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

Sao, 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 Sao surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sao in America

Sao is the 18529th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sao surname appeared 1,489 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 Sao.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sao 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.

The history of the last name Sao

The surname "Sao" has its origins in Portugal, where it is believed to have emerged in the 12th century. It is derived from the Portuguese word "são," which means "healthy" or "whole." This name was likely given to someone who had recovered from a serious illness or injury, or who was renowned for their robust health and vitality.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname "Sao" can be found in a document from the Monastery of Alcobaça, dated 1187, which mentions a certain "Martinho Sao." This suggests that the name was already in use among the Portuguese population by the late 12th century.

During the Age of Discovery, when Portuguese explorers and navigators embarked on voyages of exploration and colonization, the surname "Sao" likely spread to various parts of the world colonized by the Portuguese, such as Brazil, Goa, Macau, and parts of Africa. This may have led to the emergence of different spellings or variations of the name in these regions.

One notable figure in Portuguese history with the surname "Sao" was João Sao, a 16th-century explorer and navigator who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan on his famous voyage around the world. João Sao played a crucial role in the expedition, serving as the captain of one of the ships and helping to chart new routes across the Pacific Ocean.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Miguel Sao (1885-1964), a renowned Portuguese architect who designed several iconic buildings in Lisbon, including the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum and the Jerónimos Monastery.

In the 20th century, the surname "Sao" gained international recognition through the work of the Brazilian novelist Paulo Sao (1922-1992), whose masterpiece "The Alchemist" has been translated into numerous languages and has become a global bestseller.

Other notable figures with the surname "Sao" include Manuel Sao (1896-1978), a Portuguese politician who served as Prime Minister of Portugal from 1968 to 1970, and Maria Sao (1912-1996), a Brazilian painter and sculptor known for her vibrant and expressive works.

While the surname "Sao" may not be as common as some other Portuguese surnames, it has a rich history and has been borne by numerous individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sao

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

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 Sao 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Sao has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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

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

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