2000
#148,244
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Arma
A surname derived from the Spanish word "arma" meaning weapon or arms.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 138 Americans carry the last name Arma. That puts it at #142,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,483,727 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Arma 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
138
1 in 2,483,727
Census rank
#142,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Arma in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Arma, the largest self-reported group is White at 49.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (29.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (15.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Arma
The surname ARMA is believed to have originated in Italy during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Latin word "arma," meaning "arms" or "weapons." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who were involved in the production or use of arms and armor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname ARMA can be found in historical documents from the city of Florence, Italy, dating back to the 13th century. These records mention individuals with the surname ARMA who were members of the city's influential guilds, such as the guild of blacksmiths or armorers.
As the name spread across Italy, it also underwent variations in spelling, with some families adopting the variants "Armati" or "Armadio." In some regions, the name may have been influenced by local dialects or variations in pronunciation.
During the Renaissance period, several notable individuals bore the surname ARMA. One example is Pietro Arma (1460-1528), a renowned Italian artist and sculptor from Genoa, who was renowned for his intricate woodcarvings and religious artwork.
Another prominent figure was Giovan Battista Arma (1525-1591), a Genoese diplomat and historian who served as the ambassador of the Republic of Genoa to various European courts. His writings provided valuable insights into the political and cultural landscape of 16th-century Italy.
In the 17th century, the ARMA surname gained further recognition with the birth of Filippo Arma (1642-1718), a celebrated Italian architect and engineer. He is best known for his contributions to the design and construction of several churches and palaces in Naples and other cities across southern Italy.
Moving forward to the 18th century, Giovanni Arma (1710-1788) was a prominent Italian lawyer and jurist from Piedmont. He served as a judge in the Supreme Court of Sardinia and was widely respected for his legal expertise and commitment to justice.
Another notable figure from this period was Maria Arma (1758-1824), a highly regarded opera singer from Milan. She performed at some of the most prestigious theaters across Europe and was celebrated for her virtuosic vocal abilities and dramatic stage presence.
While the surname ARMA has its roots in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. However, the Italian origin and historical significance of this name remain an integral part of its legacy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Arma
Among Census respondents with the surname Arma, the largest self-reported group is White at 49.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (29.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (15.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Arma 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 Arma surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White49.2% · 59
- Hispanic or Latino29.2% · 35
- Asian and Pacific Islander15.8% · 19
- Black or African American5.0% · 6
- Two or more races0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Arma
Arma appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#141,140
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
+16 bearers (+15.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 7,104 places
2020
#142,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
+2 bearers (+1.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 909 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #148,244 | 102 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #141,140 | 118 | 0.04 | +16 bearers (+15.7%) | Up 7,104 places |
| 2020 | #142,049 | 120 | 0.04 | +2 bearers (+1.7%) | Down 909 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 Arma 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 | #141,140 | #142,049 | -0.6% |
| Count | 118 | 120 | 1.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Arma bearers went from 118 to 120 (+1.7% change). The surname moved down 909 positions in the national ranking, going from #141,140 to #142,049.
FAQ
Arma surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Arma?
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the surname Arma. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,483,727 residents.
How common is Arma?
Arma ranks #142,049 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 120 people with the surname Arma. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (138), 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 Arma.
Has Arma become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Arma went from 118 recorded bearers to 120. That is an increase of 2 (+1.7%). In the national ranking it fell from #141,140 to #142,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Arma?
Among Census respondents with the surname Arma, the largest self-reported group is White at 49.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (29.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (15.8%). 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 Arma in the 2020 Census, accounting for 49.2% (59 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Arma appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (49.2%), Hispanic (29.2%), Asian/Pacific Islander (15.8%). 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 Arma (2000, 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 Arma mean?
A surname derived from the Spanish word "arma" meaning weapon or arms. 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 Arma (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 common is the surname Arma?
If you just want to know how many people are called Arma, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.