Story perspectives
Top U.S. Surnames Revealed: Smith Leads, Asian Names Rising
4/14/2026
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Story summary
- The U.S. Census Bureau's latest report shows the top surnames are Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, and Jones.
- Asian surnames such as Zhang, Liu, and Wang are growing rapidly.
- The 2020 census includes first names, listing Michael, John, and James as top male names and Mary, Maria, and Jennifer as top female names.
- Jonah Berger of the University of Pennsylvania notes that cultural and social influences shape naming trends.
