Bava
An Italian surname derived from the word "bava" meaning "drool" or "slobber."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 377 Americans carry the last name Bava. That puts it at #59,742 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.11 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 909,163 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bava surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
377
1 in 909,163
Census rank
#59,742
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
338
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 338 bearers of the surname Bava in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 59742nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bava, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.8%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (14.2%) and Hispanic (3.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bava
The surname BAVA has its origins in Italy, where it first appeared as early as the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Italian word "bava," which means "drool" or "saliva," suggesting that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname for someone who drooled excessively.
BAVA is thought to have originated in the northern regions of Italy, particularly in the areas around Milan and Pavia. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in medieval documents and records from these regions.
One of the earliest known individuals bearing the surname BAVA was Pietro Bava, a nobleman who lived in Pavia in the late 13th century. Records indicate that he held significant land holdings and played a prominent role in local politics.
Another notable figure was Girolamo Bava, a Renaissance painter and architect who was born in Milan in 1495 and died in 1576. He was renowned for his frescoes and architectural designs, many of which can still be seen in churches and buildings throughout northern Italy.
In the 17th century, the name BAVA gained prominence with the rise of the Bava family, a noble and influential lineage based in Genoa. Francesco Maria Bava (1618-1689) was a prominent military leader and served as the Governor of Savona, while his son, Giovanni Battista Bava (1650-1723), was a respected diplomat and statesman.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, several individuals with the surname BAVA made significant contributions to the arts and sciences. Bartolomeo Bava (1772-1844) was a renowned painter and sculptor from Genoa, while Camillo Bava (1810-1885) was a pioneering geologist and paleontologist who made important discoveries in the field of fossil research.
The name BAVA has also been associated with various place names throughout Italy, such as Bava di Gavi, a village in the province of Alessandria, and Bava Grillini, a locality in the province of Piacenza. These place names may have influenced the spread and variations of the surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bava
Among Census respondents with the surname Bava, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.8%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (14.2%) and Hispanic (3.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Bava bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Bava surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White80.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander14.2%
- Hispanic or Latino3.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bava surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #59,742 | #59,742 | 0.0% |
| Count | 338 | 338 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Bava bearers went from 338 to 338 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #59,742 to #59,742.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bava
FAQ
Bava surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bava?
The surname Bava holds position #59,742 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 377 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bava surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bava, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.8%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (14.2%) and Hispanic (3.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.