Explore the Family Name Samuda
The meaning of Samuda
1. Jamaican: of Jewish (Sephardic) and ultimately of Portuguese origin. It was brought to Jamaica from England (see below). 2. Jewish (Sephardic): adoption of the now extinct Portuguese surname Samuda at the moment of conversion to Roman Catholicism. After the return to Judaism (generations later, during the first half of the 18th century in London), some descendants retained the name their families used in Portugal as Catholics. There is no evidence that this surname is still used by Jews. 3. Germanized or Americanized form of Croatian or Slovenian Zamuda. The surname Samuda is also found in Croatia, where it is very rare. History: The surname Samuda was brought to Jamaica by the Portuguese Jewish merchant David Samuda who lived in London at the end of the 18th century and was first recorded in Jamaica in 1820. Either he himself or his descendants, who were slave owners, converted to Christianity.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Samuda in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the Samuda surname's popularity increased considerably between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname was ranked at 84,968 but it jumped to 65,782 by 2010, denoting a growth of about 22.58%. Similarly, the count of individuals with this surname escalated from 205 in 2000 to 301 in 2010, which represents a significant increase of 46.83%. The proportion per 100k also rose by 25%, moving from 0.08 to 0.1.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #84,968 | #65,782 | 22.58% |
| Count | 205 | 301 | 46.83% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.08 | 0.1 | 25% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Samuda
The Decennial U.S. Census data also provides insight into the ethnic identity associated with the surname Samuda. Over the decade, there was an observable increase in those identifying as two or more races, rising by 63.52% from 2.44% to 3.99%. The percentage of those identifying as Black also saw a modest increase of 1.35%, moving from 81.95% to 83.06%. On the other hand, there was a decrease in individuals associating themselves with White and Hispanic ethnicities, with a drop of 19.90% and 7.26% respectively. There were no individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 81.95% | 83.06% | 1.35% |
| White | 8.29% | 6.64% | -19.9% |
| Hispanic | 5.37% | 4.98% | -7.26% |
| Two or More Races | 2.44% | 3.99% | 63.52% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |