Explore the Family Name Savas
The meaning of Savas
1. Greek: from the personal name Sav(v)as, Late Greek Sabbas, which is most likely of Aramaic origin, meaning ‘old man, grandfather’ (sāḇā in Aramaic). The name Sābā or Sabbas was borne by several Christian martyrs and saints venerated in the Eastern Church, in particular a hermit (439–532) in Palestine, prominent in theological debates of his day. Compare Sava and Savvas. 2. Greek: shortened form of any of patronymics derived from the personal name Sav(v)as (see 1 above), e.g. Savopoulos or its variant Savvopoulos and Savvides. 3. Turkish (Savaş): ornamental name or nickname from savaş ‘battle, fight’, as a nickname most likely applied to a soldier. Some characteristic forenames: Greek Constantine, Anastasios, Antonios, Orestis, Spyros.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Savas in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Savas experienced a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 31,884th most common surname in the U.S. By 2010, this ranking had fallen to 33,596th. The total count of people with this surname also saw a small decline, going from 684 in 2000 to 678 in 2010, representing a less than 1% change. The proportion of individuals with the surname Savas per 100,000 inhabitants similarly dropped by 8% over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #31,884 | #33,596 | -5.37% |
| Count | 684 | 678 | -0.88% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.25 | 0.23 | -8% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Savas
The Decennial U.S. Census data also provides insights into the ethnic identity associated with the surname Savas. In 2000, the majority of individuals identified as white (94.01%), followed by a smaller segment identifying as Hispanic (4.09%). A minimal percentage identified as being of two or more races (1.32%). By 2010, there were some shifts in the ethnic identity distribution. While the majority still identified as white, this percentage decreased slightly to 90.86%. Meanwhile, those identifying as Hispanic increased to 5.90%. Additionally, a new category appeared in 2010, with 1.47% of individuals with the surname Savas identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander. There were no reported individuals identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.01% | 90.86% | -3.35% |
| Hispanic | 4.09% | 5.9% | 44.25% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.47% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.32% | 1.33% | 0.76% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |