Sandburg
A Swedish surname indicating geographic origin or place of residence among sand hills or sand dunes.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 274 Americans carry the last name Sandburg. That puts it at #77,788 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,250,928 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Sandburg surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
274
1 in 1,250,928
Census rank
#77,788
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
246
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 246 bearers of the surname Sandburg in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 77788th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Sandburg, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.9%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Sandburg
The surname Sandburg is of Swedish origin, derived from the combination of the words "sand" and "borg," which means "sand castle" or "sand fortress." This surname likely originated in the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century, when many Swedes adopted hereditary surnames.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Sandburg can be traced back to various Swedish parish records and census records from the 16th and 17th centuries. The name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Småland, Västergötland, and Värmland in southern Sweden.
In the 17th century, a notable figure with the surname Sandburg was Johan Sandburg, a Swedish military officer who served during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). He is mentioned in several historical accounts of the time for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.
Another prominent individual with this surname was Carl Sandburg (1878-1967), an American writer and poet of Swedish descent. He was born in Galesburg, Illinois, and is best known for his works such as "Chicago Poems" and his biography of Abraham Lincoln. Carl Sandburg received numerous accolades, including three Pulitzer Prizes.
In the 19th century, a notable figure was Gustav Sandburg (1821-1891), a Swedish-American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Sandburg Furniture Company in Chicago. He played a significant role in the Swedish-American community and was known for his charitable contributions.
The name Sandburg also appears in various historical records and documents from other parts of Europe, such as Germany and the Netherlands, where it may have been spelled slightly differently, like "Sandborg" or "Sandbergh." This suggests that the name may have spread beyond Sweden through migration and cultural exchanges.
It is worth noting that the surname Sandburg has been associated with several notable figures throughout history, ranging from military leaders to writers and entrepreneurs. While the name's origins can be traced back to Sweden, its presence can be found in various regions and cultures, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural exchanges of past centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sandburg
Among Census respondents with the surname Sandburg, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.9%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Sandburg bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Sandburg surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.1%
- Two or more races2.9%
- Hispanic or Latino2.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Sandburg surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #77,788 | #77,788 | 0.0% |
| Count | 246 | 246 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Sandburg bearers went from 246 to 246 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #77,788 to #77,788.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Sandburg
FAQ
Sandburg surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Sandburg?
The surname Sandburg holds position #77,788 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 274 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Sandburg surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Sandburg, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.9%) and Hispanic (2.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.