Most Popular Last Names in the World: A Global Look at Common Surnames

Are you curious about the most widespread last names on the planet? Understanding the prevalence of surnames across cultures can provide insight into history, migration patterns, and even societal norms. This list explores the most popular last names in the world, delving into their diverse origins and meanings.
1. **Wang:** Chinese surname, meaning "king" or "royal."
2. **Li:** Chinese surname, meaning "plum tree" or "beautiful."
3. **Zhang:** Chinese surname, meaning "net" or "to spread out."
4. **Liu:** Chinese surname, meaning "willow tree."
5. **Chen:** Chinese surname, meaning "morning" or "dawn."
6. **Yang:** Chinese surname, meaning "sun" or "bright."
7. **Huang:** Chinese surname, meaning "yellow" or "emperor."
8. **Zhao:** Chinese surname, meaning "to summon" or "to invite."
9. **Wu:** Chinese surname, meaning "martial" or "military."
10. **Zhou:** Chinese surname, meaning "week" or "cycle."
11. **Xu:** Chinese surname, meaning "promise" or "to wait."
12. **Sun:** Chinese surname, meaning "sun" or "grandson."
13. **Ma:** Chinese surname, meaning "horse."
14. **Zheng:** Chinese surname, meaning "correct" or "upright."
15. **Guo:** Chinese surname, meaning "country" or "nation."
16. **Lin:** Chinese surname, meaning "forest" or "wood."
17. **He:** Chinese surname, meaning "harmony" or "peace."
18. **Gao:** Chinese surname, meaning "high" or "tall."
19. **Cao:** Chinese surname, meaning "grass" or "weed."
20. **Liu:** Vietnamese surname, meaning "willow tree."
21. **Nguyen:** Vietnamese surname, meaning "origin" or "source."
22. **Tran:** Vietnamese surname, meaning "bridge."
23. **Phan:** Vietnamese surname, meaning "dust" or "powder."
24. **Hoang:** Vietnamese surname, meaning "emperor" or "royal."
25. **Le:** Vietnamese surname, meaning "plum tree."
26. **Pham:** Vietnamese surname, meaning "crime" or "offense."
27. **Nguyen:** Korean surname, meaning "origin" or "source."
28. **Kim:** Korean surname, meaning "gold."
29. **Park:** Korean surname, meaning "field" or "park."
30. **Lee:** Korean surname, meaning "plum tree."
31. **Choi:** Korean surname, meaning "best" or "excellent."
32. **Jung:** Korean surname, meaning "loyal" or "righteous."
33. **Kang:** Korean surname, meaning "strong" or "powerful."
34. **Yoon:** Korean surname, meaning "harmony" or "peace."
35. **Han:** Korean surname, meaning "one" or "single."
36. **Smith:** English surname, meaning "blacksmith."
37. **Jones:** English surname, meaning "son of John."
38. **Brown:** English surname, meaning "person with brown hair."
39. **Davis:** English surname, meaning "son of David."
40. **Miller:** English surname, meaning "one who grinds grain."