Have you ever wondered what the most common last names in the country are? Well, wonder no more. Well, thanks to a new study on the topic, we now know what the most common last names are in every US state.
Curious to know which names made the list? Read on.
Most Common Last Name: Smith
Unsurprisingly–as we’ve all had classmates, colleagues, or friends with this last name at one point or another– Smith, which has English origins, is the most common surname in the country. From Maine to Oklahoma to Oregon, this is the most prevalent last name in every region, with the exception of the Midwest.
Second-Most Common Last Name: Johnson
Behind Smith, Johnson is the second-most-common last name in the country, ruling a number of states including Montana, Idaho, Washington, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Alaska. Johnson turned out to be the most common last name in the Midwest.
Third-Most Common Last Name: Lee
While Johnson and Smith are the two most prevalent last names, together accounting for all but a handful of states, Lee took the cake in four states: California, New York, Delaware, and Massachusetts–which, ironically, was named after English explorer, John Smith.
In addition to Smith, Johnson, and Lee, Garcia (Texas), Williams (New Mexico), and Martinez (Louisiana) were represented in one state a piece.
And when it comes to the most common names in cities across the country, the findings are fairly similar. Smith, Johnson, and Lee all make the list. As do Rodriguez, Garcia, Anderson, and Williams.
Needless to say, regardless of where you’re from, there’s a good chance you’ve encountered many Americans with one of these very common last names. Unsure? Why not put it to the test. Grab a pen, a piece of paper, and list out everyone you know with one of the following last names: Smith, Johnson, Lee, Rodriguez, Garcia, Anderson, Martinez, and Williams. This will probably keep you occupied for a while.
