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Most Common Last Names in the US

How many of the most common last names in the United States can you name?
To make it easier we give you the first letter
Hint: Nine of these are of Spanish origin
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: September 25, 2020
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First submittedDecember 17, 2012
Times taken188,569
Average score30.0%
Rating4.34
5:00
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 / 30 guessed
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#
Letter
Last Name
2,442,977
S
Smith
1,932,812
J
Johnson
1,625,252
W
Williams
1,437,026
B
Brown
1,425,470
J
Jones
1,166,120
G
Garcia
1,161,437
M
Miller
1,116,357
D
Davis
1,094,924
R
Rodriguez
1,060,159
M
Martinez
#
Letter
Last Name
1,043,281
H
Hernandez
874,523
L
Lopez
841,025
G
Gonzalez
801,882
W
Wilson
784,404
A
Anderson
756,142
T
Thomas
751,209
T
Taylor
724,374
M
Moore
708,099
J
Jackson
702,625
M
Martin
#
Letter
Last Name
693,023
L
Lee
681,645
P
Perez
664,644
T
Thompson
660,491
W
White
624,252
H
Harris
612,752
S
Sanchez
562,679
C
Clark
557,423
R
Ramirez
531,781
L
Lewis
529,821
R
Robinson
+8
Level ∞
Sep 25, 2020
Weirdly, data from the 2010 census just became available recently. The U.S. census website is still extremely bad and painful to use, but it's getting better at least.
+16
Level ∞
Sep 25, 2020
For the record, whatever public data the British/Canadian/Australian governments are putting forward is even worse. I haven't interacted with the websites of the Belgian government, because I have standards, but I'm sure they are terrible as well.
+2
Level 71
Jun 24, 2010
14/30 most common last names.
+1
Level 45
Apr 7, 2016
Same here!
+1
Level 67
Sep 13, 2020
same
+1
Level 22
Jan 12, 2021
Lol i got 4
+1
Level 23
Mar 5, 2021
i got 4 too
+1
Level 69
Oct 13, 2021
LOL SAME
+1
Level 56
Apr 28, 2022
i thought swanson would be up there but ig not
+1
Level 43
Dec 30, 2022
I got 4 too. I don't get how people on their first try get like 19.
+1
Level 39
Jul 24, 2011
15! I thought Young too
+4
Level 67
Dec 17, 2016
You deserved a Pepsi™.
+4
Level 28
Sep 13, 2011
Only 10! It's really amazing that the most obvious stuff can be so hard to conjure on demand. Good quiz.
+1
Level 66
Jun 15, 2019
The "stupidest" thing was, I thought after I had only come up with a few names and couldnt think of more, only weird obscure ones, ok lets just think of actors, that will give you some names.

I could only think of two actors !! CAtherine zeta jones, but allready had jones and michael j fox, but that wasnt gonna be on there. Could not think of another actor ! Total blank..

+1
Level 37
Oct 26, 2011
18, can't believe i didn't get Williams
+2
Level 20
Oct 28, 2011
only got 6
+3
Level 39
Dec 9, 2011
It's so hard to think of such generic names that all sound alike.
+2
Level 23
Dec 17, 2012
Only got 2 :p
+2
Level 35
Jan 5, 2013
13. seems like a good score havin beaten 91% of the ppl!
+3
Level 82
Jan 12, 2013
I just took the Hispanic last names quiz and still missed Rodriguez, Martinez, and Gonzalez. ::facepalm::
+7
Level 77
May 2, 2013
I found it interesting that Lewis and Clark were right next to each other. Ha
+6
Level 92
Dec 18, 2014
200 years on, and they still can't get away from each other...
+1
Level 46
Oct 21, 2015
I saw that too!
+2
Level 15
Nov 3, 2013
got 0/30

Not american.

+3
Level 66
Jun 15, 2019
surely you must have heard of one ( an american)
+2
Level 20
May 16, 2014
LOL......................Got all of them right on my first try:D PROMISE.............But I so did not look it up......LOLOLOL
+1
Level 19
Nov 13, 2014
wow!! virtual high five!
+1
Level 15
Jun 21, 2014
Most people spell it Gonzales not Gonzalez.
+1
Level 66
Dec 17, 2014
The correct spell is González.
+8
Level 67
Dec 17, 2016
The use of "s" rather than "z" at the end of a name often reflects the country of origin of the family. I once spelled the last name of a friend of Mexican descent ending in an "s" rather than a "z," which led him to ask "What are you trying to do? Make me Puerto Rican?" Portuguese surnames are also more likely to end in "s" than "z":
+3
Level 66
Jun 15, 2019
that is interesting baltimorean. :)
+1
Level 19
Nov 13, 2014
30/30 on my first try with 1:03 left!
+2
Level 68
Dec 17, 2014
Anyone else find it funny that Lewis and Clark are almost as similar as each other?
+1
Level 35
Jan 25, 2015
That is really pretty amazing.
+1
Level 47
Dec 17, 2014
I was surprised that Morris or Morrison wasn't up there.
+1
Level 82
Dec 18, 2014
um... just took this quiz again and this happened: I ended up getting Martinez, but failed to get Martin. How is that even possible?
+1
Level 77
Dec 17, 2016
I don't think it is possible. That would be like getting Dominican Republic without first getting Dominica. It can't be done. Apparently your fingers typed faster than the computer can process, that's the only answer I can come up with.
+2
Level 68
Jun 14, 2022
It's possible, since if you type "dr" then Dominican Republic may show up. But I think typing Ukraine without getting the United Kingdom is impossible.
+2
Level 53
Jan 11, 2017
It is possible that there is an accepted type-in of "Martenez" or something like that, which you could have typed accidentally.
+2
Level 11
Feb 15, 2015
You got Robinson from Jackie Robinson, Didn't you?
+4
Level 23
Oct 22, 2015
David Robinson, NBA player.
+2
Level 87
Sep 28, 2020
twin towers 4ever
+3
Level 61
Aug 10, 2023
i hate to break it to you but...
+1
Level 24
Jun 8, 2015
Hill isn't on there
+1
Level 15
Jun 8, 2015
1 try and i got them all Yesss (with 2 seconds left)

you should say that there are no Asian, indian.... names etc

+1
Level 74
Oct 9, 2022
Lee?
+1
Level 61
Aug 10, 2023
coincidentally lee is also a british last name

i imagine that both british and asian people having the name is what puts it on here

edit: im not trying to be condescending at all i realized the tone sounded weird when i read it to myself

+1
Level 18
Aug 26, 2015
why not singh and kaur??
+1
Level 11
Feb 13, 2016
duncan should be added
+14
Level 45
Mar 12, 2016
Because it's always good to add an incorrect answer into a quiz about the thirty most common surnames in America, isn't it?
+1
Level 27
Apr 29, 2016
I got HALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
+1
Level 20
May 15, 2016
Why are loads of them ending in Z??????????????
+3
Level 60
Dec 17, 2016
You mean the z can't get love? :(
+1
Level 66
Jun 15, 2019
They are of hispanic origin
+1
Level 68
Oct 15, 2016
lmao I got 4 points for this and guessed 11 names...
+1
Level 55
Dec 18, 2016
I know, I only got 20 right but still got 5 points! Hey, not complaining!
+1
Level 16
Dec 12, 2016
i got 30 :)
+1
Level 43
Dec 17, 2016
OK everyone admit it when you got near the end of time for the quiz and you saw your last initial available you typed in your last name, didn't you? Or did you type it first?
+1
Level 66
Jun 15, 2019
No cause they was absolutely no way my last name would be on here. Besides one little region, i am one of about 5 in the country with this name, my sister is another of those 5. (And no it is not simply a alternative spelling of something,)
+1
Level 66
Oct 8, 2020
I knew it wasn't on there but I tried my last name anyway. :)
+1
Level 40
Dec 17, 2016
15. Should have done better but forgot about the Hispanic factor. Dang it!
+1
Level 66
Jun 15, 2019
Same, didnt think of it, and still would not have thought it would be nearly half the list, maybe 3 or something, especially since hispaniic last names are repeated a lot. OK, I checked, it is only a quarter..
+1
Level 65
Dec 17, 2016
average of 7? surprised by that
+5
Level 38
Dec 17, 2016
I thought nguyen would be here
+2
Level 82
Oct 9, 2020
I bet Lee gets a bump from immigrants from Vietnam, China, and Korea, though it was a common name before they started coming in large numbers, too.
+1
Level 39
Dec 8, 2020
Usually in Asia its spelt Li
+1
Level 82
Mar 1, 2022
I've seen it spelled Lee, Le, Li, Leigh, Lý, Ly, Yi, Ri, Rhee, Ree, Lei, Lie, Ye.... But among Koreans (such as Lee Myung-Bak), Hong Kongers (like Bruce Lee), and the Taiwanese (like Ang Lee).. Lee is in fact the most common spelling. I think Li is the most common Romanization in mainland China, but there are millions of Asians or people of Asian descent in the US who didn't come from mainland China.
+1
Level 38
Dec 17, 2016
How did I forget jones!
+9
Level 69
Dec 18, 2016
How is it possible that in top 10 there is no Gambolputty de von Ausfern Schplenden Schlitter Crass Cren Bon Fried Digger Dingle Dangle Dongle Dungle Burstein von Knacker Thrasher Apple Banger Horowitz Ticolensic Grander Knotty Spelltinkle Grandlich Grumblemeyer Spelter Wasser Kurstlich Himble Eisenbahnwagen Gutenabend Bitte einen Nürnburger Bratwürstel Gespurten mit Weimache Luber Hundsfut Gumeraber Schönendanker Kalbsfleisch Mittleraucher von Hautkopft?
+2
Level 44
Dec 18, 2016
huh?
+1
Level 55
Dec 18, 2016
Whew, what a name! Most people would fall asleep before you finished introducing yourself! Oh wait, was that supposed to be a list of last names and not just one really long one?
+2
Level 84
Sep 28, 2020
This deserves more likes. :-)

For those in the dark and too lazy to search it: https://montypython.fandom.com/wiki/Johann_Gambolputty

+2
Level 84
Sep 28, 2020
of ULM!!
+1
Level 47
Mar 18, 2022
Bro you are a legend for typing that all out. Respect 1 million :)
+2
Level 63
May 24, 2017
The best last name combo I heard was Bacon-Rice.
+2
Level 75
Sep 29, 2017
I knew a Wetmore-Fish.
+1
Level 59
Apr 19, 2018
Gotta love how the second column has the first five letters of my name all in a row.
+2
Level 73
Apr 29, 2018
If it takes Rodrigues for Rodriguez, why not Davies for Davis?
+4
Level 66
Jan 25, 2019
davies and davis are 2 different names
+1
Level 76
May 21, 2018
Worth updating this quiz for the 2010 census?
+1
Level 82
Oct 9, 2020
Might not be for the 2020 one.
+1
Level 67
Aug 14, 2018
Tough- enjoyed.
+2
Level 36
Apr 7, 2019
Amazed. The majority of people in U.S.A. are from Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Poland, etc.. They are non English-speaking countries, yet most names here are English names. Most of those people translate their first name to Engish, but almost no one changes their second name.
+6
Level 84
Apr 20, 2019
Looking at recent census information British ancestry is only really challenged by German, and even then British ancestry is considered to be undercounted because many with British roots self identify as simply American. The French, Italian and Polish populations are significantly smaller and Spanish names are quite well represented here because of Latin Americans, especially Mexicans. Also consider that in the earlier days of America the white population was dominated by people with British roots and African American slaves were given their names. Surprising perhaps not to see more German names, but I imagine that many did Anglicise from Schmidt to Smith and Muller to Miller etc in the past.
+1
Level 66
Apr 7, 2020
And Johannsen Johnson, Braun Brown, etc works for most of the non-hispanic names. And they might aswell be swedish Johansson or dutch Johansen
+1
Level 66
Jun 15, 2019
Interesting,I got the top 7, which all stand out from the rest plus clark (wanted to type clarkson, I guess it is because I ve watched a lot of topgear lately...) So I guess I thought the same as others. Which I had not really expected, also thought I sucked with only 8, but that is exactly the average !
+1
Level 66
Jun 15, 2019
Perhaps accept davids for davis? just a suggestion/
+1
Level 50
Apr 23, 2020
Was expecting to see Murphy and/or Kelly there, maybe 50 years ago?
+5
Level 77
Oct 4, 2020
I definitely misread the description as saying none of these are of Spanish origin
+1
Level 53
Mar 16, 2023
This is exactly what I did too. :-$
+1
Level 62
Oct 7, 2020
Smart Thumbnail, QM. Blacksmith= Last name Smith.
+2
Level 62
Oct 7, 2020
i mostly used hockey players. Jack Johnson, Martin Jones, Evan Rodrigues, Alec Martinez, Tom Wilson, Craig Anderson, Robert Thomas, Trevor Moore, Matt Martin, Anders Lee, Tage Thompson, Wendel Clark and Ian White to name a few.
+1
Level 37
Oct 27, 2020
You removed a lot of VERY common ones so I suggest putting that there, and you also removed a LOT of time and before you gave 15 minutes.
+1
Level 37
Oct 27, 2020
Wait... so little names?!? What happened to this quiz?!? 🤨🤨
+8
Level 30
Nov 15, 2020
I thought it said "NONE of these are of Spanish Origin" fail. lol
+1
Level 65
Jun 19, 2021
Same!
+1
Level 80
Jun 24, 2022
Same here LOL
+2
Level 65
Dec 28, 2020
Missed Jones!
+2
Level 21
Feb 2, 2021
jones is my last name teacher and i found the site that had all of these names in order and the same numbers beside em...
+1
Level 55
Mar 15, 2021
@Quizmaster Here is the Belgian one, in case you want to stretch your standards https://statbel.fgov.be/en/themes/population/family-names-and-first-names/family-names#figures
+1
Level 76
Dec 13, 2021
You get a lot once you remember all the names that end in -ez
+2
Level 68
Sep 26, 2023
A quiz you say 'duh' after seeing the answers you didn't get..