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

Soter, 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 Soter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Soter in America

Soter is the 39717th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Soter surname appeared 553 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 Soter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Soter 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 Soter

The surname SOTER originates from Greece, where it first appeared during the classical period of ancient Greek civilization. It is derived from the Greek word "soter," which means "savior" or "deliverer." The name likely originated as a personal epithet or descriptive nickname given to someone who had performed a heroic or life-saving deed.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SOTER can be found in ancient Greek literature, where it was used as an epithet for various gods and deities, particularly Zeus and Apollo. It was also used as a title for certain rulers and military leaders who were revered for their victories or achievements in battle.

In the Byzantine period, the name SOTER continued to be used as a personal name, often given to children in the hope that they would grow up to be courageous and virtuous individuals. It is possible that some families adopted the name as a hereditary surname during this time, as the practice of using fixed surnames became more common.

One notable figure in Byzantine history who bore the name SOTER was Emperor Michael VII Doukas Parapinakes (c. 1050-1090). He was given the epithet "Soter" ("the Savior") after allegedly saving the Byzantine Empire from a civil war.

During the medieval period, the name SOTER likely spread to other parts of the Greek-speaking world, including regions that are now part of modern-day Turkey, Cyprus, and Italy. It may have also been adopted by Greek communities in other parts of Europe and the Mediterranean.

In the modern era, SOTER remains a relatively uncommon surname, but it has been borne by several notable individuals. These include:

1. Demetrius Soter (c. 161-150 BC), a Greco-Bactrian king who ruled parts of modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan.
2. Ptolemy IX Lathyros (c. 116-81 BC), a Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt who was also known as Ptolemy Soter II.
3. Antiochus VII Sidetes (c. 164-128 BC), a Seleucid king who ruled over parts of modern-day Syria, Iraq, and Iran.
4. Georgios Soter (1920-2005), a Greek artist and painter known for his abstract and surrealist works.
5. Dimitris Soter (born 1936), a Greek actor and director who has appeared in numerous films and television shows.

While the surname SOTER has its roots in ancient Greece, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly in regions with Greek diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the classical era, where it was used to honor brave individuals and revered figures in Greek mythology and history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Soter

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

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

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

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