Find out how popular the last name Abea is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Abea.

Abea, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Abea surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Abea in America

Abea is the 104602nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Abea surname appeared 171 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Abea.

We can also compare 2010 data for Abea to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Abea

The surname ABEA is of Spanish origin, with its roots traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Basque region of northern Spain, where it was likely derived from the Basque word "abea," meaning "mouth" or "opening."

One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in the Cartulario de San Millán de la Cogolla, a medieval cartulary from the Monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla in La Rioja, Spain, dating back to the 11th century. This document contains references to individuals with the surname ABEA, indicating its presence in the region during that time period.

In the 13th century, the name ABEA appeared in various historical records, such as land deeds and municipal documents, throughout the Basque Country and neighboring regions like Navarre and Aragon. This suggests that the surname had spread beyond its original confines and was becoming more widely established.

Notable individuals bearing the ABEA surname include Juan de Abea, a prominent merchant and landowner from Bilbao who lived in the late 15th century. His name appears in several trade records and property deeds from that era, showcasing the name's prevalence among the merchant class.

Another historical figure was María Abea, a Basque writer and poet who lived in the 17th century. Her collection of poems, titled "Cancionero Vasco," is considered an important work in the preservation of Basque literature and cultural traditions.

In the 19th century, the ABEA surname gained further recognition with the birth of José Abea y Arregui (1818-1892), a renowned Basque architect and urban planner. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings and public spaces in cities like San Sebastián and Bilbao, leaving a lasting impact on the architectural landscape of the region.

Additionally, the name ABEA has been linked to various place names in the Basque Country, such as the village of Abea in the municipality of Amurrio, which likely derived its name from the surname itself or the Basque word it originated from.

While the surname ABEA may not be as widely known as some other Spanish surnames, its rich history and deep-rooted connection to the Basque region make it a significant part of the cultural fabric of northern Spain.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Abea

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Abea.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Abea was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Abea has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Abea was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Abea, please contact us.

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