Santora last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Santora

Derived from the Italian word "santoro," referring to a sexton, sacristan, or custodian of a church.

Santora, 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 Santora surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Santora in America

Santora is the 11443rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Santora surname appeared 2,752 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Santora.

We can also compare 2010 data for Santora 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 11443 11049 3.50%
Count 2,752 2,639 4.19%
Proportion per 100k 0.93 0.98 -5.24%

The history of the last name Santora

The surname Santora has its origins in Italy, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "santoro," which referred to a person who lived near or worked at a church dedicated to a saint. The name may also be related to the Latin word "sanctus," meaning holy or sacred.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Santora surname can be found in a manuscript from the city of Naples in the year 1267. This document mentions a man named Giovanni Santora, who was a merchant and landowner in the region.

In the 14th century, the Santora family established a presence in the town of Salerno, located on the Amalfi Coast. Historical records from this period show that members of the family held influential positions within the local government and were involved in various trades, such as winemaking and olive oil production.

During the Renaissance period, a notable figure bearing the Santora surname was Antonio Santora, a renowned painter who lived from 1477 to 1537. His works can be found in several churches and galleries throughout Italy, including the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

Another prominent individual with the Santora name was Giacomo Santora, a Neapolitan philosopher and scholar who lived from 1598 to 1669. He was known for his writings on metaphysics and ethics, and his works were widely studied in academic circles across Europe.

In the 18th century, the Santora family expanded their reach beyond Italy, with some members emigrating to other parts of Europe and the Americas. One such individual was Juan Santora, a Spanish soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in New Orleans, where he established a successful trading business.

As the Santora name spread across different regions, various spellings emerged, such as Santori, Santore, and Santori. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and linguistic adaptations.

Throughout history, the Santora surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including artists, scholars, merchants, and military personnel. While the name may have evolved over time, its connection to the Italian heritage and the concept of sanctity has remained a defining characteristic.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Santora

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

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 Santora was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 88.26% 2,429
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.94% 26
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.09% 30
Hispanic Origin 8.76% 241

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 Santora has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 88.26% 94.51% -6.84%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.94% 0.45% 70.50%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.09% 1.10% -0.91%
Hispanic 8.76% 3.41% 87.92%

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

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

Reference this page

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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!

"Santora last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/santora-surname-popularity/.

"Santora last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/santora-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Santora last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/santora-surname-popularity/.

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