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

Decimus, 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 Decimus surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Decimus in America

Decimus is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Decimus surname appeared 115 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 Decimus.

The history of the last name Decimus

The surname Decimus is of Latin origin, derived from the Roman numerical adjective 'decimus' meaning 'tenth'. It was originally used as a cognomen or additional personal name in ancient Rome, indicating that the bearer was the tenth child born in a family.

During the Roman Empire, this cognomen was often bestowed upon the tenth son in a family, particularly among the aristocratic and senatorial classes. It served as a way to distinguish between siblings and maintain a sense of order within large families.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Decimus can be found in Roman inscriptions, chronicles, and historical texts dating back to the 1st century BCE. One notable example is Decimus Junius Brutus, a Roman politician and one of the assassins involved in the killing of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE.

As the Roman Empire expanded, the name Decimus spread across Europe and beyond. In the Middle Ages, it evolved into various spellings such as Decimo, Dechimo, and Dechymes, reflecting the linguistic influences of different regions.

In England, the surname Decimus can be traced back to the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, contains several entries for individuals bearing the name Decimus or variations thereof.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname Decimus was Sir John Decimus, a Norman knight who accompanied William the Conqueror during the Norman invasion of England in 1066. He was granted lands in Lincolnshire for his service and is mentioned in the Domesday Book as a tenant-in-chief.

Another notable figure was Decimus Irtton, born in 1378, who served as a diplomat and ambassador for King Henry IV of England in the early 15th century. He was involved in negotiations with France and played a crucial role in maintaining peaceful relations between the two countries.

In the 16th century, Decimus Browne, born in 1533, was a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

The surname Decimus also has a presence in other parts of Europe, such as Italy and France, where it has been recorded in various forms like Dècimo and Dècime. One notable bearer was Decimo Camilli, an Italian painter and architect who lived in the 17th century and was known for his works in Rome and the Papal States.

Throughout history, the surname Decimus has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, clergy, scholars, and military leaders. While not as common as some other surnames, it has left its mark in various regions and continues to carry the legacy of its Roman numerical origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Decimus

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

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 Decimus 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.

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

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

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