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

Sov, 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 Sov surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sov in America

Sov is the 152628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sov surname appeared 107 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 Sov.

The history of the last name Sov

The surname "SOV" is believed to have originated in the Scandinavian region, primarily in Denmark and Sweden, during the Middle Ages. It is thought to have derived from the Old Norse word "sóf," which referred to a small bay or inlet along a coastline.

The earliest known records of the surname can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appeared in various forms such as "Sov," "Souf," and "Souff" in Danish and Swedish parish registers and census records. These variations likely resulted from the regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during that era.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname was Olaf Sov, a Danish fisherman who lived in the coastal village of Skagen in the late 13th century. His name appeared in local tax records from 1287, indicating that he may have resided near a small bay or inlet, which could explain the origin of his surname.

In the 14th century, the surname gained prominence in the region, and several notable individuals bearing the name can be found in historical records. Niels Sov, a Danish merchant born in 1341, was mentioned in trade documents from the Hanseatic League, a powerful commercial alliance that dominated maritime trade in Northern Europe during the Middle Ages.

Another significant figure was Ingrid Souff, a Swedish noblewoman born in 1412. Her name was recorded in the chronicles of the Vasa dynasty, as she was a distant relative of King Gustav I of Sweden, who reigned from 1523 to 1560.

During the 16th century, the surname spread beyond Scandinavia as individuals with the name migrated to other parts of Europe. One such example is Hans Sov, a German sailor born in 1528, who was mentioned in ship logs from the Dutch East India Company, a powerful trading organization that played a crucial role in the colonization of Southeast Asia.

In the 17th century, the surname found its way to the British Isles, where it was often anglicized to "Sov" or "Sove." William Sove, an English author born in 1638, published several works on philosophy and theology, including "The Eternal Wisdom" and "The Celestial Mirror."

As time passed, the surname continued to evolve and adapt to various cultures and languages, reflecting the mobility and diversity of its bearers throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sov

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

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 Sov 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.

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

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

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