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

Sarmiento, 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 Sarmiento surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sarmiento in America

Sarmiento is the 2631st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sarmiento surname appeared 13,710 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Sarmiento.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sarmiento 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 Sarmiento

The surname Sarmiento has its origins in Spain, with records dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word "sarmentum," meaning a small branch or twig, possibly referring to someone who lived near a vineyard or a wooded area.

One of the earliest known references to the name Sarmiento can be found in the 13th-century manuscript "Libro de la Montería" by King Alfonso XI of Castile, which mentions a nobleman named Pedro Rodríguez Sarmiento.

In the 15th century, the Sarmiento family played a prominent role in the history of Spain. Diego Gómez Sarmiento de Villandrando (1380-1459) was a renowned military leader and diplomat who served under King Juan II of Castile. Later, Pedro Ruiz de Sarmiento (1450-1508) became a respected bishop and writer.

The name Sarmiento also appears in various place names across Spain, such as Sarmienta and Sarmentero, further indicating its long-standing presence in the region.

During the Age of Exploration, several individuals with the surname Sarmiento made significant contributions. Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa (c. 1532-1592) was a Spanish navigator and explorer who explored the Strait of Magellan and founded the city of Nombre de Jesús in what is now Chile.

Another notable figure was Domingo Faustino Sarmiento (1811-1888), a prominent Argentine writer, statesman, and educator who served as the President of Argentina from 1868 to 1874. He played a crucial role in shaping Argentina's education system and promoting the country's development.

In the realm of literature, José Joaquín Fernández de Lizardi (1776-1827), a Mexican writer and journalist, was also known by his pen name "El Pensador Mexicano" (The Mexican Thinker). His works, such as "El Periquillo Sarniento," were instrumental in the development of Mexican literature.

As the name spread beyond Spain, it also gained prominence in other parts of the world. For instance, Domingo Sarmiento (1825-1888) was a Chilean naval officer and politician who served as the President of Chile from 1886 to 1891, while José Antonio Sarmiento (1868-1932) was a renowned Uruguayan painter and sculptor.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sarmiento

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

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

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

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