If you’re looking for the most popular last names in Calgary, you’ll quickly notice two things:
- Calgary has a strong “classic Canadian” surname layer (English, Scottish, Irish, French-Canadian roots), and
- Calgary’s multicultural reality adds a huge second layer of surnames from immigrant communities—especially families with roots in the Philippines, South Asia, China, the Middle East, and Africa.
This guide is a copy-ready overview of common Calgary last names, organized into practical categories: “classic everywhere,” “often heard in Calgary,” and “immigrant-influenced surname groups you’ll see a lot around the city.”
Quick list: common last names you’ll see everywhere in Calgary
These are the kinds of surnames that show up constantly across Alberta and are extremely common in Calgary workplaces, schools, and daily life:
- Smith
- Johnson
- Anderson
- Brown
- Wilson
- Miller
- Jones
- Lee
- Campbell
- Taylor
- Thompson
- Williams
- Martin
- Clark
- White
- Young
- Hall
- Scott
- Moore
- Wright
- Walker
- King
- Wood
- Baker
- Green
If you’ve lived in Calgary for even a short time, you’ve almost definitely met someone with at least a few of these last names.
The “Calgary classics” that never feel out of place
Some surnames feel especially “Calgary-normal” because they match both the city’s history and its modern vibe. They’re common in professional settings, sports leagues, schools, community groups—everywhere.
British / Irish / Scottish-root surnames (very common)
These tend to be short, strong, and extremely familiar in English-speaking Canada:
- Smith, Brown, Wilson, Taylor, Campbell, Clark, Scott, Walker, Wright, Hall, Young, King, Wood, Green, White
French-Canadian style surnames (common across Canada, heard in Calgary too)
Calgary isn’t Quebec, but you’ll still hear French-Canadian surnames regularly—especially in larger workplaces and professional networks:
- Tremblay, Gagnon, Roy, Martin, Côté, Bouchard, Bélanger, Morin
Even if they aren’t the “top layer” in Calgary like they are in Quebec, these are absolutely normal and frequently seen.
German / Scandinavian / Central European-root surnames (prairie-adjacent Canada)
These surnames are very common in Western Canada broadly and show up often in Calgary, too:
- Schmidt, Fischer, Weber, Meyer, Wagner
- Andersen/Anderson, Nielsen, Jensen, Larsen
- Friesen, Wiebe, Klassen (more visible across the Prairies)
Calgary immigrant-influenced last names: what you’ll hear a lot (by community)
Calgary is one of the most diverse big cities in Canada, and surname variety is part of everyday life here. You’ll often see families choosing to keep original spellings, use simplified spellings, or combine last names with hyphens—especially in multicultural households.
Below are immigrant-influenced surname “clusters” that are very common in Calgary’s real world (schools, clinics, campuses, trades, downtown offices, community events).
Filipino surnames you’ll frequently encounter in Calgary
Many Filipino surnames in Calgary have Spanish influence (a historical legacy), so you’ll see familiar forms that look “Latino” on paper while being very common in Filipino families:
- Cruz
- Reyes
- Santos
- Garcia
- Bautista
- Mendoza
- Flores
- Gonzales/Gonzalez
- Ramos
- Torres
- Castillo
- Rivera
South Asian surnames common in Calgary (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh)
South Asian surnames are a major part of Calgary’s naming landscape. You’ll see both religious/cultural surnames and regional-language surnames.
Common examples you’ll hear often:
- Singh
- Kaur
- Patel
- Sharma
- Gupta
- Khan
- Ahmed
- Ali
- Hussain/Hussein
- Chaudhary/Chowdhury
- Malik
- Das
Calgary tip: In some traditions, Singh and Kaur can be extremely common, so you may see multiple people with the same surname in the same workplace or school.
Chinese surnames common in Calgary (and common Canadian contexts)
Chinese surnames are often very short, and romanization can vary (different spelling systems). In Calgary, you’ll commonly see:
- Wang
- Li
- Zhang
- Chen
- Liu
- Yang
- Huang
- Zhao
- Wu
- Zhou
Calgary tip: You’ll sometimes meet people who use an English first name socially, while the surname remains the key identifier.
Middle Eastern & North African surnames often seen in Calgary
Calgary has strong newcomer and established communities from many Middle Eastern and North African countries, so you’ll frequently encounter:
- Hassan
- Ahmed
- Ali
- Mahmoud
- Ibrahim
- Youssef/Yusuf
- Khalil
- Saleh
- Hamdan
- Farah
Calgary tip: Spelling can vary (e.g., Youssef/Yusuf), so you’ll often see multiple versions of what is essentially the same family name.
West African surnames you’ll hear more and more in Calgary
Calgary’s African communities are growing and visible across universities, healthcare, tech, and business. Common examples you may encounter include:
- Okafor
- Adewale / Adeyemi
- Olawale
- Mensah
- Boateng
- Kamara
- Diallo
- Traoré / Traore
Indigenous last names in Calgary: a real part of the city’s identity
Calgary sits on Treaty 7 territory and has strong Indigenous presence and culture. Indigenous last names can vary widely (and may also overlap with English surnames through history). In Calgary you’ll meet Indigenous Calgarians with surnames that are:
- English-origin (common across Canada), and/or
- unique family/community surnames connected to particular Nations and histories.
The most important point: Indigenous surnames are part of Calgary’s everyday life and the city’s identity—especially in education, community leadership, arts, and public service.
“Popular Calgary last names” by vibe: pick the category you want
Sometimes you don’t want a long list—you want a style. Here are Calgary surname vibes you’ll recognize immediately.
Very “Calgary classic” (common, professional, everywhere)
- Wilson, Campbell, Clark, Wright, Walker, Scott, Taylor, Hall
Very “Canada-wide common” (you’ll see these constantly)
- Smith, Brown, Johnson, Miller, Jones, Williams, Martin
Short and globally common (easy everywhere)
- Lee, Ali, Khan, Li, Wang, Chen
“Unique but Calgary-safe” (less common, still feels normal)
- Henderson, Mitchell, Peterson, Sullivan, Bennett, Fraser, Armstrong, Montgomery
How surname trends show up in Calgary schools and workplaces
If you’re choosing a name for a child (or you’re just curious), here’s how surname popularity actually impacts day-to-day Calgary life:
1) Duplicate surnames are normal
In a big Calgary school, you might have multiple kids named:
- “A. Singh”
- “J. Lee”
- “M. Smith”
- “S. Khan”
So middle initials, full first names, or nicknames become common.
2) Spelling variations matter
Calgary is multicultural, so the same surname may appear in multiple spellings:
- Mohamed / Muhammad
- Hussain / Hussein
- Gonzales / Gonzalez
- Traoré / Traore
3) Hyphenated surnames are increasingly common
Especially in multicultural households, you’ll see more hyphenated or double surnames:
- Garcia-Santos
- Wang-Lee
- Ali-Khan
FAQ: Most popular last names in Calgary
What is the most common last name in Calgary?
In Calgary (and across Alberta), Smith is widely considered the most common “everywhere” surname you’ll encounter.
Why do Calgary surnames feel more diverse than smaller Canadian cities?
Because Calgary is a major hub for immigration, universities, energy, trades, healthcare, and tech—so people from many countries and cultures settle here and build communities.
What are the most common “short” surnames in Calgary?
You’ll often see very short surnames like Lee, Li, Wang, Ali, Khan, because they’re common across multiple global communities.
Are Filipino surnames really common in Calgary?
Yes—Calgary has a significant Filipino community, so surnames like Cruz, Reyes, Santos, Bautista are frequently encountered.
Conclusion
The most popular last names in Calgary come from two big realities at once: Calgary’s deep “classic Canadian” surname layer (Smith, Brown, Wilson, Campbell, Taylor) and the city’s multicultural growth, which brings a wide range of globally common surnames (Singh, Kaur, Khan, Ali, Wang, Li, Chen, Reyes, Cruz, Santos, and many more).
If you want a simple mental shortcut, remember this:
Calgary surnames are both traditional and global—and you’ll see that mix everywhere, every day.
