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

Bawa, 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 Bawa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bawa in America

Bawa is the 30538th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bawa surname appeared 764 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 Bawa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bawa 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 Bawa

The surname BAWA is believed to have originated from the Indian subcontinent, specifically the region of Punjab. It is derived from the Punjabi word "bawa," which means "elder" or "revered person." The name likely emerged during the medieval period, when it was common to adopt surnames based on occupations, personal characteristics, or honorific titles.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name BAWA can be found in the historical accounts of the 16th century Sikh mystic and poet, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It is said that he referred to his close companion and disciple, Bhai Mardana, as "Bawa Mardana," indicating the deep respect and reverence he held for him.

In the 17th century, the name BAWA gained prominence in the region of Malwa, which straddles parts of present-day Punjab and Rajasthan. During this time, several notable individuals bore the surname, including Bawa Lal Das, a renowned spiritual leader and poet who lived from 1632 to 1712.

The name BAWA also has associations with the Sufi tradition in South Asia. One of the most famous bearers of this name was Bawa Muhaiyuddin, a revered Sufi saint who lived in the 16th century and is remembered for his teachings on love, compassion, and spiritual enlightenment.

In the 19th century, the BAWA surname gained further recognition with the birth of Bawa Nanak Singh (1835-1923), a prominent Sikh scholar and reformer who played a significant role in reviving and propagating the teachings of Sikhism.

Another notable figure with the surname BAWA was Bawa Balwant Singh (1897-1967), a respected military officer and diplomat who served as the Governor of East Punjab during the tumultuous period of India's partition in 1947.

Throughout history, the name BAWA has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, including literature, spirituality, education, and public service. While the name has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diasporic communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bawa

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

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

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

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