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

Soh, 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 Soh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Soh in America

Soh is the 30767th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Soh surname appeared 757 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 Soh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Soh 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 Soh

The surname SOH originates from Germany, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "soh," which translates to "sow" or a female pig, suggesting that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive nickname or occupation reference for someone involved in pig farming or breeding.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name SOH was Hans Soh, who was mentioned in a tax record from the city of Nuremberg in 1524. In the same century, the name appeared in various other German regions, including a record of a Johann Soh in the town of Memmingen in 1587.

The SOH surname was also present in the historical records of the Holy Roman Empire, as evidenced by an entry from the year 1612, which documented a certain Margaretha Soh residing in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

During the 17th century, the name started to spread beyond Germany, with instances recorded in neighboring regions such as the Netherlands and Switzerland. In 1672, a merchant named Pieter Soh was listed in the records of the Dutch East India Company, suggesting that bearers of the name had begun to establish themselves in international trade and commerce.

Notable individuals with the surname SOH throughout history include Johannes Soh, a German composer and organist who lived from 1628 to 1695, and was known for his contributions to sacred music. Another prominent figure was Friedrich Soh, a German politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Reichstag (the Imperial Diet) in the late 19th century, from 1877 to 1884.

In the realm of literature, the name SOH is associated with the German novelist and playwright Karl Soh, who was born in 1825 and passed away in 1899. His works, which often explored themes of social inequality and injustice, earned him critical acclaim during his lifetime.

Moving into the 20th century, one cannot overlook the legacy of Hans Soh, a German engineer and inventor who played a pivotal role in the development of early automotive technology. Born in 1892, his innovations in engine design and fuel efficiency were instrumental in shaping the automotive industry of the time.

While the surname SOH may have originated from humble beginnings, its bearers have left an indelible mark across various fields, from music and literature to politics and engineering, solidifying its place in the rich tapestry of German and European history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Soh

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

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

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

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