349+ Common USA American Surnames Last Names Meanings (BEST Insights!)

ByBest Of All Mom Team Reading Time: 7 minutes
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Surnames hold a special significance, often representing a family’s history, culture, and heritage. In the United States, a melting pot of diverse backgrounds and origins, you’ll find a wide variety of intriguing surnames that carry unique stories behind them. Let’s explore some common American last names and delve into what these names reveal about the rich tapestry of the nation.

A diverse group of American flags flying in front of a row of houses, each with a different last name displayed prominently on a mailbox or sign

As you learn about these popular surnames, you’ll notice that many have roots in various cultures and countries from around the world. This diverse mix of surnames reflects the multicultural nature of the United States, where people from different parts of the globe have come together to create a new and vibrant society.

To help you understand the variety and significance of American last names, here’s a list of some common surnames found in the country:

  1. Smith
  2. Johnson
  3. Brown
  4. Jones
  5. Garcia
  6. Rodriguez
  7. Kim
  8. Nguyen
  9. O’Connor
  10. Schmidt

These names offer a glimpse into the many facets of the American social fabric, ranging from European to Asian and even Hispanic influences. So the next time you come across these surnames, think about the stories they might hold, and appreciate the beautiful diversity that makes America a truly unique nation.

Best Names

A bustling street with signs displaying common American surnames and their meanings, surrounded by diverse people and buildings

In this section, we’ll explore the top 100 most common American surnames. These names come from diverse origins, reflecting the melting pot that is the United States. Keep in mind that this list is not definitive, and it may change over time. Use this as a quick guide and a starting point to dive deeper into the fascinating world of American surnames. Here are the top 100 names, broken down into four subsections:

1-25 Best Names

  1. Smith
  2. Johnson
  3. Williams
  4. Brown
  5. Jones
  6. Miller
  7. Davis
  8. Garcia
  9. Rodriguez
  10. Martinez
  11. Lopez
  12. Anderson
  13. Thomas
  14. Taylor
  15. Moore
  16. Jackson
  17. Martin
  18. Perez
  19. Thompson
  20. White
  21. Harris
  22. Sanchez
  23. Clark
  24. Lewis
  25. Robinson

26-50 Best Names

  1. Walker
  2. Young
  3. Allen
  4. King
  5. Scott
  6. Torres
  7. Adams
  8. Baker
  9. Hall
  10. Roberts
  11. Evans
  12. Edwards
  13. Stewart
  14. Cooper
  15. Peterson
  16. Bailey
  17. Reed
  18. Kelly
  19. Howard
  20. Ward
  21. Wood
  22. Long
  23. Ross
  24. Lee
  25. Hernandez

51-75 Best Names

  1. Wilson
  2. Wright
  3. Hill
  4. Flores
  5. Green
  6. Nelson
  7. Rivera
  8. Campbell
  9. Carter
  10. Gomez
  11. Phillips
  12. Turner
  13. Diaz
  14. Parker
  15. Cruz
  16. Collins
  17. Morris
  18. Morales
  19. Murphy
  20. Cook
  21. Rogers
  22. Gutierrez
  23. Morgan
  24. Kim
  25. Cox

76-100 Best Names

  1. Richardson
  2. Watson
  3. Brooks
  4. James
  5. Bennet
  6. Gray
  7. Mendoza
  8. Ruiz
  9. Hughes
  10. Price
  11. Castillo
  12. Sanders
  13. Myers
  14. Foster
  15. Alexander
  16. Bell
  17. Mitchel
  18. Gonzales
  19. Ramirez
  20. Gonzalez
  21. Barnes
  22. Fisher
  23. Vasquez
  24. Simmons
  25. Romero

As you can see, these surnames have diverse origins, ranging from English, Spanish, Celtic, and Asian backgrounds. By understanding your own heritage and the common surnames in the US, you’ll broaden your perspective and gain a deeper appreciation for the richness of American culture.

Good Names

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1-25 Good Names

Here are some excellent name choices for you to consider from the list of Common USA American Surnames. They are friendly and mostly derived from various origins and cultures:

  1. Smith
  2. Johnson
  3. Williams
  4. Brown
  5. Jones
  6. Garcia
  7. Miller
  8. Davis
  9. Rodriguez
  10. Martinez
  11. Hernandez
  12. Lopez
  13. Gonzalez
  14. Wilson
  15. Anderson
  16. Thomas
  17. Taylor
  18. Moore
  19. Jackson
  20. Martin
  21. Lee
  22. Perez
  23. Thompson
  24. White
  25. Harris

26-50 Good Names

The next set of names are also popular and have strong cultural backgrounds. Take a look at these options for your consideration:

  1. Clark
  2. Lewis
  3. Young
  4. Walker
  5. Hall
  6. Allen
  7. Sanchez
  8. Wright
  9. King
  10. Scott
  11. Green
  12. Baker
  13. Adams
  14. Nelson
  15. Hill
  16. Ramirez
  17. Campbell
  18. Mitchell
  19. Roberts
  20. Carter
  21. Phillips
  22. Evans
  23. Turner
  24. Torres
  25. Parker

51-75 Good Names

Continuing with our list of common American surnames, these names showcase a blend of different heritages and traditions:

  1. Collins
  2. Edwards
  3. Stewart
  4. Flores
  5. Morris
  6. Nguyen
  7. Murphy
  8. Rivera
  9. Cook
  10. Rogers
  11. Morgan
  12. Peterson
  13. Cooper
  14. Reed
  15. Bailey
  16. Bell
  17. Gomez
  18. Kelly
  19. Howard
  20. Ward
  21. Cox
  22. Diaz
  23. Richardson
  24. Wood
  25. Watson

76-100 Good Names

The last set of names includes a variety of origins and offers even more diversity. As you continue your search, here are more names to consider:

  1. Brooks
  2. Bennett
  3. Gray
  4. James
  5. Reyes
  6. Cruz
  7. Hughes
  8. Price
  9. Myers
  10. Long
  11. Foster
  12. Sanders
  13. Ross
  14. Morales
  15. Powell
  16. Sullivan
  17. Russell
  18. Ortiz
  19. Jenkins
  20. Gutiérrez
  21. Perry
  22. Butler
  23. Barnes
  24. Fisher
  25. Richardson

These names represent a snapshot of America’s diversity and offer a wide range of options for your consideration. Good luck finding the perfect name for your needs!

More Name Ideas

A bustling city street with diverse people and buildings, representing the melting pot of American culture

In this section, we will provide you with even more name ideas for American surnames. These names are prevalent in the United States, and they come from a variety of origins. To make it easier for you, we have divided the names into four subsections.

1-25 Name Ideas

Here’s our first list of popular American surnames:

  1. Smith
  2. Johnson
  3. Williams
  4. Brown
  5. Jones
  6. Garcia
  7. Miller
  8. Davis
  9. Rodriguez
  10. Martinez
  11. Hernandez
  12. Lopez
  13. Gonzalez
  14. Wilson
  15. Anderson
  16. Thomas
  17. Taylor
  18. Moore
  19. Jackson
  20. Martin
  21. Lee
  22. Perez
  23. Thompson
  24. White
  25. Harris

26-50 Name Ideas

Continuing with more American surnames, have a look at this next list:

  1. Clark
  2. Lewis
  3. Young
  4. Walker
  5. Hall
  6. Allen
  7. Sanchez
  8. Wright
  9. King
  10. Scott
  11. Green
  12. Baker
  13. Adams
  14. Nelson
  15. Hill
  16. Ramirez
  17. Campbell
  18. Mitchell
  19. Roberts
  20. Carter
  21. Phillips
  22. Evans
  23. Turner
  24. Torres
  25. Parker

51-75 Name Ideas

As you explore further, here are more American last names to consider:

  1. Collins
  2. Edwards
  3. Stewart
  4. Flores
  5. Morris
  6. Nguyen
  7. Murphy
  8. Rivera
  9. Cook
  10. Rogers
  11. Morgan
  12. Peterson
  13. Cooper
  14. Reed
  15. Bailey
  16. Bell
  17. Gomez
  18. Kelly
  19. Howard
  20. Ward
  21. Cox
  22. Diaz
  23. Richardson
  24. Wood
  25. Watson

76-100 Name Ideas

Finally, here’s our last list of common American surnames for you to consider:

  1. Brooks
  2. Bennett
  3. Gray
  4. James
  5. Reyes
  6. Cruz
  7. Hughes
  8. Price
  9. Myers
  10. Long
  11. Foster
  12. Sanders
  13. Ross
  14. Morales
  15. Powell
  16. Sullivan
  17. Russell
  18. Ortiz
  19. Jenkins
  20. Gutierrez
  21. Perry
  22. Butler
  23. Barnes
  24. Fisher
  25. Henderson

We hope these lists of common American surnames help you find the perfect name you are looking for! Remember, names can carry meaning and history, so choose one that resonates with you. Good luck!

More Name Ideas (Continued)

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In this section, you will find more name ideas for American surnames. They are split into four subsections, each containing 25 name ideas. Don’t forget that you can combine these ideas to create your own unique surnames based on your preferences.

1-25 Name Ideas Continued

  1. Adams
  2. Baker
  3. Carter
  4. Diaz
  5. Evans
  6. Fisher
  7. Garcia
  8. Harris
  9. Ingram
  10. Jackson
  11. Kelly
  12. Lopez
  13. Miller
  14. Nguyen
  15. Owens
  16. Perez
  17. Quinn
  18. Richardson
  19. Smith
  20. Taylor
  21. Upton
  22. Vargas
  23. Wallace
  24. Xu
  25. Young

26-50 Name Ideas Continued

  1. Zhang
  2. Andersen
  3. Boyd
  4. Chen
  5. Davidson
  6. Erickson
  7. Ferguson
  8. Gonzalez
  9. Hansen
  10. Ibarra
  11. Jefferson
  12. Kennedy
  13. Li
  14. Martinez
  15. Nash
  16. Ortiz
  17. Peterson
  18. Quigley
  19. Reeves
  20. Simmons
  21. Thompson
  22. Underwood
  23. Ventura
  24. Ward
  25. Xie

51-75 Name Ideas Continued

  1. Yates
  2. Zimmermann
  3. Armstrong
  4. Bradley
  5. Chapman
  6. Duffy
  7. Estrada
  8. Frazier
  9. Greene
  10. Harvey
  11. Irwin
  12. Jennings
  13. Knox
  14. Larsen
  15. Mendoza
  16. Norton
  17. Osborne
  18. Parker
  19. Quiroz
  20. Robinson
  21. Santana
  22. Turner
  23. Unger
  24. Valencia
  25. Werner

76-100 Name Ideas Continued

  1. Xiong
  2. Yazzie
  3. Zuniga
  4. Austin
  5. Bryant
  6. Cline
  7. Drake
  8. Emery
  9. Flint
  10. Goldberg
  11. Hobbs
  12. Ingram-2
  13. Jensen
  14. King
  15. Lambert
  16. Mills
  17. Nunez
  18. Olsen
  19. Payne
  20. Qureshi
  21. Reynolds
  22. Shepherd
  23. Tanner
  24. Uribe
  25. Vance

Remember, these are just a few ideas to inspire you while considering American surnames. Feel free to mix and match or get creative with your own approach to finding the perfect surname for your needs. Good luck!

Tips For Brainstorming The Perfect Name

A table with a laptop, notebook, and pen. A stack of books on the side. A brainstorming chart on the wall with "common USA surnames" written at the top

When choosing a name, it’s essential to consider inspiration, personal identity, and cultural significance. A great name should be memorable, easy to pronounce, and have a unique meaning. Here are some tips for brainstorming the perfect name:


  1. Seek inspiration: Look into your family tree, think about your favorite places, or explore your own hobbies and passions for inspiration. You might find a name that holds special meaning to you, giving it more significance in your life.



  2. Personal identity: Consider how the name reflects your personal identity and values. Think about what the name represents to you, and if it’s something you’d be proud to carry and pass on to future generations.



  3. Cultural significance: Investigate the cultural and historical background of the name. This can provide insight into your heritage and the name’s societal perception. Keep in mind how the name will be received in different cultures and communities.


Example names: Avery, Jackson, Martinez, Nguyen


  1. Pronunciation and memorability: Choose a name that is easy to pronounce and remember. This is especially important if the name has a unique spelling or contains uncommon letters.



  2. Originality: Strive to find a name that sets you apart. While some common American surnames such as Smith and Johnson carry classic appeal, it’s also essential to think about originality and uniqueness in your name choice.


Example names: Delaney, Knox, Sawyer, Vega

  1. Meaning: Research the meanings and origins of your potential name choices. This can add an extra layer of connection between you and your chosen name. Be mindful of any unwanted connotations or associations the name might have.

Example names: Luna, Orion, Peregrine, Seraphina

As you brainstorm, try various combinations and play around with your options. The perfect name should be a reflection of your personality and the story you want to tell. Keep your creativity flowing, and you’ll be on your way to choosing the ideal name.

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