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

Sofia, 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 Sofia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sofia in America

Sofia is the 25255th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sofia surname appeared 981 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 Sofia.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sofia 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 Sofia

The surname SOFIA has its origins in the Mediterranean region, specifically in Greece and Italy. It is believed to have derived from the ancient Greek word "sophia," which means "wisdom" or "knowledge." This name was likely initially used as a descriptive surname, given to individuals who were considered wise or learned.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SOFIA can be found in ancient Greek texts, where it was used to refer to philosophers and scholars. In the 5th century BCE, the Greek philosopher Sophocles, known for his renowned tragedies such as "Oedipus Rex," bore a name that was closely related to the word "sophia."

As the Roman Empire expanded and absorbed Greek culture, the name SOFIA also gained prominence in Italy. It is mentioned in several Latin manuscripts and documents from the Roman era, often associated with individuals of Greek descent or those who had embraced the Hellenistic culture.

During the Middle Ages, the name SOFIA continued to be used throughout Europe, particularly in areas with strong ties to the Byzantine Empire or where Greek influence was prevalent. One notable figure from this period was Sofia Palaiologina (1240-1282), a Byzantine princess who married the King of Villehardouin in Achaea, a Latin principality in Greece.

In the Renaissance period, the name SOFIA experienced a resurgence as a result of the renewed interest in classical Greek and Roman literature and philosophy. Several prominent figures bore this surname, including Sofia Baffo (1550-1604), a Venetian noblewoman and poet known for her works in the Venetian dialect.

Another notable individual with the surname SOFIA was Sofia Elisabetta Caminer Turra (1756-1835), an Italian writer and journalist who was one of the first women to establish a successful literary career in Italy. She founded and edited the influential journal "Giornale enciclopedico" and was a prominent figure in the Enlightenment movement.

In the 19th century, the name SOFIA gained popularity in various parts of Europe, including Spain, where it was sometimes spelled as "Sofía." One notable bearer of this surname was Sofía Casanova (1861-1958), a Spanish poet and writer who was part of the Modernist literary movement.

Throughout history, the surname SOFIA has been associated with places and regions influenced by Greek culture, such as the city of Sofia in Bulgaria, which was named after the ancient Greek word for "wisdom." Additionally, the name has been used as a place name in various parts of Italy, such as the town of Sofia d'Epiro in the region of Calabria.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sofia

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

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

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

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