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

Baya, 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 Baya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Baya in America

Baya is the 92358th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Baya surname appeared 199 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 Baya.

We can also compare 2010 data for Baya 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 Baya

The surname BAYA is of Spanish origin, with roots traced back to the Iberian Peninsula during the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Arabic word "baya," which means "white" or "pale." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive term used to identify individuals with fair complexions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the 13th-century Catalan manuscript "Llibre dels Fets," which chronicles the conquest of Valencia by King Jaume I of Aragon. This document mentions a certain Bernat Baya, who was a knight in the king's service during the campaign.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various records from the Kingdom of Aragon, particularly in the regions of Catalonia and Valencia. It is likely that the Baya family had established roots in these areas during this period.

The town of Biar, located in the province of Alicante, is believed to have been named after the Baya family, who may have been among its earliest settlers or landowners. This connection between the surname and the place name further solidifies the name's Spanish origins.

One notable figure bearing the surname Baya was Pedro Baya, a Spanish painter from the 16th century. Born in Valencia around 1500, he was known for his religious paintings and worked extensively in churches and monasteries throughout the region.

Another significant individual with the Baya surname was Juan Bautista Baya, a prominent architect from the 17th century. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in Valencia, including the Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados and the Iglesia de San Juan del Hospital.

In the 18th century, José Baya y Beltrán, a Spanish military officer and politician, served as the Governor of Havana, Cuba, from 1763 to 1765. He played a crucial role in strengthening the city's defenses and infrastructure during his tenure.

Moving into the 19th century, María Baya y Sardá, born in Barcelona in 1845, was a renowned Spanish operatic soprano. She achieved great success and acclaim for her performances in opera houses across Europe, particularly in roles from the works of composers like Verdi and Donizetti.

As the name BAYA spread beyond Spain, it also found its way to Latin American countries. One notable figure was Adolfo Baya, a Chilean novelist and playwright born in 1875. He is best known for his works exploring social and political themes, as well as his contributions to the development of Chilean literature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Baya

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

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

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

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