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

Pais, 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 Pais surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pais in America

Pais is the 35582nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pais surname appeared 632 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 Pais.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pais 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 Pais

The surname "PAIS" originates from the Iberian Peninsula, specifically from the regions of Portugal and Spain. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "pagensis," which means "villager" or "countryman."

During the Middle Ages, the name was commonly found in various parts of the Iberian Peninsula, particularly in regions like Galicia, Asturias, and León. It was often used as a descriptive surname, indicating a person's connection to a specific village or rural area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "PAIS" can be found in the 13th-century Galician-Portuguese literary work, the "Cantigas de Santa Maria." This collection of poems, written during the reign of King Alfonso X of Castile (1221-1284), contains references to individuals with the surname "PAIS."

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various historical records and documents. For example, the "Tumbo de Fieiros," a medieval cartulary from the Monastery of Santa María de Fieiros in Galicia, mentions several individuals with the surname "PAIS."

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the surname "PAIS." One of the earliest was Rodrigo Pais, a 12th-century nobleman and military commander who played a crucial role in the reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors.

Another prominent figure was Pedro Pais Sarracino, a 13th-century Galician troubadour and poet, known for his contributions to the development of Galician-Portuguese lyric poetry.

In the 15th century, João Pais da Arada, a Portuguese navigator and explorer, accompanied Vasco da Gama on his famous voyage to India in 1498.

During the 16th century, Gaspar Pais da Veiga was a notable Portuguese humanist, philosopher, and author who wrote extensively on topics ranging from education to theology.

In the 18th century, José Pais de Vasconcelos was a prominent Portuguese historian and genealogist who authored several works on the history and nobility of Portugal.

While the surname "PAIS" has its roots in the Iberian Peninsula, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and exploration. However, its historical significance remains closely tied to its origins in Portugal and Spain, where it has been a part of the cultural and linguistic landscape for centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pais

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

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

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

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