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

Sova, 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 Sova surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sova in America

Sova is the 13752nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sova surname appeared 2,200 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Sova.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sova 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 Sova

The surname SOVA is of Slavic origin, with roots traced back to the regions of Eastern Europe, particularly in modern-day Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. The name is derived from the Slavic word "sova," meaning "owl."

In the early medieval period, the name was likely used as a descriptive nickname for individuals with distinctive physical or behavioral characteristics associated with owls, such as keen eyesight or a tendency to be active at night. As surnames became more widely adopted, these nicknames evolved into hereditary family names.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SOVA surname can be found in a 14th-century manuscript from the Novgorod Republic, an ancient Russian state situated in what is now northwestern Russia. The document mentions a merchant named Ivan Sova, suggesting that the name was already in use during that time.

In the 16th century, the SOVA surname appeared in the Veliky Novgorod census records, further cementing its presence in the region. Several variations of the spelling, such as Sovka and Sovchenko, were also documented, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic variations.

Over the centuries, the SOVA name has been borne by notable individuals from diverse fields. One such figure was Yuri Sova (1888-1948), a prominent Russian artist and member of the avant-garde movement in the early 20th century. His works, influenced by Cubism and Futurism, are housed in prestigious collections worldwide.

Another notable bearer of the SOVA surname was Vasily Sova (1914-1985), a Soviet military officer who fought valiantly during World War II and was awarded the prestigious Hero of the Soviet Union honor for his bravery and leadership.

In the realm of literature, the Russian writer and playwright Yevgeny Sova (1901-1964) left a lasting impact with his works that explored the complexities of human relationships and societal issues of his time.

Moving into the modern era, Andrei Sova (born 1956) is a renowned Russian engineer and scientist who has made significant contributions to the field of aerospace technology and has been recognized with numerous awards and honors.

It is worth noting that the SOVA surname is not limited to Eastern Europe; it has also been found in other parts of the world, likely due to immigration patterns and cultural exchanges over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sova

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

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

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

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