Censor last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Censor

A surname derived from the Latin word "censor," referring to a person who held an official position as a censor.

Censor, 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 Censor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Censor in America

Censor is the 132206th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Censor surname appeared 128 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 Censor.

The history of the last name Censor

The surname "CENSOR" is believed to have originated in Italy during the medieval period, specifically in the region of Tuscany. It is derived from the Latin word "censor," which refers to a Roman magistrate who oversaw public morals, conduct, and the census.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the records of the city of Florence, dating back to the 13th century. The name was likely adopted by individuals who held positions of authority or acted as censors within the local community.

Historical references to the name "CENSOR" are scarce, but it is worth noting that during the Renaissance period, several prominent Italian families bore this surname. For instance, the Censori family from Siena was known for their involvement in the city's political affairs and art patronage.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Giovanni Battista Censor (1438-1517) was a renowned scholar and humanist from Verona. He was renowned for his contributions to the study of Latin literature and his role in the revival of classical learning.

Another individual of note was Sebastiano Censor (1551-1628), a Venetian painter and architect who worked on various projects in Venice and the surrounding areas. His works can still be admired in several churches and palaces across the region.

During the 16th century, the name "CENSOR" also appeared in records from the Papal States, where members of the family held ecclesiastical positions within the Catholic Church.

In the 17th century, a physician named Girolamo Censor (1602-1669) gained recognition for his medical treatises and his work in combating the spread of plague in the city of Milan.

As the surname spread across Italy and beyond, it underwent various spelling variations, such as "Censore," "Censori," and "Censorio," reflecting the local dialects and linguistic adaptations of different regions.

While the name "CENSOR" is not among the most common Italian surnames today, it remains a part of the country's rich historical legacy, reflecting the roles and positions held by its bearers throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Censor

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

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 Censor was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 90.63% 116
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 7.03% 9
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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.

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

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

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Censor last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 2, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/censor-surname-popularity/.

"Censor last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/censor-surname-popularity/. Accessed 2 June, 2025

Censor last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/censor-surname-popularity/.

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