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

Samora, 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 Samora surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Samora in America

Samora is the 10140th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Samora surname appeared 3,180 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 Samora.

We can also compare 2010 data for Samora 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 Samora

The surname "SAMORA" is believed to have originated in Portugal, with its roots dating back to the late medieval period or the Renaissance era. It is thought to be derived from the Portuguese word "salmora," which refers to a type of salt brine or pickle solution used for preserving food.

This surname likely emerged as a descriptive name for individuals involved in the production or trade of salted or pickled goods, such as fish, meats, or vegetables. It may have been initially applied as an occupational surname or a reference to a particular location associated with salt production or pickling industries.

One of the earliest records of the name "SAMORA" can be found in the archives of the Portuguese royal court during the 15th century. It is mentioned in a document from 1472, which lists a merchant named João Samora, who was engaged in the trade of salted cod with the coastal regions of Portugal and Spain.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in the records of the Inquisition in Portugal, where a family named Samora was investigated for alleged crypto-Jewish practices. This suggests that the name had already become well-established among certain communities by that time.

Notable individuals with the surname "SAMORA" throughout history include:

1. Pedro Samora (1510-1582), a Portuguese explorer and navigator who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan on his famous circumnavigation voyage in the early 16th century.

2. Maria Samora (1615-1678), a renowned Portuguese painter known for her religious artwork and portraits, which adorned many churches and monasteries in Lisbon.

3. Joaquim Samora (1780-1842), a Portuguese military officer who fought in the Peninsular War against Napoleon's forces and later became a prominent figure in the Liberal Revolutions of the early 19th century.

4. Luísa Samora (1835-1912), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights in Portugal, who founded one of the first schools for girls in Porto.

5. Tomás Samora (1905-1982), a Portuguese-American architect and urban planner who played a significant role in the development of several major cities in the United States, including Los Angeles and San Francisco.

While the surname "SAMORA" has its roots in Portugal, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through Portuguese exploration and colonization efforts, as well as migration patterns in more recent times.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Samora

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

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

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

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