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

Socrates, 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 Socrates surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Socrates in America

Socrates is the 134712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Socrates surname appeared 125 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 Socrates.

We can also compare 2010 data for Socrates 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 Socrates

The surname Socrates is of Greek origin and dates back to ancient times. It is derived from the given name Socrates, which comes from the Greek words "sōkratēs" and "sōs," meaning "safe" or "unharmed." The name is associated with the famous ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, who lived in Athens from around 470 to 399 BC.

The earliest known records of the surname Socrates can be found in various ancient Greek manuscripts and texts dating back to the 5th century BC. One notable example is the writings of Plato, a student of Socrates, who documented his teacher's life and philosophical teachings.

During the Byzantine era, the surname Socrates was prevalent among Greek scholars and intellectuals who admired the teachings and legacy of the ancient philosopher. It is believed that some Byzantine families adopted the surname to honor their academic pursuits and philosophical inclinations.

In the medieval period, the surname Socrates appeared in various European records and documents, particularly in regions with strong Greek cultural influences. For instance, there are mentions of individuals with the surname Socrates in Italian and Spanish records from the 14th and 15th centuries.

One notable figure with the surname Socrates was Demetrius Socrates, a 15th-century Greek scholar and translator who played a significant role in the revival of classical Greek literature during the Renaissance period. He was born in Crete around 1420 and worked as a translator and scribe in various Italian cities, including Venice and Florence.

Another prominent individual with the surname Socrates was Erasmus Socrates, a 16th-century Dutch humanist and theologian. He was born in Rotterdam in 1525 and is known for his contributions to the study of classical Greek literature and his translations of ancient texts.

In the 18th century, a notable figure with the surname Socrates was Johann Socrates, a German philosopher and mathematician. He was born in Nuremberg in 1715 and made significant contributions to the fields of logic and metaphysics.

During the 19th century, a famous individual with the surname Socrates was Socrates Sikelianos, a Greek poet and playwright. He was born in Lefkada, Greece, in 1884 and was a prominent figure in the Greek literary renaissance of the early 20th century.

While the surname Socrates is relatively uncommon today, it continues to carry a legacy of intellectual and philosophical associations, reflecting its deep roots in ancient Greek culture and the enduring influence of the philosopher Socrates.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Socrates

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

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

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

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