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Common US Surnames & Their Meanings
Surname Ranks from the 2000 U.S. Census

By , About.com Guide

Smith, Johnson, Williams, Jones, Brown... Are you one of the millions of Americans sporting one of these top 100 common last names from the 2000 census? The following list of the most commonly occurring surnames in America includes details on each name's origin and meaning. It's interesting to note, that since 1990, the only other time this surname report has been compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau, two Hispanic surnames -- Garcia and Rodriguez -- have risen into the top 10.

21. LOPEZ

Population Count: 621,536
A patronymical surname meaning "son of Lope." Lope comes from the Spanish form of Lupus, a Latin name meaning "wolf."

22. LEE

Population Count: 605,860
Lee is a surname with many possible meanings and origins. Often it was a name given to one who lived in or near a "laye," a Middle English term meaning 'clearing in the woods.'

23. GONZALEZ

Population Count: 597,718
A patronymic name meaning "son of Gonzalo."

24. HARRIS

Population Count: 593,542
"Son of Harry," a given name derived from Henry and meaning "home ruler."

25. CLARK

Population Count: 548,369
This surname was most often used by a cleric, clerk, or scholar, one who can read and write.

26. LEWIS

Population Count: 509,930
Derived from the Germanic given name Lewis, meaning "reknowned, famous battle."

27. ROBINSON

Population Count: 503,028
The most likely origin of this surname is "son of Robin," although it may also derive from the Polish word "rabin," meaning rabbi.

28. WALKER

Population Count: 501,307
An occupational surname for a fuller, or person who walked on damp raw cloth in order to thicken it.

29. PEREZ

Population Count: 488,521
The most common of several origins for the surname Perez, is a patronymic name derived from Pero, Pedro, etc. - meaning "son of Pero."

30. HALL

Population Count: 473,568
A place name derived from various words for "large house," usually used to signify someone who lived in or worked in a hall or manor house.
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