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

Primus, 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 Primus surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Primus in America

Primus is the 11960th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Primus surname appeared 2,613 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Primus.

We can also compare 2010 data for Primus 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 Primus

The surname Primus has its origins in the Latin word 'primus', which means 'first' or 'most important'. This name is believed to have originated in ancient Rome, where it was likely used as a cognomen or nickname for someone who was considered the first or most prominent in their family or community.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Primus can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when it appeared in various medieval records and documents across Europe. One notable example is the Domesday Book, a manuscript compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, which listed several individuals with the surname Primus in various parts of England.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Primus was particularly prevalent in Italy, where it was often associated with noble families or individuals of high social standing. One prominent figure from this period was Marcus Primus, a Roman senator and military commander who lived in the 1st century AD and played a crucial role in the Batavian revolt against Roman rule.

As the name spread throughout Europe, it underwent various spelling variations and adaptations to local languages. In France, for instance, the surname was often spelled as Primeaux or Primault, while in Germany and the Low Countries, it appeared as Primm or Primmer.

Among the notable individuals who bore the surname Primus throughout history are:

1. Jacob Primus (c. 1460-1528), a German humanist and scholar who taught at the University of Heidelberg.
2. Jacobus Primus (1600-1677), a Dutch painter and engraver known for his landscape and architectural works.
3. Johannes Primus (1637-1700), a German composer and organist active in the Baroque era.
4. Marcus Primus (fl. 69-70 AD), the Roman senator and military commander mentioned earlier.
5. Petrus Primus (c. 1540-1603), a Flemish mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

Over time, the surname Primus has spread to various parts of the world, with descendants bearing this name found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and beyond. While its origins can be traced back to ancient Rome, the name Primus has left an indelible mark on history, reflecting the prominence and significance associated with those who bore it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Primus

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

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

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

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