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

Sarah, 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 Sarah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sarah in America

Sarah is the 43369th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sarah surname appeared 498 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 Sarah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sarah 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 Sarah

The surname "SARAH" is not a common surname, but rather a given name or first name that has its origins in the Hebrew language. The name Sarah is derived from the Hebrew word "sarah," which means "princess" or "noblewoman." It is a name that has been used for centuries and has a rich history and significance.

The biblical character Sarah, the wife of Abraham, is one of the earliest recorded instances of this name. She is mentioned in the Book of Genesis and is considered a significant figure in the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The name Sarah gained popularity among Jewish and Christian communities due to its biblical roots.

In the Middle Ages, the name Sarah was relatively uncommon in Europe, but it did appear in some historical records and documents. One notable example is the Domesday Book, a manuscript compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, which recorded the names of landowners and tenants in England. There are a few entries in the Domesday Book that mention individuals with the name Sarah.

As the name Sarah spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations and adaptations. In some regions, it was spelled as "Sara" or "Sarra," while in others, it was written as "Sarai" or "Sare." These variations often reflected local dialects and language influences.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Sarah:

1. Sarah Josepha Hale (1788-1879), an American writer and influential advocate for the establishment of Thanksgiving as a national holiday in the United States.

2. Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923), a renowned French actress and one of the most famous performers of the 19th century.

3. Sarah Winnemucca (c. 1844-1891), a prominent activist and educator from the Paiute tribe, who worked to preserve Native American traditions and rights.

4. Sarah Breedlove (1867-1919), better known as Madam C.J. Walker, an African American entrepreneur and philanthropist who became one of the first self-made female millionaires in the United States through her hair care products and business ventures.

5. Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990), an influential American jazz singer and one of the most celebrated vocalists of the 20th century.

While the surname "SARAH" is not commonly found in historical records, the name itself has a rich cultural and religious significance, particularly in the Abrahamic faiths. Its popularity and usage have spanned centuries, and it has been borne by notable figures across various fields and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sarah

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

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

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

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