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

Fidelis, 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 Fidelis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fidelis in America

Fidelis is the 153769th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fidelis surname appeared 106 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 Fidelis.

The history of the last name Fidelis

The surname Fidelis is of Latin origin, derived from the word "fidelis" meaning "faithful" or "loyal." It first emerged in various regions of the Roman Empire during the early centuries of the Christian era.

Fidelis was initially adopted as a personal name by early Christians, often as a reference to their steadfast faith or as a symbolic name for converts. Over time, it evolved into a hereditary surname, particularly in areas with a strong Roman Catholic presence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fidelis can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Fidelis de Monteforte, indicating the surname's use in medieval England.

In the 12th century, Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen (1577-1622), a Capuchin friar and martyr, bore the name Fidelis, further popularizing its use among Catholic communities. His influence likely contributed to the widespread adoption of the surname across regions like Italy, Spain, and parts of central Europe.

Another notable figure was Fidelis Sigmaringa (1578-1644), a prince of the Holy Roman Empire and the ruler of the principality of Sigmaringen. His name serves as an example of the surname's association with nobility and ruling families in certain areas.

In the 16th century, the Spanish explorer and conquistador Pedro de Valdivia (1497-1553) had a brother named Juan Bautista Fidelis, demonstrating the name's presence in Spain during the colonial era.

During the 17th century, Fidelis van Schuren (1629-1680), a Dutch-born Catholic priest and missionary, carried the surname and worked extensively in what is now New York and New Jersey, indicating its use among the Dutch Catholic population.

It is important to note that the surname Fidelis has been subject to various spellings and regional variations over the centuries, including Fideles, Fideli, and Fidelio, among others. These variations often reflect local linguistic influences and adaptations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fidelis

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

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

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

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