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

Mage, 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 Mage surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mage in America

Mage is the 123064th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mage surname appeared 140 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 Mage.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mage 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 Mage

The surname MAGE is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "mage" meaning a wise man or a magician. It is believed to have emerged in the early medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century.

The name was initially associated with individuals who were considered learned or knowledgeable, often in the fields of philosophy, medicine, or the occult. It is possible that some early bearers of this surname were scholars or practitioners of esoteric arts.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MAGE can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Roger le Mage, suggesting the name's presence in Normandy before the Norman Conquest of England.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the name MAGE was Gervais le Mage, a French scholar and philosopher who taught at the University of Paris. He authored several works on logic and metaphysics, contributing to the intellectual discourse of his time.

During the 14th century, the name MAGE appeared in various records across France, including in the city of Rouen, where a merchant named Jean Mage was documented in 1378. This indicates the name's spread and establishment among the urban population.

In the 15th century, a prominent bearer of the MAGE surname was Jean Mage, a French diplomat and statesman who served as the ambassador to England during the reign of King Charles VII. He played a crucial role in negotiating the Treaty of Arras in 1435, which helped end the conflict between France and England during the Hundred Years' War.

Another notable individual with the surname MAGE was Pierre Mage (1612-1679), a French lawyer and legal scholar who served as the President of the Parlement of Paris, one of the highest judicial bodies in France during the Ancien Régime.

Across the English Channel, the name MAGE also found its way to England, where it was sometimes anglicized as "Mays" or "Mayes." One example is William Mays (1568-1624), an English poet and playwright who collaborated with John Fletcher and contributed to the development of Renaissance theater.

While the surname MAGE originated in France, it eventually spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, carried by individuals who migrated or established themselves in new territories. The name's association with wisdom, learning, and esoteric knowledge has persisted throughout its history, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and professions of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mage

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

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

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

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