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

Amaya, 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 Amaya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Amaya in America

Amaya is the 1057th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Amaya surname appeared 33,218 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 11 people would have the surname Amaya.

We can also compare 2010 data for Amaya 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 Amaya

The surname Amaya is of Spanish origin, deriving from the medieval Spanish name Amaia, which is believed to have originated from the Basque Country in northern Spain. The name is thought to be derived from the Basque words "ami" meaning "valley" and "aia" meaning "old" or "venerable," thus suggesting a connection to an ancient valley or settlement.

The earliest known record of the name Amaya dates back to the 12th century, appearing in various medieval manuscripts and chronicles from the region of Navarre in northern Spain. One notable reference is found in the Codex Calixtinus, a 12th-century manuscript detailing the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela, where the name Amaya is mentioned in connection with a noble family from the area.

In the 13th century, the Amaya surname gained prominence with the birth of Martín Amaya (c. 1230-1290), a renowned Spanish troubadour and poet from the Kingdom of Navarre. His works, which include love poems and satirical verses, are among the earliest examples of literary works written in the Navarro-Aragonese language.

During the 15th century, the name Amaya appeared in various official records and documents, such as the Libros de Repartimiento, which documented the distribution of land and properties in the newly conquered territories of the Iberian Peninsula. One notable figure from this period was María Amaya (c. 1470-1535), a wealthy landowner and philanthropist from the region of Andalusia.

In the 16th century, the Amaya surname crossed the Atlantic with Spanish explorers and settlers, establishing roots in the Americas. One prominent individual was Pedro de Amaya (c. 1520-1590), a Spanish conquistador who played a significant role in the conquest of present-day Mexico and served as the governor of several provinces in the region.

Another notable figure from this era was Juan de Amaya (c. 1540-1610), a Spanish friar and missionary who traveled to the Philippines and established several missions and schools in the archipelago, contributing to the spread of Christianity and education in the region.

Throughout the centuries, the Amaya surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, writers, scholars, and military leaders. Some notable examples include the 19th-century Spanish painter Antonio Amaya (1817-1882), known for his landscapes and genre scenes, and the 20th-century Mexican writer and journalist Guadalupe Amaya (1915-2001), renowned for her contributions to the literary and cultural spheres of her country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Amaya

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

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

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

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