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

Awaya, 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 Awaya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Awaya in America

Awaya is the 142108th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Awaya surname appeared 117 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 Awaya.

We can also compare 2010 data for Awaya 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 Awaya

The surname "AWAYA" is thought to have originated in Japan, with its earliest known usage dating back to the 16th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Japanese words "awa," meaning "bubble" or "foam," and "ya," meaning "house" or "dwelling." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a residence or establishment located near a foaming river or body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "AWAYA" can be found in the historical records of the Tokugawa Shogunate, which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1867. A merchant named Awaya Kichisaburo is mentioned in a document dated 1624, detailing his trade dealings with the shogunate.

In the late 17th century, a prominent samurai warrior named Awaya Tomosuke (1657-1718) gained recognition for his bravery and leadership during the Siege of Osaka Castle. His exploits were chronicled in several contemporary accounts, cementing the Awaya name in Japanese history.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the Awaya family established themselves as respected landowners and administrators in the Shizuoka region of central Japan. Records from this time indicate that the Awaya clan oversaw several villages and played a significant role in local governance.

In more recent history, one notable individual with the surname "AWAYA" was Awaya Shigenobu (1880-1958), a Japanese politician and diplomat who served as the Ambassador to Italy in the early 20th century. He was instrumental in fostering diplomatic relations between Japan and European nations during a turbulent period.

Another prominent figure was Awaya Kaneto (1899-1982), a renowned Japanese novelist and playwright. His works, including the critically acclaimed novel "Musashino," explored themes of traditional Japanese culture and the impact of modernization on society.

It is worth noting that the name "AWAYA" has also been associated with various place names throughout Japan. For instance, the town of Awaya-cho in Shizuoka Prefecture is believed to have derived its name from the Awaya family, who held significant influence in the region during the Edo period.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Awaya

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

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

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

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