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

Sauk, 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 Sauk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sauk in America

Sauk is the 136449th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sauk surname appeared 123 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 Sauk.

The history of the last name Sauk

The surname Sauk is believed to have originated in Germany, where it first appeared as a locational name derived from the town of Sauck or Sauk in the region of Saxony. The name is thought to have been derived from the Old German word "sauca," meaning "muddy" or "swampy," likely referring to the geographic features of the area where the name first arose.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sauk can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from the Saxon region dating back to the 12th century. The name is also mentioned in various other medieval records and manuscripts from the region.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Heinrich Sauk was recorded as a prominent merchant and landowner in the town of Sauck. Around the same time, a family by the name of Sauk was documented as owning several estates in the neighboring villages of Sauken and Saukendorf.

As the surname spread throughout Germany and into other parts of Europe, variations in spelling emerged, including Sauck, Sauke, and Saukke. In some regions, the name was also influenced by local dialects and pronunciation, leading to variations such as Sauch and Sauche.

Notable individuals with the surname Sauk throughout history include:

1. Johann Sauk (1560-1632), a German theologian and author known for his works on Protestant theology.
2. Christoph Sauk (1675-1741), a German architect who contributed to the design of several notable churches and buildings in the Baroque style.
3. Elise Sauk (1813-1887), a German writer and activist who advocated for women's rights and education.
4. Wilhelm Sauk (1855-1914), a German-born American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Sauk Brewing Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
5. Karl Sauk (1901-1976), a German physicist and academic renowned for his research in the field of quantum mechanics.

While the surname Sauk originated in a specific region of Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and immigration. However, its roots can be traced back to the early medieval period in the Saxon region of Germany, where it emerged as a locational name reflecting the geographic characteristics of the area.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sauk

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

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 Sauk 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.

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

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

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