Here Are The Most Common Last Names In Montana
Yesterday we looked at the 25 most popular last names in North Dakota. There were Johnson's, Anderson's and even some Haugen's! You can read that here. Now, we turn westward, and check out the 25 common last names in the Treasure State according for Forbears.
How popular is your last name in the state of Montana?
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Baker
#25 Baker
This surname comes from an occupation. 'the baker'; v. Backster and Baxter.
Walter le Baker, Devon, 1271. Hundred Rolls.
William le Bakere, Oxfordshire, ibid.
Alan le Baker, Sussex, ibid.
John le Baker, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.
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Lee
Local. The earlier references originate from an English origin.
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Harris
#23 Harris
This last name is a variation of an ancestor's name. This English translation of the French Henri is "the son of Harry." Harry is the English equivalent of Henry, not a nickname for him. Thus, instead of Henrysons, we have an unending supply of Harrisons.
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Allen
#22 Allen
This family name is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Alan,' or 'Allen,' or 'Aleyn': Yonge.
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Hill
#21 Hill
This surname comes from a geographical locality. 'at the hill,' from residence thereon. There is no necessity to explain why our directories teem with Hills. As every village required its smith, and thus made Smith our great national occupative surname, so almost every small district had its rising ground called 'the hill,' the resident thereon taking his surname from it.
#20 Thomas
This popular last name is derived from the name of an ancestor, 'the son of Thomas.' Thomas or Thome (whence Tom) was a universal choice.
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White
#19 White
This surname is derived from a nickname. 'the white,' of fair complexion; such as Black, Brown, Read, Russell, Blunt.
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Hanson
#18 Hanson
This last name comes from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of John,' a Welsh surname. John was never an English surname. Johnson monopolized the honours.
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Larson
#17 Larson
A contraction of Larrance’s or Laurence’s Son
#16 Wilson
This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of William,' from nick. Will. This surname rivals, in the multitude of its representatives, the famous patronymics Johnson, Jackson, Robinson, and Dickson or Dixon
#15 Martin
This one 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.
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Taylor
#14 Taylor
This surname is derived from an occupation. From the Olde French, tailleur, a cutter of cloth. It is now understood that tailor shall be the trade-name, and Taylor and Tayler the surname. The early rolls are full of instances, and as a result Taylor is the fourth commonest patronymic in England, giving precedence only to Smith, Jones, and Williams.
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Clark
#13 Clark
This surname comes from an official title. 'the clerk,' i.e. the clergyman, a clerk in holy orders. Middle English clerk, a priest. The last name is now almost always Clark and Clarke, the professional form adhering to clerk; compare the silent agreement between tailor and Taylor.
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Olson
#12 Olson
(Norwegian, Swedish) The son of Ole or Olaf (ancestor’s relic). We all know an Olson or two!
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Thompson
#11 Thompson
This one comes from 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.
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Davis
#10 Davis
'son of Davie'
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Peterson
#9 Peterson
'Son of Peteh,' which see. Nigellus filius Petri, one of the burgenses rure manentes
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Jones
#8 Jones
Jones is a family surname, meaning the son of John, or Johan or Jone; as at first written and pronounced, both masculine and feminine. In the 13th and 14th centuries Johan stood for both Johannes and Johanna. This being awkward, the masculine took the form of John (Jon), the feminine of Joan (Jone).
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Nelson
#7 Nelson
(1) This surname comes from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Eleanor,' from nick. Nell, (a) Bapt. 'the son of Neil.' There can be no doubt that both Eleanor and Neil are parents of Nelson; v. Neil. There are many instances in the Hundred Rolls.
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Williams
#6 Williams
Williams is another family surname derived from the forename William. Its early origins are in medieval England, but the primary source of the surname is from Wales, where most surnames were adopted between about 1500 and 1800. Before surnames were common in Wales people were known by patronyms, such as Owain ap William (Owain son of William).
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Brown
#5 Brown
This surname 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.
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Miller
#4 Miller
This surname comes from an occupation. 'the miller,' one who grinds corn, a 'milner' (q. v.), a surname found in the records of every county in England.
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Anderson
#3 Anderson
This popular last name comes 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.
#2 Smith
Smith is another 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.
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Johnson
#1 Johnson
Here is the most popular last name in Montana. Johnson...This surname is from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of John,' originally pronounced and even spelled Jone; v. Jones. It will be well to give a fairly large number of instances.
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Haugen
Honorable Mention - Haugen
This surname is derived from (Norwegian) Dweller on, or near, a pasture; dweller near a small hill or burial mound. I thought since I put the article together, It would be fitting to see where my last name fell on the list. Out of over 1000 last names, it didn't even appear...which is funny, because I was born in Billings.
Didn't see your name on this list? Check out more common last names in Montana here.
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KEEP READING: Here are the most popular baby names in every state
Using March 2019 data from the Social Security Administration, Stacker compiled a list of the most popular names in each of the 50 states and Washington D.C., according to their 2018 SSA rankings. The top five boy names and top five girl names are listed for each state, as well as the number of babies born in 2018 with that name. Historically common names like Michael only made the top five in three states, while the less common name Harper ranks in the top five for 22 states.
Curious what names are trending in your home state? Keep reading to see if your name made the top five -- or to find inspiration for naming your baby.
Gallery Credit: Stacker
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