Kentucky's 40 Most Popular Surnames

from the Kentucky resident birth certificate file, 2000

1. Smith - from the Old English smitan, meaning "to strike, hammer;" name for one who worked with metal, one of the most widespread of all occupational surnames in Europe during the Middle Ages due to the popularity and importance of the trade.
   Some common foreign forms: Schmiedel (German), Schmidt (German/Jewish), Smed (Danish), Gough (Celtic), Kuznetsov (Russian)
2. Johnson - a term that denoted the son of John, the English version of the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "Jehovah has favoured me with a son;" the name was later adopted into Latin as Johannes, a popular name in Europe during the Christian era, being given in honour of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist.
   Some common foreign forms: Johnston, Ianson (Scottish), Shane (Irish), Juanes, Ibanez (Spanish), Janus (Polish), Ivanov (Russian)
3. Jones - a form of Johnson.
4. Brown - originally a British nickname, "brun," given to men with dark hair or complexion.
   Some common foreign forms: Braun (German), Bruin (Dutch), Bruno (Italian)
5. Williams - a term that indicated a member of the family of William, the English/Welsh form of the Old French name Wilhelm; wil, meaning "will, desire" + helm, "helmet, protection;" became popular during the era of the Conquests in England, in honour of William the Conqueror.
   Some common foreign forms: Fitzwilliam (Welsh), McWilliam (Scottish), Aguillaume (Italian)
6. Miller - English name for one who worked with grain.
   Some common foreign forms: Muller (German), Milner (Yidish), Molinari (Italian)
7. Wilson - a form of Williams.
8. Davis - a term that indicated a member of the family of David; or an English variation of the Hebrew name David, meaning "beloved;" the name became popular in Great Britain when a 6th century monk named David was named the patron saint of Wales, and also because it was the name of two Scottish kings during 12th and 13th centuries.
   Some common foreign forms: McDavitt/McDevitt (Irish), Davidsen (Swedish), Davidov (Jewish)
9. Hall - English/German/Danish/Norwegian/Swedish; a name which described someone who lived near a large house, or a name that described someone who was employed at a hall or manor.
   Some common foreign forms: Halle, Heller (German), Hallberg (Swedish)
10. Moore
- An English term that described someone who lived on a moor or in a fen; also a nickname for a man with a swarthy complexion from the Old French more, meaning "Moor or Negro."
Some common foreign forms: Moorman (German), Muir (Scottish)
11. Taylor - an English term derived from the Old French term, tailleur, meaning "to cut;" name for one who worked with fabric.
    Some common foreign forms: Tailleur (French), Schneider (German)
12. Thomas - English/French/German/Dutch/Flemish/Danish; from the popular Greek medieval name derived from the Hebrew Tomas (meaning "twin") one of the disciples of Christ who doubted Christ's resurrection.
    Some common foreign forms: Tomei (Italian), Tomas (Spanish)
13. Thompson - a term that indicated a member of the family of Thomas.
14. Martin - English/Scottish/Irish/French/German/Czech/Flemish/Danish; a form of the Latin name Martinus, a name given to honour the Roman god of war and fertility, Mars; it became popular in Europe when Martin of Tours was sainted.
    Some common foreign forms: Martine (French), Martino (Italian), Mertel (German)
15. Clark - An English name given to one who worked as a scribe or as a secretary (from the Old English term "clerc"); or a member of a minor religious order, because members were often required to read and write scripture.
    Some common foreign forms: Clerc, Leclair (French), Klerk (Dutch)
16. Jackson - a term that denoted the son of "Jack," a Scottish/English nickname for Jacques or Jacob, meaning "heel" in reference to the Biblical story about the birth of Esau and his twin, Jacob, who is said to have been born holding on to Esau's heel.
    Some common foreign forms: Jakes, Jaggs, Jenkins (Great Britain)
17. Adams - a term that denoted the son of "Adam," a common name in English, French, Catalan, Italian, German, Flemish, Polish, Jewish which is derived from the original Hebrew name "Adam,' meaning "first man"; it also may be derived from the Greek legend that Zeus fashioned the first human beings from the earth ("adama").
    Some common foreign forms: Adamov (Jewish), D'Adamo (Italian), Adamou (Greek)
18. Baker - from the Old English bacan, meaning "to bake;" a description of someone whose special task in the castle was to bake bread, or to distinguish an owner of a communal oven used by the whole village.
    Some common foreign forms: Becker (German), Bakmann (Dutch)
19. Young - an English name distinguishing the younger of two bearers of the same given name, usually a son who bore the same name as his father.
    Some common foreign forms: Jung (German), De Jong (Dutch), Jungermann (Jewish)
20. Lewis - an English form of the Norman/Germanic hlod, "fame" + wig, "war;" name of the founder of the Frankish dynasty, Ludovicus; in Scotland, a term that described someone who lived on the Hebridean island of Lewis or a name of lugh, meaning "brightness" - the name of a Celtic god.
    Some common foreign forms: Louis (French), Luigi (Italian), Ludvik (Czech.)
21. Harris - a term that denoted the son of Harry, a form of the English/French name "Henry," meaning "home power;" it became popular during the Middle Ages, when eight English kings in succession bore the name.
    Some common foreign forms: Harries (Welsh), Harrison (Great Britain)
22. Howard - an English form of the Norman name Huard, composed of hug "heart, mind, spirit" + hard "hardy, brave, strong."
    Some common foreign forms: Ewart, Heward, Huart (English)
23. Turner - an English/Scottish description of someone who was a maker of small objects of wood, metal, or bone by turning on a lathe (Latin - tornus); or a description of someone who was an official in charge of a tournament.
    Some common foreign forms: Tournier (French), Letourneur (Provencal), Dreschsler (Jewish/German), Dreier (German)
24. Allen - one of the oldest names in Great Britain, it is guessed that it originated from the Galiec ailin, meaning "little rock."
    Some common foreign forms: Alan (French/English), Allis (English)
25. Wright - an English/Scottish term that described someone who made machinery or objects (from the Old English wyrhta, meaning "craftsman"); often the name was used as a suffix to denote occupations, such as Cartwright or Wainwright (makers of carts or wagons); when used alone, it generally referred to a builder of windmills or watermills.
    Some common foreign forms: Wraight, Wrate (English)
26. White - originally an English or Scottish nickname given to a man with white hair or with an unusually fair complexion.
    Some common foreign forms: Weiss (German), Witt (Dutch), Wajsowski (Polish), Veis (Jewish)
27. Collins - an English term that denoted the son of Colin, an English nickname for Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos, meaning "conqueror of the people;" the name became popular when a Lycian bishop named Nicholas was sainted, and later became known as "Santa Claus."
    Some common foreign forms: Collyns, Collis (English)
28. Roberts - a term that indicated a member of the family of Robert, an English form of the German name, Hrodberht, composed of hrod "renown" + berht "bright, famous."
    Some common foreign forms: Roberson (Scottish), Robbs (English), Derobert (French)
29. Robinson - an English/French nickname that denoted the son of Robert/Roberts.
30. King - an English nickname given to a man who conducted himself in a kingly manner, or someone who had played the part of a king in a pageant, or to distinguish someone who had once served in the king's household.
    Some common foreign forms: Konig (Jewish), Kinge (English)
31. Campbell - Scottish nickname, derived from the Gaelic term cambeul, meaning "crooked or bent mouth;" the name became prevalent during the 13th century when Gillespie O Duibhne, founded a clan named Campbell using his nickname.
    Some common foreign forms: Beauchamp (French), Camble (English)
32. Anderson - a term that denoted the son of Andrew, an English version of the Greek name Andreas, meaning "man" or "male." It became popular during the 4th century in Great Britain when St. Andrew was chosen patron saint of Scotland and his relics were brought there for viewing in a cathedral.
    Some common foreign forms: Kendrew, McAndrew (Scottish), Driesen (German)
33. Carter - an English term that described someone who transported goods, from the Latin carrum, meaning "carrier."
    Some common foreign forms: Cartier (French), Carretero (Spanish) Charter (Great Britain)
34. Cox - an English suffix, given as a term of endearment, or a suffix derived from the Middle English name, Cock, describing a man who strutted proudly like a cock.
    Some common foreign forms: Cok (Flemish), Cocklin (English), Cocteau (French)
35. Mitchell - an English/Scottish/Irish version of the name of Michel or Michael, a Hebrew name meaning "Who is like God?"
    Some common foreign forms: Megale (Italian), Myatt (English), Michalec (Czech.)
36. Scott - an English/Scottish term that described someone from Scotland; or a Gaelic-speaker within Scotland, known as a ysgthru, meaning "to cut or carve," which referred to their custom of tattooing themselves with iron points.
    Some common foreign forms: Lescot (French), Scoto (Italian), Skotte (Danish), Schott (German)
37. Hamilton - a Scottish term that described someone from the (now deserted) parish of Barkby, Leics; from the Old English term hameldun, meaning "scarred hill."
    Some common foreign forms: Gamentov, Khomutov (Russian)
38. Walker - an English/Scottish term that described someone who worked with, or as, a fuller, a person who thickened raw cloth by beating, trampling, or walking on it in water.
    Some common foreign forms: Walcker, Welcker (German)
39. Combs -
a term that indicated a member of the family of Coombe, an English name describing someone who lived in a short, straight valley.
Some common foreign forms: Comaut, Combas (French)
40. Evans - a term that indicated a member of the family of Evan, a Welsh form of the name John.
    Some common foreign forms: Heavans (English), Ewans (Scottish), Ivins (Welsh)

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Ranking information provided by the Surveillance & Health Data Branch of the Department for Public Health, Cabinet for Health Services

Image from the University of Kentucky/Linda Neville Papers/Kentuckiana Digital Library

Works Consulted
Dictionary of Surnames. Hanks, Patrick & Flavia Hodges. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1988. Call number: R 929.4203 Hank