Smith, Jones, Williams... Are you one of the millions of Australians sporting one of these top common last names from Australia? The following list of the most commonly occurring surnames in Australia includes details on each name's origin and meaning. It's interesting to note that the World Names Public Profile list of common Australian surnames, compiled primarily from telephone directories and electoral registers, is the first time that an Asian name -- Nguyen -- appears among the top 10 surnames in Australia.
* FPM = Frequency Per Million
FPM: 12,254.2
Smith is an occupational surname for a man who works with metal (smith or blacksmith), one of the earliest jobs for which specialist skills were required. It is a craft that was practiced in all countries, making the surname and its derivations the most common of all surnames around the world.More »
A patronymic name meaning "son of John (God has favored or gift of God)."More »
The most common origin of the Williams surname is patronymic, meaning "son of William," but there are also others.More »
A descriptive surname meaning "brown haired" or "brown skinned."More »
FPM: 5,037.98
An English or Scottish surname meaning "son of Will," a nickname for William.More »
FPM: 4,867.51
An English occupational name for a tailor, from Old French tailleur for "tailor" which comes from the Latin taliare, meaning "to cut."More »
FPM: 3,798.06
This is the most common surname in Vietnam, but is actually of Chinese origin, meaning "musical instrument."More »
FPM: 3,571.02
An English patronymic surname meaning "son of John (gift of God)."More »
FPM: 3,314.21
Patronymic surname taken from the ancient Latin given name Martinus, derived from Mars, the Roman god of fertility and war.More »
FPM: 3,304.37
Generally a surname originally used to describe someone with very light hair or complexion.More »
* FPM = Frequency Per Million
1. SMITH
FPM: 12,254.2
Smith is an occupational surname for a man who works with metal (smith or blacksmith), one of the earliest jobs for which specialist skills were required. It is a craft that was practiced in all countries, making the surname and its derivations the most common of all surnames around the world.More »
2. JONES
FPM: 6,132.79A patronymic name meaning "son of John (God has favored or gift of God)."More »
3. WILLIAMS
FPM: 5,904.07The most common origin of the Williams surname is patronymic, meaning "son of William," but there are also others.More »
4. BROWN
FPM: 5,880.77A descriptive surname meaning "brown haired" or "brown skinned."More »
5. WILSON
FPM: 5,037.98
An English or Scottish surname meaning "son of Will," a nickname for William.More »
6. TAYLOR
FPM: 4,867.51
An English occupational name for a tailor, from Old French tailleur for "tailor" which comes from the Latin taliare, meaning "to cut."More »
7. NGUYEN
FPM: 3,798.06
This is the most common surname in Vietnam, but is actually of Chinese origin, meaning "musical instrument."More »
8. JOHNSON
FPM: 3,571.02
An English patronymic surname meaning "son of John (gift of God)."More »
9. MARTIN
FPM: 3,314.21
Patronymic surname taken from the ancient Latin given name Martinus, derived from Mars, the Roman god of fertility and war.More »
10. WHITE
FPM: 3,304.37
Generally a surname originally used to describe someone with very light hair or complexion.More »