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

Atlas, 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 Atlas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Atlas in America

Atlas is the 14866th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Atlas surname appeared 1,992 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Atlas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Atlas 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 Atlas

The surname ATLAS originated from the Greek mythological figure Atlas, who was a Titan condemned to hold up the celestial heavens for eternity. The name is derived from the Greek word "Atlantos," meaning "the endurer" or "the upholder."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname ATLAS can be traced back to the 16th century in parts of Europe, particularly in regions with strong Greek cultural influences, such as Italy and Greece itself. It is believed that the name was initially adopted by individuals with a strong connection to the mythological figure or those who displayed qualities associated with endurance and strength.

Historical records from the 16th and 17th centuries mention several notable individuals bearing the surname ATLAS. One such example is Girolamo Atlas, an Italian mathematician and astronomer born in 1552, who made significant contributions to the development of celestial cartography. Another notable figure was Andreas Atlas, a Greek physician and scholar born in 1630, renowned for his work on anatomy and medical treatises.

The name ATLAS is also associated with various place names, particularly in regions with Greek influences. For instance, the Atlas Mountains in North Africa derive their name from the same mythological figure, as the ancient Greeks believed these mountains held up the celestial heavens. Additionally, the name has been linked to the island of Atlantis, the legendary island mentioned in Plato's writings, which was said to have been named after Atlas.

Throughout history, several prominent individuals have borne the surname ATLAS, including:

1. Jacob Atlas (1688-1768), a Dutch painter known for his landscape and architectural works.
2. Samuel Atlas (1796-1872), an American merchant and philanthropist who played a significant role in the establishment of the Hebrew Union College.
3. Charles Atlas (1892-1972), an Italian-American bodybuilder and entrepreneur, renowned for his influential fitness programs and marketing techniques.
4. Natacha Atlas (born 1964), a Belgian singer and songwriter of Egyptian descent, known for her fusion of Arabic and Western musical styles.
5. Michael Atlas (born 1973), an American film director and screenwriter, best known for his work in independent films and television series.

The surname ATLAS continues to be found in various parts of the world, reflecting its rich historical and cultural significance, rooted in Greek mythology and the enduring qualities associated with the Titan Atlas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Atlas

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

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 Atlas 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 Atlas 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 Atlas was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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