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

Nobis, 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 Nobis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nobis in America

Nobis is the 44500th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nobis surname appeared 483 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 Nobis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nobis 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 Nobis

The surname Nobis has its origins in medieval Italy, specifically in the northern regions of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "nobilis," meaning noble or highborn. This suggests that the name may have been initially used to denote individuals of aristocratic or respected lineage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nobis can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appears in several documents from the city of Bologna. In these records, the name is often spelled as "Nobilis" or "Nobile," reflecting its Latin roots. It is possible that the name was initially adopted by families who sought to emphasize their elevated social status or connections to nobility.

During the Renaissance period, the Nobis name gained prominence in the Italian city-states, particularly in the artistic and cultural centers of Florence and Siena. Notable individuals bearing this surname during this time include the painter Pierfrancesco Nobili (1503-1583) and the architect Baldassarre Nobili (1573-1622), both of whom contributed significantly to the artistic legacy of the region.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Nobis began to spread beyond the borders of Italy, as families migrated to other parts of Europe and the Americas. One notable figure from this era was the Italian mathematician and astronomer Gian Domenico Nobili (1673-1744), who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

As the name traveled, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Nobili, Nobile, and Nobili-Vitelleschi, reflecting the linguistic influences of the regions it encountered. For instance, the Nobili-Vitelleschi family was a prominent noble lineage in the Papal States, with roots dating back to the 15th century.

In the 19th century, the Nobis name gained recognition in the field of science and engineering. Leopoldo Nobili (1784-1835) was an Italian physicist renowned for his work on electrochemistry and the invention of the Nobili's rings, a device used to study the properties of electric currents. Similarly, Melchiorre Nobili (1786-1849) was an Italian engineer and architect who made significant contributions to the development of the Italian railroad system.

While the Nobis surname has its roots in Italy, it has since spread across the globe, with families bearing this name found in various countries and cultures. However, the name's rich history and associations with nobility, art, and intellectual pursuits continue to be celebrated and remembered, serving as a testament to the enduring legacy of this distinguished lineage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nobis

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

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

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

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