2000
#118,236
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 136
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Schema
A surname derived from the Greek word meaning a form, figure, or plan.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 131 Americans carry the last name Schema. That puts it at #146,495 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,616,445 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Schema surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
131
1 in 2,616,445
Census rank
#146,495
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
114
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 114 bearers of the surname Schema in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 146495th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Schema, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.9%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (2.6%) and Black (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Schema
The surname SCHEMA originates from ancient Greece and dates back to the 5th century BCE. It is derived from the Greek word "schema," which means "form" or "shape." The name was likely given to individuals who were skilled in crafting or designing objects of a particular form or shape.
In the early days, the name SCHEMA was most commonly found in the region of Athens and its surrounding areas. Some of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in ancient Greek texts and records, although specific individuals are rarely mentioned.
One of the earliest known references to the surname SCHEMA appears in the writings of the Greek philosopher Plato, who lived from 428 BCE to 348 BCE. Plato mentions a man named Schematius, who was likely a craftsman or artist known for his unique forms and designs.
During the Byzantine Empire, which lasted from the 4th to the 15th century CE, the surname SCHEMA was found throughout the territories controlled by the empire. One notable figure from this period was Theodoros Schematius, a renowned architect and engineer who lived in the 10th century. He was responsible for designing and constructing several notable buildings and structures in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul).
In the 13th century, a man named Georgios Schematius gained recognition as a skilled sculptor and woodcarver. His intricate carvings adorned many churches and monasteries throughout Greece and the surrounding regions.
Another historical figure with the surname SCHEMA was Konstantinos Schematius, a 16th-century painter from the island of Crete. His works, featuring intricate designs and patterns, can still be found in several churches and museums across Greece.
During the Renaissance period, the name SCHEMA spread to other parts of Europe, particularly Italy, where it was often associated with artists and designers. One notable figure from this time was Antonio Schematius, a 15th-century Italian architect and sculptor who worked on numerous projects in Florence and Rome.
As the centuries passed, the surname SCHEMA continued to be found in various parts of Europe, often associated with individuals involved in the arts, crafts, and design. While not as widespread as some other surnames, it has persisted as a reminder of its ancient Greek origins and the skillful artisans who bore this name throughout history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Schema
Among Census respondents with the surname Schema, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.9%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (2.6%) and Black (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Schema bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Schema surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.9% · 107
- American Indian and Alaska Native2.6% · 3
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Schema
Schema appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#130,610
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 130
-6 bearers (-4.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 12,374 places
2020
#146,495
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 114
-16 bearers (-12.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 15,885 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #118,236 | 136 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #130,610 | 130 | 0.04 | -6 bearers (-4.4%) | Down 12,374 places |
| 2020 | #146,495 | 114 | 0.04 | -16 bearers (-12.3%) | Down 15,885 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Schema surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #130,610 | #146,495 | -12.2% |
| Count | 130 | 114 | -12.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -4.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Schema bearers went from 130 to 114 (-12.3% change). The surname moved down 15,885 positions in the national ranking, going from #130,610 to #146,495.
FAQ
Schema surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Schema?
Name Census estimates that about 131 living Americans carry the surname Schema. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,616,445 residents.
How common is Schema?
Schema ranks #146,495 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 114 people with the surname Schema. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (131), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Schema.
Has Schema become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Schema went from 130 recorded bearers to 114. That is a decrease of 16 (-12.3%). In the national ranking it fell from #130,610 to #146,495.
What does the Census say about the background of Schema?
Among Census respondents with the surname Schema, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.9%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (2.6%) and Black (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Schema in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.9% (107 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Schema appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.9%), American Indian/Alaska Native (2.6%), Black (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Schema (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Schema mean?
A surname derived from the Greek word meaning a form, figure, or plan. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Schema (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Schema?
If you just want to know how many Americans have the surname Schema, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.