# What the Smith and Jones around the world (most common names)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 3, 2018, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-smith-and-jones-around-the-world-most-common-names/815338 "2018-06-03T00:37:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2018, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-smith-and-jones-around-the-world-most-common-names/815338/61 "2018-06-08T14:58:13Z")
What countries have ‘soldier names’? In Sweden, as noted upthread, there is little variation in small rural villages during the 19th century. Anders, son of Johan would be Anders Johansson, ASF. But with mandatory military service, A lot of Anders Johanssons would show up with their draft notices, and were then issued different surnames, that would then stick with them for life. They often reflected physical appearances or traits, could be made up from things in nature. So a lot of families have soldier names to this day. Examples: Stark (Strong), Rask (Swift), Berg (Mountain), Björk (Birch), Borg (Fort)\*, Falk (Falcon), Hård (Hard), Modig (Brave), Storm (Storm). I know France used to have _Nom-de-guerre_. Any other countries? \*Björn Borg anglified would be Bear Fort ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-smith-and-jones-around-the-world-most-common-names/815338/62 "2018-06-08T15:59:56Z")
> [@Charlie\_Tan](#): > > What countries have ‘soldier names’? Completely different, but still - In Israel, for a long time, it was hard to get promoted past a certain rank in the army unless you had a “Hebew” surname, which led to many officers changing their names. Thus, Ehud Brog became Ehud Barak, Ariel Scheinermann became Ariel Sharon, and many more. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-smith-and-jones-around-the-world-most-common-names/815338/63 "2018-06-15T19:06:46Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > And this is sometimes [quite a problem for them](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_809_of_the_Korean_Civil_Code) Interesting. Are Koreans particularly prone to diseases or birth defects from inbreeding? > [@lingyi](#): > > …When my brother was in the military, three of the in the unit had the same last name with their first names being alphabetically sequential. They were known as XXX A, B and C. My son was once in a class with two other boys who had the same relatively uncommon first name. Everyone else referred to them casually as Firstname Lastinitial. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-smith-and-jones-around-the-world-most-common-names/815338/64 "2018-06-18T16:19:49Z")
I grew up in New Mexico and live now in Texas. I find it interesting that, while lots of Mexican surnames are common in both, there are some that seem to only occur in one place or the other. In New Mexico, I knew a lot of Padillas, Trujillos, and Pachecos; in Texas, not so much. Martinez and Herrera are common in both places. Texas has way more Cantus than NM. Gonzales, with a final S or Z, is everywhere. There are a few Sandovals in Texas, but way less than NM. Texas seems to have a lot more Guerras; maybe it’s a history thing? Maybe the most prevalent one I can think of is Ortiz. That one was everywhere in NM, I’ve never met one in Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-smith-and-jones-around-the-world-most-common-names/815338/65 "2018-06-21T04:05:14Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > I grew up in New Mexico and live now in Texas. I find it interesting that, while lots of Mexican surnames are common in both, there are some that seem to only occur in one place or the other. > > In New Mexico, I knew a lot of Padillas, Trujillos, and Pachecos; in Texas, not so much. Martinez and Herrera are common in both places. Texas has way more Cantus than NM. Gonzales, with a final S or Z, is everywhere. There are a few Sandovals in Texas, but way less than NM. Texas seems to have a lot more Guerras; maybe it’s a history thing? > > Maybe the most prevalent one I can think of is Ortiz. That one was everywhere in NM, I’ve never met one in Texas. I lived in Albuquerque for a spell and noticed the surname Baca everywhere. I knew at least one Baca, one ran for I think it was state land commissioner (I even helped campaign for him), lots more around. Growing up in West Texas, there were no Bacas that I can recall. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-smith-and-jones-around-the-world-most-common-names/815338/66 "2018-06-21T04:54:33Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Interesting. Are Koreans particularly prone to diseases or birth defects from inbreeding?.. Anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-smith-and-jones-around-the-world-most-common-names/815338/67 "2018-06-21T14:20:14Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I lived in Albuquerque for a spell and noticed the surname Baca everywhere. I knew at least one Baca, one ran for I think it was state land commissioner (I even helped campaign for him), lots more around. Growing up in West Texas, there were no Bacas that I can recall. Reminds me of another one: Blea. I knew several Bleas in NM, but never anywhere else; I’ve run into a few folks who don’t even know how to pronounce it (“BLAY-ah”). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2018, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-smith-and-jones-around-the-world-most-common-names/815338/68 "2018-06-24T06:29:49Z")
Blea I never ran acrross. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2018, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-smith-and-jones-around-the-world-most-common-names/815338/69 "2018-06-24T07:40:50Z")
My surname is one of the most common in Hawaii primarily because it has both Japanese and Okinawan origins. However, when anyone asks if I’m related to XXXX?, I immediately say no because I only have seven relatives living in my Hawaii and only three others living in the Mainland U.S. I know at least two my relatives there never had any children. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-smith-and-jones-around-the-world-most-common-names/815338.md?page=3)