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

Saperstein, 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 Saperstein surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Saperstein in America

Saperstein is the 27481st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Saperstein surname appeared 877 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 Saperstein.

We can also compare 2010 data for Saperstein 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 Saperstein

The surname Saperstein is of Jewish origin, derived from the Yiddish term "saper," meaning "shoemaker" or "cobbler." This occupational surname has its roots in Eastern Europe, particularly in Poland and Russia, where Jewish communities thrived during the Middle Ages.

The earliest recorded instances of the Saperstein surname can be traced back to the 16th century in various Jewish communities across Eastern Europe. In those times, surnames were often adopted based on one's profession, and the name Saperstein likely referred to individuals who were involved in the shoemaking trade.

One of the earliest known references to the Saperstein name can be found in the 1569 census of the Jewish community in Krakow, Poland, where a certain Yitzhak Saperstein was listed as a resident. This record provides valuable insight into the antiquity of the surname and its association with the Jewish diaspora in Eastern Europe.

In the 17th century, the Saperstein surname gained prominence with the birth of Rabbi Meir Saperstein (1640-1712), a renowned Torah scholar and author from Vilnius, Lithuania. His works, such as "Toras Chesed" and "Chiddushei HaRama," became influential texts in Jewish scholarship and solidified the Saperstein name's place in religious and intellectual circles.

Another notable figure bearing the Saperstein surname was Isaac Saperstein (1779-1856), a prominent merchant and philanthropist from Vilna, Lithuania. He was renowned for his generous support of various Jewish educational institutions and charitable organizations, leaving a lasting impact on the community.

As the Jewish diaspora spread across Europe and beyond, the Saperstein surname traveled with them. In the 19th century, Solomon Saperstein (1831-1909), a successful merchant and community leader, was born in Warsaw, Poland, and later immigrated to the United States, settling in New York City.

One of the most recent historical figures with the Saperstein surname was Abe Saperstein (1902-1966), an American basketball coach and promoter. He was the founder of the Harlem Globetrotters, the renowned exhibition basketball team that entertained audiences around the world with their unique style of play and showmanship.

While the surname Saperstein has its origins in occupational roots, it has evolved to become a prominent Jewish surname, carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, from religion and scholarship to business and sports.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Saperstein

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

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

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

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