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

Salvador, 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 Salvador surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Salvador in America

Salvador is the 2772nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Salvador surname appeared 13,021 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 Salvador.

We can also compare 2010 data for Salvador 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 Salvador

The surname Salvador originated in Spain and has its roots in the Latin word "salvator," meaning "savior." This name gained popularity during the Middle Ages, particularly in regions where the Spanish language and culture had a strong influence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Salvador can be traced back to the 13th century in the Catalan region of Spain. It is believed that the name was initially given as a descriptive surname to individuals who played a significant role in protecting or safeguarding others, or to those who demonstrated qualities of a savior.

In the 14th century, records show the presence of the Salvador surname in the city of Valencia, where it was associated with prominent families and individuals who held positions of authority and influence. The name also appeared in various legal documents, contracts, and official records during this period.

During the 15th century, the surname Salvador gained further recognition and spread to other parts of Spain, such as Andalusia and Castile. Some notable individuals bearing this surname during this time include Fernando Salvador, a renowned poet and scholar born in Seville in 1467, and Gonzalo Salvador, a military commander who fought in the Spanish conquest of the Americas in the late 15th century.

In the 16th century, the Salvador surname continued to be associated with notable figures, including Juan Salvador Garcés, a Spanish explorer and navigator who led expeditions to the Pacific Ocean in the early 1500s, and Gaspar Salvador, a prominent architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Madrid during the latter part of the century.

As the Spanish Empire expanded its influence across the Americas and other regions, the surname Salvador was carried by settlers and explorers to various parts of the world, including Mexico, Argentina, and the Philippines. Some notable individuals with this surname from this period include Miguel Salvador, a Spanish missionary who established several missions in California in the late 18th century, and José Salvador, a Chilean military leader who fought in the Chilean War of Independence in the early 19th century.

Throughout history, the surname Salvador has been closely associated with individuals who have played significant roles in various fields, including literature, art, politics, and religion. It continues to be a prominent surname in many Spanish-speaking countries, as well as in regions with strong historical ties to Spanish culture and influence.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Salvador

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

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

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

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