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

Atta, 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 Atta surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Atta in America

Atta is the 49546th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Atta surname appeared 424 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 Atta.

We can also compare 2010 data for Atta 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 Atta

The surname Atta finds its origins in the Indian subcontinent, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "atta," meaning "eight," potentially referring to someone born on the eighth day of a lunar cycle or having some other symbolic significance related to the number eight.

One of the earliest documented references to the Atta name can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century Persian manuscript commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This historical record mentions various individuals bearing the Atta surname, suggesting its presence during the Mughal Empire's reign in South Asia.

In the 17th century, the Atta name appeared in several Persian and Arabic manuscripts, indicating its widespread use among Muslim communities in the region. During this period, variations in spelling, such as Attar and Attah, were also common.

Notable historical figures with the Atta surname include Atta-Ullah Shah (1892-1961), a renowned Sufi scholar and poet from Punjab, Pakistan. His literary works, particularly his poetry collection "Diwan-e-Atta," have left a lasting impact on the spiritual and literary traditions of the region.

Another prominent individual was Sher Atta Khan (1765-1842), a Pashtun military commander and ruler of the Atta Khel tribe in present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan. His campaigns and leadership during the 19th century played a significant role in shaping the political landscape of the region.

In the realm of arts and culture, Taufiq Atta (1914-1990) was a celebrated Pakistani writer and poet. His literary contributions, including novels, short stories, and poetry, earned him numerous accolades and recognition as a influential figure in Urdu literature.

Moving to more recent times, Mohammad Atta (1968-2001) was an Egyptian national and one of the hijackers involved in the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States. While his actions were controversial and widely condemned, his name gained notoriety in the context of global terrorism.

It is worth noting that the Atta surname has also been found in other regions, such as parts of Central Asia and the Middle East, suggesting its migration and adoption beyond the Indian subcontinent over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Atta

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

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

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

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