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

Dega, 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 Dega surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dega in America

Dega is the 141140th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dega surname appeared 118 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 Dega.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dega 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 Dega

The surname DEGA originates from the Basque region of northern Spain and southern France, dating back to the early medieval period. It is believed to derive from the Basque word "dega," meaning "house" or "dwelling," suggesting that the name may have initially been used to identify individuals by their place of residence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname DEGA can be found in the Cartulary of San Millán de la Cogolla, a medieval manuscript from the 10th century. This document contains several references to individuals bearing the name, indicating its widespread use in the region at that time.

During the 12th century, the DEGA surname appeared in the Becerro Galicano de las Behetrías de Castilla, a medieval census record from the Kingdom of Castile. This document listed several landowners and nobles with the surname, suggesting that the name had gained prominence and social status within the region.

In the 14th century, a notable figure with the surname DEGA was Juan de Dega, a Spanish navigator and explorer who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493. Juan de Dega played a crucial role in the exploration and colonization of the Caribbean islands.

Another prominent individual with the surname DEGA was Pedro de Dega (1564-1634), a Spanish military officer and governor of Havana, Cuba, in the early 17th century. He is remembered for his efforts in fortifying the city and enhancing its defenses against potential attacks.

In the 18th century, Domingo de Dega (1718-1789) was a Spanish artist and painter known for his religious works and portraits. His paintings can be found in various churches and museums throughout Spain, showcasing his skill and contribution to the art world.

Turning to the 19th century, Mariano de Dega (1825-1892) was a prominent Basque politician and writer. He played a significant role in advocating for the preservation of Basque culture and language, and his works shed light on the region's history and traditions.

Throughout the centuries, the surname DEGA has also been associated with various place names and locations in the Basque region, such as the town of Dega in Gipuzkoa, Spain, further solidifying its deep-rooted connection to the area.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dega

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

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

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

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