Basara last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Basara

A surname of Turkish origin possibly derived from the word "basmak" meaning to trample or crush.

Basara, 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 Basara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Basara in America

Basara is the 49723rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Basara surname appeared 422 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 Basara.

We can also compare 2010 data for Basara 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 49723 46331 7.06%
Count 422 433 -2.57%
Proportion per 100k 0.14 0.16 -13.33%

The history of the last name Basara

The surname Basara has its origins in the Balkans, specifically in the region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is believed to have originated in the late 15th or early 16th century, during the time of the Ottoman Empire's conquest and rule over the region.

The name Basara is thought to be derived from the Turkish word "basara," which means "courage" or "bravery." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who displayed acts of valor or courage, possibly in military service or during times of conflict.

Early records of the name Basara can be found in Ottoman administrative documents and tax registers from the 16th and 17th centuries. These records often listed individuals by their name, occupation, and place of residence, providing valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of the surname during that period.

One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name Basara was Mehmed Basara, a military commander who served in the Ottoman army during the late 16th century. He is mentioned in several historical accounts for his role in various battles and campaigns against the Habsburgs.

Another notable figure with the surname Basara was Husein Basara, a prominent Ottoman scholar and poet who lived in the 17th century. His works, which covered a range of topics including philosophy, theology, and literature, were widely read and influential during his time.

In the 19th century, the Basara surname gained prominence in the region of Herzegovina, where it was associated with several influential families. One such family was the Basaras of Mostar, who played a significant role in the local politics and cultural life of the city during the latter part of the Ottoman rule and the subsequent Austro-Hungarian period.

Amongst the members of the Mostar Basara family was Mehmed Basara (1821-1897), a renowned scholar and educator who established one of the first modern schools in the city. His son, Salih Basara (1848-1912), followed in his footsteps and became a respected writer and intellectual, contributing to the cultural renaissance of the region.

Another notable figure bearing the Basara surname was Mustafa Basara (1876-1949), a prominent politician and diplomat from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He served in various government positions during the Austro-Hungarian and Kingdom of Yugoslavia periods, and played a crucial role in representing the interests of the Bosnian people on the international stage.

While the Basara surname has its roots in the Balkans, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical significance and cultural associations of the name remain deeply rooted in the region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where it has left an indelible mark on the local history and heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Basara

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

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 Basara was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 95.02% 401
Non-Hispanic Black Only 1.42% 6
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin 1.90% 8

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 Basara has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 95.02% 89.84% 5.60%
Black 1.42% 1.15% 21.01%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% 3.70% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races 0.00% 3.46% -200.00%
Hispanic 1.90% 1.85% 2.67%

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

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

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Basara last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 6, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/basara-surname-popularity/.

"Basara last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/basara-surname-popularity/. Accessed 6 May, 2025

Basara last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/basara-surname-popularity/.

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