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

Sanelias, 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 Sanelias surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sanelias in America

Sanelias is the 151532nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sanelias surname appeared 108 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 Sanelias.

The history of the last name Sanelias

The surname Sanelias is of Spanish origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the northern regions of Spain, particularly in the areas surrounding the Cantabrian Mountains.

One theory suggests that the name Sanelias is derived from the combination of two old Spanish words, "san" meaning "saint" and "elias" referring to the biblical prophet Elijah. This could indicate that the name was initially bestowed upon individuals who lived near a church or monastery dedicated to Saint Elijah.

Historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries mention the name Sanelias in various contexts. For instance, a document from the Monastery of San Salvador de Oña in Burgos, dated 1287, references a certain "Pedro Sanelias" as a landowner in the region.

The earliest known bearer of the surname Sanelias was Juan Sanelias, born in the village of Espinosa de los Monteros, Cantabria, around 1420. He was a local magistrate and played a significant role in resolving disputes among the villagers during his tenure.

Another notable figure was Rodrigo Sanelias (1541-1612), a prominent merchant and trader who established trade routes between Spain and the Americas during the height of the Spanish colonial era. His successful business ventures contributed to the economic growth of the region.

In the realm of literature, the name Sanelias is associated with the Spanish poet and playwright, Alonso Sanelias (1574-1638). His works, which often explored themes of love and loss, were widely acclaimed during the Golden Age of Spanish literature.

The village of Sanelias, located in the province of Cantabria, is believed to have derived its name from the surname itself. This suggests that the Sanelias family had a significant presence in the area during the medieval and early modern periods.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname Sanelias include:

1. María Sanelias (1702-1778), a renowned lacemaker whose intricate designs were highly sought after by the Spanish nobility.
2. Diego Sanelias (1789-1862), a military officer who fought in the Peninsular War against the French forces.
3. Juana Sanelias (1824-1901), a philanthropist known for her charitable work and efforts to establish schools and orphanages in northern Spain.
4. Tomás Sanelias (1865-1943), an acclaimed architect who designed several notable buildings in Madrid and Barcelona.
5. Enrique Sanelias (1901-1987), a respected linguist and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Iberian languages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sanelias

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

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 Sanelias 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!