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

Damian, 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 Damian surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Damian in America

Damian is the 4980th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Damian surname appeared 7,048 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Damian.

We can also compare 2010 data for Damian 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 Damian

The surname Damian has its roots in Ancient Rome, originating from the Latin name "Damianus." This name is derived from the Greek word "daman," meaning "to tame" or "to subdue." It is believed that the name was initially given to those who demonstrated a talent for taming or subduing wild animals or hostile forces.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Damian can be traced back to the 5th century AD. During this period, the name appears in various ecclesiastical records and manuscripts, particularly those associated with the Catholic Church. One notable bearer of the name was Saint Damian, a Christian martyr who lived in the 4th century.

In the Middle Ages, the surname Damian gained popularity across Europe, particularly in regions with strong Roman Catholic influences. In England, the name is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that individuals bearing the surname Damian were present in England shortly after the Norman Conquest.

As the surname spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Damien, Damyan, and Damiano. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and language adaptations. One notable bearer of the name was Dante Alighieri's mentor, Damiano Assisi (c. 1180-1260), a renowned scholar and philosopher.

In the 15th century, the surname Damian gained prominence in Spain, where it was associated with several influential families. One such family was the House of Damian, which traced its origins back to the city of Valencia. This family produced notable figures, including Andrés Damian (1490-1562), a renowned architect and sculptor.

During the Renaissance period, the surname Damian was associated with several artists and intellectuals. One example is Damian Forment (c. 1480-1540), a Spanish sculptor known for his work in the Cathedral of Huesca. Another notable figure was Damian Luca (1520-1598), an Italian painter and architect who worked extensively in Rome.

In the 19th century, the surname Damian gained recognition in the literary world with the French writer Alphonse Damian (1808-1892), known for his works on the history of France. Additionally, the name was associated with José Damian Borabio (1821-1899), a Spanish politician and military officer who served as the Prime Minister of Spain.

Throughout history, the surname Damian has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, politicians, and military personnel. While the name's origins can be traced back to Ancient Rome, its presence has been recorded across various regions and cultures, reflecting its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Damian

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

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

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

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