759+ American Last Names (Complete List)

In the United States, a diverse range of last names reflects the country’s rich history of immigration and cultural influences.

From European settlers to African slaves and Asian immigrants, American last names carry unique meanings and stories.

In this article, we will explore American last names, shedding light on the diverse richness of the American population.

Common American Last Names (Most Common American Last Names)

Common 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

Popular American Last Names

Popular American Last Names:

1. Smith
2. Johnson
3. Brown
4. Davis
5. Wilson
6. Moore
7. Taylor
8. Anderson
9. Thomas
10. Jackson
11. Harris
12. Martin
13. White
14. Thompson
15. Garcia
16. Martinez
17. Robinson
18. Clark
19. Rodriguez
20. Lewis

Rare & Exotic American Last Names

Rare & Exotic American Last Names:

1. Abernathy
2. Beauchamp
3. Cumberland
4. Davenport
5. Ellington
6. Fairchild
7. Gainsborough
8. Harrington
9. Kensington
10. Livingstone
11. Montgomery
12. Pendleton
13. Quimby
14. Scarborough
15. Thornbury
16. Underwood
17. Wainwright
18. Yardley
19. Zephyr
20. Zeppelin

Uncommon & Unique American Last Names

Uncommon & Unique American Last Names:

1. Ashcroft
2. Blakemore
3. Caldwell
4. Delaney
5. Everhart
6. Forsythe
7. Hawthorne
8. Ingleside
9. Killian
10. Lockhart
11. Montague
12. Nightshade
13. Quicksilver
14. Ravenscroft
15. Sterling
16. Townsend
17. Van Helsing
18. Winthrop
19. Yorktown
20. Zephyr

Most Common American Last Names

Most Common 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

Cool American Last Names

Cool American Last Names:

1. Maverick
2. Summit
3. Rebel
4. Ransom
5. Arrow
6. Valor
7. Phoenix
8. Steele
9. Justice
10. Orion
11. Hunter
12. Dash
13. Blaze
14. Reign
15. Everest
16. Wilder
17. Echo
18. Storm
19. Rocket
20. Liberty

List of American Last Names

List of American Last Names:

1. Adams
2. Bell
3. Cooper
4. Ford
5. Hayes
6. Jenkins
7. Kelly
8. Murphy
9. Parker
10. Reed
11. Simmons
12. Turner
13. Walker
14. Young
15. Bennett
16. Carter
17. Gray
18. Hughes
19. James
20. Nelson

Rich American Last Names

Rich American Last Names:

1. Vanderbilt
2. Rockefeller
3. Carnegie
4. Astor
5. DuPont
6. Kennedy
7. Ford
8. Walton
9. Getty
10. Gates
11. Buffet
12. Mars
13. Bloomberg
14. Koch
15. Bezos
16. Musk
17. Zuckerberg
18. Ellison
19. Page
20. Brin

Old American Last Names

Old American Last Names:

1. Jefferson
2. Madison
3. Lincoln
4. Hamilton
5. Franklin
6. Adams
7. Harrison
8. Monroe
9. Roosevelt
10. Truman
11. Wilson
12. Kennedy
13. Carter
14. Reagan
15. Hoover
16. Nixon
17. Eisenhower
18. Coolidge
19. Pierce
20. Buchanan

Long American Last Names

Long American Last Names:

1. Featherstonehaugh
2. Wetherington
3. Featherstone
4. Williamson
5. Smithers
6. Livingstone
7. Huntington
8. Johnsonville
9. Underwood
10. Ellington
11. Winchester
12. Weatherford
13. Livingston
14. Washington
15. Harrington
16. Chamberlain
17. Thornbury
18. Braxton
19. Abernathy
20. Hetherington

Girl American Last Names [Female]

Girl American Last Names [Female]:

1. Anderson
2. Baker
3. Carter
4. Davis
5. Edwards
6. Foster
7. Graham
8. Hall
9. Jackson
10. King
11. Lopez
12. Morgan
13. Parker
14. Richardson
15. Simmons
16. Taylor
17. Walker
18. White
19. Young
20. Bennett

Men’s American Last Names [Male]

Men’s American Last Names [Male]:

1. Adams
2. Bell
3. Cooper
4. Ford
5. Hayes
6. Jenkins
7. Kelly
8. Murphy
9. Reed
10. Turner
11. Bennett
12. Gray
13. Hughes
14. James
15. Nelson
16. Parker
17. Simmons
18. Walker
19. Young
20. Carter

Famous American Last Names

Famous American Last Names:

1. Washington
2. Jefferson
3. Franklin
4. Lincoln
5. Kennedy
6. Roosevelt
7. Madison
8. Adams
9. Truman
10. Hoover
11. Carter
12. Monroe
13. Wilson
14. Kennedy
15. Harrison
16. Nixon
17. Ford
18. Coolidge
19. Pierce
20. Buchanan

American Last Names That Start With A

American Last Names That Start With A:

1. Adams
2. Anderson
3. Allen
4. Arnold
5. Austin
6. Avery
7. Alvarez
8. Aguilar
9. Armstrong
10. Atkinson
11. Atwood
12. Ashton
13. Archer
14. Abbott
15. Ayala
16. Ames
17. Anthony
18. Ayers
19. Ashley
20. Allan

American Last Names That Start With B

American Last Names That Start With B:

1. Baker
2. Bennett
3. Brooks
4. Bailey
5. Burns
6. Barton
7. Baxter
8. Beasley
9. Bentley
10. Blair
11. Briggs
12. Ballard
13. Buckley
14. Brennan
15. Bridges
16. Barron
17. Blevins
18. Bradford
19. Blackwell
20. Branch

American Last Names That Start With C

American Last Names That Start With C:

1. Carter
2. Clark
3. Campbell
4. Collins
5. Cox
6. Chandler
7. Crawford
8. Conner
9. Casey
10. Carson
11. Cochran
12. Clements
13. Calhoun
14. Castillo
15. Collier
16. Clayton
17. Cameron
18. Church
19. Castro
20. Cline

American Last Names That Start With D

American Last Names That Start With D:

1. Davis
2. Diaz
3. Duncan
4. Daniels
5. Doyle
6. Duffy
7. Dalton
8. Delgado
9. Dickson
10. Dominguez
11. Dalton
12. Dougherty
13. Draper
14. Donovan
15. Durham
16. Douglas
17. Davison
18. Dudley
19. Dunlap
20. Daugherty

American Last Names That Start With E

American Last Names That Start With E:

1. Edwards
2. Ellis
3. Elliott
4. Erickson
5. Eaton
6. Espinoza
7. Estrada
8. Ewing
9. English
10. Everett
11. Escobar
12. Eubanks
13. Easley
14. Estes
15. Enriquez
16. Echols
17. Eagan
18. Elder
19. Elmore
20. Estep

American Last Names That Start With F

American Last Names That Start With F:

1. Foster
2. Franklin
3. Fernandez
4. Fowler
5. Flynn
6. Figueroa
7. Farley
8. Forbes
9. Foley
10. Franks
11. Flores
12. Farrelly
13. Faulkner
14. Ferris
15. Foreman
16. Frost
17. Feliciano
18. Flanagan
19. Faulk
20. Ferrara

American Last Names That Start With G

American Last Names That Start With G:

1. Graham
2. Green
3. Gibson
4. Gordon
5. Grant
6. Gomez
7. Gardner
8. Goodman
9. Griffin
10. Guzman
11. Gallagher
12. Gay
13. Gaines
14. Glenn
15. Gentry
16. Glass
17. Gorman
18. Gallegos
19. Givens
20. Goldman

American Last Names That Start With H

American Last Names That Start With H:

1. Hall
2. Hughes
3. Hamilton
4. Hayes
5. Hoffman
6. Howell
7. Holt
8. Hudson
9. Hogan
10. Harmon
11. Hodge
12. Hutchinson
13. Horton
14. Hatfield
15. Hardin
16. Hutchinson
17. Haas
18. Huber
19. Hays
20. Hensley

American Last Names That Start With I

American Last Names That Start With I:

1. Ingram
2. Ibarra
3. Irwin
4. Im
5. Israel
6. Isaac
7. Izquierdo
8. Irizarry
9. Ives
10. Irvine
11. Ingle
12. Ireland
13. Isaacs
14. Isom
15. Iverson
16. Irby
17. Ivie
18. Isaak
19. Ison
20. Inman

American Last Names That Start With J

American Last Names That Start With J:

1. Jackson
2. Johnson
3. Jones
4. James
5. Jenkins
6. Jordan
7. Johnson
8. Jacobs
9. Jennings
10. Jefferson
11. Johnston
12. Jarvis
13. Jimenez
14. Juarez
15. Judge
16. Joyner
17. Jacobson
18. Joseph
19. Jasper
20. Jaramillo

American Last Names That Start With K

American Last Names That Start With K:

1. King
2. Kelly
3. Kennedy
4. Keller
5. Kirby
6. Kramer
7. Kirk
8. Kemp
9. Kline
10. Krause
11. Kuhn
12. Kaufman
13. Keith
14. Kirkland
15. Key
16. Knox
17. Koch
18. Kaiser
19. Kendrick
20. Knowles

American Last Names That Start With L

American Last Names That Start With L:

1. Lopez
2. Lewis
3. Long
4. Lane
5. Lambert
6. Larson
7. Lynch
8. Lawrence
9. Logan
10. Lowery
11. Lloyd
12. Lindsey
13. Le
14. Landry
15. Lester
16. Love
17. Lutz
18. Lott
19. Levy
20. Linton

American Last Names That Start With M

American Last Names That Start With M:

1. Miller
2. Martinez
3. Martin
4. Moore
5. Murphy
6. Mitchell
7. Morgan
8. Morales
9. Mccarthy
10. Montgomery
11. Mccoy
12. Mcdonald
13. Mendoza
14. Marshall
15. Malone
16. Manning
17. Mathis
18. Mcdowell
19. Mayer
20. Mcbride

American Last Names That Start With N

American Last Names That Start With N:

1. Nelson
2. Newman
3. Nichols
4. Norton
5. Nunez
6. Neal
7. Nolan
8. Navarro
9. Noel
10. Nash
11. Nicholson
12. Nixon
13. Noble
14. Newsome
15. Nieves
16. Napier
17. Noel
18. Neal
19. Nielsen
20. Nunn

American Last Names That Start With O

American Last Names That Start With O:

1. Olson
2. Ortiz
3. Oconnor
4. Owens
5. Osborne
6. Obrien
7. Osborn
8. Odom
9. Oneill
10. Oliver
11. Orr
12. Olsen
13. Overton
14. Odom
15. Oakes
16. Omalley
17. Oconnell
18. Oshea
19. Otto
20. Olin

American Last Names That Start With P

American Last Names That Start With P:

1. Parker
2. Phillips
3. Patterson
4. Porter
5. Perez
6. Price
7. Powell
8. Patton
9. Pratt
10. Pugh
11. Payne
12. Pena
13. Pacheco
14. Powers
15. Pollard
16. Prince
17. Pittman
18. Pennington
19. Potts
20. Pineda

American Last Names That Start With Q

American Last Names That Start With Q:

1. Quinn
2. Quick
3. Quinones
4. Qualls
5. Queen
6. Quintero
7. Quirk
8. Quinlan
9. Quinney
10. Quisenberry
11. Quick
12. Qualls
13. Quinones
14. Quinn
15. Queen
16. Quintero
17. Quirk
18. Quinlan
19. Quinney
20. Quisenberry

American Last Names That Start With R

American Last Names That Start With R:

1. Robinson
2. Rodriguez
3. Reed
4. Ross
5. Ramirez
6. Richardson
7. Russell
8. Reynolds
9. Rice
10. Rios
11. Rhodes
12. Robles
13. Rivas
14. Rojas
15. Rollins
16. Riddle
17. Ritchie
18. Randolph
19. Rouse
20. Rowland

American Last Names That Start With S

American Last Names That Start With S:

1. Smith
2. Scott
3. Sanchez
4. Stewart
5. Sullivan
6. Simmons
7. Stone
8. Sandoval
9. Sutton
10. Schultz
11. Silva
12. Schroeder
13. Sherman
14. Summers
15. Shea
16. Sellers
17. Sanford
18. Sosa
19. Sargent
20. Swanson

American Last Names That Start With T

American Last Names That Start With T:

1. Taylor
2. Thomas
3. Thompson
4. Turner
5. Torres
6. Tucker
7. Terry
8. Thornton
9. Tran
10. Townsend
11. Tate
12. Todd
13. Tipton
14. Travis
15. Trevino
16. Terrell
17. Tanner
18. Trevino
19. Todd
20. Tucker

American Last Names That Start With U

American Last Names That Start With U:

1. Underwood
2. Upchurch
3. Ulrich
4. Urbina
5. Unger
6. Ullman
7. Utley
8. Umana
9. Usher
10. Ulloa
11. Upshaw
12. Uptain
13. Uriarte
14. Urbaniak
15. Uribe
16. Ulman
17. Upchurch
18. Ullman
19. Umana
20. Utley

American Last Names That Start With V

American Last Names That Start With V:

1. Vasquez
2. Vaughn
3. Villa
4. Vance
5. Villanueva
6. Vincent
7. Valenzuela
8. Vogel
9. Vargas
10. Vega
11. Villarreal
12. Villanueva
13. Vaughn
14. Vasquez
15. Vincent
16. Villa
17. Vance
18. Vargas
19. Valenzuela
20. Vega

American Last Names That Start With W

American Last Names That Start With W:

1. Williams
2. Wilson
3. Walker
4. White
5. Wood
6. Washington
7. Warren
8. Wheeler
9. Walters
10. Wallace
11. Webb
12. Wagner
13. Walton
14. Welch
15. Weaver
16. Willis
17. Wolf
18. Watts
19. Waters
20. Wiggins

American Last Names That Start With X

American Last Names That Start With X:

1. Xavier
2. Xiong
3. Xu
4. Xie
5. Xia
6. Xiao
7. Xiang
8. Xing
9. Xiu
10. Xerxes

American Last Names That Start With Y

American Last Names That Start With Y:

1. Young
2. Yang
3. Yoder
4. Yates
5. Ybarra
6. Yu
7. Yancey
8. Yoo
9. Yoshida
10. Yeager

American Last Names That Start With Z

American Last Names That Start With Z:

1. Zimmerman
2. Zhang
3. Zuniga
4. Zamora
5. Zavala
6. Zeigler
7. Ziegler
8. Zeller
9. Zane
10. Zucker

The Origins of American Last Names

American last names have their roots in various parts of the world, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of the people who settled in the country.

The most common sources of American last names include:

• English and Scottish Names: Many Americans have English or Scottish surnames due to the early colonization of North America by the British. Examples include Smith, Johnson, Brown, and Wilson.
• Irish Names: The Irish diaspora brought numerous Irish last names to the United States. Surnames like Murphy, Sullivan, Kelly, and O’Connor are prevalent among Americans of Irish descent.
• German Names: German immigrants have significantly influenced American culture, including last names. Common German surnames in the United States include Schmidt, Mueller, Wagner, and Becker.
• Italian Names: Italian immigration to the United States peaked in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, resulting in many Italian last names becoming part of the American fabric. Examples include Russo, Romano, Esposito, and Marino.
• Spanish Names: Spanish surnames are prevalent in regions with a strong Hispanic influence, such as the Southwest. Surnames like Garcia, Rodriguez, Martinez, and Hernandez are common among Americans of Hispanic descent.
• African Names: African slaves brought to the United States during the era of slavery often adopted the surnames of their slave owners. As a result, many African Americans have last names of European origin.
• Asian Names: Asian immigrants, particularly from China and Japan, have contributed to the diversity of American last names. Surnames like Wong, Lee, Kim, and Nguyen are examples of Asian last names found in the United States.

The Meanings Behind American Last Names

American last names often carry meanings that provide insights into the history, occupation, or characteristics of the individuals or their ancestors.

Here are some common categories of meanings found in American last names:

Occupational Names

Many American last names originated from the occupations or trades of individuals or their ancestors.

These names often describe the profession or job associated with the family. Examples include:

• Smith: Derived from the Old English word “smið,” meaning “blacksmith,” Smith is one of the most common surnames in the United States.
• Miller: Derived from the Middle English word “miller,” meaning “one who grinds grain,” Miller is another prevalent occupational surname.
• Cook: Derived from the Old English word “coc,” meaning “cook,” this surname indicates a family’s historical association with culinary professions.
• Taylor: Derived from the Old French word “tailleur,” meaning “tailor,” Taylor is a common surname among individuals with a history in the tailoring trade.

Topographical Names

Some American last names are derived from geographic features or locations.

These names often describe the physical characteristics of the ancestral homeland. Examples include:

• Hill: Derived from the Old English word “hyll,” meaning “hill,” this surname suggests an ancestral connection to hilly landscapes.
• Brooks: Derived from the Old English word “broc,” meaning “stream,” Brooks indicates a family’s historical association with areas near streams or rivers.
• Wood: Derived from the Old English word “wudu,” meaning “wood” or “forest,” Wood is a common surname among individuals with a connection to wooded areas.
• Fields: Derived from the Old English word “feld,” meaning “field,” Fields suggests an ancestral connection to open, cultivated land.

Patronymic Names

Patronymic surnames are derived from the given name of an individual’s father or ancestor.

These names often end with “-son” or “-sen” for males and “-dottir” or “-dotter” for females. Examples include:

• Johnson: Derived from the given name John, Johnson means “son of John.” It is one of the most common patronymic surnames in the United States.
• Anderson: Derived from the given name Andrew, Anderson means “son of Andrew.” This surname is prevalent among individuals of Scottish and Scandinavian descent.
• Davidson: Derived from the given name David, Davidson means “son of David.” It is a common patronymic surname among individuals of Scottish origin.
• Madison: Derived from the given name Maud or Matilda, Madison means “son of Maud” or “son of Matilda.” This surname has gained popularity as a given name in recent years.

FAQs – American Last Names (With Meanings)

1. What are the most common American last names?

The most common American last names include Smith, Johnson, Brown, and Wilson.

2. How did African Americans get their last names?

African Americans often adopted the surnames of their slave owners during the era of slavery.

3. Are there any Native American last names?

Native Americans traditionally did not use surnames in the same way as European cultures.

However, some Native Americans have adopted surnames due to cultural assimilation or legal requirements.

4. Can last names change over time?

Last names can change over time due to various reasons, such as marriage, adoption, or legal name changes.

5. Are there any American last names with religious origins?

Yes, some American last names have religious origins. For example, the surname “Bishop” refers to a high-ranking clergy member in certain Christian denominations.

6. Do American last names have meanings in other languages?

Some American last names have meanings in other languages. For instance, the surname “Lopez” is of Spanish origin and means “son of Lope.”

7. Are there any American last names that are unique to certain regions?

Yes, certain American last names are more prevalent in specific regions due to historical migration patterns.

For example, the surname “Kennedy” is more common in the Northeastern United States.

8. Can last names be used to trace genealogy?

Last names can be a valuable tool in tracing genealogy, as they often provide clues about a family’s origins and history.

9. Are there any famous Americans with unique last names?

Yes, many famous Americans have unique last names.

For example, the actress Angelina Jolie has a distinctive last name that is of Slovak origin.

10. Can last names be a source of pride for individuals?

Last names can be a source of pride, connecting individuals to their heritage and family history.

Summary – American Last Names (With Meanings)

American last names reflect the diverse heritage and cultural influences that have shaped the United States.

From English and Scottish names brought by early settlers to surnames of African slaves and Asian immigrants, American last names carry unique meanings and stories.

They provide insights into the history, occupations, and geographic origins of individuals and their ancestors.

Whether derived from occupations, topographical features, or patronymic traditions, American last names contribute to the rich tapestry of American identity.