2010
#151,532
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Dacayanan
An indigenous Filipino surname derived from the Tagalog word "daquit", meaning small or little.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 138 Americans carry the last name Dacayanan. That puts it at #142,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,483,727 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Dacayanan surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
138
1 in 2,483,727
Census rank
#142,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Dacayanan in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Dacayanan, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 79.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (12.5%) and Hispanic (5.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Dacayanan
The surname Dacayanan is believed to have originated from the Philippines. It is a name that has its roots in the Tagalog language, one of the primary languages spoken in the Philippines.
Dacayanan is thought to be derived from the Tagalog word "dacayanan," which means "a place where there are many bamboo groves." This suggests that the name may have originated from a specific location or region known for its abundance of bamboo plants.
While there is limited historical documentation regarding the earliest recorded use of the surname Dacayanan, it is likely that the name emerged during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines, which lasted from the 16th to the 19th centuries. During this time, the Spanish authorities encouraged the use of surnames among the Filipino population, leading to the adoption of many names derived from local words, places, or descriptive terms.
One of the earliest known historical references to the surname Dacayanan can be found in the records of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. These records, which date back to the 17th and 18th centuries, often documented baptisms, marriages, and other sacramental events, providing valuable insight into the use and prevalence of various surnames.
Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Dacayanan. One such figure was Isabelo Dacayanan (1896-1972), a prominent Filipino politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives from 1928 to 1934.
Another individual of note was Alejandro Dacayanan (1912-1988), a Filipino writer and poet who was recognized for his contributions to Philippine literature. His works explored themes of nationalism, social justice, and the struggles of the working class.
In the field of education, Maria Dacayanan (1925-2001) left a lasting legacy as a pioneer in early childhood education in the Philippines. She founded several preschools and advocated for the importance of nurturing young minds through innovative teaching methods.
The Dacayanan surname has also been carried by individuals in the arts and entertainment industry. One such example is Lino Dacayanan (1938-2010), a celebrated Filipino actor and director who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout his career.
Finally, it is worth mentioning Teodoro Dacayanan (1914-1996), a distinguished Filipino military officer who served during World War II. He played a crucial role in the resistance against Japanese occupation and was recognized for his bravery and leadership.
While the surname Dacayanan has its origins rooted in the Philippines, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, the historical and cultural significance of this name remains deeply intertwined with the rich tapestry of Philippine heritage and identity.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Dacayanan
Among Census respondents with the surname Dacayanan, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 79.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (12.5%) and Hispanic (5.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Dacayanan bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Dacayanan surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander79.2% · 95
- Two or more races12.5% · 15
- Hispanic or Latino5.0% · 6
- White2.5% · 3
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Dacayanan
Dacayanan appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#142,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
+12 bearers (+11.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 9,483 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #151,532 | 108 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #142,049 | 120 | 0.04 | +12 bearers (+11.1%) | Up 9,483 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Dacayanan surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #151,532 | #142,049 | 6.3% |
| Count | 108 | 120 | 11.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Dacayanan bearers went from 108 to 120 (+11.1% change). The surname moved up 9,483 positions in the national ranking, going from #151,532 to #142,049.
FAQ
Dacayanan surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Dacayanan?
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the surname Dacayanan. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,483,727 residents.
How common is Dacayanan?
Dacayanan ranks #142,049 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 120 people with the surname Dacayanan. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (138), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Dacayanan.
Has Dacayanan become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Dacayanan went from 108 recorded bearers to 120. That is an increase of 12 (+11.1%). In the national ranking it rose from #151,532 to #142,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Dacayanan?
Among Census respondents with the surname Dacayanan, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 79.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (12.5%) and Hispanic (5.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Dacayanan in the 2020 Census, accounting for 79.2% (95 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Dacayanan appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (79.2%), Two or More Races (12.5%), Hispanic (5.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Dacayanan (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Dacayanan mean?
An indigenous Filipino surname derived from the Tagalog word "daquit", meaning small or little. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Dacayanan (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Dacayanan?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.