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

Samo, 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 Samo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Samo in America

Samo is the 73666th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Samo surname appeared 263 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 Samo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Samo 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 Samo

The surname SAMO originated in the medieval Italian states during the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "samitis", which referred to a type of silk fabric or material. This connection suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have been involved in the silk trade or textile industry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SAMO surname can be traced back to the city of Venice in the year 1287, where a merchant named Giovanni SAMO is mentioned in a trade document. This provides evidence that the name was already established in the Venetian Republic during the late medieval period.

In the 14th century, the SAMO surname appears in various records from the region of Tuscany, particularly in the cities of Florence and Siena. A notable figure from this era was Benedetto SAMO (1342-1412), a wealthy banker and financier who played a significant role in the economic affairs of Florence.

As the SAMO name spread throughout Italy, it also found its way into historical manuscripts and chronicles. For instance, in the 16th century, a friar named Girolamo SAMO (1495-1567) is mentioned in the annals of the Benedictine monastery of Monte Cassino for his scholarly contributions.

During the Renaissance period, the SAMO surname was associated with several prominent individuals in the arts and academia. One such figure was Giulio SAMO (1521-1588), a renowned painter and architect from Verona, whose works can still be admired in various churches and palaces across northern Italy.

In the 18th century, the SAMO name gained further recognition with the birth of Antonio SAMO (1734-1805), a celebrated composer and violinist from Naples. His compositions were widely performed throughout Europe during the Classical era, and he is considered one of the most influential Italian musicians of his time.

Other notable individuals bearing the SAMO surname include Luigi SAMO (1862-1932), an Italian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Italian Parliament, and Emilio SAMO (1895-1974), a renowned archaeologist and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of ancient Roman civilization.

Throughout its history, the SAMO surname has been associated with various professions and fields, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of its bearers. While its origins can be traced back to the silk trade in medieval Italy, the name has since evolved to encompass individuals from various walks of life, leaving a lasting impact across multiple domains.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Samo

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

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

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

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