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

Santifer, 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 Santifer surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Santifer in America

Santifer is the 144908th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Santifer surname appeared 105 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Santifer.

The history of the last name Santifer

The surname Santifer has a unique and somewhat mysterious origin, with its roots likely traced back to medieval Europe. The name is believed to have originated in France, possibly during the Middle Ages around the 12th or 13th century. The French influence is evident in its phonetic structure, reminiscent of French surnames derived from given names, occupations, or locations. A possible origin could be the old French name Saintifer, which might have been used to denote a person associated with a holy site or someone with an occupation related to the church.

The surname might also have derivations from Latin elements, such as "sanctus" meaning holy and "ferre" meaning to bear or to carry. This etymology suggests that Santifer could possibly mean "bearer of holiness" or "one who carries the holy," which aligns with the practices of medieval Europe where names were often reflective of personal attributes or occupations.

Historical references to the Santifer surname are sparse but indicative of a long-standing presence in Europe. One of the earliest recorded instances of a similar name can be traced back to a 14th-century manuscript in Normandy, France, where a Philippe de Saintifer is mentioned as a landowner in a 1372 document. This indicates that the name was established well before the modern era, potentially belonging to families of some standing during that period.

By the 16th century, individuals bearing the Santifer surname began appearing in various records. For instance, Jean Santifer, born in 1532, was a notable cleric in the French region of Brittany. His involvement in local ecclesiastical affairs was documented in church records until his death in 1598. His role might have contributed to the dispersal of the name throughout the region.

In England, the surname appeared to have migrated by the early 17th century, possibly due to religious or economic migrations. Thomas Santifer, born in 1605 in Cornwall, was recorded in parish records as a merchant. He played a significant role in local trade and is noted in the Guildhall records of 1657. His lineage shows the expansion of the Santifer name into different socio-economic strata.

Further afield, the name eventually made its way to the American colonies. One early immigrant was Richard Santifer, born in 1684 in Surrey, England, who arrived in Virginia in 1715. He became a plantation owner and his name frequently appears in land grant documents and legal records from the early 18th century, reflecting the dispersion of the family name beyond its European origins.

In the 19th century, records show William Santifer, born in 1820, as a prominent figure in the nascent American legal system. Practicing in New York, he was known for his advocacy and community involvement until his death in 1885. His contributions to American society are well documented in legal journals and historical biographies.

The name Santifer demonstrates a rich historical tapestry, spanning several centuries and geographical regions. Not only does it reflect the fluid nature of surnames but also the socio-cultural dynamics that influenced their evolution over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Santifer

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Santifer 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 Santifer was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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