2000
#13,305
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,102
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.78
Rare Last name
Super
A surname derived from the Latin word "super," meaning "above," likely referring to someone who lived above or on a hill.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,346 Americans carry the last name Super. That puts it at #14,094 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.68 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 146,102 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Super surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
2.3K
1 in 146,102
Census rank
#14,094
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,046 bearers of the surname Super in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.68 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14094th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Super, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.7%. The next largest groups are Black (8.3%) and Hispanic (5.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Super
The surname "SUPER" is believed to have originated in Germany during the 13th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old German word "super", which meant "excellent" or "superior". The name was likely initially used as a nickname or descriptive name for someone who was considered exceptional or outstanding in some way.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "SUPER" can be found in a medieval German manuscript from the year 1287, which mentions a man named Hans Super from the town of Nuremberg. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 13th century in that region.
In the 14th century, there are records of a family with the surname "SUPER" residing in the town of Augsburg, Bavaria. They were notable merchants and traders during that time period.
The name "SUPER" also appeared in historical records from the 15th century in the region of Saxony, where it was sometimes spelled as "Supper" or "Süper". This variation in spelling was common during that era, as standardized spelling conventions had not yet been established.
One notable figure bearing the surname "SUPER" was Johannes Super (1520-1594), a German theologian and Protestant reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. He was born in Hanover and authored several influential works on theology and religious doctrine.
Another individual of note was Hans Super (1570-1633), a German artist and engraver from Nuremberg. He was known for his intricate copper engravings and woodcuts, many of which depicted religious scenes and portraits.
In the 17th century, a man named Wilhelm Super (1639-1711) was a prominent lawyer and legal scholar in the city of Frankfurt. He authored several treatises on German law and served as a legal advisor to the city council.
Moving into the 18th century, there was a German composer and musician named Johann Super (1720-1788) who was active in the courts of various German principalities. He composed operas, symphonies, and chamber music, and was highly regarded during his lifetime.
In the 19th century, a notable figure with the surname "SUPER" was Karl Super (1825-1891), a German industrialist and entrepreneur. He founded a successful manufacturing company in Berlin that produced machinery and industrial equipment.
Throughout its history, the surname "SUPER" has maintained a presence in various regions of Germany, as well as in areas with significant German immigration, such as parts of the United States and Canada.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Super
Among Census respondents with the surname Super, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.7%. The next largest groups are Black (8.3%) and Hispanic (5.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Super bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Super surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White79.7% · 1,630
- Black or African American8.3% · 169
- Hispanic or Latino5.6% · 114
- American Indian and Alaska Native3.1% · 63
- Two or more races2.7% · 55
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7% · 15
Timeline
Historical Census data for Super
Super appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#14,755
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,013
-89 bearers (-4.2%)
Per 100,000 0.68
Rank movement Down 1,450 places
2020
#14,094
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,046
+33 bearers (+1.6%)
Per 100,000 0.68
Rank movement Up 661 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #13,305 | 2,102 | 0.78 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #14,755 | 2,013 | 0.68 | -89 bearers (-4.2%) | Down 1,450 places |
| 2020 | #14,094 | 2,046 | 0.68 | +33 bearers (+1.6%) | Up 661 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Super surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #14,755 | #14,094 | 4.5% |
| Count | 2,013 | 2,046 | 1.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.68 | 0.68 | 0.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Super bearers went from 2,013 to 2,046 (+1.6% change). The surname moved up 661 positions in the national ranking, going from #14,755 to #14,094.
FAQ
Super surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Super?
Name Census estimates that about 2,346 living Americans carry the surname Super. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 146,102 residents.
How common is Super?
Super ranks #14,094 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.68 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,046 people with the surname Super. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,346), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.68 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.68 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Super.
Has Super become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Super went from 2,013 recorded bearers to 2,046. That is an increase of 33 (+1.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #14,755 to #14,094.
What does the Census say about the background of Super?
Among Census respondents with the surname Super, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.7%. The next largest groups are Black (8.3%) and Hispanic (5.6%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Super in the 2020 Census, accounting for 79.7% (1,630 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Super appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (79.7%), Black (8.3%), Hispanic (5.6%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Super (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Super mean?
A surname derived from the Latin word "super," meaning "above," likely referring to someone who lived above or on a hill. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Super (0.68 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Super?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans have the surname Super on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.