2010
#151,532
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Babasa
A surname derived from the Tagalog word for "to read" or "to say".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 128 Americans carry the last name Babasa. That puts it at #147,954 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,677,768 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Babasa 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.
Bearers in the US
128
1 in 2,677,768
Census rank
#147,954
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
112
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 112 bearers of the surname Babasa in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147954th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Babasa, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 70.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.7%) and Two or More Races (10.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Babasa
The surname BABASA has its origins in the Bantu ethnic groups of Central and Southern Africa. It is believed to have emerged as a clan name among the tribes of present-day Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola sometime in the 16th century.
The name is derived from the Kikongo word "babasa," which translates to "those who have crossed over" or "those who have migrated." This suggests that the surname may have initially referred to a group or family that had traversed significant distances or relocated from one region to another.
Early records of the BABASA name can be traced back to the 17th century, with mentions in Portuguese colonial records and missionary accounts from the region. One such reference is found in the diary of Father Manuel da Silva, a Catholic missionary who worked among the Bakongo people in the late 1600s.
The first known individual to bear the BABASA surname was Nzinga Babasa, a prominent chief of the Bakongo people who lived in the late 16th century. He is credited with leading his clan's migration from the interior regions of present-day Angola to the coastal areas, establishing new settlements and forming alliances with neighboring tribes.
Another notable figure was Kimbesa Babasa, a skilled warrior and respected elder who lived in the early 18th century. He played a crucial role in defending his clan's territory against rival groups and was widely revered for his wisdom and diplomatic abilities.
In the 19th century, Mwana Babasa, a skilled trader and entrepreneur, gained recognition for establishing trade routes between the interior regions and coastal ports. His business acumen and knowledge of local languages facilitated the exchange of goods and fostered economic growth in the region.
Towards the end of the 19th century, Mbenza Babasa, a renowned storyteller and oral historian, was celebrated for preserving and passing down the rich cultural traditions and historical narratives of his people. His accounts provided invaluable insights into the lives and customs of the Bantu tribes.
In the early 20th century, Tshisenge Babasa, a prominent educator and community leader, dedicated his life to establishing schools and promoting literacy among the local population. His efforts laid the foundation for the advancement of education in the region.
These examples illustrate the long and diverse history of the BABASA surname, which has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including chiefs, warriors, traders, storytellers, and educators, all of whom have left an indelible mark on the cultural tapestry of Central and Southern Africa.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Babasa
Among Census respondents with the surname Babasa, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 70.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.7%) and Two or More Races (10.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Babasa 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 Babasa surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander70.5% · 79
- Hispanic or Latino10.7% · 12
- Two or more races10.7% · 12
- White8.0% · 9
Timeline
Historical Census data for Babasa
Babasa appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#147,954
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
+4 bearers (+3.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 3,578 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #151,532 | 108 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #147,954 | 112 | 0.04 | +4 bearers (+3.7%) | Up 3,578 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 Babasa 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 | #151,532 | #147,954 | 2.4% |
| Count | 108 | 112 | 3.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -6.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Babasa bearers went from 108 to 112 (+3.7% change). The surname moved up 3,578 positions in the national ranking, going from #151,532 to #147,954.
FAQ
Babasa surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Babasa?
Name Census estimates that about 128 living Americans carry the surname Babasa. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,677,768 residents.
How common is Babasa?
Babasa ranks #147,954 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 112 people with the surname Babasa. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (128), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Babasa.
Has Babasa become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Babasa went from 108 recorded bearers to 112. That is an increase of 4 (+3.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #151,532 to #147,954.
What does the Census say about the background of Babasa?
Among Census respondents with the surname Babasa, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 70.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.7%) and Two or More Races (10.7%). 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?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Babasa in the 2020 Census, accounting for 70.5% (79 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Babasa appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (70.5%), Hispanic (10.7%), Two or More Races (10.7%). 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 Babasa (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 Babasa mean?
A surname derived from the Tagalog word for "to read" or "to say". 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 Babasa (0.04 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 surname Babasa?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.