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

Sosa, 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 Sosa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sosa in America

Sosa is the 650th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sosa surname appeared 52,457 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 18 people would have the surname Sosa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sosa 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 Sosa

The surname SOSA originated in Spain, likely emerging during the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Spanish word "sosa," meaning "soft" or "mild." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone with a gentle or calm demeanor.

The earliest recorded instances of the SOSA surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Spain, particularly in Andalusia and Castile. Historical records from this time period, such as tax rolls and census documents, contain references to individuals bearing this surname.

One notable early mention of the SOSA name is found in the "Repartimiento de Sevilla," a document from the 13th century that recorded the distribution of lands and properties in the city of Seville after its reconquest from Moorish rule. This document lists several SOSA families among the recipients of land grants.

During the 15th century, the SOSA surname gained prominence with the rise of Juan de Sosa, a prominent Spanish military commander and ambassador. Born in Toro, Zamora, around 1420, Juan de Sosa served under King Ferdinand II of Aragon and played a crucial role in the conquest of Granada, the last Moorish stronghold in Spain.

Another notable figure was Pedro de Sosa, a Spanish conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century. Pedro de Sosa was born in Seville around 1490 and participated in several battles against the Aztecs, including the siege of Tenochtitlan.

In the 17th century, the SOSA surname was carried to the Americas by Spanish settlers and conquistadors. One notable bearer of the name was Gaspar de Sosa, a Spanish soldier and explorer who participated in the expeditions of Juan de Oñate to establish Spanish settlements in present-day New Mexico in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

The SOSA name also gained prominence in literature with the Spanish writer Cristóbal de Sosa, born in Seville in 1577. He is best known for his work "Perpetua Alegría de los Ingenios," a collection of poems and literary compositions published in 1615.

Throughout its history, the SOSA surname has been associated with various places in Spain, including the towns of Sosa de Tajo and Sosa del Arco, both located in the province of Cáceres. These place names may have contributed to the development and spread of the surname in certain regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sosa

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

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

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

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