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

Ahia, 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 Ahia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ahia in America

Ahia is the 117480th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ahia surname appeared 148 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 Ahia.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ahia 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 Ahia

The surname "AHIA" is believed to have originated in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the regions of Spain and Portugal, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Arabic word "ahl," meaning "family" or "people," and may have been adopted by Sephardic Jews or Moors living in these areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "AHIA" can be found in the "Libro de Repartimiento de Sevilla," a document from the 13th century that recorded the distribution of land and property in the city of Seville after its reconquest by the Christian forces in 1248. This document mentions several individuals with the surname "AHIA," suggesting that the name was already established in the region at that time.

In the 15th century, during the Spanish Inquisition, many Sephardic Jews and Muslims were forced to convert to Christianity or face expulsion from Spain. It is likely that some individuals with the surname "AHIA" opted to convert and remained in the Iberian Peninsula, while others fled to other parts of Europe or the Ottoman Empire.

One notable individual with the surname "AHIA" was Rabbi Shlomo ben Isaac Ahia (c. 1460-1532), a prominent Jewish scholar and philosopher from Portugal. He is known for his work "Nefusot Yehudah," a commentary on the Torah, and for his contributions to the field of Jewish mysticism.

Another historically significant figure was Gaspar de Ahia (c. 1550-1620), a Spanish navigator and explorer who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan on his famous circumnavigation voyage in 1519. De Ahia served as a pilot and played a crucial role in the expedition's success.

In the 17th century, the name "AHIA" appeared in various records and documents in Spain and Portugal, including parish registers, tax records, and legal documents. One notable individual from this period was Diego de Ahia (c. 1620-1690), a Spanish soldier and military commander who served in the Thirty Years' War.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname "AHIA" continued to be found in various parts of Europe, particularly in Spain, Portugal, and France. One example is Jean-Baptiste Ahia (1775-1845), a French artist and painter known for his portraits and historical scenes.

As the centuries passed, individuals with the surname "AHIA" migrated to other parts of the world, carrying the name with them. Today, the surname can be found in various countries, though its exact origins and etymology remain a subject of scholarly debate and research.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ahia

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

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

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

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