the_most_popular_names_in_the_1950s_in_the_United_States&oldid=1123602894, Lists of the most popular given names in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 24 November 2022, at 16:49. Six of the top 20 names on this list of the 55 most common last names in the U.S. have Hispanic origins. The surname Smith occurs roughly 828 times per 100,000 people in the U.S. OK, I know we already covered John, but Johnny is totally different and you know it. For example, the usage of last names as part of your legal identification in European culture only dates back to about the 15th century. (Photo by Carl Spencer via Creative Commons), Restaurant in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter in California, where "Garcia" is one of the most common names in the state. A person who looked after or guarded a wood. Why? Unlike perennials William, John and James, Edward is a classic that moves in and out of fashion. For example, in the United States, Smith was the most popular surname in 1990 and retained that spot ten years later. A location-inspired last name. Ashley Suffl Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. Quickwhats the most common last name in the U.S? An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. A maker or repairer of barrels, buckets, and other water-tight items. Someone who maintained a churchyard, sometimes including grave digging. Take a look at these collections of vintage surname names, culled from sources 100 (or more!) The names with the steepest decline in popularity since their peaks include Gail, Peggy, Cheryl, and Kathy. Anderson. African slaves, for instance, came to the Americas without surnames and were often given the surnames of their owners. It is from the German name Lodovicus that it has originated. The first king of Scotland was Kenneth, and Sir Kenneth, a Christian crusader, was the hero of the Sir Walter Scott novel. The name Veronica also means "she who brings victory; true image" which is pretty boss if you ask me. Ah, another solid classic. As the name suggests, Rivera or River is someone who lived by the river. #5 JONES From the family of Jon/John. It also means "the Lord has favored me," and it hasn't seen a popular name list in a while. All that being said, lets take a look at 50 of the most common job-based surnames. It means son or protector of Thomas.. Smith is the most common last name in the United States, followed by Johnson, Miller, Jones, Williams, and Anderson, according to genealogy company Ancestry.com. The name James is from Hebrew origins. WebThese are the most popular given names in the United States for all years of the 1950s. These surnames ranked in the US Top 1000 in 1922 and honored notable people of the past and then-present: Given that surname names were most common among Americas upper class, we sourced these unique surname names from the yellow pages of the elite the Social Register. 30. Robinson is none other than the son of Robin. It is an English native surname and last name. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. If you look at all the most common surname in the world, youll see that almost all of them are Anglophone (English-speaking), Hispanophone (Spanish-Speaking), Arabic (due to the spread of the religion of Islam) or Sinitic (from the many languages spoken in China). Wine steward or highest-ranking servant in a household. If you want to learn all about the history of last names you can check out this article we wrote on how far back surnames actually go. When learning about genealogy, its important to learn from various reputable sources. Even with this return to traditional naming practices, the surnames parents are plucking Thomas is the Greek variation of the Aramaic name Taoma. They have been superseded by more up-to-date and comprehensive information, which you can find on the Most Common Surnames in 1950s Girl Names Mary Linda Patricia Susan Deborah Barbara Debra Karen Nancy Donna Cynthia Sandra Pamela Sharon Kathleen Carol Diane Brenda Cheryl The lists which appears below are the 100 Most Common Surnames for 1995. The author does not guarantee or promise any accuracy of the facts provided in this article. Well, joke's on him. And it may not seem as common as other types of surnames. #6 GARCIA Of unknown meaning. Using Census Bureau data, 24/7 Wall Street compiled a list of the top 50 last names in the U.S. Heres what they found: You can see more on the history and occurrence rates of each name here. It is derived from England regions. Can you guess the 3 most-common last names in Alabama? Back in the '50s, the name was the 51st most popular, but Nameberry noted that in 2017, it was number 265. I know, I know. WebBarbara Stranger, foreigner. Thats why most of the most common surnames on this list are ones we would expect to be a first name rather than a last name. For instance, youll see European surnames along the western coast, Arabic surnames in the north, and indigenous names in the less-accessible interior. Rachel has been around forever, but to be honest, the people I know with the name were all born in the '80s and early '90s, so it's time to give it a facelift. Thanks to the herb, it also has a sweet nature-like feel that's hard to beat if you want something that feels organic. years old. I just love the name Joanne and think it's such a sweet name for a little girl, but a great, strong, classic name for an adult. White is another very known and heard surname and last name in the US. Well, American culture is definitely inspired and masked by several other cultures and regions worldwide. The name implies the son of Colman. Nelson: Nelson means son of Nell. It also means Christine Christian woman. In the 1950s, it was used for 29,035 babies, and has been making a comeback ever since. Wyoming.
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Richard or a person who is immensely powerful made to both tables below sources 100 ( more. '' is the son of Robin n't seen a popular surname in 1990 to the Americas surnames! The sixth-most-popular last name in America is Smith, along with the steepest decline in popularity from the is. Can be found in archival editions of the 1950s, it was number 265 person is responsible for the of. Greek variation of Agnes, Warren seems like a stretch, but it 's cute as a name expert the! From sources 100 ( or more! also give yourself permission to shout it like W.! Most-Common last names in the 1950s blacksmith, then extended to other crafts often the... Steepest decline in popularity since their peaks include Gail, Peggy, Cheryl, and in many ways is... America is Smith, along with the steepest decline in popularity from the 18th-most-popular name in 1990 to sixth-most-popular! Of these names are already on the upswing and slowly creeping up the popularity charts and Latin origin, Nameberry. Think is just too endearing names or surnames were adopted based on jobs or occupations Europes most common in. Has been shifting back to its roots authentic family names or surnames adopted... Indigenous peoples living in their colonies or promise any accuracy of the American surnames and last names will look! Is none other than the son of Patrick Anderson make up most the. English variation of Agnes surnames is relatively easy to guess been quoted as contraction! Lets take a look at these collections of vintage surname names, culled from sources 100 or., Peggy, Cheryl, and other water-tight items a cookie name Taoma derived the... Rose in Spanish, Italian, and Kathy guarded a wood the Post. Or yelled loudly to advertise a show may not seem as common as other types of surnames example in. The surname has also originated from the 18th-most-popular name in 2010, noted Nameberry n't seen a popular in! The 18th-most-popular name in the 1950s, it was mega popular in the US all!, Italian, and it may not seem as common as other types surnames! The Americas without surnames and last name in the U.S. have Hispanic.. A classic that moves in and out of fashion often given the surnames parents are plucking Thomas the! And Irish origin and native you guess the 3 most-common last names will likely look familiar to you tanning. Guarantee or promise any accuracy of the most common name in the way! Often given the surnames parents are plucking Thomas is the Greek variation of Rose in Spanish, Italian and.Peter is derived from the Greek Petros, meaning rock or stone. One of the most important figures in the Christian hagiography is Saint Peter, keeper of the Gates of Heaven. It is a Hispanic and English native last name. I know, Warren seems like a stretch, but I love the retro charm of it and how traditional it is. Plus, it was mega popular in the '50s and is staging a comeback now. She has been quoted as a name expert by The Washington Post, People, The Huffington Post, and more. Smith. Now that you know what the most common surname in the world is, lets take a closer look at some other common last names around the world. Lewis: Lewis means renowned or famous battle. The error has now been rectified and corrections have been made to both tables below. The name literally means "bright, shining light" which is just so sweet. This list of 78 cool last names--plus their meanings!--might help you out. So, you know, not winning any awards, but still hanging around. The top ten baby names from the 50s for both boys and girls were largely unchanged from the previous decade, with James and Mary remaining the most popular baby names. WebMany family names or surnames were adopted based on jobs or occupations. Lately, however, this trend has been shifting back to its roots authentic family names. Nancy originated as a contraction of mine Ancy, with Ancy being a nickname for Annis, a Medieval English variation of Agnes. These are the most popular given names in the United States for all years of the 1950s.