2010
#150,452
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Alaga
A Basque surname derived from the word "alaga," meaning a pen or enclosure for livestock.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 134 Americans carry the last name Alaga. That puts it at #144,270 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,557,868 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Alaga surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
134
1 in 2,557,868
Census rank
#144,270
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
117
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 117 bearers of the surname Alaga in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 144270th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Alaga, the largest self-reported group is White at 55.6%. The next largest groups are Black (18.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (10.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Alaga
The surname "ALAGA" has its origins in the Philippines, and it is thought to have emerged during the Spanish colonial period, which lasted from the 16th to the 19th century. The name is believed to derive from the Tagalog word "alaga," which means "pet" or "favorite."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "ALAGA" can be found in historical documents from the late 18th century, where it appeared as a name used by families living in the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga. It is possible that the name was initially bestowed upon individuals who were particularly valued or cherished within their communities, perhaps due to their skills, talents, or personal qualities.
During the Spanish colonial era, surnames were often assigned to indigenous Filipinos as a means of assimilation and record-keeping. The practice of adopting Spanish-influenced surnames was encouraged by the colonial authorities, and many Filipinos adopted names that reflected their occupations, physical characteristics, or other personal attributes.
One notable figure bearing the surname "ALAGA" was Francisco Alaga, a prominent landowner and community leader in the town of Malolos, Bulacan, during the late 19th century. He was known for his advocacy of education and his efforts to establish schools in the region.
Another individual with the surname "ALAGA" was Joaquina Alaga, who was born in Pampanga in the early 19th century. She was renowned for her skills as a weaver and her contributions to preserving traditional textile arts in the region.
In the early 20th century, Pedro Alaga, a farmer from Bulacan, gained recognition for his innovative agricultural techniques and his efforts to promote sustainable farming practices in his community.
Additionally, historical records mention a Maria Alaga, who lived in the town of San Miguel, Bulacan, in the late 19th century. She was known for her expertise in traditional herbal medicine and her role as a respected healer in her community.
Juan Alaga, born in Pampanga in the mid-19th century, was a prominent figure in the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule. He served as a captain in the revolutionary forces and played a significant role in several battles.
While the surname "ALAGA" may have originated as a descriptor or a nickname, it has since become a proud part of the Filipino heritage, reflecting the diverse cultural and linguistic influences that have shaped the country's history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Alaga
Among Census respondents with the surname Alaga, the largest self-reported group is White at 55.6%. The next largest groups are Black (18.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (10.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Alaga bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Alaga surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White55.6% · 65
- Black or African American18.8% · 22
- Asian and Pacific Islander10.3% · 12
- Hispanic or Latino8.5% · 10
- Two or more races6.8% · 8
Timeline
Historical Census data for Alaga
Alaga appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#144,270
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
+8 bearers (+7.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 6,182 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #150,452 | 109 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #144,270 | 117 | 0.04 | +8 bearers (+7.3%) | Up 6,182 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Alaga surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #150,452 | #144,270 | 4.1% |
| Count | 109 | 117 | 7.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -2.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Alaga bearers went from 109 to 117 (+7.3% change). The surname moved up 6,182 positions in the national ranking, going from #150,452 to #144,270.
FAQ
Alaga surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Alaga?
Name Census estimates that about 134 living Americans carry the surname Alaga. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,557,868 residents.
How common is Alaga?
Alaga ranks #144,270 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 117 people with the surname Alaga. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (134), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Alaga.
Has Alaga become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Alaga went from 109 recorded bearers to 117. That is an increase of 8 (+7.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #150,452 to #144,270.
What does the Census say about the background of Alaga?
Among Census respondents with the surname Alaga, the largest self-reported group is White at 55.6%. The next largest groups are Black (18.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (10.3%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Alaga in the 2020 Census, accounting for 55.6% (65 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Alaga appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (55.6%), Black (18.8%), Asian/Pacific Islander (10.3%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Alaga (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Alaga mean?
A Basque surname derived from the word "alaga," meaning a pen or enclosure for livestock. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Alaga (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Alaga?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.