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

Seneca, 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 Seneca surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Seneca in America

Seneca is the 28131st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Seneca surname appeared 851 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 Seneca.

We can also compare 2010 data for Seneca 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 Seneca

The surname "Seneca" is believed to have originated in ancient Rome, derived from the name of the Seneca people, a Native American tribe indigenous to the region around the Finger Lakes in what is now New York state. The name "Seneca" is thought to come from the Iroquoian word "Osininka," meaning "people of the great hill."

The earliest known reference to the Seneca people dates back to the 17th century, when they were mentioned in French missionary records and colonial documents. It is possible that European settlers may have adopted the name "Seneca" as a surname after encountering or interacting with members of this tribe.

One of the most notable individuals to bear the surname "Seneca" was the Roman philosopher and statesman Lucius Annaeus Seneca (c. 4 BC - 65 AD), who served as a tutor and advisor to the emperor Nero. His writings on Stoic philosophy and ethics had a profound influence on Western thought.

Another famous bearer of the name was Mary Seneca (c. 1620 - 1675), a member of the Seneca tribe who played a crucial role in negotiating peace between the Seneca and the English colonists in Maryland. She is recognized as one of the earliest known Native American diplomats and peacemakers.

In the 19th century, the American artist and illustrator John Seneca (1811 - 1891) gained renown for his vivid depictions of Native American life and landscapes. His works provided an important visual record of the Indigenous peoples of the American West.

The surname "Seneca" has also been associated with several notable figures in literature and academia, such as the American writer and critic Ted Seneca (1917 - 2003), and the British classicist and translator Robin Seneca (1935 - 2018), known for his translations of ancient Greek and Roman texts.

Throughout its history, the surname "Seneca" has maintained a connection to its Native American roots, while also gaining recognition in various fields and cultures around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Seneca

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

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

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

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