Explore the Family Name Atlas
The meaning of Atlas
Jewish (Ashkenazic): artificial name from German Atlas or Polish atłas, both meaning ‘satin’ (ultimately from an Arabic word meaning ‘smooth’). It was probably also used as a metonymic occupational name for a merchant dealing in satin goods. Some characteristic forenames: Jewish Aron, Hersz, Hyman, Igal, Ilan, Jakob, Meyer, Zeev.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Atlas in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Atlas has shown an increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Atlas was ranked as the 15,551st most popular surname, but by 2010, it had moved up to the 14,866th position, a rise of approximately 4.4%. The count of people with this last name also increased over this decade, going from 1,727 in 2000 to 1,992 in 2010 – a jump of 15.34%. Consequently, the proportion of people named Atlas per 100k individuals also grew by 6.25%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #15,551 | #14,866 | 4.4% |
| Count | 1,727 | 1,992 | 15.34% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.64 | 0.68 | 6.25% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Atlas
When looking at the ethnic identity of individuals with the surname Atlas based on Decennial U.S. Census data, several changes can be observed between 2000 and 2010. There was a significant increase of 190.63% in individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, whereas those identifying with two or more races saw a decrease of 44.06%. The majority of individuals with the last name Atlas identified as White, although this percentage decreased slightly from 76.84% in 2000 to 73.69% in 2010. Meanwhile, the number of individuals identifying as Hispanic nearly doubled, increasing by 96.91%. The percentages of individuals identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native remained relatively stable.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 76.84% | 73.69% | -4.1% |
| Black | 16.68% | 16.62% | -0.36% |
| Hispanic | 3.24% | 6.38% | 96.91% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.64% | 1.86% | 190.63% |
| Two or More Races | 2.61% | 1.46% | -44.06% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Atlas ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Atlas is Ashkenazi Jewish, which comprises 51.0% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (13.8%) and French & German (7.8%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Anatolian, Spanish & Portuguese, Nigerian, and Iranian, Caucasian & Mesopotamian.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Ashkenazi Jewish | 51.0% |
| British & Irish | 13.8% |
| French & German | 7.8% |
| Other | 27.5% |
Possible origins of the surname Atlas
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Atlas have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 37.30% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 37.30% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 37.30% |
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 37.30% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 36.00% |
What Atlas haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Atlas is R-P312, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P312 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include J-CTS5368 and R-M512, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Lazarus, Brody, Silverman, Mandel, Sandler, Schwartz, Nathan, Weiner, Solomon, Mariano.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Atlas surname are: H1, H, N1. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Atlas have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Atlas" Surname 44.0%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Atlas" Surname 42.1%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Atlas" Surname 18.8%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Atlas" Surname 20.9%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Atlas?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Atlas are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition