100 Most Common 3 Letter Last Names in the U.S.
In this section of the site we have data on the most common 3 letter last names in the United States. These names are taken directly from the most recent census data.
Currently, the most popular 3 letter last name in America is Lee, with a total count of 693,023 people who have the surname. The surname Lee occurs roughly 234 times per 100,000 people in the U.S.
The table below shows the most common 3 letter surnames with statistics on the heritage and ancestry of those with the surname.
Click any of the names in the table below to find out more about the origin, meaning, and ancestry of each last name.
| Rank |
Name |
Count |
White |
Black |
API |
AIAN |
2+ Races |
Hispanic |
| 21 |
LEE |
693,023 |
35.95% |
16.33% |
42.22% |
0.97% |
2.64% |
1.89% |
| 77 |
KIM |
262,352 |
2.52% |
0.39% |
94.47% |
0.02% |
1.96% |
0.65% |
| 78 |
COX |
261,231 |
82.62% |
12.07% |
0.50% |
0.67% |
1.82% |
2.33% |
| 180 |
FOX |
152,334 |
88.08% |
6.06% |
0.56% |
1.03% |
1.84% |
2.42% |
| 220 |
RAY |
133,171 |
74.97% |
17.54% |
1.94% |
0.93% |
2.05% |
2.56% |
| 294 |
DAY |
105,091 |
83.08% |
10.44% |
1.02% |
1.08% |
1.97% |
2.40% |
| 304 |
MAY |
103,306 |
83.55% |
9.57% |
1.22% |
0.73% |
1.89% |
3.04% |
| 402 |
LIN |
79,508 |
1.70% |
0.18% |
95.85% |
0.02% |
1.77% |
0.47% |
| 411 |
LIU |
78,370 |
1.79% |
0.17% |
95.62% |
0.02% |
1.86% |
0.54% |
| 559 |
ALI |
60,002 |
17.33% |
30.71% |
42.91% |
0.51% |
5.66% |
2.87% |
| 611 |
LAM |
55,554 |
6.84% |
0.57% |
87.99% |
0.05% |
1.99% |
2.56% |
| 640 |
ROY |
53,159 |
75.20% |
9.04% |
9.69% |
1.54% |
1.96% |
2.57% |
| 774 |
ORR |
44,388 |
79.42% |
15.00% |
0.65% |
0.77% |
1.96% |
2.20% |
| 909 |
FRY |
38,029 |
91.09% |
3.13% |
0.55% |
1.14% |
1.75% |
2.34% |
| 936 |
LIM |
37,021 |
2.86% |
0.23% |
92.24% |
0.04% |
3.04% |
1.59% |
| 1037 |
KEY |
33,501 |
68.56% |
24.61% |
0.90% |
0.99% |
2.33% |
2.61% |
| 1038 |
CHO |
33,490 |
1.88% |
(S) |
95.12% |
(S) |
1.92% |
0.80% |
| 1062 |
NGO |
33,005 |
0.92% |
(S) |
96.46% |
(S) |
1.69% |
0.65% |
| 1089 |
LAW |
32,122 |
65.61% |
15.63% |
14.22% |
0.39% |
2.08% |
2.07% |
| 1090 |
TAN |
32,120 |
3.30% |
0.19% |
92.37% |
0.11% |
2.62% |
1.42% |
| 1094 |
GAY |
32,025 |
70.72% |
22.51% |
1.84% |
0.73% |
1.87% |
2.32% |
| 1182 |
HAN |
29,847 |
4.24% |
0.50% |
92.67% |
0.07% |
1.70% |
0.82% |
| 1187 |
LAU |
29,792 |
16.19% |
0.24% |
76.07% |
0.08% |
3.94% |
3.47% |
| 1222 |
BUI |
28,919 |
1.71% |
0.32% |
95.45% |
0.02% |
1.63% |
0.87% |
| 1227 |
GUY |
28,852 |
67.88% |
24.98% |
1.01% |
1.43% |
2.33% |
2.37% |
| 1238 |
CHU |
28,508 |
2.61% |
(S) |
92.14% |
(S) |
3.30% |
1.68% |
| 1246 |
DYE |
28,182 |
83.48% |
11.06% |
0.54% |
0.67% |
1.96% |
2.30% |
| 1353 |
GIL |
26,112 |
10.52% |
0.54% |
1.70% |
0.17% |
0.23% |
86.83% |
| 1373 |
OTT |
25,738 |
94.06% |
1.22% |
0.56% |
0.66% |
1.44% |
2.07% |
| 1384 |
PAZ |
25,574 |
7.43% |
0.32% |
2.98% |
0.22% |
0.43% |
88.62% |
| 1406 |
ROE |
25,286 |
90.91% |
3.17% |
1.23% |
0.58% |
1.71% |
2.40% |
| 1438 |
NIX |
24,786 |
81.05% |
13.29% |
0.44% |
0.84% |
2.07% |
2.31% |
| 1467 |
KAY |
24,337 |
85.64% |
5.89% |
3.47% |
0.61% |
1.92% |
2.48% |
| 1484 |
SUN |
24,058 |
2.59% |
0.26% |
94.46% |
0.26% |
1.67% |
0.76% |
| 1522 |
POE |
23,563 |
80.15% |
12.52% |
2.32% |
0.82% |
2.15% |
2.05% |
| 1547 |
GEE |
23,241 |
54.31% |
19.60% |
20.20% |
0.58% |
3.01% |
2.29% |
| 1694 |
ZHU |
21,265 |
0.88% |
(S) |
98.23% |
(S) |
0.58% |
0.16% |
| 1709 |
ASH |
21,030 |
81.09% |
13.40% |
0.54% |
0.51% |
2.14% |
2.31% |
| 1740 |
YEE |
20,591 |
5.58% |
0.58% |
83.54% |
0.05% |
6.99% |
3.26% |
| 1873 |
LAI |
19,157 |
3.48% |
0.31% |
91.72% |
0.04% |
3.24% |
1.22% |
| 1957 |
LAY |
18,468 |
70.98% |
7.57% |
14.41% |
1.01% |
2.23% |
3.80% |
| 1989 |
CAO |
18,138 |
1.38% |
(S) |
95.22% |
(S) |
1.05% |
2.12% |
| 2005 |
HAY |
18,029 |
85.74% |
7.14% |
2.83% |
0.37% |
1.63% |
2.30% |
| 2075 |
MAI |
17,445 |
11.32% |
0.55% |
85.47% |
0.11% |
1.40% |
1.14% |
| 2133 |
HAM |
16,980 |
66.22% |
11.61% |
16.41% |
0.40% |
1.66% |
3.69% |
| 2147 |
HSU |
16,907 |
2.09% |
(S) |
93.78% |
(S) |
3.56% |
0.46% |
| 2157 |
COE |
16,819 |
82.78% |
11.15% |
1.11% |
0.46% |
1.94% |
2.56% |
| 2324 |
LUU |
15,702 |
1.02% |
0.15% |
96.48% |
0.00% |
1.68% |
0.67% |
| 2356 |
DOW |
15,472 |
83.14% |
9.58% |
1.29% |
0.78% |
2.00% |
3.21% |
| 2404 |
HER |
15,089 |
1.55% |
0.23% |
94.82% |
0.04% |
0.99% |
2.37% |
| 2440 |
FAY |
14,849 |
92.62% |
1.70% |
1.00% |
0.44% |
1.40% |
2.84% |
| 2443 |
REA |
14,819 |
72.34% |
0.92% |
1.21% |
0.59% |
1.10% |
23.83% |
| 2552 |
WAY |
14,157 |
80.02% |
12.31% |
2.51% |
0.86% |
1.79% |
2.49% |
| 2597 |
COY |
13,875 |
82.79% |
5.89% |
0.59% |
0.55% |
1.96% |
8.22% |
| 2667 |
IVY |
13,524 |
55.32% |
38.52% |
0.58% |
0.50% |
2.85% |
2.24% |
| 2684 |
JOY |
13,413 |
78.15% |
8.41% |
7.75% |
0.63% |
2.27% |
2.80% |
| 2703 |
TAM |
13,327 |
5.55% |
0.55% |
90.16% |
0.05% |
2.31% |
1.39% |
| 2724 |
YOO |
13,225 |
2.66% |
(S) |
95.49% |
(S) |
1.06% |
0.59% |
| 2745 |
ELY |
13,130 |
88.06% |
6.70% |
0.66% |
0.57% |
1.71% |
2.30% |
| 2775 |
WOO |
13,003 |
4.65% |
0.44% |
86.86% |
0.08% |
4.81% |
3.16% |
| 2786 |
FOY |
12,952 |
71.73% |
22.44% |
0.82% |
0.47% |
1.93% |
2.62% |
| 2847 |
PAN |
12,664 |
2.61% |
0.46% |
94.02% |
0.07% |
1.63% |
1.22% |
| 2948 |
GAO |
12,172 |
1.22% |
(S) |
97.39% |
(S) |
0.62% |
0.41% |
| 2952 |
NYE |
12,167 |
93.79% |
0.86% |
1.13% |
0.59% |
1.50% |
2.14% |
| 2974 |
SAM |
12,053 |
12.06% |
27.84% |
33.73% |
17.93% |
3.07% |
5.37% |
| 2975 |
GUO |
12,048 |
1.10% |
0.32% |
97.77% |
0.00% |
0.66% |
0.17% |
| 2979 |
LOW |
12,032 |
61.77% |
1.70% |
28.82% |
0.36% |
4.31% |
3.03% |
| 3011 |
NEW |
11,903 |
88.62% |
4.39% |
1.49% |
0.86% |
1.82% |
2.82% |
| 3029 |
CYR |
11,829 |
95.44% |
0.24% |
0.58% |
0.41% |
1.45% |
1.88% |
| 3061 |
VUE |
11,717 |
0.45% |
(S) |
97.83% |
(S) |
1.05% |
0.57% |
| 3075 |
RAO |
11,672 |
17.02% |
0.27% |
78.55% |
0.16% |
2.91% |
1.09% |
| 3149 |
LOR |
11,479 |
1.40% |
(S) |
96.59% |
(S) |
1.14% |
0.60% |
| 3182 |
YAN |
11,354 |
2.97% |
(S) |
94.06% |
(S) |
1.07% |
1.33% |
| 3220 |
DAO |
11,211 |
1.71% |
0.88% |
94.37% |
0.08% |
1.92% |
1.03% |
| 3229 |
NOE |
11,182 |
90.87% |
0.78% |
1.82% |
0.55% |
1.71% |
4.27% |
| 3238 |
MOE |
11,150 |
85.08% |
2.92% |
7.45% |
0.39% |
2.22% |
1.94% |
| 3308 |
PAK |
10,846 |
3.78% |
(S) |
92.02% |
(S) |
3.10% |
0.88% |
| 3320 |
VAN |
10,798 |
22.18% |
6.30% |
67.23% |
0.39% |
2.10% |
1.81% |
| 3352 |
ENG |
10,682 |
13.50% |
(S) |
77.38% |
(S) |
5.96% |
2.79% |
| 3379 |
AHN |
10,567 |
3.44% |
0.14% |
93.82% |
0.00% |
2.21% |
0.39% |
| 3421 |
JIN |
10,432 |
1.78% |
0.19% |
96.30% |
0.19% |
1.13% |
0.40% |
| 3452 |
TOM |
10,350 |
19.02% |
1.57% |
52.53% |
16.63% |
6.91% |
3.33% |
| 3538 |
BOX |
10,098 |
82.98% |
10.98% |
0.60% |
1.32% |
1.87% |
2.25% |
| 3541 |
SON |
10,094 |
9.52% |
1.33% |
82.80% |
0.20% |
1.93% |
4.22% |
| 3551 |
SHI |
10,055 |
1.83% |
0.30% |
96.86% |
0.06% |
0.46% |
0.50% |
| 3564 |
LUO |
10,005 |
0.86% |
(S) |
97.57% |
(S) |
0.68% |
0.44% |
| 3604 |
JAY |
9,852 |
78.60% |
9.22% |
4.35% |
2.04% |
2.77% |
3.01% |
| 3647 |
DIX |
9,748 |
76.05% |
19.00% |
0.70% |
0.31% |
1.73% |
2.22% |
| 3654 |
CHA |
9,732 |
2.09% |
(S) |
93.52% |
(S) |
2.07% |
1.82% |
| 3662 |
XIE |
9,716 |
0.72% |
0.22% |
98.19% |
(S) |
0.66% |
(S) |
| 3704 |
ONG |
9,584 |
7.32% |
(S) |
87.39% |
(S) |
3.07% |
1.88% |
| 3707 |
WEI |
9,578 |
2.89% |
0.42% |
94.46% |
0.00% |
1.80% |
0.44% |
| 3819 |
JOE |
9,280 |
12.26% |
24.98% |
23.00% |
33.79% |
2.97% |
3.00% |
| 3855 |
HOY |
9,196 |
85.30% |
4.86% |
4.67% |
0.32% |
1.61% |
3.25% |
| 3863 |
LEA |
9,180 |
72.43% |
16.38% |
4.65% |
0.93% |
2.33% |
3.28% |
| 3911 |
SEE |
9,081 |
73.59% |
1.68% |
19.51% |
0.75% |
2.00% |
2.46% |
| 3923 |
ERB |
9,060 |
96.08% |
0.33% |
0.49% |
0.42% |
1.10% |
1.58% |
| 3932 |
KEE |
9,049 |
51.25% |
21.79% |
10.84% |
10.66% |
2.69% |
2.76% |
| 3968 |
RAU |
8,961 |
90.97% |
1.70% |
3.11% |
0.36% |
1.64% |
2.22% |
| 3981 |
YUN |
8,933 |
3.01% |
(S) |
93.45% |
(S) |
2.37% |
0.86% |
Table Key
To help you understand the above table, below is a description of each column and what it represents.
- Count. Number of occurrences: Estimate of the number of people with the surname in the United States. (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy.
- White. Non-Hispanic White Only: Percentage of people with a given surname who classified themselves as "non-hispanic white" (race)
- Black. Non-Hispanic Black Only: Percentage of people with a given surname who classified themselves as "non-hispanic black" (race)
- API. Non-Hispanic Asian & Pacific Islander Only: Percentage of people with a given surname who classified themselves as "non-hispanic Asian & Pacific Islander" (race)
- AIAN. Non-Hispanic American Indian & Alaskan Native Only: Percentage of people with a given surname who classified themselves as "non-hispanic American Indian & Alaskan Native" (race)
- 2+ Races. Non-Hispanic of 2 or More Races: Percentage of people with a given surname who classified themselves as "non-hispanic two or more races" (race)
- Hispanic. Hispanic Origin: Percentage of people with a given surname who classified themselves as "Hispanic origin" (race)
How Many 3 Letter Last Names Are There?
According to the most recent U.S. Census data, there are 1,716 unique 3-letter surnames.
The table above includes the top 100 names that are 3 letters long, and they are sorted by the rank given by the Census Bureau for how common each name is.
Wherever possible, we have also provided data for each name in the list on the ethnicity/ancestry of that surname.
Other Last Name Lengths
Our database contains names ranging in length from 2 to 15 letters. To find out more information about last names of different lengths you can use the following links:
Data Source(s)
All of the data on this page is sourced from the Decennial Census survey, from the United States Census Bureau.