popular last names in the 50spopular last names in the 50s

Our surnames can help us trace our family trees, but they can also tell us about the history of how people traveled across the world, built their communities, and contributed to society. By a persons occupation (which is what we will be talking more about in this post). #3 WILLIAMS Son or family of William. Phillips is actually of Greek origin. That number was zero as recently as 1990! The native Americans are pretty few, so no wonder we have the popular American last names as an amalgam of people from different races, communities, and regions across the globe. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. In the 1950s, the name was the 45th most popular, but it's continued to be in the top 200s, according to Nameberry. Boys Girls Alan Handsome rock Anne Gracious, merciful Anthony Worthy of admiration or praise Barbara Stranger, foreigner Beverly Coming from the stream of beavers Bonnie Attractive Brenda Sword Brian Noble man Bruce From Brieuze Carl Free man Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next Search for the Perfect Baby Name Thanks to the herb, it also has a sweet nature-like feel that's hard to beat if you want something that feels organic. It all comes down to imperialism and colonialism, in which some countries took over other peoples countries and lands in the name of their own government. The classic name also means "wished for child," which is just so sweet and lovely. Its a long list and not super easy to keep track of on anything smaller than a tablet. African surnames reflect a history of colonialism. This is my favorite boy's name of all time and my husband absolutely hates it. 3. Green implies greenery, grass, and nature. But considering the name literally means "darling," I'm more than ready to bring it back. But this list of baby names from the 1950s has a good mix of names you've probably heard recently and names you totally forgot about. Nancy originated as a contraction of mine Ancy, with Ancy being a nickname for Annis, a Medieval English variation of Agnes. Continue with Recommended Cookies. In fact, this list of the 5 most popular surnames in Asia is also a list of the five most common last names in the entire world. 31. A person who looked after or guarded a wood. 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. These names come from across history, cultures, and more. Basically, unless your family is royalty, common people did not start using hereditary surnames until about 1267 in Europe (surnames usually go farther back in China). Now quite a few independent-minded parents are looking at it as a renewable, slightly quirky, classic, stronger and more distinctive than James or John, second only to William among the handsome classic. Weve also included the names place of origin and its general meaning. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. Smith. Or do you want to know the rarest last names in the world? Foster is a popular occupational last name. All this makes Laura a more solid choice than any of its more decorative counterparts and one of the most classic. Northwesterners are more likely to meet an Anderson, while on the East Coast people named Brown are more common. You guys, how cute is Marjorie? Johnson. The names with the steepest decline in popularity since their peaks include Gail, Peggy, Cheryl, and Kathy. The figures they honored were mostly politicians Jefferson, Cleveland, and Monroe were Top 300 choices as well as inventors, businessmen, and scientists such as Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Charles Darwin. It means "gentle strength," and is super unique, dropping majorly in the 1980s and only now picking back up. The links below will take you to pages with data on the most popular last names based on ancestry: Characteristic (Person with brown hair or dark complexion), Clan name (Korea), Royal Dynasty (China), Person from the meadowlands (British Isles), from Latin Ludovicus, winner of an athletic game, Disputed. But by and large, these once-stylish surnames are currently neglected. These are some of the ones weve seen. So much. But the rarest last name is a relative term. Using Census Bureau data, 24/7 Wall Street compiled a list of the top 50 last names in the U.S. Heres what they found: 1. Now that you know what the most common surname in the world is, lets take a closer look at some other common last names around the world. Colonialism involves replacing a colonized territorys culture with that of the colonizers. Why? The list looks a bit different than the list of most common last names in the United States and England, however, as most of the tribal peoples had no tradition of surnames, so they developed a tradition of patronymic names based on the first names given to their ancestors. In the '50s, Alice was the 85th most popular baby girl name, and it's been making a steady comeback the last few years. it was the 124th most popular name for boys, as frozen in the pre-Beatles era as short white gloves, Rose in Spanish, Italian, and Latin origin. Turner is another occupational surname that is quite popular. Evelyn is so spunky and lovely. ), its not the only type of surname out there. . I mean, they obviously knew this in the 1950s considering it was chosen for 54,230 baby girls, reported the SSA. Smith. And sometimes, that meant literally changing peoples legal names to be more in line with the colonizers culture. A blacksmith who had duties taking care of horses. Lee is a prevalent surname in America, from English origin too in the past. This list of Europes most common last names will likely look familiar to you. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The way we use surname names today is remarkably different from a century ago. It was popular in the '50s, too, and is a sweet biblical choice if that's something you're looking for. By the time the millennium turned over, surname names were an established trend. Most Common Surnames in Birth, Marriage and Death registers. She has contributed stories on the top 2020s names, Gen Z names, and cottagecore baby names. The error has now been rectified and corrections have been made to both tables below. Some need more time away before they become palatable again its hard to imagine a baby Elwood or Milford but most would feel fresh yet familiar on a baby boy or girl. Franklin gives me FDR vibes, which gives me cozy homestead vibes, so I love it extra hard. 1950s Girl Names Mary Linda Patricia Susan Deborah Barbara Debra Karen Nancy Donna Cynthia Sandra Pamela Sharon Kathleen Carol Diane Brenda Cheryl Today, where you live in the United States can determine which name you hear the most. We have also corrected the rankings of the names with equal numbers of occurrences. Anderson. (Photo by Carl Spencer via Creative Commons), Restaurant in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter in California, where "Garcia" is one of the most common names in the state. Bonnie Attractive. The most populous region of South America, Brazil, was colonized by the Portuguese. This is a common name across the globe, especially in the US. Some of the more old fashioned choices make sense (sorry Mildred), but we were definitely surprised by the beautiful name ranked at 200. GenealogyPals.com is owned and operated by Breanne and Kimberly via Protean Enterprises LLC, a Utah limited liability company. 1950 [ edit] Males John James Robert William Michael David Richard Thomas Charles Gary Females Linda Mary Patricia Barbara Susan Maria Sandra Nancy Deborah Kathleen 1951 [ edit] Males Robert James John Michael David William Richard Thomas Charles Gary (One name on the birth and death registers and two on the marriage register). Born Simon bar Jonah, he was given the nickname Peter by Jesus, to signify that he would be the rock on which Christ would build Christianity.

Considering Smith is the most common last name in most English-speaking countries, last names that are inspired by occupations are common. These have to do with a place or nearby natural feature. During the 1950s, 625,568 babies were named Mary, the most popular girls name of the decade, but less than 20,000 young ladies were dubbed with any of the names listed below. A person named Robertson may well be the descendant of a person once known as "Robert's son," and Mr. Appleby could have lived near an apple orchard or tended to one. Walker surname is popular in America and Germany too. Youll probably notice that most of the common last names in the U.S. are Anglophone--i.e. WebBarbara Stranger, foreigner. Beverly Coming from the stream of beavers. Are you wanting to learn the rarest last names in a country? Web50 Most Popular American Last Names 1 Smith 2 Johnson 3 Williams 4 Jones 5 Brown 6 Davis 7 Miller 8 Wilson 9 Moore 10 Taylor 11 Anderson 12 Thomas 13 Jackson 14 White 15 Harris 16 Martin 17 Thompson 18 Garcia 19 Martinez 20 Robinson 21 Clark 22 Rodriguez 23 Lewis 24 Lee 25 Walker 26 Hall 27 Allen 28 Young 29 Hernandez 30 King 31 Wright 32

These names come from across history, cultures, and more. Namberry noted that the name means "lily," and in the '50s, it was in the top 90 names for little girls. The name implies the son of Colman. They provide figures for each year from 2013 onwards, and for every fifth year from 2010 back to 1975. Devi and Singh, the most common surnames in India, are at numbers 6 and 9, respectively. Alan is a family name for me, so I have a soft spot no matter what, but since the name means "handsome, cheerful," I think it's ridiculously perfect for any baby boy. Carol Free woman. Bruce is a Norman place name made famous by the Scottish king Robert the Bruce, who won Scotland's independence from England in the fourteenth century. Manage Settings It is an Irish surname popular in the United States of America. It is native to Ireland and English. The top ten baby names from the 50s for both boys and girls were largely unchanged from the previous decade, with James and Mary remaining the most popular baby names. Last names were not commonly used in England until 1066, when population growth made it necessary. Historical figures such as George Washington and Christopher Columbus were common namesakes, as well as contemporary notables including Warren G. Harding and Henry Ford. Other last names derived from the kind of work people did include Archer, Baker, Brewer, Butcher, Cook, Dyer, Farmer, Judge, Mason, Page, Potter, Taylor and Weaver. WebBarbara Stranger, foreigner. Reyess name originally is given to someone who lived around the rea region that is, hard ground within a marsh. Smiths name is derived from Anglo-Saxian occupational name, and it implies to strike., Johnson is the surname that has origins from English as well as Scottish regions. It is derived from England regions. Along Mombasa Road. After the Qin Dynasty fell in 206 BCE, many families adopted the last name Wang. This helped families disguise their true identities to avoid being assassinated by the new rulers of Chinaand it also helped make Wang the most common surname in the world! A handful of surnames were finding ground as feminine given names as well choices like Morgan, Madison, and Mackenzie. Richardson is the son of Richard or a person who is immensely powerful. state. Robinson was the 20th most popular name in 1990 but fell off the list, as Latino surnames become more WebMost popular baby names of 1950 | BabyCenter Baby Names Popular Baby Names Most popular baby names of 1950 IN THIS ARTICLE All names for 1950: Official U.S. list Look up a name: See its popularity Baby Names Finder: Get name ideas Previous (1949) | Next (1951) | All years All names for 1950: Official U.S. list See the next 50 names Patrick, long tied to a hyper-Irish image, is enjoying something of a renaissance as a stylish classic, as it has long been considered in England. It is from Latin and English native. Ask questions; get answers. It came about because there were too many apostles named Judas; Jesus renamed one Thomasmeaning "twin"to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot and the Judas also known as Thaddeus. Originally associated with an iron-working blacksmith, then extended to other crafts. Some places have adopted surnames even more recently. Brenda Sword. Bonus points?

Protean Enterprises, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ). Here, a selection of surnames that ranked in the US Top 500 in 1922: Alden Booker Boyd Buford Burton Carlton Carmine Clifton Clinton Dewitt Doyle Eldon Ellis Ellsworth Elwood Emerson Emery Foster Freeman Garland Harris Harrison Hollis Hoyt Linwood Lowell Lyman Maynard Merrill Milford Millard Morton Murray Nelson Norris It sounds like we've already "brought it back," but I have a feeling it's still pretty unique in some circles. A person who worked at or owned a mill, such as water, wind, grain, etc. All Rights Reserved. This list of 78 cool last names--plus their meanings!--might help you out. I don't know why I love it so much, but I do. Web+254-730-160000 +254-719-086000. The most common Hispanic name in South America is Rodrigues, which is the 7th most common last name in South America. #5 JONES From the family of Jon/John. The name was bestowed upon 30,543 baby boys born in the 1950s, according to the SSA, and for good reason it's ridiculously cute. I personally have a huge crush on Cheryl Strayed, so this name is more than just a cute '50s choice for me, but if you want some vintage flair, Cheryl's a great one. It would make a beautiful nursery decoration to have this meaning up on a wall. John is just a strong, solid name to me. They have been superseded by more up-to-date and comprehensive information, which you can find on the Most Common Surnames in Based on our analysis of this list of the top 100 most common U.S. surnames, only about 16 of the top 100 most common U.S. last names come from occupations. The meaning of the name is "foreign woman," which is kind of funny considering everyone I know or have heard of named Barbara is not what I'd call a "foreign woman," but there you have it. 1950 [ edit] Males John James Robert William Michael David Richard Thomas Charles Gary Females Linda Mary Patricia Barbara Susan Maria Sandra Nancy Deborah Kathleen 1951 [ edit] Males Robert James John Michael David William Richard Thomas Charles Gary Instead, they have clan names which pass matrilineally. Yes, we tend to think of surname names as a modern trend, and in many ways it is. In the 1950s, there were 17,620 baby girls given the name, and it's remained fairly popular ever since. Johnson. Devi and Singh, the most common surnames in India, are at numbers 6 and 9, respectively. We see which people travelled, where they travelled to, and how they assimilated with--or subjugated--the people they met there. Oh Audrey a total classic, right? Beyond that, its just an awesome coincidence. 2. WebMany family names or surnames were adopted based on jobs or occupations. #3 WILLIAMS Son or family of William. Bonnie Attractive. Robinson is none other than the son of Robin. It is an English native surname and last name. Garcia jumped in popularity from the 18th-most-popular name in 1990 to the sixth-most-popular last name in 2010. It implies a friend of the horses. Sophie Kihm's articles on names have run on People, Today, The Huffington Post, and more. Maybe Little Rock (IE from an area associated with a small hill). Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The top ten baby names from the 50s for both boys and girls were largely unchanged from the previous decade, with James and Mary remaining the most popular baby names. The name means "pure" and is super classic, with the SSA reporting that it was the 65th most popular name of the 1950s for girls. Jane! 31. Nameberry is a registered trademark of Nameberry, LLC. So as of 2020, Smith is still the most common surname name in the U.S. (It has held this distinction since 1850). Last names are so much fun to look at especially looking into their history. 4. In my fourth grade class, for example, there were four of us named Kim. We all have heard this common surname from America, even from several celebrities and stars. which means prince. About 92.8 million people in China have this namewhich is roughly 15 percent of Chinas population! They were not using the names of entertainers, artists, or sports stars, which is a trend The links below will take you to pages with data on the most popular last names based on ancestry: Smith. Rachel has been around forever, but to be honest, the people I know with the name were all born in the '80s and early '90s, so it's time to give it a facelift. What the most common surnames in the United States have in common is that they all have English, Scottish, Irish or Welsh roots because people from those countries were among the first Europeans to settle in North America. The word is origin in Latin. Wattson is the son of the Watt. It is from Scottish and English natives. WebThe popular names of the 1950's. The lists which appears below are the 100 Most Common Surnames for 1995. (One name on the birth and death registers and two on the marriage register) Alphabetical listing below. All rights reserved (About Us). As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams. Bonnie is a word the Scots really do use for pretty, thus the root of this name, from the French bonne. An interesting alternative is Brix, the Normandy place name where the Bruce family originated. (OK, so The Munsters was actually on TV in the '60s, but work with me here.) If you want more information on those other kinds of surnames, make sure you check out these articles. info@meds.or.ke Because North America isnt just Canada, the United States, and Mexico--it also includes all the nations and dependent territories of the Caribbean and Central America (which is a geographic region rather than a continent), the majority of which were colonized by Spain. Ecclesiastical leader or a person who portrayed one in a play. We hope you learnt something new today; let us know your thoughts! The person is responsible for the care of a nobles private chambers. It can be great for a boy or a girl. Iconoclasts though we may be, we like Fred, we like Frank, and we like George, which was among the Top 10 from 1830 to 1950, when the number of little Georges started to decline. info@meds.or.ke Elaine was number 588 in 2017, according to Nameberry, but if you ask me, it should've been higher. Stylesatlife.com is your ultimate lifestyle destination and personal guide invites you to take a tour of exclusive information on Beauty, Health, Fashion, Relationships, Celebrities, Travel, Food, Parenting and more. It means heel. First of all, what is a last name? Bell technically also means the bell or bell ringer and bell maker. She also manages the Nameberry Instagram and Pinterest. See More: Best Names That Mean Inspiration. That's OK. It is from the English-Scottish regions native. In any case, lets get an in-depth look at the first of these four types of surnames: those that come from occupations. 1 Smith 2 Johnson 3 Williams 4 Jones 5 Brown 6 Davis 7 Miller 8 Wilson 9 Moore 10 Taylor 11 Anderson 12 Thomas 13 Jackson 14 White 15 Harris: 16 Martin 17 Thompson 18 Garcia 19 Martinez 20 Robinson 21 Clark 22 Rodriguez 23 Lewis 24 Lee 25 Walker 26 Hall 27 Allen 28 Young 29 Hernandez 30 King: 31 Wright The lists which appears below are the 100 Most Common Surnames for 1995. The influence of Islam is notable, as all of Africas most common last names are Islamic in origin. Six of the top 20 names on this list of the 55 most common last names in the U.S. have Hispanic origins. It means officers who inspect forests. Using Census Bureau data, 24/7 Wall Street compiled a list of the top 50 last names in the U.S. Heres what they found: 1. Harris is the name native to Britain and England. Turkey, for instance, only adopted the usage of surnames in 1934--by legal mandate! Inspirations for a second name, or surname, were generally inspired by the father's name, where a person lived, their occupation, or even a nickname. Gray does not have any specific meaning; it just means gray color. Especially when she picks her nose. It was in the top 20 baby names back in the 1950s, but is "as frozen in the pre-Beatles era as short white gloves," according to Nameberry. So while job-based surnames are common (hello, all of you Smiths! It is from the German name Lodovicus that it has originated. It's all in the eye of the beholder, though its hip factor did rise when it was chosen for his son by cool U.K. actor Matthew Macfadyen. Cheryl Darling, beloved. The name means "high guardian or brave heart" and was actually number 999 on the popular names list of 2017. WebMany family names or surnames were adopted based on jobs or occupations. Well, American culture is definitely inspired and masked by several other cultures and regions worldwide. Many major US cities had (and still have) a Social Register, a directory of the whos who of high society and the social clubs they belong to. It is from the German name Lodovicus that it has originated. They have been superseded by more up-to-date and comprehensive information, which you can find on the Most Common Surnames in Although perhaps you chose a surname name to honor a personal hero, as parents 100 years ago were also apt to do. Murphy means strong. A person who made or repaired items made of wood. As youve already guessed, surnames have a lot to do with human geography. All that being said, lets take a look at 50 of the most common job-based surnames. I put Mildred here mainly because you could then call your baby Millie, which is literally the cutest baby name in the entire world. Lee is a prevalent surname in America, from English origin too in the past. It's perennially popular in Scotland, but has been rarely used here for a generation -- though the impact of Bruces Lee, Springsteen, Dern and Willis, as well as Batman's Bruce Wayne -- still lingers. #2 JOHNSON Son of John. The last names that people chose to adopt for their families can be categorized in one of 4 ways. Plus you can guarantee she'll have a whole set of Nancy Drew books by the time she's 5. 31. Williams. Christine Christian woman.

It is a Hispanic and English native last name. This list of 78 cool last names--plus their meanings!--might help you out. Peter is derived from the Greek Petros, meaning rock or stone. One of the most important figures in the Christian hagiography is Saint Peter, keeper of the Gates of Heaven. US actor and cast member Will Smith arrives to the promotional event for the movie Gemini Man in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. Cindy Born on Cynthus. It was in the Top 50 from the 1890s through the 1950s and the Top 100 for decades longer, always among the most popular. Cindy Born on Cynthus. It's one of those names that works well for little girls and grown, professional women, and I don't hear it very often. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Wed love to answer it and get it added here! In fact, this list of the 5 most popular surnames in Asia is also a list of the five most common last names in the entire world. So make sure you learn more about your family and the many surnames that helped get to you. Today, let us check out, explore, and learn about the popular surnames in the USA. Lee is a prevalent surname in America, from English origin too in the past. In fact, of the 430,000,000+ people in South America, almost half--about 213,000,000--live in Brazil. Surnames occurring most often on the birth, death and marriage registers in Scotland in 1995 by position. Many family names or surnames were adopted based on jobs or occupations. Hill name originated from someone who lived by the hill. (Photo by Flickr user Deanna Dykstra via Creative Commons. Simmons or Simons is a victorious protector.. That way, no matter what device youre on or how you prefer to look at your data, weve got you covered. "Johnson" is one of the most common surnames in each U.S. That number was, the most common last name in the world is Wang,. WebMost popular baby names of 1950 | BabyCenter Baby Names Popular Baby Names Most popular baby names of 1950 IN THIS ARTICLE All names for 1950: Official U.S. list Look up a name: See its popularity Baby Names Finder: Get name ideas Previous (1949) | Next (1951) | All years All names for 1950: Official U.S. list See the next 50 names 2. OK, so Rebecca is still a popular one, but I haven't heard any new babies given this sweet name in a while, so I'm including it. For example, Johnson would indicate the person is Johns son. Look, I'm not one who can ignore the atrocities our country went through in the 1950s, but I'm not above idealizing the good parts and romanticizing some of the magic of the decade. All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated. The 1990s was the beginning for -son names: Hudson, Jackson, Carson, et al. 3. Robinson was the 20th most popular name in 1990 but fell off the list, as Latino surnames become more The names with the steepest decline in popularity since their peaks include Gail, Peggy, Cheryl, and Kathy. from their family histories differ from those a century ago. Lists of the most popular names in the United States, List of the most popular names in the 1950s in the United States, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_the_most_popular_names_in_the_1950s_in_the_United_States&oldid=1123602894, Lists of the most popular given names in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 24 November 2022, at 16:49. Such a classic, right? The most common last name in the U.S. is "Smith." But there are still regional differences. It means an old English word Brun., Jones is another prevalent surname in America. 4. I know, I know. Man, if Ralph doesn't make you think about a cute little boy running around in your white-picket-fenced yard, chasing a pup, and finding frogs for his pockets, then what's wrong with you? Evans is another widespread surname we hear, even in celebrity circles. It means the son of John.. Leo is such a fun name, regardless of the decade, but it was mega popular in the 1950s. It means son of Harry or the ruler of Home.. Peter is just the cutest, OK? Along Mombasa Road. Texas, California, New Mexico, and Arizona have large Latino populations and a variety of names such as Garcia, Hernandez, Martinez, and Chavez. Someone who tended or worked in a garden. The list of most popular American surnames is relatively easy to guess. Nameberry reported that in 2017, it was the 124th most popular name for boys, so this classic is already making a comeback. today. Robinson was the 20th most popular name in 1990 but fell off the list, as Latino surnames become more Even though it's only one syllable, I feel like it holds a lot of personality, and Nameberry noted that it means "God is gracious." It also means "of the noble kind," which I remind my 3-year-old of on the daily.

In the 1950s, it was used for 29,035 babies, and has been making a comeback ever since. Web+254-730-160000 +254-719-086000. Carolyn Free woman.