Most common surnames starting with N

According to the 1940 census, Nelson was the most common last name beginning with the letter 'N', followed by Nichols and Newman. Click on the names below to learn more about their meaning, history and origins.

Surname Rank*
Nelson 1
Nichols 2
Newman 3
Neal 4
Newton 5
Norris 6
Norton 7
Norman 8
Nicholson 9
Nash 10
Nolan 11
Noble 12

* Based on population in the 1940 U.S. Census