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

Sapiens, 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 Sapiens surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sapiens in America

Sapiens is the 114424th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sapiens surname appeared 153 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 Sapiens.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sapiens 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 Sapiens

The surname "Sapiens" is believed to have originated in ancient Rome, deriving from the Latin word "sapiens," which means "wise" or "knowledgeable." It is thought to have been initially used as a descriptive name for individuals who were considered exceptionally intelligent or learned in their community.

During the Roman Empire, the name "Sapiens" may have been used as a cognomen, or a third name, to distinguish individuals within the same family. It is possible that this name appeared in some of the earliest Roman records, such as the census or tax rolls, though no specific historical references can be confirmed.

As the Roman Empire expanded and its influence spread across Europe, the name "Sapiens" likely traveled with Roman settlers and soldiers. Over time, it may have been adopted and adapted by various cultures, leading to slight variations in spelling or pronunciation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Sapiens" can be traced back to the 12th century, when a scholar named Petrus Sapiens lived in the city of Bologna, Italy. He was renowned for his contributions to the study of canon law and is mentioned in several manuscripts from that era.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the surname "Sapiens" was Johannes Sapiens, a German philosopher and theologian. He was born in the town of Erfurt around 1320 and became a prominent scholar at the University of Paris, where he taught and wrote extensively on metaphysics and logic.

During the Renaissance period, the name "Sapiens" gained further recognition through the work of Desiderius Sapiens, a Dutch humanist and scholar who lived from 1466 to 1536. He was a renowned teacher and writer, known for his translations of ancient Greek texts and his efforts to promote classical learning.

In England, one of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Sapiens" dates back to the 16th century, when a family by that name resided in the county of Norfolk. William Sapiens, born in 1547, was a notable member of this family and served as a magistrate and landowner in the region.

Another prominent figure with the surname "Sapiens" was Carolus Sapiens, a French mathematician and astronomer born in 1598. He made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and is credited with developing improved methods for calculating the orbits of planets and comets.

Throughout history, the surname "Sapiens" has been associated with individuals known for their intellectual pursuits, scholarly achievements, and contributions to various fields of knowledge. While the name may have originated from a descriptive term in ancient Rome, it has endured as a distinguished surname, carrying a legacy of wisdom and learning across generations and cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sapiens

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

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

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

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