Find out how popular the last name Safe is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Safe.
An English surname derived from the Middle English word "safe", indicating a person who was secure, trustworthy, or perhaps worked as a locksmith.
Safe, 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 Safe surname is from the 2010 census data.
Safe is the 74826th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Safe surname appeared 258 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 Safe.
We can also compare 2010 data for Safe 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.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 74826 | 75219 | -0.52% |
| Count | 258 | 239 | 7.65% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.00% |
The surname SAFE has its origins in medieval Germany, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "saf," meaning "sap" or "juice," potentially referring to someone who lived near a grove of sap-producing trees.
In its early days, the name was commonly spelled as "Saf" or "Saff," and it appeared in various town records and tax registers across the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this name was Hans Saf, a landowner from the village of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in the year 1327.
By the 15th century, the name had evolved into its current spelling of "SAFE" as it spread across different parts of Germany. In 1492, a merchant named Johann SAFE was documented in the city of Nuremberg, where he operated a successful trade in spices and textiles.
The SAFE name gained prominence in the 16th century with the rise of Martin SAFE (1524-1594), a renowned theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. His writings and teachings had a lasting impact on religious thought and practice in central Europe.
During the 17th century, the SAFE surname found its way to the New World through various waves of German immigration. One notable figure was Johannes SAFE (1635-1701), a farmer who settled in the Dutch colony of New Netherland, now known as New York, in 1659.
Another individual of note was Anna SAFE (1712-1786), a prominent businesswoman and landowner in the German state of Hesse. Her successful management of her family's estates and businesses earned her widespread respect and recognition.
In the 19th century, the SAFE name gained further recognition with the achievements of Johann Friedrich SAFE (1805-1873), a pioneering architect and engineer who designed several iconic buildings and bridges across Germany and Austria.
Throughout its history, the SAFE surname has been associated with various occupations, including farmers, merchants, theologians, architects, and entrepreneurs, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have borne this name.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Safe.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Safe was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 82.17% | 212 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | 8.53% | 22 |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 1.94% | 5 |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | (S)% | (S) |
| Hispanic Origin | 6.98% | 18 |
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 Safe has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 82.17% | 86.19% | -4.78% |
| Black | 8.53% | 6.28% | 30.38% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 1.94% | (S)% | (S)% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | 0.00% | (S)% |
| Two or More Races | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Hispanic | 6.98% | 6.69% | 4.24% |
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 Safe was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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