American Last Names and Meanings

America is known as the world's melting pot, so compiling a list of American last names was no small feat. First, we had to ask ourselves, what exactly is an American last name? What are the criteria needed to be considered American? 

The first Americans were the indigenous people who lived on the American continent thousands of years before the European, Leif Erikson, ever stepped foot on the land. Then the land was conquered and settled by the Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English, German, and French (to name a few!) Finally, European settlers brought generations of enslaved people, primarily of African descent, to the Americas over a four-hundred-year period.

Long after the United States became a nation, over twelve million people immigrated to America during the operation of Ellis Island, from 1892 to 1952; However, those numbers steadily declined between 1921 and 1954 when the government passed strict anti-immigration legislation.  

Many new citizens traveled from Eastern Europe, Central Europe, and Ireland. But some also came from South America, Africa, and Asia. 

In an effort to present a well-rounded picture of American last names, the guide will break down common American surnames by country or culture of origin along with their meaning. Let's get started!

The Most Common American Last Names 

The following are the most common family names in U.S. communities, from coast to coast:

1. Brown - Refers to one's skin or hair color as a descriptive surname
2. Davis - Son of David; derived from the Hebrew name David
3. Garcia - Spanish version of Gerald; son of Garcia
4. Johnson - Son of John
5. Jones - Derived from the Hebrew name Jonah
6. Martinez - Son of Martin
7. Miller - Denotes a descendant whose trade was a miller
8. Rodriguez - Son of Rodrigo
9. Smith - Ancestor who worked as a smith (blacksmith, silversmith, locksmith, bladesmith, etc.)
10. Williams - Son of William

Native American Last Names

Native Americans did not always have last names in the same fashion we use them today. As English-speaking culture overtook North America, some indigenous people adopted tribe names, place names, habitational names, and occupational names. Others were assigned surnames by the federal government. It can be challenging to trace down the origins of some Indigenous names and their origins because tribes and nations shifted and combined as Europeans pushed west.

1. Acothley - Cowboy, from Navajo origins
2. Begay - His or her son; derived from the Navajo word biye
3. Benally - His grandchild or paternal grandchild, from Navajo origins
4. Blackhawk - The name of a Native American chief and leader of the Sauk
5. Chatto - Flat nose, from Apache origins
6. Enapay - Brave, from Sioux origins
7. Hatahle - Medicine man or healer, from Navajo origins
8. Mato - Bear, from Sioux origins
9. Nez - Tall or big, from Navajo origins
10. Yazzie - Little, from Navajo origins

African American Last Names

African American names are often a result of an individual's enslaved ancestors. It was common for enslaved individuals to take on the same surname as their owner. Unfortunately, these names do not connect these individuals with their original roots and familial ancestry. Post-emancipation, many freed individuals kept their surname in hopes of connecting with other relatives who had been traded or sold over the years.

1. Booker - Occupational name for someone who bound books, a bookbinder
2. Carver - Derives from the trade of wood carver, indicative of a skilled craftsman
3. Freeman - Denotes a person who was not a serf or slave but was born free
4. Harris - Son of Harry
5. Jackson - Son of Jack
6. King - Royalty or ruler
7. Langston - Originally a place name meaning long stone, it became a renowned last name
8. Lewis - Of Norman origin, from the personal names Lowis and Lodovicus
9. Marshall - Derived from the Old French mareschal, meaning horse servant, it later denoted a high-ranking officer of the state
10. Washington - Originally a place name from England, many people now associate it with the family name of the first U.S. president

European Surnames in America

In addition to the European nations already mentioned, many other individuals from the vast continent emigrated from their lands to America. Therefore no list of common surnames in America would be complete without a handful of names from across Europe.

1. Adams - Earth
2. Alexander - Son of Alex
3. Anderson - Son of Anders
4. Bailey - Bailiff
5. Bauer - Farmer
6. Bianchi - White
7. Nielsen - Son of Niel
8. Petrov - Son of Peter
9. Robinson - Son of Robert or Robin
10. Russo - Red

Anglo-Saxon American Last Names

There is no doubt that Anglo-Saxon cultures like England, Scotland, and Ireland heavily influenced American last names. This is because many of the United States' early settlers were English individuals seeking new opportunities in a new land. Then later, during the mass immigration period during Ellis Island, thousands of Irish ventured to America for their chance at a new opportunity. As a result, many common last names came from these early settlers and are based on Gaelic or English words and names.

1. Baker - Baker
2. Clark - Irish/English, scribe or secretary
3. Edwards - Rich guard, wealth, fortune
4. Evans - Welsh, son of Evan
5. Moore - Moor
6. Kelly - Irish/Celtic, descendant of Cadhla
7. Stewart - Scottish/English, steward or clerk for nobility
8. Taylor - A tailor
9. Thompson - English/Scottish, son of Thomas
10. Walker - English/Scottish, worked with wool

Hispanic American Last Names

Whether you've got family roots in Mexico, Puerto Rico, or anywhere across Latin America, these surnames carry that perfect blend of history and rhythm.

1. Castillo - Castle, lived near one
2. Cruz - Cross, religious symbol
3. Gonzalez - Son of Gonzalo
4. Hernandez - Son of Hernando
5. Lopez - Son of Lope, wolf
6. Perez - Stone, rock
7. Ortega - Nettle, plant
8. Ramirez - Son of Ramiro
9. Sanchez - Son of Sancho, holy
10. Torres - Tower, lived near or worked at one

French American Last Names

These names bring that touch of sophistication and often have these fascinating stories about ancestors who came over from regions like Normandy or Quebec. Plus, they're surprisingly easy to spell once you get the hang of those silent letters, we promise.

1. Beaumont - Beautiful mountain
2. Boucher - Butcher, occupational surname
3. Chamberlain - Steward or chamber servant
4. Delacroix - Of the cross
5. Dubois - From the woods
6. Fontaine - Fountain or water source
7. LeBlanc - The white one, light complexion or hair
8. Marchand - Merchant or trader
9. Moreau - Dark-skinned
10. Rousseau - Red-haired or ruddy

Italian American Last Names

Just think about how many Italian last names we all recognize from movies, sports, and history. There's something so warm and communal about them that just feels like Sunday dinner with the extended family!

1. Caruso - Close-cropped or shorn
2. Conti - Count or nobleman
3. Esposito - Exposed or abandoned
4. Ferrara - From the city of Ferrara or blacksmith
5. Gallo - Rooster, symbolizing bravery or vigilance
6. Greco - Greek, often for someone of Greek origin
7. Lombardi - From Lombardy, a region in Italy
8. Ricci - Curly-haired
9. Romano - From Rome or Roman
10. Rossi - Red-haired or ruddy

Jewish American Last Names

These surnames often carry clues about professions, places, or traditions that go back centuries. And what many love most is how these names can connect families across continents—including our naming experts at Family Education.

1. Blumenthal - Valley of flowers
2. Cohen - Priest, descendant of the priestly class
3. Goldstein - Golden stone
4. Greenberg - Green mountain
5. Horowitz - From the town of Horovice
6. Katz - Priest of justice
7. Levy - From the Levitical tribe
8. Rosenberg - Mountain of roses
9. Shapiro - From Spira or Speyer
10. Weinstein - Wine stone, winemaker

Asian American Last Names

From Korean surnames that often have just one syllable to longer Vietnamese names with beautiful meanings, there's such richness to explore when it comes to Asian-American surnames

1. Chen - Chinese; derived from the character 陈, meaning to display or arrange
2. Choi - Korean; derived from the Chinese character 崔, meaning high or lofty
3. Khan - From Central Asia/South Asia; a title meaning ruler or leader
4. Kim - Korean; derived from the Chinese character 金, meaning gold or metal
5. Lee - Korean/Chinese; derived from the Chinese character 李, meaning plum or referring to a plum tree
6. Nguyen - Vietnamese; indicates a historical dynasty name, with no direct translation
7. Patel - East Indian; from the Gujarati word patidar, meaning landowner or village leader
8. Tanaka - Japanese; central rice field
9. Wang - Chinese; derived from the character 王, meaning king or monarch
10. Yamamoto - Japanese; meaning base of the mountain

German & Dutch Last Names

While we often think of the English when thinking of America’s early history, the German and Dutch were also very early settlers. You may have even heard the rumor that German almost became the official language of the U.S. While the German language story isn’t quite accurate, as it was never voted on as the legend says, there were indeed many German-speaking individuals in the U.S. at the time of the Revolutionary War. 

While the German settlers were most prominent in Pennsylvania, Dutch settlers stayed mainly in New York and what would become known as New England. The following names are mostly German in origin, with the Dutch variations marked as such.

1. Braun - Brown, relating to one's complexion or hair color
2. Cooper - Merchant (Dutch)
3. De Jong - The young one (Dutch)
4. Fischer - Fisherman
5. Frank - Member of the Franks, a Germanic tribe
6. Funck - Spark
7. Hoffman - Farmer or steward of a manor
8. Howard - Strong or brave
9. Jansen - Son of Jan (Dutch)
10. Keller - Cellar master or winemaker
11. Konig - King (Dutch)
12. Martin - Related to the Roman god of war, Mars
13. Meyer - Mayor or head of a village
14. Peterson - Son of Peter
15. Roberts - Bright and famous
16. Schmidt - Smith or metalworker
17. Schneider - Tailor
18. Wagner - Wagon maker
19. Weber - Weaver
20. Zimmerman - Carpenter

Spanish & Portuguese Names in America

Before the English began settling parts of the Americas, the Spanish had already invaded and overtaken parts of South America, Florida, and the West Indies. Portugal explorers were not far behind and began settling in what is now Brazil in the 16th century. While nations warred and lines and territories changed, the Spanish and Portuguese influences continued and remained. Many Hispanic names include the suffice “ez,” which means “son of."

1. Gomes - Son of Gome or Gomo
2. Gonzales - Son of Gonzalo
3. Hernandez - Son of Hernando
4. Lopez - Son of Lope
5. Martinez - Son of Martin
6. Perez - Son of Pero or Pedro
7. Rodriguez - Son of Rodrigo
8. Sanchez - Son of Sancho
9. Silva - Forest or jungle
10. Torres - Tower

Scandinavian American Surnames

With meanings that sound like they came from a Viking expedition, families love how strong and straightforward these names sound—like they should belong to someone who can build a cabin with their bare hands!

1. Anderson - Son of Anders or Andrew (Scandinavian origin)
2. Berg - Mountain or hill (Scandinavian origin)
3. Carlson - Son of Carl or Charles (Scandinavian origin)
4. Eriksson - Son of Erik (Swedish origin)
5. Hansen - Son of Hans (Danish/Norwegian origin)
6. Larsen - Son of Lars (Danish/Norwegian origin)
7. Nelson - Son of Nels or Niels (Scandinavian origin)
8. Olson - Son of Olaf (Scandinavian origin)
9. Peterson - Son of Peter (Scandinavian origin)
10. Svensson - Son of Sven (Swedish origin)

Historical American Surnames

These are the names that make you do a double-take when you're visiting historical sites or reading about the Revolutionary War. Whether your ancestors were on the Mayflower, came through Ellis Island, or have been here since time immemorial, there's something special about names that have weathered centuries of American history.

1. Adams - Man, earth; it comes from the first name Adam, also believed to be the first man created
2. Brown - Brown hair, or referring to their complexion or clothing
3. Clark - Clerk, scribe; from the Latin clericus
4. Davis - Son of David; meaning beloved in Hebrew
5. Harris - Son of Harry or Henry, home ruler
6. Jackson - Son of Jack or John; Jack is often a nickname for John or James
7. Johnson - Son of John, God is gracious in Hebrew
8. Smith - Blacksmith, metalworker; an occupational surname
9. Taylor - Tailor, cutter of cloth; from the French tailleur referring to the profession of tailoring
10. Williams - Son of William, resolute protector

Exploring Iconic American Surnames

The story of American surnames reads like the nation's history itself—complex, contradictory, and continually evolving. From the indigenous peoples whose naming traditions were disrupted by colonization to the most recent immigrants bringing fresh syllables to our collective vocabulary, American last names resist simple categorization.

What makes these names uniquely American isn't necessarily their origin—after all, most can be traced to other continents—but rather how they've intermingled and transformed on American soil. And really, that's just part of the essence of being American: maintaining a proud personal history in the land of the free and the brave!

For more information check out these popular topics:

• Canadian Last Names and Meanings
• Mexican Last Names and Meanings
• French Canadian Last Names and Meanings

Do you have any parenting questions for our parenting coach and expert, Dr. Ana Aznar? Ask for free today!