2000
#8,223
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,707
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.37
Rare Last name
Argo
A Greek surname derived from the ancient Greek ship Argo, famously used by Jason and the Argonauts.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,032 Americans carry the last name Argo. That puts it at #8,931 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.18 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 85,009 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Argo surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Argo with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
4.0K
1 in 85,009
Census rank
#8,931
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,516 bearers of the surname Argo in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.18 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 8931st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Argo, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.6%) and Hispanic (3.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Argo
The surname ARGO has its origins in the Mediterranean region, with roots tracing back to ancient Greece and the Hellenistic period. It is believed to have been derived from the Greek word "argos," which means "swift" or "bright," suggesting a connection to speed, agility, or radiance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ARGO can be found in ancient Greek mythology, where it was the name given to the famous ship that carried Jason and the Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece. This legendary vessel was said to have been constructed by the skilled craftsman Argus, adding another layer of meaning to the name's origins.
During the Byzantine Empire, the name ARGO appeared in various historical documents and records, indicating its presence among the Greek-speaking population of the region. One notable figure from this era was Argos of Constantinople, a scholar and philosopher who lived in the 9th century and wrote extensively on topics such as logic and metaphysics.
As the name spread throughout the Mediterranean, it found its way to Italy, where it evolved into the Italian variant "Argo." In the 13th century, a prominent figure named Argo di Firenze, a wealthy merchant and patron of the arts, rose to prominence in Florence. His contributions to the city's cultural and economic development have been well-documented.
In the 16th century, the name ARGO gained recognition in Spain, where it was associated with the explorer Juan de Argo, who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expeditions to the New World. Juan de Argo played a significant role in the conquest of Mexico and is mentioned in various historical accounts from that period.
Another noteworthy individual bearing the surname ARGO was Sophia Argo, a renowned Greek poet and writer who lived in the 19th century. Her works, which explored themes of love, loss, and the struggles of the human condition, garnered widespread acclaim and contributed to the revival of Greek literature during that time.
Throughout history, the name ARGO has maintained a strong presence across various cultures and regions, reflecting its ancient roots and the diverse journeys undertaken by those who carried this name. While its origins can be traced to the Mediterranean, the name has transcended geographical boundaries and continues to be a part of the rich tapestry of global surnames.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Argo
Among Census respondents with the surname Argo, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.6%) and Hispanic (3.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Argo bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Argo surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.1% · 3,098
- Two or more races3.6% · 127
- Hispanic or Latino3.5% · 124
- Black or African American2.8% · 99
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.2% · 43
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7% · 25
Timeline
Historical Census data for Argo
Argo appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#8,635
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,808
+101 bearers (+2.7%)
Per 100,000 1.29
Rank movement Down 412 places
2020
#8,931
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,516
-292 bearers (-7.7%)
Per 100,000 1.18
Rank movement Down 296 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #8,223 | 3,707 | 1.37 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #8,635 | 3,808 | 1.29 | +101 bearers (+2.7%) | Down 412 places |
| 2020 | #8,931 | 3,516 | 1.18 | -292 bearers (-7.7%) | Down 296 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Argo surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #8,635 | #8,931 | -3.4% |
| Count | 3,808 | 3,516 | -7.7% |
| Per 100K | 1.29 | 1.18 | -8.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Argo bearers went from 3,808 to 3,516 (-7.7% change). The surname moved down 296 positions in the national ranking, going from #8,635 to #8,931.
FAQ
Argo surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Argo?
Name Census estimates that about 4,032 living Americans carry the surname Argo. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 85,009 residents.
How common is Argo?
Argo ranks #8,931 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.18 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 3,516 people with the surname Argo. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (4,032), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.18 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.18 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Argo.
Has Argo become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Argo went from 3,808 recorded bearers to 3,516. That is a decrease of 292 (-7.7%). In the national ranking it fell from #8,635 to #8,931.
What does the Census say about the background of Argo?
Among Census respondents with the surname Argo, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.6%) and Hispanic (3.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Argo in the 2020 Census, accounting for 88.1% (3,098 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Argo appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (88.1%), Two or More Races (3.6%), Hispanic (3.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Argo (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Argo mean?
A Greek surname derived from the ancient Greek ship Argo, famously used by Jason and the Argonauts. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Argo (1.18 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Argo?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the surname Argo on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.