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

Augustus, 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 Augustus surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Augustus in America

Augustus is the 10697th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Augustus surname appeared 2,988 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 Augustus.

We can also compare 2010 data for Augustus 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 Augustus

The surname AUGUSTUS originated from the Latin language and has its roots in ancient Rome. The name is derived from the Latin word "augustus," which means "venerable" or "respected." It was initially used as a title bestowed upon the first Roman emperor, Augustus Caesar, who ruled from 27 BC to 14 AD.

The name AUGUSTUS gained popularity during the Roman Empire and was often associated with the imperial family and nobility. It was a prestigious name that conveyed a sense of grandeur and authority. Over time, it transitioned from a title to a surname, and as the Roman Empire expanded, the name spread across Europe and beyond.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname AUGUSTUS can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Agustus" and "Agustinus," reflecting the linguistic evolution of the time.

During the Middle Ages, the surname AUGUSTUS was particularly prevalent in Italy, where it was often associated with noble families and scholarly circles. One notable bearer of the name was Aurelius Augustinus, better known as St. Augustine (354-430 AD), a highly influential philosopher and theologian whose works profoundly shaped Western thought.

In the Renaissance period, the name AUGUSTUS gained further prominence as it was embraced by artists, writers, and intellectuals who drew inspiration from classical Roman culture. For example, the Italian painter and architect Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio, 1483-1520) was born into a family with the surname AUGUSTUS.

Another famous bearer of the surname was the German composer and organist Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), whose full name was Johann Sebastian AUGUSTUS Bach. His use of the name AUGUSTUS reflects the cultural influence of ancient Rome on German society during the Baroque era.

Moving forward in time, the surname AUGUSTUS also found its way into English-speaking countries. One notable figure was Sir William AUGUSTUS, 1st Baron Pultney (1684-1764), a British politician and landowner who served as the Secretary of State for War under King George II.

Throughout history, the surname AUGUSTUS has been a symbol of prestige and cultural significance, carrying echoes of the grandeur of ancient Rome and the reverence for classical ideals. While its roots lie in Latin, the name has transcended borders and languages, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Augustus

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

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

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

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