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

DaCosta, 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 DaCosta surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of DaCosta in America

DaCosta is the 5224th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The DaCosta surname appeared 6,679 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname DaCosta.

We can also compare 2010 data for DaCosta 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 DaCosta

The surname DACOSTA originated in Portugal, where it first emerged in the 15th century. It is derived from the Portuguese phrase "da costa," which translates to "from the coast" or "of the coast." This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals who resided near the coastline or had some connection to maritime activities.

DACOSTA is a topographic surname, meaning it was derived from a geographic feature or location. In this case, the name likely referred to individuals who lived in coastal regions of Portugal, such as the Algarve or the coastal areas around Lisbon and Porto.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DACOSTA surname can be found in the "Livro de Linhagens" (Book of Lineages), a medieval Portuguese genealogical manuscript dating back to the 13th century. This document mentions several families with the DACOSTA name, indicating that the surname was already established by that time.

During the Age of Discovery, which began in the 15th century, many Portuguese explorers and navigators carried the DACOSTA surname. One notable example is João da Costa, a 15th-century navigator who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his voyage to India in 1497-1499.

Another prominent figure with the DACOSTA surname was José da Costa Pereira Furtado de Mendonça (1738-1808), a Portuguese statesman and diplomat who served as the Secretary of State for the Navy and Overseas Dominions during the reign of King José I.

In the 19th century, Joaquim da Costa (1789-1856), a Portuguese poet and playwright, gained recognition for his works that celebrated the country's national identity and historical achievements.

Afonso da Costa (1871-1937), a Portuguese painter and illustrator, was known for his contributions to the modernist movement in Portuguese art, particularly his depictions of rural life and landscapes.

Miguel da Costa (1932-1994), a Brazilian writer and journalist, was a prominent figure in the literary circles of Brazil, known for his novels and short stories that explored social and political themes.

As the Portuguese Empire expanded, the DACOSTA surname spread to various parts of the world, including Brazil, Africa, and Asia, where Portuguese settlers and colonists established communities. Today, the name can be found in many countries with historical ties to Portugal, reflecting the global reach of Portuguese exploration and colonization.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name DaCosta

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

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

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

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