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

Sather, 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 Sather surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sather in America

Sather is the 8581st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sather surname appeared 3,838 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 Sather.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sather 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 Sather

The surname Sather originated in Norway, with roots tracing back to the early medieval period. It is believed to derive from the Old Norse name Sathir, which itself may have evolved from the root word "sath," meaning "truth" or "reality." This name likely referred to someone with a reputation for honesty or someone who adhered to traditional values.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sather can be found in the Diplomatarium Norvegicum, a collection of medieval Norwegian documents dating back to the 12th century. In this collection, the name appears in various spellings, such as Sathir, Sathyr, and Sathær, reflecting the evolution of the name over time.

The Sather name is also linked to several place names in Norway, particularly in the regions of Østlandet and Vestlandet. For instance, the farm Sather in Nordfjord, located in the county of Møre og Romsdal, is believed to have been named after an early bearer of the surname.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the Sather surname. One of the earliest was Orm Sather, a Norwegian chieftain and landowner who lived in the late 12th century and is mentioned in the Icelandic sagas. In the 17th century, Hans Sather (1610-1687) was a prominent Norwegian clergyman and author.

Another notable figure was Søren Sather (1825-1913), a Norwegian-American businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the California gold rush. He later donated a significant sum to the University of California, Berkeley, leading to the establishment of the Sather Professorship and the Sather Gate, a prominent landmark on the university campus.

In the literary world, Johan Sather (1856-1924) was a Norwegian poet and novelist who wrote extensively about rural life in Norway. His works, such as "Bygde-Romaner" (Village Novels), provided a vivid portrayal of the struggles and experiences of ordinary Norwegians during his time.

Furthermore, the Sather name has been carried by several military figures, including Nils Sather (1888-1967), a Norwegian-American who served as a major general in the United States Army during World War II and received the Distinguished Service Cross for his bravery in combat.

While the Sather surname may have evolved over time and spread across different regions, its roots can be traced back to the early medieval period in Norway, where it likely originated as a name associated with honesty, truth, and adherence to traditional values.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sather

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

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

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

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