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

Assa, 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 Assa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Assa in America

Assa is the 105600th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Assa surname appeared 169 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 Assa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Assa 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 Assa

The surname "ASSA" is believed to have originated in Italy during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Latin word "asinus," which means "donkey" or "ass." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname or occupational name for someone who worked with donkeys.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "ASSA" can be found in the Codice Diplomatico Longobardo, a collection of historical documents from the Lombard period in Italy, dating back to the 8th century. This suggests that the name has been in use for over a millennium.

During the Middle Ages, the name "ASSA" appeared in various Italian regions, including Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio. It was particularly prevalent in the area around the city of Perugia, where several families bore this surname. One notable individual from this time was Giovanni Assa, a Franciscan friar and theologian who lived in Perugia in the 14th century.

In the 15th century, the name "ASSA" was recorded in the Catasto Fiorentino, a census of households in Florence. This document mentions several families with the surname, indicating their presence in the Florentine region.

As the name spread across Italy, it underwent various spelling variations, such as "Assai," "Assale," and "Assal." These variations were likely influenced by local dialects and pronunciation differences.

A prominent figure bearing the surname "ASSA" was Pietro Assa, an Italian sculptor and architect who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is known for his works in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome and the Church of San Silvestro in Capite.

Another notable individual was Domenico Assa, a 17th-century Italian painter from Naples. He was known for his religious and mythological works, many of which can be found in churches and galleries across southern Italy.

In the 18th century, the name "ASSA" appeared in the records of the Papal States, where several families with this surname were documented in the regions of Lazio and Umbria.

During the 19th century, the surname "ASSA" gained some recognition outside of Italy. One notable figure was Antonio Assa, a Sardinian-born painter who worked in France and exhibited his works at the Paris Salon in the mid-1800s.

While the surname "ASSA" has its roots in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the Italian peninsula and its rich cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Assa

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

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

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

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