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

Cua, 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 Cua surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cua in America

Cua is the 23485th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cua surname appeared 1,082 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 Cua.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cua 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 Cua

The surname Cua has its origins in Spain, with the earliest records of the name dating back to the 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "cuá," which means "tail" or "back part," suggesting that the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname for someone with a distinctive physical feature or from a particular location.

One of the earliest known references to the Cua surname can be found in the archives of the Archivo Histórico Nacional in Madrid, where a document from the year 1492 mentions a certain Pedro Cua residing in the town of Seville. This document provides evidence that the name was already in use during the time of the Spanish Reconquista and the voyages of Christopher Columbus.

In the 16th century, the Cua surname appeared in various parts of Spain, including Catalonia and Valencia. A notable figure from this time period was Juan Cua, a prominent merchant and shipowner from Barcelona, who was born in 1528 and played a significant role in the Mediterranean trade routes.

As the Spanish Empire expanded its reach across the globe, the Cua name also found its way to the Americas. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in the New World was in 1621, when a certain Diego Cua arrived in present-day Mexico as part of a Spanish colonial expedition.

Over the centuries, the Cua surname has been associated with various place names and localities within Spain. For instance, the village of Cua in the province of Asturias may have contributed to the surname's development. Additionally, the surname has been linked to the Catalan word "cuá," which means "courtyard" or "backyard," suggesting a possible connection to a specific location or occupation.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Cua surname. One such figure was Fray Juan Cua, a Spanish missionary and explorer who accompanied the expedition of Juan de Oñate to present-day New Mexico in 1598. Another prominent figure was María Cua, a renowned painter from Valencia who lived in the 17th century and was celebrated for her religious works.

In the 19th century, the Cua surname gained recognition through the achievements of Manuel Cua, a distinguished Spanish physician and scientist who made significant contributions to the field of public health. He was born in 1823 and served as the director of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Madrid.

While the Cua surname may not be as widespread as some others, it has left its mark in various parts of the world, reflecting the rich history and diverse origins of Spanish surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cua

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

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

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

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