Top 10 Surnames in the U.S. Posted by admin on August 8th, 2010

Okay, so Smith has always been at the top of the heap. And Jones. But it’s always interesting to investigate where these names came from. According to the U.S. Census, here is our list of the top 10 surnames in the United States and a few bits of trivia about them:

1. Smith (2,376,206)

As many know, this surname started in the British Isles and derives from the Old English word for metalworker, smitan (which, by the way, comes from the Old English form of the biblical favorite ‘smite’). It was used as an occupational surname as far back as 975 AD. Since then, many have acquired the Smith surname to maintain a secret identity, to mingle with American colonists, and to avoid discrimination. Many African slaves acquired the surname through their masters. All of these factors have led to Smith being the most widely used surname in the United States.

And it doesn’t stop there. Dozens of surnames come from the same root as Smith. Schmid, Schmitz, and Schmidt are all German versions of it. Even the Italian Fabbri, Ferraro, Ferrari, and Fabris and the French Favre, Favrette, and Dufaure come from the Latin term for Smith.

Notable people with the Smith surname include: actor-producer Will Smith; the late model Ann Nicole Smith; and Mormon prophet Joseph Smith.

2. Johnson (1,857,160)

Meaning, literally, ‘son of John’, Johnson is what is referred to as a patronym. It started in England and Scotland is closely related to the surnames Jansen, Johansson, Johnston, Jones, MacShane, McKeown, and Ivanov–all of them originating from different derivations of the name John.

Among the famous people to hold the surname Johnson are: President Lyndon B. Johnson; Lakers point guard Magic Johnson; action star Dwayne Johnson; and singer-guitarist Jack Johnson.

3. Williams (1,534,042)

Although it may not look like it at first glance, Williams is a patronymic form of William. Like many a common surname, it started in medieval England. It derives from two words: ‘will’, meaning ‘desire’, and ‘helm’, meaning ‘helmet’ or ‘protection’. Don’t ask me what the two words mean together–I’m sure it’s something deep.

Famous Williamses include: tennis star sisters Venus and Serena Williams; movie composer John Williams; comedian Robin Williams; and the Hank Williamses of country music.

4. Brown (1,380,145)

It comes from England and Scotland but also has its Old English (Brun), Old Norse (Brunn), Gaelic (Donn), and Continental (Bruno) derivations. The original Browns were named thus for their tendency to wear brown attire or have brown features (eyes or hair, usually).

Notable Browns include: George H. Brown, the inventor of the color TV; Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown; and Godfather of Soul James Brown.

5. Jones (1,362,755)

This surname actually comes from the term ‘son of John’, like Johnson. This makes it especially common. In fact, Jones is the second most common name in the UK. Famous Joneses include: R&B pioneer Quincy Jones; signer Tom Jones; Looney Tunes creator Chuck Jones; and talk show host Star Jones. 

6. Miller (1,127,803)

Like Smith, Miller derives from the occupational title for people who worked at mills. Coming primarily from England and Scotland, the name is now represented by these famous people (and more): jazz musician Glenn Miller; comic legend Frank Miller; NBA star Reggie Miller; and journalist Judith Miller. 

7. Davis (1,072,335)

It is a patronymic that comes from ‘son of David’. You might be able to guess that it shares this derivation with Davies, Davison, and Davidson. The name is common in England and Wales. Actresses Bette and Geena Davis, trumpeter extraordinaire Miles Davis, and singer-dancer Sammy Davis, Jr., all share this surname. 

8. Garcia (858,289)

It is one of several non-Anglo-Saxon surnames that are gaining ground in the U.S. No one is sure exactly where the name came from, but they know it is patronymic and that it probably comes from Iberian or Basque origins. Famous Garcias include Grateful Dead rocker Jerry Garcia and actor Andy Garcia. 

9. Rodriguez (804,240)

Rodriguez means ‘son of Rodrigo,’ Rodrigo meaning ‘famous power’. The surname likely started in the 9th century, which is widely believed to be the century when patronymic names began. Notable Rodriguezes include: director Robert Rodriguez; baseball star Alex Rodriguez; and tough girl-actress Michelle Rodriguez. 

10. Wilson (783,051)

Meaning ‘son of Wil’, this surname became popular in the 1000s and 1100s after the emergence of William the Conqueror as King of England. US President Woodrow Wilson, playwright August Wilson, and Thomas E. Wilson, of Wilson Sporting Goods, all share this surname.

Is Holiday Travel Worth It?Posted by admin on November 30th, 2009

Call me idealistic or old-fashioned. When I think of Christmas, I think of gathering with my family in our living room around a well-lit tree to open presents. Having Christmas at a cabin or in a hotel room just does not sound like Christmas at all. And yet I hear of families who travel to Paris or a tropical resort to celebrate the holidays. Instead of gathering around the family dinner table, they go to a restaurant somewhere. While the thought of warmer weather does sound nice, celebrating anywhere but at home does not sound like Christmas.

Take make matters worse, this usually requires holiday travel. If it requires flying, they are in for a hearty dose of lines, delays, and stress- enough to dampen even the most robust holiday spirit. 

So what do you think? Are you okay with travelling to exotic locales to celebrate the holidays? Or would you rather just stay put at home sweet home with your loved ones and a roaring fire?

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The Road a Tribute to Family BondsPosted by admin on November 22nd, 2009

Cormac McCarthy’s haunting novel The Road gets the Hollywood treatment this week. For those unfamiliar with the Pulitzer-prize winner and Oprah’s Book Club selection (don’t hold that against it), it tells the story of a father and son roaming the remains of North America after an unexplained cataclysm turns everything to sooty ash. The story is as grin as it sounds and then some. Some of the material is hard to stomach but this isn’t Mad Max or Terminator. At its beating heart, this is a story about the sustaining power of love, especially the love of parent and child.

The film, starring Viggo Mortensen and Robert Duvall, has earned an R rating, likely because its depictions of cannibalism, which is constantly looming presence in the book. This may turn off many viewers and it’s a shame really. Nothing in the book warranted a R; even the most gruesome details were only fleetingly mentioned. Unfortunately, this means many parents will not watch this film with their children. Fortunately, there is always the book. And, as everyone says, the book is usually better than the movie.

I give The Road my highest recommendation. The prose is incredible. The arc of the relationship between the Man and the Boy is both epic and incredibly intimate. More importantly, The Road places family at the very center of man’s survival. It highlights the co-dependent relationship between parent and child- child needs parent for physical succor, but parent needs child for salvation. This book easily made my top 5 of all time list.

So, if you’re willing to brave the R rating, the story and the essence may still be intact, but visually you may get more than you bargained for. If you’d rather just read the book, I guarantee you a beautiful, sobering, exciting, and thought-provoking read.



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Family History Tourism?Posted by admin on November 21st, 2009

I met a couple last night who, upon the discovering the names and vital information for their ancestors in England, took a summer vacation to the actual parish from whence the records came. They visited the church that had held the records for centuries. They walked the cobbled streets that had likely felt the soles of their ancestors almost every day for the length of their mortal life. They insisted that this experience had done more for their understanding of their forebears than any record ever could. This got me thinking about the usefulness of family history tourism.

There seem to be a lot of things we can get out of visiting places that we just can’t get from reading their vital dates. A few summers ago, I took my family to Hawaii to the North Shore that had been home to my family since the 1800s. The people I met all had something to say about my forebears. I walked in the place where my grandparents had been married. We drove past the sugar factory my grandfather built and managed. In the air, the trees, and in the water, I seemed to feel a kinship. 

I had heard all of these stories before, but being in the actual places made it real for me. Every place I went seemed to drive home the fact that my ancestors were real people, with real lives full of events large and small. 

So, what do you think? Is it worth the plane ticket to draw closer to your roots? Can you get that feeling of kinship in any other way?



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