Most Common Last Name: Exploring the Prevalence of Surnames

Discovering the most common last names around the world provides insights into history, migration patterns, and cultural influences. While the prevalence of specific surnames varies across regions, certain names consistently rise to the top. This list delves into the most common last names globally, exploring their origins, meanings, and cultural significance.
1. **Wang:** A common surname in China, meaning "king" or "royal" in Mandarin Chinese. It is believed to have originated from the title given to the rulers of the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC).
2. **Li:** Another prominent Chinese surname, meaning "plum" or "apricot" in Mandarin Chinese. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that lived near the Yellow River during the Zhou Dynasty.
3. **Zhang:** This common Chinese surname means "net" or "fishing net" in Mandarin Chinese. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that was skilled in fishing and hunting.
4. **Liu:** This common Chinese surname means "flow" or "current" in Mandarin Chinese. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that lived near the Yellow River during the Zhou Dynasty.
5. **Chen:** This common Chinese surname means "to listen" or "to hear" in Mandarin Chinese. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that lived in the south of China during the Zhou Dynasty.
6. **Yang:** This common Chinese surname means "sun" or "bright" in Mandarin Chinese. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that worshipped the sun.
7. **Huang:** This common Chinese surname means "yellow" or "emperor" in Mandarin Chinese. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that lived in the north of China during the Zhou Dynasty.
8. **Zhao:** This common Chinese surname means "to call" or "to summon" in Mandarin Chinese. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that lived in the north of China during the Zhou Dynasty.
9. **Wu:** This common Chinese surname means "martial" or "military" in Mandarin Chinese. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that was skilled in warfare.
10. **Zhou:** This common Chinese surname means "week" or "period" in Mandarin Chinese. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that lived in the north of China during the Zhou Dynasty.
11. **Xu:** This common Chinese surname means "promise" or "guarantee" in Mandarin Chinese. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that lived in the south of China during the Zhou Dynasty.
12. **Sun:** This common Chinese surname means "sun" or "bright" in Mandarin Chinese. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that worshipped the sun.
13. **Ma:** This common Chinese surname means "horse" or "hemp" in Mandarin Chinese. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that lived in the north of China during the Zhou Dynasty.
14. **Li:** This common Korean surname means "plum" or "apricot" in Korean. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that lived near the Yellow River during the Zhou Dynasty.
15. **Kim:** This common Korean surname means "gold" or "metal" in Korean. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that was skilled in metalworking.
16. **Park:** This common Korean surname means "park" or "garden" in Korean. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that lived near a large park or garden.
17. **Choi:** This common Korean surname means "best" or "excellent" in Korean. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that was known for its excellence in a particular skill or craft.
18. **Lee:** This common Korean surname means "plum" or "apricot" in Korean. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that lived near the Yellow River during the Zhou Dynasty.
19. **Jung:** This common Korean surname means "center" or "middle" in Korean. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that lived in the center of the Korean peninsula.
20. **Kang:** This common Korean surname means "strong" or "powerful" in Korean. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that was known for its strength and power.
21. **Yoon:** This common Korean surname means "cloud" or "sky" in Korean. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that lived near a mountain or a high place.
22. **Kim:** This common Vietnamese surname means "gold" or "metal" in Vietnamese. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that was skilled in metalworking.
23. **Nguyen:** This common Vietnamese surname means "first" or "original" in Vietnamese. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that was the first to settle in a particular area.
24. **Tran:** This common Vietnamese surname means "to move" or "to travel" in Vietnamese. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that was known for its nomadic lifestyle.
25. **Phan:** This common Vietnamese surname means "to separate" or "to divide" in Vietnamese. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that was known for its ability to divide and conquer.
26. **Le:** This common Vietnamese surname means "plum" or "apricot" in Vietnamese. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that lived near the Yellow River during the Zhou Dynasty.
27. **Hoang:** This common Vietnamese surname means "emperor" or "king" in Vietnamese. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that was ruled by an emperor or king.
28. **Vu:** This common Vietnamese surname means "dance" or "performance" in Vietnamese. It is believed to have originated from a tribe that was known for its dancing and performance skills.
29. **Smith:** This common English surname means "blacksmith" or "metalworker" in English. It is believed to have originated from a profession that was common in medieval times.
30. **Johnson:** This common English surname means "son of John" in English. It is believed to have originated from a patronymic tradition that was common in medieval times.
31. **Williams:** This common English surname means "son of William" in English. It is believed to have originated from a patronymic tradition that was common in medieval times.
32. **Brown:** This common English surname means "brown" or "dark" in English. It is believed to have originated from a descriptive term that referred to someone's hair or complexion.
33. **Jones:** This common English surname means "son of John" in English. It is believed to have originated from a patronymic tradition that was common in medieval times.
34. **Miller:** This common English surname means "miller" or "grain grinder" in English. It is believed to have originated from a profession that was common in medieval times.
35. **Davis:** This common English surname means "son of David" in English. It is believed to have originated from a patronymic tradition that was common in medieval times.
36. **Garcia:** This common Spanish surname means "son of Garcias" in Spanish. It is believed to have originated from a patronymic tradition that was common in medieval times.
37. **Rodriguez:** This common Spanish surname means "son of Rodriguez" in Spanish. It is believed to have originated from a patronymic tradition that was common in medieval times.
38. **Gonzalez:** This common Spanish surname means "son of Gonzalez" in Spanish. It is believed to have originated from a patronymic tradition that was common in medieval times.
39. **Martinez:** This common Spanish surname means "son of Martinez" in Spanish. It is believed to have originated from a patronymic tradition that was common in medieval times.
40. **Hernandez:** This common Spanish surname means "son of Hernandez" in Spanish. It is believed to have originated from a patronymic tradition that was common in medieval times.