A person’s last name is what connects them to their past. Someone’s last name is what gives them a sense of identity, individuality, and family pride. There are countless last names in the United States today, but what is the most popular last name?
There are 2,772,200 Smiths living in the US as of the 2000 US Census, making it the most common last name. Everyone’s met a Smith. They’re everywhere. Some famous Smiths include Emmett Smith of Dallas Cowboys fame and Joseph Smith founder of the popular Mormon religion. John Smith was on one of the first ships to land and make settlement in Jamestown, VA, before falling in love with Native American princess Pocahontas. No Smith has been to the moon yet, but you can bet that they one day will.
Name Population
Smith 2,772,200
Johnson 2,232,100
Williams 1,926,200
Jones 1,711,200
Brown 1,711,200
Everyone has a last name, unless you are Madonna or Prince, in which case you are too good for last names. Smith is the most popular last name in the United States, and having a last name is much more popular than not having one.
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{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
i think common names are boring all the smiths, johnsons, williams, jones and browns should all go out and change there names to interesting ones; that suit there personalilty
my last name is thornton! lol i have alot of famous peoples last name if i were related to them i would be like send ure long lost nephew some money$$$ lol
My lastname is Smith, and even though its the most popular last name in U.S, i woudnt go and change it.
i mean, why should i?
I disagree, a hundred percent. Your last name defines who you are. Also, learn your grammer it’s “their personality” not “there”.
It's grammar, Katie.
Well Iam a Smith and I love my last name, I dont like any last name for myself than Smith, everyone tells me either not to get married or not change my name.
I’m happy to say that my last name is unique and beautiful ^-^ but seriously, any name with those last names just sounds bland. Like, nearly every name will work with them, but none of them have anything special to them. I could be Liz Brown or Liz Williams, but that’s just too boring, which is why I took my mom’s last name
(she kept it when she married my dad and then I got her name. cool or what!)
I have a so-called “lame” last name and I am for from lame! Your name does not define you, you do.
I think that this is dumb everyone is talking about last names…your last name really means nothing. Why would you change it to give more personality? That sounds like alot of worthless effort. Your born with it so keep it, not a big deal. P.S Katie, Chloe probably doesn’t care if she spelt “their” wrong FYI
My last name is smith. I HATE IT. alot of my friends have the same last name. i just get tired of every body having the same last name as me.
Every time someone finds out my name, they’re like “Oh, what a cool name!” I love my last name. And I think the popular last names aren’t very cool. Although it’s easy to give a baby a first name when your last name is “Smith” or “Jones” etc. I am proud of my name, and I think everyone should. And you should always live up to your name.
my last name is unique (i guess) “camby” but even if i did have one of those names up there i would never change it, it means something and has a past to it.
My Last Name Is Giordano And There Is Many Ways To Pronounce It But It’s Like Me Unpredictable!!!
Pronounced:Jordano
I absolutely LOVE my last name. It’s extremely rare, and it often sparks conversations. The problem is that my stinky husband’s last namy is JONES (ewwww). I know it’s not that bad, but I really love my name. I’ve been fighting to keep it, and it has worked for the last year, but I’m running out of ideas. I guess I just have to figure something out.
my last name is jones!!!!!!!!!!
my last name is jones and i wouldn’t want a different name. You was born with the name. i mean your grandparents and great grandparents had the name.
I personally would prefer a cool sounding last name like Firedragon or Thunderbringer, rather than Smith or Jones.
payton demechko in your faces
daniel buck unorigional
nair is my last name.
even if its a popular last name(atleast in the place where i come from..) im not going to change it..
ITS FREAKIN AWESOME MANN!
like..yeah u can make fun of it too..
Nair? isnt that a hair remover cream?
Katie- before you rip on Chloe for having poor grammar, check your spelling. Just a thought.
wow who cares your name is not what defines you it is your personality and your action. Your last name is the name of your ancestry. You should keep it the same if you truly feel strong enough about changing a name then change you first name which is the real name that defines you.
I like some of the more UNcommon names, personally. Like Dumm, Shaver, Pifer, Vonner, Christ. I actually have a friend who’s last name is Christ! You don’t pronounce it like Jesus Christ, though.
It would be cool to know that somebody is a jerk, honest, stupid, a genius, has no sense of humor, etc. just by their names, but I am afraid it is not possible. The way things are is that your last name was practically somebody else’s first name, and it worked fine for them. If you have to, change your own name–your first name.
Your name is just an identifier so you will not be confused with others (mostly) but not a personal profile. Why would you care if people who do not know you could not tell who you were by your name?
i like my last name that is stewart but no one know that is one of the most importants last names in usa and england
my last name is Smith,, and i think there areups and downs to it ….. no1 is going to say it wrong, i lik my nicknam smitty but bad is there are alot of smittys and if u get stopped by a cop or teacher they always say that sounds lik a john smith r u lyin gets me mad wonder how my dad john smith feels
I think that it doesn’t matter what your last name is because whatever it is, it is what it is, and I don’t think that you should go and change it. I mean, it was what you were born with. For example, if you have brown hair, and you were born with it, and it’s fine, but blonde hair would look good, but it’s not you, why would you change it? And what if you couldn’t go back to being a brunette ever?
Everyone who said that these names are boring should rethink that statement. These names are popular because they have history and are connected to many different characters throughout the world. My last name is Johnson and I love it because it mean something special, despite whatever you DiCaprios and Van Allens think. A name does not define what kind of personality you have, but where your kin has come from. If one would change it to make their last name “better”, it would just feel like one is getting plastic surgery.
I like my last name. Johnson my be common but I have a unique first name so it makes up for it. Your name doesn’t have anything to do with who you are as a person.
well i think my last name and first name are pretty unique, and i would never change them. hmmm….that didn’t really have much to do with the conversation.
my last name is terry and i wouldn’t change it unless i was getting married.just because its not the most common last name doesnt mean i should be like everyone else and go get a last name like brown,smith,or any other popular last name. and you people need to get your facts right! way more people have the last name jackson than jones like c’mon!!!!!!!!!!!!!
who cares what your first name is you dont get to pick it so deal with it your first name is what tell your personallidy my last name was kalinoski but every one calls me kali.
I love my last name and alot of people are interested when they hear it. Its Lopez, and whats even cooler is that my mum’s name is Jennifer.. Jennifer Lopez! No joke!
I LOVE MY LAST NAME and IT’S SMITH(: my name is CHLOE BIANCA FRANCES SMITH
yeah! I LOVE IT! and I’M VERY PROUD OF IT! except for it being the most popular last name in US:)
MY last name is Cayton, there really aren’t that many people with my “rather unique” last name, and in Indiana most of us are related. Does anyone out there also have our last name? I’d really be interested to connect with others that I would (possibly) be related to, also more of our family history. reach me at carolynlarsson1960@yahoo.com Waiting to hear…..
I hate my first and last name, i do like my middle name. But i mean Maxine Lyn Schademan! get real im not 50!
In Iloilo, Philippines the first letter of the last name is the same as the first letter of the town where someone was born
What is in a name? That in wich we call a rose by any other name will still smell as sweet.
i think my last name and first is wonderful
No I think Boler is the most popular name in the USA,and if u dont have that last name u should go and get it u heard me.
i love my last name I’m italian and it is a really popular name in rome. Even though there are names all over the world with my last name, i just like having a last name:)
My name is Alex Carter and i love it!!! Even if your last name is popular you should love being who you are. If you change your name it’s just ruining your family history and heritage. So think twice before you change your name.
By the way i am a girl i am Anna Katherine Carter but i am called Alex peace and if your wondering on my opinion read the comment above.
my last name is paresi
I really dislike popular last names. They are definitely boring. If you had a hyphenated name and you were a woman and you decided to keep your last name and add your husband’s you would have to have two hyphens in your name. But anyways, Rheagan I don’t blame you for disliking your last name. There is no way I would want to be a Brown or Smith. I love my first name and my middle name Joyce, but I don’t care to much for my last name.
pocahantas did not fall in love with john smith pocahantas' dad adopted john smith as a son and there were brother and sister it is a very common misconception…
well my lasst name i johnson and you think your life sucks