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.
91. POWELL
Population Count: 216,553A contraction of the Welsh "Ap Howell," meaning "son of Howell."
92. SULLIVAN
Population Count: 215,640A descriptive surname meaning "hawk-eyed" or "one-eyed," from "suil," meaning 'eye,' and "ban," meaning 'fair-eyed.'
93. RUSSELL
Population Count: 215,432A patronymic name derived from the given name "Rousel," old French for someone with red hair or a red face.
94. ORTIZ
Population Count: 214,683A patronymic surname meaning "son of Orton or Orta."
95. JENKINS
Population Count: 213,737A double diminutive surname meaning "son of Jenkin," from the given name Jenkin which means "son of John" or "little John."
96. GUTIERREZ
Population Count: 212,905A patronymic name meaning "son of Gutierre" (son of Walter). Gutierre is a given name meaning "he who rules."
97. PERRY
Population Count: 212,644Generally used to describe a dweller near a pear tree or pear grove, from the Old English "pyrige," meaning 'pear tree.'
98. BUTLER
Population Count: 210,879An occupational surname derived from the Old French "bouteillier," meaning servant in charge of the wine cellar.
99. BARNES
Population Count: 210,426Of the barn (barley house), this British surname is often derived from a significant barn in the local region.
100. FISHER
Population Count: 210,279As it sounds, this is an occupational surname taken from the Old English "fiscare," meaning 'fisherman.'
