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

Samper, 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 Samper surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Samper in America

Samper is the 50960th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Samper surname appeared 409 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 Samper.

We can also compare 2010 data for Samper 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 Samper

The surname Samper originates from Spain, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "samperio," which means a bush or shrub. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who lived in areas with dense vegetation or perhaps worked as gardeners or horticulturists.

During the medieval period, the name appeared in various historical records, including the Becerro de Behetrias, a census-like document from the 14th century that recorded land holdings and landowners in Castile. Some of the earliest known bearers of the surname Samper were Juan Samper, who was mentioned in a land grant from the year 1312, and Pedro Samper, a nobleman from Aragon, whose name appeared in a royal decree from 1389.

Over time, the surname Samper spread across different regions of Spain, with variations in spelling emerging, such as Sampere and Samperi. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the evolution of language over the centuries. One notable individual bearing this surname was Fray Jerónimo Samper, a Spanish Franciscan friar and historian who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. His work, "Montesa Ilustrada," published in 1669, is a valuable historical account of the Order of Montesa.

Another prominent figure with the surname Samper was José María Samper, a Colombian politician, writer, and diplomat born in 1828. He played a significant role in the political and literary scene of his time, serving as a minister, ambassador, and as the president of the Colombian Academy of Language. His literary works, such as "Ensayo sobre las revoluciones políticas y la condición social de las repúblicas colombianas" (1861), provide insightful perspectives on Colombian history and society.

In the realm of arts and literature, the name Samper is associated with figures like Baltasar Samper, a Spanish playwright and poet from the 17th century, and Jenaro Samper, a Colombian writer and journalist born in 1880. Jenaro Samper's novel "Los hombres de bien" (1925) is considered a notable work of Colombian literature from the early 20th century.

While the surname Samper has Spanish roots, it has also spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonization. In countries like Colombia, where there was a significant Spanish influence, the name Samper has become well-established and has contributed to the cultural and historical tapestry of those regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Samper

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

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

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

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