Siege last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Siege

A surname derived from the Old French word "siege," meaning a military siege or blockade.

Siege, 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 Siege surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Siege in America

Siege is the 149328th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Siege surname appeared 101 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Siege.

The history of the last name Siege

The surname Siege traces its origins to medieval Germany, suggesting it first emerged in the socio-political environment of the Holy Roman Empire. The earliest iterations of the name can be associated with areas around Bavaria and the Rhineland-Palatinate, regions that were historically significant during the Middle Ages. The name is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "sige," meaning "victory" or "conquer." This etymology implies that the name may have been occupational or descriptive, perhaps related to a victorious warrior or someone known for triumphs.

Historical mentions of the surname cling to the notaries and records from ecclesiastical documents and local administrative ledgers. One of the earlier references dates back to a 1387 document in the Bavarian archives, where a certain Heinrich Siege is mentioned as a landholder. This suggests that the Siege family had some prominence and was involved in local governance or communal activities.

Another historical figure, Jakob Siege, a merchant from Frankfurt, is documented in the mid-15th century through trade records that indicate significant cross-border transactions. Jakob's involvement in regional trade further enhances the notion that the surnames’ carriers were individuals of notable status or occupation.

In the 16th century, the name appears again in the form of Hans Siege in various legal documents from the City of Augsburg. Hans Siege was known for his involvement in the construction of city fortifications, linking the surname's etymology to military and defense-related activities. This period saw the name becoming more prevalent as noble efforts transitioned from handheld combat to organized defenses.

The name underwent minor variations in spelling over centuries, likely due to regional dialects and the evolution of the German language. In the 17th century, Friedrich Siege is referenced in a census from the Palatinate region, where he is noted as an accomplished blacksmith, underpinning the craftsmanship skills often associated with the family.

A prominent figure, Johann Siege (1664-1722), an influential theologian and writer, left a mark in Protestant Reformation circles. His contributions to religious texts and active participation in church reorganization highlight the surname's evolution from secular to religious spheres.

The Siege surname, with its rich historical lineage, underscores a journey from medieval battles to community building and intellectual contributions, reflected in the lives of those who bore it. Its roots in Germany and subsequent dispersion offer insights into societal shifts and regional influences over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Siege

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Siege was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 95.05% 96
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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

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

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"Siege last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 28, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/siege-surname-popularity/.

"Siege last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/siege-surname-popularity/. Accessed 28 October, 2024

Siege last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/siege-surname-popularity/.

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