Here are the top ten most common last names beginning with A in the 2010 U.S. census.
They are in descending order of how common they are.
Anderson
Bearers: 784,404
Origins: Scottish
Meaning: Son of Andrew
Allen
Bearers: 482,607
Origins: Irish
Meaning: Unclear
Adams
Bearers: 427,865
Origins: English
Meaning: Biblical Adam
Alvarez
Bearers: 233,983
Origins: Hispanic
Meaning: Son of Alvaro
Alexander
Bearers: 204,621
Origins: Across Europe
Meaning: Protector against the enemy
Aguilar
Bearers: 186,512
Origins: Hispanic
Meaning: From the place of the eagles
Arnold
Bearers: 138,893
Origins: Across Europe
Meaning: Powerful eagle
Armstrong
Bearers: 135,044
Origins: English, Scottish
Meaning: Man with a strong arm
Andrews
Bearers: 133,799
Origins: Across Europe
Meaning: Manly person
Alvarado
Bearers: 133,501
Origins: Hispanic
Meaning: People from a place of that name
Famous People With Surnames Beginning With A
Here is an assorted collection of ten famous people with a family name starting with A.
Augustus
Caesar Augustus was the first Emperor of Rome. He was born in 63 BC and reigned from 27 BC to AD 14.
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) was born as Cassius Clay but changed his name in adulthood. He is renowned as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time.
Jane Austen
Jane Austen (1775-1817) lived out her life in Hampshire, England, where she wrote her novels. Perhaps the best known of her six completed novels are “Pride and Prejudice” and “Emma”.
I’m an Austen fan and my personal favorite is “Persuasion”.
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) was an American trumpeter and jazz band leader.
Alexander The Great
Alexander (356 BC-323 BC) was a king in Ancient Greece. He is renowned as a military leader who conquered a massive region.
WH Auden
Wystan Hugh Auden (1907-1973) was a British poet. Perhaps his most famous work is “Stop All The Clocks” (or Funeral Blues) which was featured in the film “Four Weddings and a Funeral”.
Archimedes
Archimedes (287 BC-212 BC) was a Greek mathematician and scientist. He discovered the principles of buoyancy amongst other mathematical theorems.
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou (1928-2014) was an African American writer. Perhaps her best known work is “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings”.
Alfred The Great
King Alfred (849-899) was an Anglo-Saxon king who repelled the Danish invasion of England.
John Adams
John Adams (1735-1826) was the second President of the United States. He signed the Treaty of Paris in 1783 that ended the Revolutionary War with the British Empire.
Last Names Starting With A
Let’s start with names from Aaron to Abels.
Abbott is the most common name in this section with about fifty-two thousand bearers in the 2010 U.S. census.
The name has English origins. It comes from the word “abbot”, which is title given to the head of a monastery.
The name Abbott was conferred on people who worked in the monastery for the abbot e.g. tending the grounds or harvesting the crops.
Abraham is the most common name in this section with about thirty-one thousand bearers in the 2010 U.S. census.
The name is found across Europe amongst Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities in the Middle Ages. It was taken in deference to the biblical leader.
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Aber
1,446
1,379
Abercrombie
6,071
6,439
Aberle
1,586
1,687
Abernathy
16,194
16,450
Abernethy
2,612
2,613
Abeyta
5,635
6,046
Abila
1,094
1,379
Able
2,362
2,417
Ables
4,935
5,010
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Abner
5,061
5,577
Abney
9,743
9,948
Abraham
25,729
31,303
Abrahams
2,437
2,641
Abrahamson
4,855
4,948
Abram
5,136
5,514
Abramowitz
2,133
2,277
Abrams
24,961
25,534
Abramson
4,981
4,875
Let’s take a quick look at a three-letter surname here. Abt is of Germanic origin and the meaning refers to an abbott – as we explained in the previous section.
Adams is the most common name in this section with over 427 thousand bearers in the 2010 census. It also has a lot of variants that also appear on the list.
All are variants of Adam, and these variants appears across Europe. The origins are from the biblical Adam.
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Ace
1,054
1,199
Acedo
1,005
1,236
Acero
1,164
1,735
Aceto
1,163
1,205
Acevedo
38,232
51,351
Aceves
7,502
9,854
Achenbach
1,464
1,536
Acheson
1,933
2,075
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Acker
10,273
10,519
Ackerman
24,862
25,401
Ackermann
2,264
2,499
Ackerson
3,191
3,264
Ackley
6,895
7,102
Acklin
2,027
2,209
Ackman
1,396
1,534
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Acord
3,468
3,477
Acosta
76,477
103,418
Acree
4,322
4,519
Acton
4,666
4,892
Acuff
2,475
2,458
Acuna
12,537
16,683
Adair
17,969
18,708
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Adam
12,209
13,574
Adamczyk
2,741
2,828
Adame
11,848
16,193
Adamek
1,333
1,307
Adames
3,288
4,604
Adamo
3,496
3,647
Adams
413,086
427,865
Adamski
3,629
3,566
Adamson
16,080
16,515
From Adan to Agard
Adkins is the most common name in this section with over seventy-three thousand bearers in the 2010 census.
Adkins is a variant of Adam, which we covered in the previous section.
There are several names that start with “Ad” that are similar variants e.g. Addison.
Let’s take a look at Agnew, which is found in Scotland. There are several theories as to the origins.
One theory says that that it was introduced by the Normans into Scotland and its stems from a place named Agneaux in Normandy, France.
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Agarwal
2,504
5,436
Agee
10,595
10,857
Ager
1,422
1,469
Aggarwal
1,363
2,500
Agin
1,067
1,052
Agnello
1,586
1,556
Agnew
9,644
9,856
Agosta
1,298
1,201
Agostini
1,524
2,038
Agostino
1,402
1,050
Agosto
4,519
5,619
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Agrawal
1,753
3,344
Aguado
1,645
2,371
Aguayo
9,878
12,876
Agudelo
1,884
2,622
Aguero
4,776
6,402
Aguiar
7,027
8,390
Aguila
4,326
6,103
Aguilar
126,399
186,512
Aguilera
21,685
31,581
Aguillard
1,004
1,077
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Aguillon
2,118
3,076
Aguinaga
3,395
4,818
Aguinaldo
1,124
1,369
Aguirre
58,918
79,517
Agustin
3,979
6,375
Ahart
1,405
1,414
Ahearn
4,564
4,628
Ahern
8,046
8,221
Ahl
1,551
1,549
Ahlberg
1,096
1,093
From Ahlers to Akridge
Ahmed is the most common name in this section with nearly fifty thousand bearers. The variant Ahmad has about sixteen thousand bearers.
The name has Muslim origins and derives from the Prophet Muhammad.
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Ahlers
2,740
2,841
Ahlgren
1,026
1,090
Ahlquist
1,137
1,170
Ahlstrom
1,683
1,772
Ahmad
11,395
16,291
Ahmadi
1,548
2,285
Ahmed
26,607
48,319
Ahn
8,130
10,567
Aho
3,505
3,872
Ahrens
9,895
10,182
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Ahuja
1,175
2,031
Ahumada
3,679
4,937
Aiello
8,883
8,927
Aiken
12,014
12,812
Aikens
4,421
4,936
Ainslie
1,024
1,013
Ainsworth
9,102
9,149
Aispuro
1,309
2,019
Aitchison
1,069
1,294
Aitken
4,150
4,347
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Akbar
1,886
2,567
Ake
1,830
1,904
Aker
3,152
3,408
Akers
24,353
25,290
Akey
1,220
1,706
Akhtar
2,445
4,260
Akhter
1,045
1,955
Akin
8,378
8,626
Akins
16,860
17,868
Akridge
1,921
2,076
From Alaimo to Albright
Albert is the most common name in this section with about thirty-two thousand bearers in the 2010 census.
Variants of the name are found across Europe. The Germanic origins come from the words for noble and famed.
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Alaimo
1,976
2,107
Alam
4,455
7,932
Alameda
1,446
1,809
Alamillo
1,660
2,219
Alamo
2,636
3,448
Alan
1,372
1,423
Alanis
7,567
11,029
Alaniz
14,169
16,596
Alarcon
12,821
18,805
Alas
2,693
4,358
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Alba
9,872
13,347
Alban
1,881
2,173
Albanese
6,286
6,407
Albano
5,440
5,860
Albarado
2,270
2,716
Albarran
4,150
6,366
Albaugh
3,005
3,094
Albee
2,317
2,459
Alber
1,984
2,023
Albers
9,531
9,766
Alberson
1,126
1,474
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Albert
31,159
32,507
Alberti
2,466
2,689
Alberto
4,398
6,528
Alberts
6,205
6,229
Albertson
9,666
9,943
Alberty
1,143
1,256
Albin
4,247
4,273
Albino
2,745
3,453
Albrecht
17,256
17,581
Albright
24,942
25,189
From Albritton to Alewine
Aldridge is the most common name in this section with about twenty-three thousand bearers in the 2010 U.S. census.
It dates back to the Old English names of Aldric or Eldric. The meaning comes from the words for “old” and “leader”.
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Albritton
6,412
6,737
Albro
1,521
1,545
Albury
1,444
1,531
Alcala
12,972
17,758
Alcantar
8,802
12,919
Alcantara
8,112
12,636
Alcaraz
8,041
11,616
Alcazar
3,042
4,219
Alcocer
2,567
3,693
Alcock
1,303
1,366
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Alcorn
7,716
7,884
Alcorta
1,365
1,561
Alcott
1,440
1,522
Aldaco
2,164
2,953
Aldama
1,248
1,845
Aldana
7,128
10,362
Aldape
1,700
2,151
Alday
2,269
3,145
Aldaz
1,000
1,044
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Alden
5,524
5,748
Alder
3,471
3,885
Alderete
3,229
3,903
Alderfer
1,143
1,168
Alderman
9,734
10,119
Alderson
5,884
6,130
Aldinger
1,371
1,343
Aldred
1,178
1,199
Aldrete
1,430
1,830
Aldrich
17,017
17,509
Aldridge
22,160
23,034
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Alegre
1,431
2,022
Alegria
4,406
6,200
Alejandre
2,960
4,528
Alejandro
5,847
7,770
Alejo
4,081
6,339
Alejos
1,405
1,908
Aleman
16,379
22,927
Aleshire
1,577
1,594
Alessi
3,334
3,372
Alewine
1,485
1,521
From Alex to Alling
Allen is the most common name in this section with over 482 thousand bearers in the 2010 U.S. census.
The name has Irish origins and spread to Scotland and England.
The next most common name is Alexander. Variants of this name appear across Europe. They spread in the Middle Ages due to the legendary tales of Alexander the Great.
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Alex
4,314
5,476
Alexander
193,443
204,621
Alexandre
2,843
4,675
Alexis
4,991
6,915
Alfano
4,588
4,724
Alfaro
24,108
35,725
Alfieri
2,053
2,092
Alfonso
9,632
12,246
Alford
30,050
30,771
Alfred
5,682
6,490
Alfrey
1,130
1,136
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Algarin
1,472
1,768
Alger
6,047
6,306
Ali
36,079
60,002
Alicea
10,246
12,287
Aliff
1,426
1,425
Alix
1,177
2,027
Alkire
2,557
2,648
Allain
2,048
2,219
Allaire
1,717
1,823
Allan
10,746
11,867
Allard
9,657
10,047
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Algarin
1,472
1,768
Alger
6,047
6,306
Ali
36,079
60,002
Alicea
10,246
12,287
Aliff
1,426
1,425
Alix
1,177
2,027
Alkire
2,557
2,648
Allain
2,048
2,219
Allaire
1,717
1,823
Allan
10,746
11,867
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Allard
9,657
10,047
Allbright
1,448
1,556
Allbritton
1,850
1,879
Alldredge
2,345
2,556
Allee
2,334
2,669
Alleman
3,988
4,318
Allen
463,368
482,607
Allende
1,256
1,760
Allender
2,262
2,351
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Allensworth
1,275
1,228
Aller
1,465
1,385
Alles
1,380
1,895
Alley
14,285
14,323
Alleyne
3,430
4,163
Allgood
4,974
5,210
Alli
1,540
1,931
Allie
1,794
2,013
Alligood
1,816
1,962
Alling
1,154
1,300
From Allis to Alsop
Allison is the most common name in this section with about fifty-two thousand bearers in the 2010 U.S. census.
This English name was brought to the country by the Norman Conquest. The meaning comes from the old Germanic words for nobility.
We’ll look here at the three-letter name of Ard. This is a Scottish name and is a variant of Aird.
The meaning comes from the Gaelic word for high or tall. It forms part of several place names near hills and cliffs.
People from such places would take this name.
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Arciniega
2,632
3,478
Arcos
2,534
4,132
Arcuri
2,356
2,349
Ard
7,147
6,807
Arden
2,078
2,167
Ardis
1,506
1,580
Ardito
1,104
1,141
Ardoin
3,780
3,955
Ardon
1,522
2,870
Arechiga
2,531
3,306
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Arehart
1,301
1,355
Arellanes
1,381
2,154
Arellano
34,999
50,104
Arena
6,421
6,706
Arenas
8,220
11,809
Arencibia
1,069
1,443
Arend
1,806
1,943
Arends
2,846
2,972
Arendt
2,634
2,646
Arens
3,067
3,060
Arent
1,003
1,186
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Arevalo
15,942
23,895
Arey
1,601
1,395
Argento
1,157
1,221
Argo
3,707
3,808
Arguelles
3,475
4,837
Arguello
6,585
8,518
Argueta
9,738
17,540
Arguijo
1,032
1,280
Argyle
1,072
1,233
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Arias
40,086
57,477
Ariola
1,073
1,122
Arispe
1,883
2,108
Arita
1,029
1,673
Ariza
2,205
3,316
Arizmendi
2,066
3,432
Arjona
1,045
1,388
Arledge
2,428
2,532
Arline
1,373
1,636
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Arman
1,026
1,146
Armand
2,322
2,841
Armas
4,333
6,002
Armbrust
1,627
1,694
Armbruster
5,109
5,345
Armendariz
9,569
12,423
Armenta
10,542
15,078
Armentrout
4,047
4,077
Armer
1,752
1,862
Armes
2,821
2,965
Armfield
1,181
1,155
From Armijo to Artman
Arnold is the most common name in this section with over 138 thousand bearers in the 2010 census.
The name is found across Europe. It was brought to England with the Normal Conquest.
The Germanic origins are from the words for “eagle” and “powerful”.
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Armijo
7,465
8,372
Armistead
2,596
2,528
Armitage
3,935
4,063
Armour
7,711
8,139
Arms
3,877
3,854
Armstead
7,162
7,919
Armstrong
129,982
135,044
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Arnaud
1,263
1,402
Arndt
14,052
14,031
Arner
1,293
1,481
Arneson
4,604
4,665
Arnett
16,027
16,499
Arnette
2,510
2,544
Arney
3,284
3,405
Arno
1,390
1,346
Arnold
136,315
138,893
Arnone
2,808
2,848
Arnott
2,326
2,394
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Arocha
1,341
1,670
Arocho
2,236
2,703
Aron
2,110
2,455
Aronson
5,182
5,247
Arora
2,640
5,043
Arp
3,423
3,401
Arquette
1,086
1,187
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Arreaga
1,040
1,362
Arredondo
21,785
29,173
Arreguin
4,406
6,501
Arreola
14,874
21,540
Arriaga
12,765
19,236
Arriaza
1,103
1,387
Arrieta
3,665
5,053
Arrigo
1,589
1,576
Arrington
21,216
22,840
Arriola
6,140
7,877
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Arrowood
4,509
4,681
Arrowsmith
1,061
1,098
Arroyo
37,678
50,614
Arruda
4,293
4,532
Arsenault
8,539
8,760
Arseneau
1,152
1,196
Arteaga
13,185
19,410
Arter
1,810
1,955
Arterburn
1,161
1,213
Arthur
27,383
28,102
Arthurs
2,005
2,227
Artiaga
1,187
1,398
Artiga
1,046
1,504
Artis
8,835
9,656
Artman
2,038
2,081
From Artrip to Ast
Ashley is the most common name in this section.
The name is of English origin. There are several places throughout England with this name. The meaning comes from the Old English words for a clearing in a wood of Ash trees.
People from those places would take the name.
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Artrip
1,194
1,211
Artz
2,861
2,814
Arvidson
1,468
1,466
Arvin
2,406
2,357
Arviso
1,189
1,221
Arvizu
4,451
6,130
Arwood
2,081
2,156
Ary
1,867
1,648
Arzate
3,194
4,906
Arzola
3,433
4,669
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Asaro
1,884
1,871
Asato
1,062
1,041
Asay
2,131
2,227
Asbell
1,792
1,836
Asberry
2,651
2,781
Asbury
8,270
8,522
Ascencio
5,058
7,832
Asche
1,068
1,137
Aschenbrenner
1,385
1,472
Ascher
1,228
1,244
Asencio
2,386
3,006
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Asche
1,068
1,137
Aschenbrenner
1,385
1,472
Ascher
1,228
1,244
Asencio
2,386
3,006
Ash
20,500
21,030
Ashbaugh
3,072
3,086
Ashbrook
1,984
1,967
Ashburn
3,998
4,112
Ashby
16,723
17,482
Ashcraft
9,701
9,957
Ashcroft
1,722
1,775
Ashe
7,485
7,756
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Asher
12,710
13,371
Ashford
8,801
9,421
Ashley
37,021
38,499
Ashline
1,105
1,149
Ashlock
2,659
2,863
Ashman
2,701
3,152
Ashmore
6,004
6,155
Ashraf
1,586
2,468
Ashton
11,619
12,263
Ashworth
10,079
10,116
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Askew
13,095
13,683
Askey
1,124
1,138
Askin
1,161
1,201
Askins
3,447
3,569
Aslam
1,353
1,995
Asmus
1,985
1,994
Aspinwall
1,214
1,169
Asplund
1,166
1,192
Assad
1,230
1,400
Asselin
1,689
1,711
Ast
1,065
1,113
From Astacio to Augustyn
Atkinson is the most common name in this section with about fifty-three thousand bearers in the 2010 census. The variant of Atkins has close to that number.
These names are of English origin and they are pet names for Adam. The origins are from the biblical Adam.
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Astacio
1,068
1,457
Astle
1,335
1,355
Aston
3,743
3,937
Astorga
3,394
4,481
Astudillo
1,929
2,849
Asuncion
3,073
4,042
Atchison
7,879
8,185
Atchley
6,244
6,187
Aten
1,713
1,888
Atencio
3,933
4,456
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Ater
1,153
1,195
Ates
1,225
1,398
Atha
1,457
1,499
Atherton
6,435
6,466
Athey
3,073
3,329
Atienza
1,278
1,777
Atilano
1,835
2,665
Atkin
2,285
2,353
Atkins
49,754
51,671
Atkinson
51,489
53,376
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Atlas
1,727
1,992
Atnip
1,163
1,132
Attanasio
1,154
1,150
Attaway
3,363
3,534
Atteberry
2,196
2,213
Attebery
1,077
1,150
Atterberry
1,717
1,911
Atwater
4,067
4,289
Atwell
8,159
8,622
Atwood
16,754
17,112
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Au
6,177
7,148
Aube
1,415
1,391
Aubert
1,517
1,327
Aubin
2,892
3,433
Aubrey
4,320
4,753
Aubry
1,597
1,703
Aubuchon
2,659
2,780
Auclair
1,357
1,346
Aucoin
4,848
4,989
Audet
2,061
2,173
Audette
2,532
2,654
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Auer
3,411
3,578
Auerbach
2,961
2,968
Auger
3,986
4,182
August
6,082
6,456
Augusta
1,119
1,028
Auguste
2,309
3,981
Augustin
5,731
7,788
Augustine
13,093
14,268
Augustus
2,667
2,988
Augustyn
1,094
1,314
From Auker to Azure
Austin is the most common name in this section with nearly 120 thousand bearers in the 2010 census.
The name is a variant of Augustin which spread across Europe in the Middle Ages in deference to Saint Augustine of Hippo.
The philosophy and teachings of Augustine were highly influential on Christian communities in that era.
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Auker
1,170
1,317
Auld
2,755
2,798
Ault
7,673
7,509
Aultman
2,636
2,695
Auman
2,820
2,901
Aune
1,657
1,730
Aungst
1,106
1,194
Aurand
1,673
1,718
Ausmus
1,286
1,418
Aust
1,591
1,612
Austin
113,160
119,706
Austria
1,548
2,014
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Auten
2,597
2,707
Authement
1,256
1,416
Autrey
3,922
4,177
Autry
8,321
8,704
Auxier
1,488
1,503
Auyeung
1,161
1,333
Avakian
1,146
1,243
Avallone
1,317
1,384
Avalos
25,875
36,922
Avant
5,040
5,443
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Avelar
5,034
7,564
Avellaneda
1,235
2,090
Avendano
3,586
6,086
Avent
2,223
2,470
Avera
1,565
1,601
Averett
2,896
3,464
Averette
1,225
1,258
Averill
3,503
3,529
Aversa
1,217
1,334
Avery
37,440
39,564
Avey
1,682
1,641
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Avila
69,843
97,314
Aviles
18,521
25,716
Avilez
2,477
3,771
Avilla
1,348
1,515
Avina
6,631
9,122
Avis
2,388
2,156
Avitia
3,041
3,745
Awad
3,789
5,446
Awan
1,070
1,637
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Axe
1,069
1,175
Axelrod
2,194
2,185
Axelson
1,578
1,577
Axtell
2,827
2,861
Ayala
66,515
92,463
Aybar
1,281
1,733
Aycock
5,439
5,422
Ayer
3,353
3,415
Ayers
38,836
39,623
Aylor
1,518
1,458
Aylward
2,032
2,074
Last Name
2000 Census
2010 Census
Ayon
3,659
4,937
Ayotte
3,146
3,272
Ayoub
2,376
3,041
Ayres
10,989
11,139
Ayscue
1,055
1,148
Azar
2,934
3,365
Azevedo
5,307
6,014
Aziz
4,735
6,740
Azure
1,310
1,508
Sources
The census data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau who provide public files for download:
Margaret created a family tree on a genealogy website in 2012. She purchased her first DNA kit in 2017. She created this website to share insights and how-to guides on DNA, genealogy, and family research.