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

Sales, 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 Sales surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sales in America

Sales is the 3418th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sales surname appeared 10,439 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Sales.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sales 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 Sales

The surname SALES is believed to have originated in Spain during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Spanish word "sal," which means salt, suggesting a connection to the salt trade or salt production industry. The name may have been given to those who worked in salt mining or transportation.

One of the earliest known records of the SALES surname can be found in the Census of Aragon from the 14th century, where individuals with this surname were listed as residents of various towns and villages in the region. The name also appears in other historical documents from Spain, such as the Repartimiento de Sevilla, a record of land distribution in Seville after its conquest in 1248.

In the 15th century, the SALES surname spread to other parts of Europe, particularly Italy and France, where variations like "Salis" and "Salez" emerged. During this time, the name was associated with merchants and traders involved in the lucrative salt trade across the Mediterranean.

One notable figure with the SALES surname was Pedro de Sales (1512-1592), a Spanish theologian and writer who served as the Bishop of Geneva. He played a significant role in the Counter-Reformation and was known for his efforts to promote religious education.

Another prominent individual was St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622), a French priest and Bishop of Geneva. He is recognized as a Doctor of the Church and is renowned for his writings on spiritual guidance and devotion, including the widely read book "Introduction to the Devout Life."

In the 17th century, the SALES surname appeared in England, likely brought by Spanish or French immigrants. One early record is that of John Sales (1616-1679), an English writer and philosopher who published works on mathematics and natural philosophy.

During the 18th century, the SALES name was found in various parts of Europe and the Americas, as migration and exploration expanded. Notable figures include Juan José de Sales (1713-1776), a Spanish naval officer and explorer who led expeditions to the Pacific Northwest coast of North America.

In the 19th century, the SALES surname continued to spread globally, with individuals bearing this name making contributions in various fields. For example, Francisco Acuña de Figueroa y Sales (1791-1862) was a Uruguayan military leader and politician who played a crucial role in the formation of the nation.

Throughout history, the SALES surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting the global reach and influence of this name rooted in the salt trade of medieval Spain.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sales

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

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

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

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