Common last names

slobake

slobake

resident ... something
Supporting Member
Aug 6, 2011
1,894
24,911
5,251
Somewhere to the left of "Whoopie"
smowles01.wordpress.com
#1
I work in a industry where I often have to do a search for someone by their last name. There was a time when names like Smith and Jones were quite popular. That is still true but here in California there are some other last names that are now becoming more common. I just did a search for someone with the last name of Patel, hoo boy where there a lot of people with that name. Also Nguyen has become a very common name around here.
There are also an awful lot of people with the last name of Lee. Not sure if that is recent or has been going on for a long time.
I have no doubt this is a reflection of the ever changing demographics in our country. Two hundred years ago you probably would not have found too many people named Murphy but it wasn't long until there were a whole lot of people named Murphy in U.S.
Are there other names that are becoming more commonplace where you live?
 
#7
A19506D0-BADE-4F27-8F9B-5D5F2D592C11.jpeg


My family name is extremely recognizable...to the point that (weekly? monthly?) someone behind the counter makes the connection between my name (the Scottish word for ‘church’) and a popular fictional character.
I wink and tell them ‘Wow, I’d never thought of That before!’ ;)

I don’t think I’ve ever met another person with my family name who wasn’t a member of my family.
 
#9
slobake said:
I work in a industry where I often have to do a search for someone by their last name. There was a time when names like Smith and Jones were quite popular. That is still true but here in California there are some other last names that are now becoming more common. I just did a search for someone with the last name of Patel, hoo boy where there a lot of people with that name. Also Nguyen has become a very common name around here.
There are also an awful lot of people with the last name of Lee. Not sure if that is recent or has been going on for a long time.
I have no doubt this is a reflection of the ever changing demographics in our country. Two hundred years ago you probably would not have found too many people named Murphy but it wasn't long until there were a whole lot of people named Murphy in U.S.
Are there other names that are becoming more commonplace where you live?
Click to expand...

If you can find two hotels in a row here not owned by a Patel I will kiss your foot. Same goes for gas stations.
 
#12
Also I have total respect for immigrants to the US who don’t “Americanize” their name. I worked with a guy named Dong. Couldn’t help wondering why he didn’t go by “Doug” or “Don”. He was Dong and by god Dong was a very valued and respected 5-star employee.
 
  • Like
Reactions: slobake and the harp unstrung
#15
hbarcat said:
My last name is French Canadian and is very rare in the U.S. I have to spell it for most people. In Canada it's pretty common, of course. A few years ago, there were 3 NHL players with the same last name as mine.
Click to expand...

Same for mine. Wonder if it's the same one. I don't follow NHL but there's at least one player with the name.
 
#16
It wont be my last name that's for sure. It was an Ellis Island mistake. If there is anyone in America with the last name Carol, I'm related to them. It was my grandfathers girlfriends name. He didn't speak English and no one on Ellis Island spoke Latvian. So instead of Korolev we are now Carol.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Tom Bomb and slobake
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back