Most Common Last Names in the World: A Comprehensive Guide

Determining the single most common last name globally is a complex task, as naming patterns vary significantly across cultures and regions. However, we can explore a list of last names that are prevalent worldwide, offering insights into their origins, meanings, and cultural significance. This guide will delve into the diverse meanings behind these common surnames, shedding light on the fascinating stories woven into their origins.
1. **Wang**: A common Chinese surname, meaning "king" or "royal." It is one of the most common last names in the world, particularly in China and other East Asian countries.
2. **Li**: Another common Chinese surname, meaning "plum tree" or "beautiful." It is one of the most common last names in the world, particularly in China and other East Asian countries.
3. **Zhang**: A common Chinese surname, meaning "net" or "to open." It is one of the most common last names in the world, particularly in China and other East Asian countries.
4. **Liu**: A common Chinese surname, meaning "willow tree" or "to flow." It is one of the most common last names in the world, particularly in China and other East Asian countries.
5. **Chen**: A common Chinese surname, meaning "morning" or "dawn." It is one of the most common last names in the world, particularly in China and other East Asian countries.
6. **Yang**: A common Chinese surname, meaning "sun" or "sunshine." It is one of the most common last names in the world, particularly in China and other East Asian countries.
7. **Huang**: A common Chinese surname, meaning "yellow" or "emperor." It is one of the most common last names in the world, particularly in China and other East Asian countries.
8. **Zhao**: A common Chinese surname, meaning "to summon" or "to invite." It is one of the most common last names in the world, particularly in China and other East Asian countries.
9. **Wu**: A common Chinese surname, meaning "martial" or "military." It is one of the most common last names in the world, particularly in China and other East Asian countries.
10. **Zhou**: A common Chinese surname, meaning "week" or "period of time." It is one of the most common last names in the world, particularly in China and other East Asian countries.
11. **Xu**: A common Chinese surname, meaning "promise" or "to promise." It is one of the most common last names in the world, particularly in China and other East Asian countries.
12. **Sun**: A common Chinese surname, meaning "sun" or "sunshine." It is one of the most common last names in the world, particularly in China and other East Asian countries.
13. **Ma**: A common Chinese surname, meaning "horse" or "to ride." It is one of the most common last names in the world, particularly in China and other East Asian countries.
14. **Li**: A common Vietnamese surname, meaning "plum tree" or "beautiful." It is one of the most common last names in Vietnam.
15. **Nguyen**: A common Vietnamese surname, meaning "original" or "first." It is one of the most common last names in Vietnam.
16. **Tran**: A common Vietnamese surname, meaning "to cross" or "to pass." It is one of the most common last names in Vietnam.
17. **Pham**: A common Vietnamese surname, meaning "crime" or "sin." It is one of the most common last names in Vietnam.
18. **Ho**: A common Vietnamese surname, meaning "lake" or "pond." It is one of the most common last names in Vietnam.
19. **Phan**: A common Vietnamese surname, meaning "to divide" or "to separate." It is one of the most common last names in Vietnam.
20. **Le**: A common Vietnamese surname, meaning "plum tree" or "beautiful." It is one of the most common last names in Vietnam.
21. **Dang**: A common Vietnamese surname, meaning "to wait" or "to hope." It is one of the most common last names in Vietnam.
22. **Vo**: A common Vietnamese surname, meaning "martial arts" or "military." It is one of the most common last names in Vietnam.
23. **Nguyen**: A common Vietnamese surname, meaning "original" or "first." It is one of the most common last names in Vietnam.
24. **Khan**: A common Pakistani surname, meaning "emperor" or "king." It is one of the most common last names in Pakistan.
25. **Ali**: A common Pakistani surname, meaning "noble" or "exalted." It is one of the most common last names in Pakistan.
26. **Khan**: A common Indian surname, meaning "emperor" or "king." It is one of the most common last names in India.
27. **Kumar**: A common Indian surname, meaning "prince" or "son." It is one of the most common last names in India.
28. **Singh**: A common Indian surname, meaning "lion" or "warrior." It is one of the most common last names in India.
29. **Sharma**: A common Indian surname, meaning "disciple" or "student." It is one of the most common last names in India.
30. **Patel**: A common Indian surname, meaning "village headman" or "chieftain." It is one of the most common last names in India.
31. **Gupta**: A common Indian surname, meaning "hidden" or "secret." It is one of the most common last names in India.
32. **Verma**: A common Indian surname, meaning "great" or "powerful." It is one of the most common last names in India.
33. **Joshi**: A common Indian surname, meaning "one who knows" or "expert." It is one of the most common last names in India.
34. **Srivastava**: A common Indian surname, meaning "one who lives in a city" or "urban dweller." It is one of the most common last names in India.
35. **Mishra**: A common Indian surname, meaning "mixed" or "combined." It is one of the most common last names in India.
36. **Pandey**: A common Indian surname, meaning "leader" or "ruler." It is one of the most common last names in India.
37. **Trivedi**: A common Indian surname, meaning "three times great" or "very powerful." It is one of the most common last names in India.
38. **Mandal**: A common Indian surname, meaning "temple" or "shrine." It is one of the most common last names in India.
39. **Roy**: A common Indian surname, meaning "king" or "ruler." It is one of the most common last names in India.
40. **Das**: A common Indian surname, meaning "servant" or "slave." It is one of the most common last names in India.