How to Change Your Last Name: A Comprehensive Guide

Changing your last name is a significant decision that can impact your identity, legal documents, and everyday life. If you're considering this step, understanding the process and gathering the necessary information is crucial. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of how to change your last name, addressing common questions and outlining the steps involved.
1. **Anderson:** Son of Andrew; from the Scottish surname "Mac an Dòmhnaill," meaning "son of Donald."
2. **Baker:** One who bakes bread; a common occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "baker."
3. **Bell:** A person who makes or sells bells; a common occupational surname that has been used for centuries.
4. **Bennett:** Little son; a patronymic surname meaning "son of Benedict."
5. **Black:** A person with dark hair or skin; a descriptive surname that originated in the Middle Ages.
6. **Brown:** A person with brown hair or skin; a descriptive surname that is common in many English-speaking countries.
7. **Campbell:** Curved mouth; a surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "crooked mouth."
8. **Clark:** Scholar or scribe; an occupational surname that derives from the Middle English word "clerk."
9. **Coleman:** Little dove; a surname of Irish origin, meaning "little dove."
10. **Collins:** Son of Colin; a patronymic surname derived from the Scottish name "Colin."
11. **Cook:** One who cooks food; an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "coke."
12. **Davis:** Son of David; a patronymic surname derived from the Hebrew name "David."
13. **Edwards:** Son of Edward; a patronymic surname derived from the English name "Edward."
14. **Evans:** Son of Evan; a patronymic surname derived from the Welsh name "Evan."
15. **Fisher:** One who catches fish; an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "fissher."
16. **Garcia:** Bear; a surname of Spanish origin, meaning "bear."
17. **Garcia:** Bear; a surname of Spanish origin, meaning "bear."
18. **Green:** A person with green hair or eyes; a descriptive surname that originated in the Middle Ages.
19. **Hall:** A dwelling; a common place-name surname that originated in the Middle Ages.
20. **Harris:** Son of Harry; a patronymic surname derived from the English name "Harry."
21. **Harris:** Son of Harry; a patronymic surname derived from the English name "Harry."
22. **Harrison:** Son of Harry; a patronymic surname derived from the English name "Harry."
23. **Hayes:** From the wooded place; a surname of English origin, meaning "from the wooded place."
24. **Hernandez:** Son of Hernando; a patronymic surname derived from the Spanish name "Hernando."
25. **Hill:** A small, elevated area of land; a common place-name surname that originated in the Middle Ages.
26. **Jackson:** Son of Jack; a patronymic surname derived from the English name "Jack."
27. **James:** Supplanter; a surname of Hebrew origin, meaning "supplanter."
28. **Jenkins:** Son of John; a patronymic surname derived from the English name "John."
29. **Johnson:** Son of John; a patronymic surname derived from the English name "John."
30. **Jones:** Son of John; a patronymic surname derived from the English name "John."
31. **Jordan:** To flow down; a surname of Hebrew origin, meaning "to flow down."
32. **King:** A ruler; an occupational surname that derived from the Middle English word "king."
33. **Lewis:** Famous warrior; a surname of Welsh origin, meaning "famous warrior."
34. **Lopez:** Wolf; a surname of Spanish origin, meaning "wolf."
35. **Martin:** War-god; a surname of Latin origin, meaning "war-god."
36. **Martinez:** Son of Martin; a patronymic surname derived from the Spanish name "Martin."
37. **Miller:** One who grinds grain; an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "miller."
38. **Moore:** Marsh or moor; a common place-name surname that originated in the Middle Ages.
39. **Morgan:** Sea defender; a surname of Welsh origin, meaning "sea defender."
40. **Murphy:** Sea warrior; a surname of Irish origin, meaning "sea warrior."
41. **Nelson:** Son of Neil; a patronymic surname derived from the English name "Neil."
42. **Parker:** One who keeps a park; an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "parker."
43. **Patterson:** Son of Patrick; a patronymic surname derived from the Irish name "Patrick."
44. **Perez:** Stone; a surname of Spanish origin, meaning "stone."
45. **Phillips:** Son of Philip; a patronymic surname derived from the Greek name "Philip."
46. **Powell:** A pool or pond; a common place-name surname that originated in the Middle Ages.
47. **Price:** Priest; an occupational surname that derived from the Middle English word "preest."
48. **Reed:** A type of plant; a common place-name surname that originated in the Middle Ages.
49. **Reid:** Red; a surname of Scottish origin, meaning "red."
50. **Richardson:** Son of Richard; a patronymic surname derived from the German name "Richard."
51. **Rivera:** One who lives by the river; a surname of Spanish origin, meaning "one who lives by the river."
52. **Roberts:** Son of Robert; a patronymic surname derived from the German name "Robert."
53. **Robinson:** Son of Robin; a patronymic surname derived from the English name "Robin."
54. **Rodriguez:** Son of Rodrigo; a patronymic surname derived from the Spanish name "Rodrigo."
55. **Rogers:** Son of Roger; a patronymic surname derived from the German name "Roger."
56. **Ross:** Headland or promontory; a common place-name surname that originated in the Middle Ages.
57. **Russell:** Red-haired; a surname of French origin, meaning "red-haired."
58. **Sanchez:** Saint John; a surname of Spanish origin, meaning "Saint John."
59. **Sanders:** Son of Alexander; a patronymic surname derived from the Greek name "Alexander."
60. **Scott:** From Scotland; a surname of Scottish origin, meaning "from Scotland."
61. **Shaw:** Woodland; a common place-name surname that originated in the Middle Ages.
62. **Shepherd:** One who tends sheep; an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "shepherd."
63. **Smith:** One who works with metal; an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "smyth."
64. **Snider:** One who cuts wood; an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "snider."
65. **Stevens:** Son of Stephen; a patronymic surname derived from the Greek name "Stephen."
66. **Stewart:** Steward; an occupational surname that derived from the Middle English word "steward."
67. **Stone:** A piece of rock; a common place-name surname that originated in the Middle Ages.
68. **Taylor:** One who cuts cloth; an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "tailour."
69. **Thomas:** Twin; a surname of Aramaic origin, meaning "twin."
70. **Thompson:** Son of Thomas; a patronymic surname derived from the Aramaic name "Thomas."
71. **Turner:** One who turns wood; an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "turner."
72. **Walker:** One who walks; an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "walker."
73. **Wallace:** Welshman; a surname of Welsh origin, meaning "Welshman."
74. **Ward:** Guardian; an occupational surname that derived from the Middle English word "ward."
75. **Washington:** A place near a spring; a common place-name surname that originated in the Middle Ages.
76. **Watson:** Son of Walter; a patronymic surname derived from the German name "Walter."
77. **Weaver:** One who weaves cloth; an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "wever."
78. **White:** A person with fair hair or skin; a descriptive surname that originated in the Middle Ages.
79. **Williams:** Son of William; a patronymic surname derived from the German name "William."
80. **Wilson:** Son of William; a patronymic surname derived from the German name "William."
81. **Wright:** One who works with wood; an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "wright."
82. **Young:** A person who is not yet old; a descriptive surname that originated in the Middle Ages.
83. **Zimmerman:** Carpenter; a surname of German origin, meaning "carpenter."