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Hispanic Surnames More Widespread

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The New York Times

Published: November 17, 2007

Step aside Moore and Taylor. Welcome Garcia and Rodriguez.

Smith remains the most common surname, according to a new analysis released Friday by the U.S. Census Bureau. But for the first time, two Hispanic surnames - Garcia and Rodriguez - are among the top 10 most common in the nation, and Martinez nearly edged out Wilson for 10th place.

The number of Hispanics living in the United States burgeoned by 58 percent in the 1990s to nearly 13 percent of the total population, and cracking the list of top 10 names suggests just how pervasively the Latino migration has permeated everyday American culture.

Garcia moved to No. 8 in 2000, up from No. 18, and Rodriguez jumped to No. 9 from 22nd place. The number of Hispanic surnames among the top 25 doubled, to six.
Reinaldo M. Valdes, a board member of the Miami-based Spanish American League Against Discrimination, said the milestone "gives the Hispanic community a standing within the social structure of the country."

"People of Hispanic descent who hardly speak Spanish are more eager to take their Hispanic last names," he said.

Demographers pointed to more than one factor in explaining the increase in Hispanic surnames.

"The movie studios used to demand that their employees have standard WASPy names," said Justin Kaplan, an historian and author.

"Now, look at Renee Zellweger," Kaplan said.

But about one in every 25 Americans is still named Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, Jones, Miller or Davis.

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