Explore the Family Name Samar
The meaning of Samar
1. Filipino: habitational name for someone from the province of Samar in the Visayan Islands. The name of the province may have come from the word samad meaning ‘cut, wound’, by extension ‘trench’. 2. Filipino: nickname or metonymic occupational name from the Ilokano word samar meaning ‘ray of light’ and ‘sap of coconut palm’. 3. American shortened form of Greek Samaras.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Samar in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Samar in the United States has seen a slight increase from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Samar was ranked as the 70,052nd most popular surname, with a count of 261. By 2010, the rank had risen to 65,424 with a count of 303, marking a 6.61% and 16.09% increase in rank and count respectively. However, the proportion per 100,000 people remained constant at 0.1.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #70,052 | #65,424 | 6.61% |
| Count | 261 | 303 | 16.09% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Samar
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Samar also experienced some shifts between 2000 and 2010, based on the Decennial U.S. Census data. The percentage identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander saw a rise from 19.92% to 22.44%. There was also a significant increase in individuals identifying as Black, jumping from 3.07% to 8.91%. Meanwhile, the percentage of those identifying as two or more races declined sharply from 11.11% to 6.93%. The largest group remained those identifying as White, although their proportion fell slightly from 62.45% to 58.09%. No change was reported for those identifying as Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 62.45% | 58.09% | -6.98% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 19.92% | 22.44% | 12.65% |
| Black | 3.07% | 8.91% | 190.23% |
| Two or More Races | 11.11% | 6.93% | -37.62% |
| Hispanic | 3.45% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |