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

Seminole, 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 Seminole surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Seminole in America

Seminole is the 158432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Seminole surname appeared 102 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 Seminole.

The history of the last name Seminole

The surname "Seminole" has its origins in the indigenous people of Florida, who were known as the Seminole tribe. The name is derived from the Creek word "simanó-li," which means "runaway" or "wild people." This name was given to them by the Creek people, who they had separated from in the early 18th century.

The Seminole tribe was first documented by Spanish explorer Álvaro Fernández de Memória in 1687, who referred to them as "Cimarrones" or "Ysemoles." Over time, the name evolved into "Seminole," which became the official name of the tribe.

The earliest recorded use of the surname "Seminole" can be traced back to the late 18th century, when it was used to identify individuals who were members of the Seminole tribe or had close ties to them. One of the earliest known individuals with the surname was Osceola, a famous Seminole leader who led the Seminole resistance against the forced removal of his tribe during the Second Seminole War (1835-1842).

While the surname "Seminole" is closely associated with the indigenous tribe of the same name, it has also been adopted by non-Native Americans who have had connections to the Seminole people or the state of Florida, where the tribe is historically based.

Some notable individuals with the surname "Seminole" include:

1. Jim Seminole (1936-2001), a Seminole artist and sculptor known for his works depicting Seminole culture and tradition.
2. Betty Mae Jumper Seminole (1923-2020), a renowned Seminole craftswoman and advocate for the preservation of Seminole arts and traditions.
3. James E. Seminole (1927-2001), a Seminole chief and leader who played a significant role in the development of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
4. Mary Francis Seminole (1896-1984), a Seminole storyteller and cultural preservationist who helped document and preserve Seminole folklore and traditions.
5. William Seminole (1903-1981), a Seminole artist and craftsman known for his intricate woodcarvings and other traditional Seminole art forms.

The surname "Seminole" has a rich history that is closely intertwined with the Seminole tribe and their cultural heritage. Its origins can be traced back to the early encounters between the Seminole people and European settlers in Florida, and it has since become a symbol of the resilience and strength of the Seminole community.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Seminole

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

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

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

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