Surnames are the strongest historical tie we have to our ancestors.

Though there might be plenty of mystery surrounding less popular last names, they tend to traditionally come from one of the following origins: geography (e.g., Hamilton), geographical features (Brooks), occupation (Weaver), personal characteristic (Short), estate name (Windsor), ancestry (Watson), or patronage (Hickman).

But some surnames pop up more than others. Here is the history and meaning behind some of the most common last names in the world.