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

Essa, 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 Essa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Essa in America

Essa is the 29447th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Essa surname appeared 802 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 Essa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Essa 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 Essa

The surname ESSA originated in the northern region of Portugal, with its earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word "aestuarium," meaning an inlet or estuary, suggesting that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a coastal inlet or river mouth.

In the 13th century, the name ESSA appeared in several Portuguese administrative records and land registries, indicating its presence among the local population. One notable mention is found in the "Livro das Lezírias," a historical document from the reign of King Afonso III, which records land grants and property transactions in the region of Ribatejo.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the surname ESSA gained prominence in the northern regions of Portugal, particularly in the areas around the cities of Braga and Viana do Castelo. Several individuals bearing this name are documented in local parish records and municipal archives from that era.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname ESSA was João Essa, a nobleman and landowner who lived in the late 15th century in the region of Entre-Douro-e-Minho. Historical records indicate that he was involved in local governance and held significant influence in the area.

In the 17th century, the surname ESSA made its way to the Azores Islands, a Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. One notable figure from this period was Manuel Essa, a merchant and ship captain who was born in the city of Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, in 1630. He played a role in the island's maritime trade and exploration ventures.

Another prominent individual with the surname ESSA was Antónia Essa, a philanthropist and benefactor who lived in the 18th century in the city of Braga. She was known for her charitable contributions and support for local religious institutions and educational initiatives.

The 19th century saw the surname ESSA spread beyond Portugal, as some individuals bearing this name emigrated to other parts of the world, including Brazil and the United States. One such figure was João Essa, a Portuguese immigrant who settled in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the 1860s and established a successful business in the textile industry.

In the 20th century, the surname ESSA continued to be present in various regions of Portugal, with notable individuals such as Margarida Essa, a renowned writer and poet from the city of Porto, who published several acclaimed works in the mid-20th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Essa

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

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

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

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