2000
#22,116
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,091
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.40
Rare Last name
Ba
A Vietnamese surname of unknown meaning, possibly derived from a place name or other unknown origin.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,664 Americans carry the last name Ba. That puts it at #9,697 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 93,546 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ba 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Ba with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
3.7K
1 in 93,546
Census rank
#9,697
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,195 bearers of the surname Ba in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 9697th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ba, the largest self-reported group is Black at 72.5%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (14.4%) and White (6.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ba
The surname "Ba" is believed to have originated in China, with its roots dating back to the 5th century AD. It is derived from the Old Chinese word "bā," which means "prosperous" or "flourishing." This name was initially associated with families from the Guangdong and Fujian provinces in southern China.
During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the name "Ba" appeared in various official records and manuscripts, indicating its presence among the upper echelons of society. One notable mention is found in the "Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government," a historical text compiled during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD).
The earliest recorded individual bearing the surname "Ba" was Bā Jìngyán, a renowned Confucian scholar and poet who lived from 767 to 830 AD. He was known for his contributions to the literary and philosophical circles of his time.
In the 13th century, the name "Ba" was associated with the town of Bāzhōu, located in present-day Sichuan province. This place name likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in that region.
Throughout Chinese history, several prominent figures have carried the surname "Ba." One such individual was Bā Jīn (1904-2005), a celebrated writer and playwright who is considered one of the foremost authors of the 20th century in China.
Another notable bearer of the name was Bā Rénxǐng (1720-1797), a revered Qing Dynasty scholar and artist renowned for his expertise in calligraphy, poetry, and painting.
During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the name "Ba" was also associated with the town of Bāzhōuchéng in Hebei province. This place name was sometimes used as a surname by locals, leading to variations like "Bazhou" and "Bazhoucheng."
The name "Ba" has also been recorded in other parts of Asia, such as Vietnam, where it is sometimes spelled as "Bà" or "Bạ." In Vietnam, the name is believed to have originated from Chinese immigrants who settled in the country during various periods throughout history.
While the surname "Ba" is not as common as some other Chinese surnames, it has a rich historical legacy and has been carried by numerous notable individuals over the centuries, contributing to the cultural and intellectual fabric of China and beyond.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ba
Among Census respondents with the surname Ba, the largest self-reported group is Black at 72.5%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (14.4%) and White (6.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Ba 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 Ba surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American72.5% · 2,315
- Asian and Pacific Islander14.4% · 459
- White6.9% · 221
- Hispanic or Latino3.3% · 104
- Two or more races2.5% · 80
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5% · 16
Timeline
Historical Census data for Ba
Ba 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
#12,627
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,451
+1,360 bearers (+124.7%)
Per 100,000 0.83
Rank movement Up 9,489 places
2020
#9,697
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,195
+744 bearers (+30.4%)
Per 100,000 1.07
Rank movement Up 2,930 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #22,116 | 1,091 | 0.40 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #12,627 | 2,451 | 0.83 | +1,360 bearers (+124.7%) | Up 9,489 places |
| 2020 | #9,697 | 3,195 | 1.07 | +744 bearers (+30.4%) | Up 2,930 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 Ba 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 | #12,627 | #9,697 | 23.2% |
| Count | 2,451 | 3,195 | 30.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.83 | 1.07 | 28.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Ba bearers went from 2,451 to 3,195 (+30.4% change). The surname moved up 2,930 positions in the national ranking, going from #12,627 to #9,697.
FAQ
Ba surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Ba?
Name Census estimates that about 3,664 living Americans carry the surname Ba. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 93,546 residents.
How common is Ba?
Ba ranks #9,697 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.07 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 3,195 people with the surname Ba. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (3,664), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.07 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.07 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Ba.
Has Ba become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Ba went from 2,451 recorded bearers to 3,195. That is an increase of 744 (+30.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #12,627 to #9,697.
What does the Census say about the background of Ba?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ba, the largest self-reported group is Black at 72.5%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (14.4%) and White (6.9%). 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?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Ba in the 2020 Census, accounting for 72.5% (2,315 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Ba appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (72.5%), Asian/Pacific Islander (14.4%), White (6.9%). 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 Ba (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 Ba mean?
A Vietnamese surname of unknown meaning, possibly derived from a place name or other unknown origin. 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 Ba (1.07 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 many people have the last name Ba?
You can see how many people have the surname Ba on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.