Most Popular Last Names in the US by State: Discover the Most Common American Surnames

Surnames are far more than mere legal identifiers; they serve as living historical records. In a nation built on centuries of global migration, regional settlement patterns, and cultural blending, American last names tell the story of who settled where, when, and why.

According to data compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau, millions of Americans share a surprisingly small handful of legacy names. While iconic monikers like Smith, Johnson, and Williams have remained at the top of national lists for over two centuries, a state-by-state look reveals remarkable regional diversity. From the Scandinavian roots of the Upper Midwest to the surging Hispanic surnames across the Sun Belt and Southwestern states, each state’s dominant last name reflects its unique demographic history.

In this comprehensive guide, we unpack the most popular last names in the U.S. by state, explore the top overall American surnames, and examine the cultural and historical shifts driving these trends.

National Overview: The Top 10 Surnames in the United States

Before diving into state-level variations, it helps to understand the national baseline. The U.S. Census Bureau tracks thousands of surnames across the population. Interestingly, the top five last names in America—Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, and Jones—have remained unchanged for decades and were among the most common names as far back as the first U.S. Census in 1790.

However, demographic shifts over the past 30 years have propelled Hispanic surnames into the top ten nationwide.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Surnames Data.

Regional Patterns: How Surnames Divide the Map

While Smith dominates the total headcount nationwide, state-level analysis reveals distinct geographic clusters. Five main cultural and demographic zones shape the regional surname landscape across the United States.

1. The “Smith Belt” (The East, South, and Midwest)

Smith is the single most common last name in nearly half of all U.S. states. It is heavily concentrated throughout New England, the Mid-Atlantic, parts of the South, and the central Rust Belt.

• Why it’s everywhere: As an English occupational name for a metalworker, “Smith” was ubiquitous among early Anglo-British colonists. Furthermore, during and after emancipation, many African Americans adopted common British surnames like Smith, Williams, and Johnson. This dual European and African American lineage gives Smith unmatched numerical dominance across the Eastern half of the country.

2. The Scandinavian Upper Midwest (Johnson & Anderson)

Travel to Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Iowa, and Smith loses its top spot to Johnson or Anderson.

• The Migration Story: Between 1860 and 1910, millions of Scandinavian immigrants—primarily from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark—settled in the Upper Midwest under the Homestead Act. In Scandinavian patronymic traditions, sons were named after their fathers (e.g., John’s son became Johnson). When American immigration clerks standardized these naming conventions, hundreds of thousands of Midwesterners inherited permanent patronymics like Johnson, Anderson, and Peterson.

3. The Hispanic Southwest & Sun Belt (García, Martínez, Rodríguez)

In states with deep Hispanic roots and significant Latin American immigration—such as California, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada—traditional Anglo surnames take a backseat.

• García is the most common surname in California and Texas.
• Martínez is the top surname in New Mexico.
• Rodríguez and Hernández rank among the top three monikers across Florida, Arizona, and Nevada.

This trend is driven by two factors: centuries-old Spanish colonial settlements across the Southwest, combined with robust immigration from Mexico and Central and South America over the last half-century.

4. The Pacific Rim & Hawaii (Lee, Wong, Nguyen)

Hawaii presents a unique surname profile compared to the continental U.S. Driven by 19th- and 20th-century plantation labor migrations and Pacific trade, the most popular surnames in Hawaii are overwhelmingly Asian and Pacific Islander.

• Lee holds the top spot in Hawaii, followed closely by surnames of East Asian and Filipino origin such as Wong, Kim, and Nguyen.
• Coastal metropolitan areas in California, Washington, and New York also showcase rapid growth in Asian surnames due to recent decades of international immigration.

State-by-State Highlights: The #1 Surname in Select States

To highlight the diversity across the nation, here is a breakdown of the leading surnames in key states across the country:

+------------------+-----------------------+----------------------------------------+
| State            | Most Common Surname   | Key Demographic Driver                 |
+------------------+-----------------------+----------------------------------------+
| Alabama          | Smith                 | Anglo-British colonial & Southern roots|
| California       | García                | Strong Hispanic heritage & population  |
| Florida          | Smith / Rodríguez     | Blend of Southern & Latin American     |
| Hawaii           | Lee                   | Asian & Pacific Islander settlement    |
| Illinois         | Smith                 | Midwestern urban & rural blend         |
| Minnesota        | Johnson               | Heavy Scandinavian immigration heritage|
| New Mexico       | Martínez              | Deep Hispano/Spanish colonial history  |
| New York         | Smith                 | Historical Anglo-Dutch & global mix    |
| Texas            | García                | Rich Tejano history & proximity to MX  |
| Washington       | Smith                 | Pacific Northwest pioneer settlement   |
+------------------+-----------------------+----------------------------------------+

Why Surnames Change: The Fast-Growing Last Names in America

While the top national names remain remarkably stable at the very peak, census data shows that the fastest-growing last names in the U.S. reflect modern global movement.

Between 2010 and 2020, almost all of the fastest-growing surnames in the United States were of Asian and Hispanic origin.

High-Growth Surnames:

1. Zhang & Li (Chinese origin)
2. Patel & Singh (Indian / South Asian origin)
3. Nguyen & Tran (Vietnamese origin)
4. Ali (Middle Eastern / South Asian origin)
5. Lopez, Gomez, and Reyes (Hispanic origin)

This dynamic illustrates how American demographics continue to evolve, blending centuries-old colonial naming traditions with new waves of cultural influence.

Key Factors That Shaped American Last Names

Understanding why certain last names dominate specific U.S. states requires looking at four major historical forces:

1. Occupational Naming (Medieval Trade): Names like Smith (blacksmith), Miller (grain worker), Baker, Taylor, and Wright originated in medieval Britain and Europe when individuals were identified by their daily craft.
2. Patronymic Systems (Ancestral Lineage): Surnames ending in “-son” (Johnson, Jackson, Wilson) or starting with “Mc-” or “O’-” denote ancestral lineage. This was common in English, Scottish, Irish, and Scandinavian cultures.
3. Slavery and Post-Emancipation Choice: Prior to the American Civil War, millions of enslaved African Americans were deprived of formal legal surnames. After emancipation, many selected common presidential or prominent American surnames—such as Washington, Jackson, Jefferson, and Smith—creating a shared surname heritage across racial demographics.
4. Immigration and Anglicization: Millions of immigrants arriving at Ellis Island and other ports had their names simplified, translated, or phoneticized by border officials or chose to adapt them to fit into English-speaking society.

Key Takeaways

• National Stability: Smith, Johnson, and Williams have remained the three most common last names in the U.S. for over 200 years.
• Regional Identity: Johnson dominates the Upper Midwest due to Scandinavian immigration, while García and Martínez lead in the Southwest due to Hispanic heritage.
• Rising Diversity: Hispanic and Asian surnames represent the fastest-growing last names in the U.S. today, reflecting shifting global migration patterns.

What is the most common last name in the United States?

The most common last name in the U.S. is Smith, shared by approximately 2.5 million Americans.

What is the most common Hispanic last name in America?

García is the most common Hispanic surname in the U.S., ranking #6 overall nationwide and holding the #1 spot in states like California and Texas.

Why is Johnson so popular in Minnesota and Wisconsin?

During the late 19th century, a massive migration wave brought Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish immigrants to the Upper Midwest. Patronymic surnames like Johnson (“son of John”) were extremely common among these settlers.

How often does the U.S. Census Bureau update surname rankings?

The U.S. Census Bureau releases comprehensive surname analysis once every ten years following the official decennial population census.

Penulis: W.S