Sondergaard
A locational surname of Danish origin referring to someone from Søndergård.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 411 Americans carry the last name Sondergaard. That puts it at #58,182 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 833,952 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Sondergaard surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
411
1 in 833,952
Census rank
#58,182
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
349
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 349 bearers of the surname Sondergaard in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 58182nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Sondergaard, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Sondergaard
The surname Sondergaard originated in Denmark, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Danish words "sønder" meaning "south" and "gaard" meaning "farm" or "estate." The name likely denoted a family that lived on a farm or estate located to the south of a particular village or town.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sondergaard is found in the Danish Census of 1645, where a family by that name was listed as residing in the town of Odense, on the island of Funen. Another early reference is in the parish records of Gjerlev, near the city of Randers, where a Jens Sondergaard is mentioned as a landowner in the year 1612.
The name Sondergaard has also been associated with various place names throughout Denmark. One example is the village of Søndergårde, located in the northern part of the country, which was likely named after a family with the surname Sondergaard who resided there.
Notable individuals with the surname Sondergaard include Niels Sondergaard (1859-1931), a Danish politician and member of the Folketing (the Danish parliament) in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Another prominent figure was Hans Sondergaard (1888-1972), a Danish architect who designed several notable buildings in Copenhagen, including the Sondergaard House, which now serves as a museum.
In the field of literature, Jens Peter Sondergaard (1922-2003) was a Danish author and playwright, known for his novels and plays that explored themes of social justice and human rights. Kirsten Sondergaard (1914-1999) was a notable Danish actress, who appeared in numerous films and television productions throughout her career, which spanned over six decades.
The name Sondergaard has also been found in historical records outside of Denmark. In the late 18th century, a family by the name of Sondergaard emigrated from Denmark to Norway, where they settled in the city of Bergen. One of their descendants, Olav Sondergaard (1843-1921), became a prominent businessman and philanthropist in the region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sondergaard
Among Census respondents with the surname Sondergaard, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Sondergaard bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Sondergaard surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.3%
- Hispanic or Latino2.9%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Sondergaard surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #58,182 | #58,182 | 0.0% |
| Count | 349 | 349 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Sondergaard bearers went from 349 to 349 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #58,182 to #58,182.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Sondergaard
FAQ
Sondergaard surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Sondergaard?
The surname Sondergaard holds position #58,182 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 411 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Sondergaard surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Sondergaard, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.