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

Dawa, 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 Dawa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dawa in America

Dawa is the 121590th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dawa surname appeared 142 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 Dawa.

The history of the last name Dawa

The surname DAWA has its origins in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, which spans parts of modern-day India and Pakistan. It is believed to have emerged in the 16th or 17th century, deriving from the Sanskrit word "dava" meaning "forest fire" or "wildfire."

In ancient Sanskrit texts, the term "dava" was often used metaphorically to describe intense passion, fervor, or zeal. This association may have influenced the adoption of DAWA as a surname, perhaps signifying a person's fiery temperament or a family's reputation for their ardent spirit.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DAWA can be found in the chronicles of the Mughal Empire, which ruled over the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th centuries. A prominent figure named Dawa Khan is mentioned in the 17th century, serving as a military commander under the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.

During the British colonial era in India, several notable individuals with the surname DAWA emerged. In the late 18th century, Dawa Singh was a revered spiritual leader and poet from the Sikh tradition, renowned for his devotional compositions known as "shabad kirtan."

In the 19th century, Dawa Mal was a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from the city of Amritsar in Punjab. He is credited with establishing several educational institutions and funding the construction of important Sikh shrines and temples.

Another prominent figure was Dawa Rai, a renowned scholar and author from the early 20th century. He authored several books on Punjabi literature, history, and culture, making significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of the region's rich heritage.

In more recent times, Dawa Samdup, a Tibetan filmmaker and activist born in 1959, has gained recognition for his documentary works highlighting the struggles of the Tibetan people and their efforts to preserve their cultural identity.

The surname DAWA has also been associated with various places and regions within the Indian subcontinent. For instance, the village of Dawa in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan and the town of Dawa in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India, may have derived their names from individuals or families bearing the DAWA surname.

While the surname DAWA has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical records and accounts mentioned above provide insights into the rich cultural and linguistic heritage associated with this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dawa

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

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 Dawa 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.

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

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

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