American Names: The Census Top 30

By Michelle Chen Mar 24, 2010

Ever wonder why politicians and ordinary skeptics get all anxious when it's time for the census? Numbers often say a lot more about the state of the country than we think. As the immigration battle kicks into high gear, who gets counted in the upcoming census will help shape how Americans see their demographic landscape. Here's a telling factoid from Census 2000. The top 30 surnames in the nation, according to the feds:
  1. SMITH
  2. JOHNSON
  3. WILLIAMS
  4. BROWN
  5. JONES
  6. MILLER
  7. DAVIS
  8. GARCIA
  9. RODRIGUEZ
  10. WILSON
  11. MARTINEZ
  12. ANDERSON
  13. TAYLOR
  14. THOMAS
  15. HERNANDEZ
  16. MOORE
  17. MARTIN
  18. JACKSON
  19. THOMPSON
  20. WHITE
  21. LOPEZ
  22. LEE
  23. GONZALEZ
  24. HARRIS
  25. CLARK
  26. LEWIS
  27. ROBINSON
  28. WALKER
  29. PEREZ
  30. HALL
Quite a list. Note that Lewis and Clark appear to be ceding ground to Lopez and Lee. How do you think the top 30 names will shake out in 2010? Place your bets now. Image: Tampa Bay Online

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