While it’s common to say we are “keeping up with the Joneses,” it’s the Smiths who seem to be the most popular.

In fact, the Smith surname “is one of the most common last names in almost every region of the United States,” according to Ancestry.com.

What’s the Most Popular Surname in Your State?https://t.co/2yYuGrtfVl

— Ancestry (@Ancestry) July 13, 2017

States from Alabama to Illinois, from Maine to Wyoming, boast more people with the Smith last name than any other.

Johnson, Miller, Jones, Williams, and Anderson are also top contenders for most common surname in the U.S. In Nebraska, Wisconsin and Minnesota, the Johnsons are at the top while in Louisiana, Williams takes the prize.

There are marked regional differences in the popularity of surnames, according to Ancestry.com:

If you are in the Northwest, you are more likely to come across an Anderson than a Brown, which is slightly more common on the East Coast.

Only the Southwestern portion of the country really has a lot of variety. States like Texas, California, New Mexico, and Arizona — where there are large Latino populations — boast a variety of names like Garcia, Hernandez, Martinez, and Chavez.

The three most-common surnames in Hawaii — Lee, Wong and Kim — are nowhere to be seen in the top three of any other state in the country.

And thanks to a large Irish population in Massachusetts, the surname Sullivan comes in third following Smith and Johnson.

Check out your state’s top surnames, and learn more about your own last name, at ancestry.com/surnames.

Twitter users had some of their own suggestions and thoughts about the top last names throughout the country.

What was I thinking,, when I tried to keep up with the Jones’s????

— “WiLD”~Bill FLYnn;) (@beer030) July 13, 2017

the real popular answer is McDonald or Wendys everywhere in the states :) and everybody says the name million times :)

— VinodJayabalan-Doniv (@Vinnih19) July 21, 2017

@Rep_Jimmy Wonder how much more popular Johnson is, or if there’s any chance of Anderson moving up. Now that’s something I’d like to see

— An IndivisMadisonian (@IndivisibleMad) September 14, 2017

I’m a generational overnight success.

— Dave Smith (@djsmith42) September 25, 2017

Looks like Mr Smith got around.

— Chuck (@Cmg1952Charles) September 17, 2017

Now I know I’m not crazy feeling like a stranger in my own country!

— Susan (@YouHadMeAtHowdy) November 15, 2017

Nice to see Smith is still represented in most states … this is coming from a Smith turned into a Smythe

— Randy Smythe (@rksmythe) November 7, 2017

SHOWing up with a bronze in Massachusetts.

— Tim Sullivan (@TimSullivan11) September 1, 2017

My gosh!! Smiths, Williams, and Johnsons, need to lay off the sex for a little while. Let the rest of the population catch up. ?

— Amanda Blount (@amandablount2) September 13, 2017

Change the name of the United States to the United Johnsons then. :)

— 21stC.PostEDM Shaman (@stephenfegely) December 11, 2017

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Frieda Powers

Senior Staff Writer
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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