Find out how popular the last name Argus is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Argus.

Argus, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Argus surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Argus in America

Argus is the 59171st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Argus surname appeared 342 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Argus.

We can also compare 2010 data for Argus to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Argus

The surname Argus has its origins in ancient Greek mythology, where Argus was a giant with a hundred eyes who served as the watchman of the goddess Hera. The name is derived from the Greek word "argos," meaning "bright" or "shining." This mythological connection suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone with keen eyesight or a watchful nature.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Argus can be traced back to the 12th century in England. In the Domesday Book of 1086, a land survey commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are mentions of individuals with the name Argus or similar spellings, such as "Argus de Lincolne" and "Argus de Notingham."

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was Sir John Argus, a prominent English knight who lived during the reign of King Edward III (1312-1377). He fought in the Hundred Years' War against France and was renowned for his bravery and military prowess.

In the 15th century, the surname Argus spread to other parts of Europe, including France and Germany. In France, the name was sometimes spelled "Argoux" or "Argaud," while in Germany, it took on variations like "Argus" and "Argusser."

One notable figure with the surname Argus was the German philosopher and mathematician Gottfried Argus (1650-1711). He made significant contributions to the fields of optics and geometry and is considered one of the founders of modern projective geometry.

Another prominent individual was the British explorer and naturalist George Argus (1793-1857). He was a member of the Royal Navy and participated in several expeditions to the Arctic regions, making important observations about the flora and fauna of these areas.

In the 19th century, the surname Argus was also found in the United States, likely brought by immigrants from Europe. One notable American with this surname was William Argus (1825-1901), a Union Army officer during the American Civil War who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in the Battle of Fredericksburg.

The name Argus has also been associated with various place names throughout history. For example, there is an Argus Hill in Scotland and an Argus Mountain in Australia, both of which may have derived their names from individuals bearing the surname Argus.

Overall, the surname Argus has a rich and varied history, spanning across several centuries and cultures. Its mythological origins and associations with qualities such as vigilance and keen perception have contributed to its enduring legacy as a distinctive family name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Argus

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Argus.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Argus was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Argus has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Argus was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Argus, please contact us.

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