Bota
A Romanian surname derived from the word referring to a short leather riding boot.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 377 Americans carry the last name Bota. That puts it at #60,347 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 Bota 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
#60,347
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
334
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 334 bearers of the surname Bota in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 60347th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bota, the largest self-reported group is White at 67.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (20.7%) and Black (9.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bota
The surname BOTA has its origins tracing back to the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the region of Spain and Portugal, during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "bota," which means a leather wineskin or a boot.
This surname is thought to have its earliest roots in the occupation of wineskin or boot makers, with families adopting the name to reflect their trade. It is possible that the name was also used to identify individuals who were particularly skilled in the production or repair of these leather goods.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the BOTA surname can be found in the historical records of the Kingdom of Aragon, a medieval kingdom located in the northeastern region of the Iberian Peninsula. In the 13th century, a document from the city of Zaragoza references a certain Pedro BOTA, who was a prominent wineskin maker.
As the name spread throughout the Iberian Peninsula, it took on various spellings and regional variations, such as BOTAO in Portugal and BOTELLA in certain areas of Spain. These variations often reflected local dialects or the assimilation of the name into different linguistic traditions.
Notable individuals throughout history who bore the BOTA surname include Juan BOTA (1520-1594), a renowned Spanish painter known for his religious works adorning churches in Seville and Cordoba. Another notable figure was Miguel BOTA (1675-1739), a Portuguese explorer who played a significant role in mapping the coastline of Brazil during the colonial era.
In the 19th century, the BOTA surname gained recognition through the accomplishments of Josefa BOTA (1812-1876), a Spanish educator and advocate for women's rights, who established several schools for girls in Madrid. Francisco BOTA (1845-1921), a Spanish military officer, also gained prominence for his role in the Spanish-American War.
Moving into the 20th century, the name BOTA was carried by individuals such as Emilio BOTA (1909-1995), a celebrated Spanish architect known for his innovative designs in modernist architecture. Lastly, Julio BOTA (1937-2018), a Portuguese writer and poet, left a lasting legacy with his works exploring themes of identity and the human condition.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bota
Among Census respondents with the surname Bota, the largest self-reported group is White at 67.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (20.7%) and Black (9.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Bota 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 Bota surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White67.4%
- Hispanic or Latino20.7%
- Black or African American9.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.5%
- Unknown or suppressed0.9%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bota 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #63,812 | #60,347 | 5.4% |
| Count | 292 | 334 | 14.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Bota bearers went from 292 to 334 (+14.4% change). The surname moved up 3,465 positions in the national ranking, going from #63,812 to #60,347.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bota
FAQ
Bota surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bota?
The surname Bota holds position #60,347 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 Bota surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bota, the largest self-reported group is White at 67.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (20.7%) and Black (9.6%). 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.