The Most Common Last Name in South Dakota May Surprise You

Go anywhere in the state of South Dakota and you'll likely hear some interesting and unique last names. But what are some of the most common in the Mount Rushmore state and its neighbors?

Last names (or surnames) are very different depending on where you live in the United States. However, if you look at the research done by Ancestry.com, there are some last names that are pretty common no matter where in the country you reside.

According to Ancestry, here are the three most common surnames in South Dakota:

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3) Smith: Smith might be third in South Dakota, but overall it takes the top spot as the most popular surname in the U.S. (as well as the United Kingdom).

2) Anderson: This name originally comes from the country of Scotland.

1) Johnson: Surprised? Probably not but more Johnsons live in this part of the Midwest than any other surname. It's another name that originates in Scotland.

Neighboring states have similar results. Smith, Williams, and Johnson are the top three in Iowa. In Minnesota, Johnson again takes the top spot, followed by Anderson and Nelson. The top 3 in North Dakota are Johnson, Anderson, and Olson. In the Cornhusker State, the 3 most common names are Johnson, Smith, and Miller.

For the full list of every state, see the article at Ancestry.com.