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

Afaga, 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 Afaga surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Afaga in America

Afaga is the 141140th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Afaga surname appeared 118 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 Afaga.

The history of the last name Afaga

The surname AFAGA has its origins in the small village of Afaga, located in the mountainous region of northern Albania. The name can be traced back to the 15th century, when it first appeared in local records as a reference to the place of residence or origin of a family.

Afaga is derived from the Albanian word "afër," which means "near" or "close." It is believed that the name was given to families who lived in close proximity to the village or nearby areas. The earliest known record of the surname AFAGA dates back to 1487, when a certain Gjon Afaga was listed as a landowner in the village's tax records.

During the Ottoman rule of Albania, which lasted from the 15th to the early 20th century, the AFAGA surname became more widespread as families migrated to other parts of the country and beyond. In the 19th century, a notable bearer of the name was Luan Afaga (1824-1901), a prominent Albanian patriot and activist who played a crucial role in the nation's struggle for independence from the Ottoman Empire.

Another notable figure was Margarita Afaga (1888-1975), a renowned educator and feminist who established several schools for girls in Albania and campaigned for women's rights and education. Her pioneering efforts contributed significantly to the advancement of women's empowerment in the country.

In the 20th century, the AFAGA surname gained further recognition with the accomplishments of Petrit Afaga (1922-2003), a celebrated Albanian poet and writer whose works explored themes of national identity, cultural heritage, and social commentary. His poetry collections, such as "Këngë Maleve" (Songs of the Mountains), became literary classics in Albania.

Beyond Albania, the AFAGA surname has also been found among Albanian diaspora communities in neighboring countries like Greece and Italy, as well as in other parts of Europe and the Americas, where Albanian immigrants settled in search of better opportunities.

One notable figure from the diaspora was Ilia Afaga (1948-2019), a respected Albanian-American businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to various charitable causes, including education and healthcare initiatives in his native country.

While the AFAGA surname may not be among the most common in Albania or globally, it carries a rich history and legacy that reflects the resilience, cultural pride, and achievements of those who have borne this name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Afaga

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

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 Afaga 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.

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 Afaga was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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