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

Atha, 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 Atha surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Atha in America

Atha is the 18457th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Atha surname appeared 1,499 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Atha.

We can also compare 2010 data for Atha 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 Atha

The surname Atha originated in Scotland, with its earliest known references dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic word "ath," meaning "ford" or "shallow river crossing." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who lived near or worked at a ford or river crossing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Atha appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of written submissions of fealty to Edward I of England by Scottish landowners and noblemen. The document mentions a John de Atha, who was likely a landowner or prominent figure in the region at the time.

In the 15th century, there are records of an Andrew Atha who was a burgess (a respected citizen and merchant) in the town of Dundee, Scotland. This indicates that the Atha family had established itself in urban centers and held positions of influence within the local community.

During the 16th century, the Atha surname is found in various historical records, such as court proceedings and property transactions. One notable figure from this period was Robert Atha, a Scottish merchant who traded extensively with the Low Countries (present-day Netherlands and Belgium) in the mid-1500s.

In the 17th century, the Atha name gained prominence with the birth of James Atha (1633-1703), a Scottish minister and religious writer. He authored several theological works and served as a minister in various parishes throughout Scotland.

Another significant figure bearing the Atha surname was Sir William Atha (1690-1762), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland, the highest legal officer in the country at the time. He played a crucial role in shaping Scottish legal and judicial systems during the 18th century.

The 19th century saw the rise of John Atha (1829-1901), a Scottish-born industrialist and philanthropist who made his fortune in the coal mining industry. He was known for his philanthropic efforts, including the establishment of educational institutions and support for public works projects in his local community.

Overall, the surname Atha has a rich history rooted in Scotland, with its origins dating back to the medieval period. While the name may have initially been associated with geographical features like fords or river crossings, it has been carried by prominent individuals in various fields, including law, religion, industry, and commerce throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Atha

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

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

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

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