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

Savannah, 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 Savannah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Savannah in America

Savannah is the 35671st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Savannah surname appeared 630 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 Savannah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Savannah 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 Savannah

The surname Savannah is a locational name originating from the city of Savannah in Georgia, United States. The name Savannah itself is derived from the Creek word "Savano," meaning "southerners" or "people from the south." The city was founded in 1733 by British colonists, who named it after the indigenous Savannah River.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Savannah can be traced back to the late 18th century, shortly after the establishment of the city. It is believed that the surname was initially adopted by families who lived in or had close ties to the city of Savannah.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Savannah is found in the diary of William Stephens, a British colonial official who served as the first secretary of the Trustees for the Establishment of the Colony of Georgia. In his diary entries from 1737, he mentions a person named "William Savannah," who was likely one of the first individuals to bear the surname.

Another notable early figure with the surname Savannah was John Savannah, a merchant and plantation owner who lived in Savannah in the late 18th century. He was a prominent figure in the city's early economic and social life.

In the 19th century, the surname Savannah became more widespread as the city grew in importance. One notable individual with this surname was Archibald Savannah (1811-1887), a lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate.

During the American Civil War, the city of Savannah played a significant role, and several individuals with the surname Savannah were involved in the conflict. One such individual was James Savannah (1839-1912), a Confederate soldier who fought in several major battles.

Another notable figure with the surname Savannah was Mary Savannah (1855-1932), a writer and educator who was born in Savannah. She authored several books and worked to promote education for African Americans in the post-Civil War era.

While the surname Savannah has its roots in the United States, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and travel. However, its origins remain firmly rooted in the historic city of Savannah and its rich cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Savannah

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

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

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

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