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

Sankus, 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 Sankus surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sankus in America

Sankus is the 150452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sankus surname appeared 109 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 Sankus.

The history of the last name Sankus

The surname SANKUS is believed to have originated in Lithuania, with roots dating back to the 16th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Lithuanian word "sankas," meaning "joint" or "connection," possibly referring to an ancestor's occupation as a builder or carpenter.

In the early records of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, variations of the spelling, such as "Sankus" and "Sancus," can be found. One of the earliest documented references to the name comes from a 1572 land grant in the Vilnius region, where a certain Motiejus Sankus was mentioned as a landowner.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the SANKUS name appeared in various Lithuanian parish records and court documents, suggesting that the family had established itself in various parts of the country. One notable figure from this period was Jonas Sankus (1645-1712), a respected merchant and landowner in the town of Kaunas.

As the Lithuanian diaspora spread across Europe and beyond in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the SANKUS name traveled with them. In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name was Antanas Sankus (1879-1947), a Lithuanian immigrant who settled in Chicago and worked as a carpenter.

Another prominent individual was Vytautas Sankus (1903-1986), a Lithuanian-American architect who designed several notable buildings in Chicago, including the Lithuanian World Center and the St. Peter and Paul Church.

Other notable figures include Juozas Sankus (1892-1975), a Lithuanian painter and art teacher who played a significant role in the development of Lithuanian modernist art, and Stasys Sankus (1916-2002), a Lithuanian-American writer and journalist who worked for various Lithuanian-language publications in the United States.

While the SANKUS name may not be as widespread as some other Lithuanian surnames, its historical roots and the contributions of its bearers have left a lasting impact on Lithuanian culture and history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sankus

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

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

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

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