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

Saul, 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 Saul surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Saul in America

Saul is the 4981st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Saul surname appeared 7,047 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Saul.

We can also compare 2010 data for Saul 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 Saul

The surname Saul has its origins in ancient Hebrew, derived from the Biblical name Shaul, meaning "asked for" or "prayed for." This name traces its roots back to the Old Testament and the first king of Israel, Saul, who reigned around 1020 BCE.

The name Saul is believed to have spread throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, particularly in regions with significant Jewish populations. It is likely that the surname emerged as a way to distinguish individuals within these communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Saul can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as Saul, Sauel, and Savel, indicating its presence in medieval England.

In France, the surname Saul can be traced back to the 13th century, with records showing individuals bearing the name in regions like Normandy and Brittany. During this time, the name may have been influenced by the Old French word "saoul," meaning "satisfied" or "content."

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Saul. One such figure is Rabbi Benjamin Saul (1615-1703), a prominent Jewish scholar and author from Poland, who wrote extensively on Talmudic law and Jewish ethics.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Hans Saul (1542-1602), a German composer and organist during the Renaissance period, known for his contributions to sacred music and organ repertoire.

In England, Sir Edward Saul (1590-1670) was a notable figure, serving as the Lord Mayor of London in 1635. He played a pivotal role in the City of London's response to the English Civil War.

The surname Saul has also been associated with notable literary figures, such as the American novelist John Ralston Saul (born 1947), who is known for his works exploring philosophy, economics, and political theory.

Additionally, Saul Bellow (1915-2005), a Canadian-American writer, is widely regarded as one of the most influential novelists of the 20th century, having won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1976 for his profound exploration of modern urban life.

While the surname Saul has its origins in ancient Hebrew and has been present throughout various regions of Europe since medieval times, it has spread globally and continues to be borne by individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Saul

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

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

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

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