The 25 Most Common Last Names In North Dakota – Is Yours One Of Them?

We are all distinctive in our own particular ways. Even a little physical characteristic like a freckle makes you unique unless you have an identical twin. Even though you share a twin with another person, you still have a unique feature.

Your name might not be very special to you, you know at least one other person who shares your first name. For instance, Jeff is a fairly common name, and I know a couple of other Jeffs, one of whom is a good friend of mine.

Even if they are not related, you might be acquainted with someone who has your last name. This is particularly true if your last name is one of the 25 most common names here in North Dakota.

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Is Your Last Name One of the 25 Most Common in North Dakota?

Known as "a geographically classified and cross-referenced catalog of sources for family history research," the genealogy portal Forebears one can search a range of first- and last-name-related issues from not just the United States but from all across the world.

Let's get to it!

#25 Haugen

I am not going to lie. This one surprised me. The surname definition is (Norwegian) Dweller on, or near, a pasture; dweller near a small hill or burial mound.

#24 Hansen

I know many Hansen's. The surname definition is the son of Hans, a diminutive of the Teutonic Johannes (gracious gift of Jehovah).

#23 Thomas

The surname definition is derived from the name of an ancestor, 'the son of Thomas.' Thomas or Thome (whence Tom) was a universal favourite. The 13th and 14th century registers teem with it; v. Tomlin, Tomlinson, Thomson, Thompson, Tomkins, Tomkinson, Tombs.

#22 Klein

The surname definition is (Ger.) Little, Small; Neat, Nice [O.H.Ger. kleini, nice, neat, clean, pure = Dutch klein, small = English clean] Often Anglicized as KLine.

#21 Jenson

The surname definition is (Scandinavian) Jan’s or Johan’s Son = Johnson, q.v. in Dict. [Danish- Norw. sön, son]

#20 Keller

The surname definition is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Keller.' I cannot find the spot. Perhaps from the Low Countries. (2) Occup. 'the keller,' probably a kilner. 'A furnace or kell': Cleaveland. 'A kiln, as lime kell. South' (Halliwell).

#19 Jacobson

The surname definition is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Jacob.' Although the personal names prefixed to these surnames in the London Directory generally denote a Jewish origin, it is not so in all cases. There are Jacobs and Jacobsons of purely English descent.

#18 Martin

The surname definition is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Martin'; v. Martel. This once popular font-name, coming as it did in the hereditary surname period, has swelled our 19th century directories enormously.

Martin de Littlebyr, Close Rolls, 42 Henry III.

#17 Davis

The surname definition is 'son of Davie,' which see. Thomas Davies in Altoun, parish of Lesmahago, 1622 (Lanark CR.).

#16 Lee

The surname definition is derived from earlier references to an English origin. Alan de Leia witnessed a charter by Eschina uxor Walteri a. 1177, and a later Alan de Leya witnessed a charter by Alexander, son of Walter, senescallus, 1246 (RMP., p. 75, 89). Phelippe de la Leye rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, II, p. 196). Robertus de Lee, 1436 (Home, 6). John Lie in Snook-miln, 1718 (Lauder).

#15 Carlson

The surname definition is derived from (Norwegian, Swedish, Danish) The son of Carl (man).

#14 Berg

The surname definition is derived from (Norwegian, Swedish, Danish) Dweller near the hill or mountain.

#13 Brown

The surname definition is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Brun' (i.e. Brown), whence also Brownson, which see. In Domesday Brun appears as a personal name; compare German Bruno. Brown stands sixth among the surnames of England and Wales in point of numbers.

#12 Erickson

The surname definition is derived from (Norwegian, Swedish) The son of Eric (ever king).

#11 Schmidt

The surname definition is derived from (German) The worker in metals, a smith.

#10 Thompson

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Thome,' i.e. Thomas (v. Thom). The 'p' in Thompson is, of course, intrusive; compare Simpson for Simson.

Eborard fil. Thome, Cambridgeshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Abraham fil. Thome, Bedfordshire, 20 Edward I: Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III.

1602. Married — Thomas Thomson and Mawdelen Langson: St. James, Clerkenwell.

1630. — Robert Thompson and Elline Lettice: ibid.

#9 Hanson

If it ends in en or on, it doesn't really matter. The people with these last names are just down right good people. This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of John,' a Welsh surname. John was never an English surname. Johnson monopolized the honours.

#8 Smith

Smith is an occupational surname - the smith - common to every village in England, north, south, east and west. The name Smyth is the almost invariable spelling in early rolls, so that it cannot exactly be styled a modern affection. There are 300,000 Smiths in England (1901); very different from the state of Israel, when there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel.

#7 Peterson

This surname is derived from 'Son of Peteh,' which see. Nigellus filius Petri, one of the burgenses rure manentes, Aberdeen, 1317 (SCM., v. p. 10). See also Paterson. Pitersoun 1625.

#6 Larson

This surname is derived from a contraction of Larrance’s or Lau­rence’s Son: v. Laurence.

#5 Miller

This surname is derived from an occupation. 'the miller,' one who grinds corn, a 'milner' (q. v.), a surname found in the records of every county in England.

John le Mellere, c. 1300. Writs of Parliament.

Adam le Molendinator, Oxfordshire, 1273.

#4 Nelson

This surname is derived from (Swedish, Norwegian, Danish) The son of Nel or Neil (champion).

#3 Olson

This surname is derived from (Norwegian, Swedish) The son of Ole or Olaf (ancestor’s relic).

#2 Anderson

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Andrew,' which see. It was of course inevitable that Andrewson should become toned down to Anderson. Even Andrews has occasionally assumed the form of Anders.

Rogerus Andreweson, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Martin Aunderson, 1495, Yorkshire: Corpus Christi Guild (Surtees Society).

1611. Richard Anderson and Elizabeth Hawkins: Marriage Lic. (London).

1769. Frederick Anders and Mary Harper: St. George, Hanover Square.

#1 Johnson

This surname is derived from (English, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish) The son of John (gracious gift of Jehovah).

Didn't see your name on this list? Check out more common last names in North Dakota at Forebears.

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