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

Setian, 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 Setian surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Setian in America

Setian is the 121590th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Setian surname appeared 142 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 Setian.

We can also compare 2010 data for Setian 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 Setian

The surname "Setian" is believed to have originated in the Middle East region, specifically in Egypt and surrounding areas. It is derived from the ancient Egyptian word "Set," which referred to the god of chaos, violence, and storms in Egyptian mythology.

The earliest recorded instances of the name "Setian" can be traced back to the 5th century BCE, where it was found in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic inscriptions and papyrus documents. These early references suggest that the name was initially used by individuals or families who were associated with the worship of the god Set or who resided in areas where Set was venerated.

During the Greco-Roman period in Egypt, the name "Setian" appeared in various historical records, including census documents and tax registers. One notable figure from this era was Setian the Elder, a prominent philosopher and scholar who lived in Alexandria during the 3rd century CE and wrote extensively on the teachings of Hermeticism.

As Egypt became Christianized and Islam later spread throughout the region, the name "Setian" fell out of favor due to its pagan connotations. However, it resurfaced in the Middle Ages, particularly among Coptic Christian communities in Egypt and surrounding areas.

In the 11th century, a renowned Coptic scholar and theologian named Setian of Alexandria made significant contributions to the preservation of Coptic literature and religious traditions. His writings and teachings had a lasting impact on the Coptic Church.

During the Ottoman Empire's rule over Egypt, the name "Setian" was also found among certain Turkish and Arabic families who had settled in the region. One notable figure from this period was Setian Bey, a Turkish governor who held administrative positions in various Egyptian provinces in the late 16th century.

As trade and travel became more common, individuals bearing the surname "Setian" eventually migrated to other parts of the Middle East, Europe, and beyond. In the 19th century, a prominent Armenian writer and journalist named Setian Hovhannesian (1833-1892) gained recognition for his literary works and advocacy for Armenian independence.

While the name "Setian" is not as common today as it once was, it continues to be found among families of Egyptian, Coptic, and Middle Eastern descent, serving as a reminder of their rich cultural and historical heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Setian

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!