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

Karis, 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 Karis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Karis in America

Karis is the 41799th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Karis surname appeared 520 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 Karis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Karis 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 Karis

The surname Karis has its roots in Greece, tracing back to the ancient Greek language. It is believed to have originated as a variant of the Greek name "Caris," which means "grace" or "charm." The name Karis likely emerged in the medieval period, possibly as a surname adopted by families residing in regions with Greek cultural influence.

In its earliest recorded instances, the name Karis appeared in historical documents and records from the Byzantine Empire, particularly in regions such as Anatolia and the Greek islands. Some of the earliest known references to the name can be found in monastic records and chronicles dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries.

One notable early bearer of the name was Georgios Karis, a Byzantine scholar and theologian who lived in the 14th century. Born around 1310 in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), he was renowned for his expertise in Greek philosophy and his contributions to theological discourse.

As the name spread beyond its Greek origins, it began to appear in various forms and spellings across different regions. In the Venetian-controlled territories of the eastern Mediterranean, the name was sometimes rendered as "Caris" or "Carris." This variation can be found in several historical documents from the 15th and 16th centuries, including records of trade and maritime activities.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Ioannis Karis gained recognition as a skilled navigator and cartographer. Born in the Greek island of Chios around 1520, he produced detailed maps and navigational charts that were widely used by seafarers of the time.

The name Karis also found its way into the annals of literature. In the 17th century, a Greek poet and playwright named Dimitrios Karis gained recognition for his works that explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition. His poetic compositions were celebrated for their lyrical beauty and emotional depth.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Alexandros Karis, a prominent military leader and strategist who lived in the 18th century. Born in the Greek community of Smyrna (modern-day Izmir, Turkey) in 1735, he played a crucial role in the Ottoman-Venetian conflicts, earning a reputation for his tactical acumen and bravery on the battlefield.

Throughout its history, the surname Karis has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, military figures, and notable members of Greek communities across the Mediterranean region and beyond. While the name may have evolved and adapted to different cultural contexts, its Greek origins and the essence of "grace" and "charm" remain deeply rooted in its linguistic heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Karis

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

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

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

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