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

Bahia, 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 Bahia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bahia in America

Bahia is the 65424th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bahia surname appeared 303 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 Bahia.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bahia 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 Bahia

The surname Bahia is of Spanish origin, with roots tracing back to the 16th century. It is derived from the name of the Brazilian state of Bahia, which was initially colonized by the Portuguese and Spanish explorers during the Age of Discovery. The name Bahia itself is believed to have originated from the Portuguese phrase "Baía de Todos os Santos," meaning "Bay of All Saints."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Bahia can be found in the archives of the Spanish Inquisition, where a certain Juan de Bahia was listed as a prisoner in the year 1567. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname may have been among the early Spanish settlers or explorers in the region of Bahia, Brazil.

In the 17th century, a prominent figure named Diego de Bahia emerged as a renowned artist and painter in Seville, Spain. His works, which included religious paintings and portraits, can still be found in various churches and museums across Andalusia.

During the colonial era, the surname Bahia was also associated with several notable individuals in Brazil. For instance, Francisco de Bahia was a prominent landowner and plantation owner in the state of Bahia during the late 18th century, known for his contributions to the region's agricultural development.

Another notable figure was Antônio de Bahia, a Brazilian abolitionist and activist who played a significant role in the struggle against slavery in the 19th century. Born in 1823, he dedicated his life to advocating for the rights of enslaved Africans and their descendants in Brazil.

In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook the contributions of Maria de Bahia, a celebrated Brazilian poet and writer of the early 20th century. Born in 1890, her works often explored themes of identity, culture, and the experiences of women in Brazilian society.

It is worth noting that the surname Bahia has also been associated with various places and geographical features beyond the state of Bahia itself. For instance, the city of Bahia Blanca in Argentina derives its name from the same linguistic roots, reflecting the influence of Spanish explorers and settlers in the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bahia

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

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

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

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