How common is Smith?

America's most common surname by a mile is Smith — 2.5 million Americans have it, ahead of 2 million with the surname Johnson.

Is Smith a common name?

Smith has long been the most common surname in both the United States and Great Britain. Each U.S. census lists more and more Smiths, from 274,919 in 1850 to 2,376,206 in 2000.

How common is Smith in UK?

2,442,977 Americans shared the surname Smith at the time of the 2010 census, and more than 500,000 people shared it in the United Kingdom as of 2006.

Is Smith a Viking name?

Smith is an Anglo-Saxon name. The name was originally given to a metalworker (the blacksmith).

Why is Smith such a popular last name?

People started to use the name purely for its popularity and prevalence in the English-speaking world. During the periods of slavery in the United States and United Kingdom, many slaves adopted the name of their masters, which is why the name 'Smith' is still common among some African Americans today.

Is Smith an Indian name?

English: occupational name for a worker in metal, from Middle English smith (Old English smið, probably a derivative of smitan 'to strike, hammer').

Is Smith Irish or Scottish?

The Smith surname derives from the Irish Gaelic name Mac an Ghabhain, which means "son of the blacksmith." As such, the name was probably originally occupational. It has often appeared in its Anglicized form Smith.

What clan does Smith belong to?

Traditionally, many Smiths are given as a sept of the Clan Macpherson, a principal clan within the Confederation of Clan Chattan.

Is Smith a white last name?

In 2000, there were 2.4 million Smiths, 1.9 million Johnsons, and 1.5 million Williamses in the U.S. Those were the top three names, in the same order, in the 1990 census as well. Census data tells us that 73 percent of Smiths are white,and 22 percent are black.

Why is Jones so common?

Jones is a patronymic surname meaning "Jehovah has favored." Jones is a popular surname among European Christians, as the name John was bestowed in honor of St. John the Baptist and many other saints by the name John. JOHNSON is a common English version of this surname.

What's the most common surname in the world?

The most common surname in the world is Wang—a patronymic Chinese name that means “king” in Mandarin. Around 76 million people in the world bear the name, with the next most common being the Indian surname Devi, which 69 million people share.

Is Smith a rare last name?

It is a craft that was practiced in all countries, making the surname and its derivations the most common of all surnames. Smith still tops the list of most popular surnames in England and America, and is also a very common last name in Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Canada and Australia.

What is the least common boy name?

Top ten most unpopular boys names

• Hadrian.
• Stewart.
• Hank.
• Melvin.
• Bill.
• Graham.
• Stuart.
• Dale.

Who was the first Smith?

America. One of the first Smiths in America was the explorer and writer John Smith of Jamestown fame. Born in Lincolnshire, he arrived there with the first Virginia colonists in 1607.

Is Smith a Scottish clan?

The surname Smith was first found in northern England and Scotland, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

How common is Smith in Ireland?

Smith is the fifth most common surname in Ireland.

What ethnicity is the name Smith?

Smith is one of the most popular surnames in the English-speaking world, particularly common among those of English, Scottish and Irish heritage, but also often used by African Americans as a result of the enslaved being given the surname of their slavers.

What is the Smith Crest?

The Smith family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland.

What is the full meaning of Smith?

1 : a worker in metals : blacksmith. 2 : maker —often used in combination gunsmithtunesmith.

What is the rarest last name?

10 Rarest Last Names in the United States

• Tuffin.
• Bombardo.
• Duckstein.
• Stawarski.
• Ragsdill.
• Panchak.
• Mosheyev.
• Guillebeaux.

What was the first last name ever?

The oldest surname known to have been recorded anywhere in Europe, though, was in County Galway, Ireland, in the year 916. It was the name “O Cleirigh” (O'Clery). Enter your last name to learn its meaning and origin.

What is the most common surname in the United States?

Smith is the most common last name in the United States, followed by Johnson, Miller, Jones, Williams, and Anderson, according to genealogy company Ancestry.com.