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

Sampo, 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 Sampo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sampo in America

Sampo is the 90853rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sampo surname appeared 203 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 Sampo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sampo 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 Sampo

The surname Sampo has its origins in Finland, with records dating back to the 17th century. It is believed to be derived from the Finnish word "sampo," which refers to a mythical mill or instrument that brought wealth and prosperity in Finnish folklore and mythology.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Sampo can be found in the parish records of Viipuri (now Vyborg, Russia) from the late 1600s. These records mention individuals with the surname Sampo, indicating that the name was already in use at that time.

In the 19th century, the surname Sampo gained more prominence in Finland, particularly in the regions of Satakunta and Ostrobothnia. During this period, several notable individuals bore the name Sampo, including Juho Sampo (1812-1888), a Finnish farmer and businessman known for his agricultural innovations.

Another significant figure with the surname Sampo was Väinö Sampo (1876-1951), a Finnish politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland from 1926 to 1927.

Historically, the surname Sampo has also been associated with certain place names in Finland, such as the village of Sampola in the municipality of Merikarvia. This connection suggests that the name may have originated from a specific geographical location.

In the 20th century, the name Sampo gained international recognition through the works of Finnish author Elias Lönnrot, who compiled the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala. In this epic, the Sampo is a pivotal element, representing a source of wealth and prosperity sought after by the characters.

Some notable individuals with the surname Sampo include Esko Sampo (1920-1998), a Finnish journalist and writer, and Matti Sampo (born 1953), a Finnish politician and member of the Parliament of Finland.

While the surname Sampo is predominantly Finnish, it has also been adopted by individuals in other countries, particularly those with Finnish ancestry or connections. However, the historical roots and significance of this surname remain deeply intertwined with Finnish culture, folklore, and literature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sampo

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

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

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

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