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

Baba, 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 Baba surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Baba in America

Baba is the 16601st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Baba surname appeared 1,727 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 Baba.

We can also compare 2010 data for Baba 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 Baba

The surname BABA is believed to have originated from Romania, where it is considered to be an occupational name derived from the Romanian word "babă," meaning "old woman" or "midwife." This name likely emerged during the medieval period, possibly as early as the 14th or 15th century.

In its earliest usage, the name BABA may have referred to individuals who worked as midwives or nurses, or perhaps to those who were associated with caring for the elderly. Over time, it transitioned into a hereditary surname passed down through generations.

Among the earliest recorded instances of the BABA surname is its appearance in a 16th-century document from the Principality of Wallachia, which was a historical Romanian state located in present-day southern Romania. This document mentions a certain "Ioan BABA," though little is known about this individual's specific role or background.

Another notable early bearer of the BABA surname was Mihai BABA, a Romanian nobleman who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He served as a high-ranking official in the court of Mihai Viteazul, the Prince of Wallachia, and played a significant role in the political affairs of the region during that turbulent period.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure named Ienăchiță BABA made a name for himself as a successful merchant and philanthropist in the city of Bucharest. He was known for his charitable contributions, particularly in supporting the construction and maintenance of churches and monasteries.

Moving into the 19th century, the BABA surname gained further recognition with the birth of Gheorghe BABA in 1828. He was a renowned Romanian poet and writer, celebrated for his contributions to the development of modern Romanian literature. His works often explored themes of nationalism and the rural life of his homeland.

Another notable bearer of the BABA surname was Nicolae BABA, a Romanian military officer and politician who lived from 1843 to 1919. He played a significant role in the Romanian War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire and later served as a member of the Romanian Parliament.

While the BABA surname originated in Romania and has deep roots in that region, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its earliest and most significant historical associations remain firmly rooted in Romanian history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Baba

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

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

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

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