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

Gava, 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 Gava surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gava in America

Gava is the 115639th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gava surname appeared 151 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 Gava.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gava 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 Gava

The surname GAVA is believed to have originated in Italy during the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Italian word "gava," which means a type of small, freshwater fish known as the European chub. This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname, given to someone who caught or sold this type of fish.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the GAVA surname can be found in the historical records of the city of Piacenza, located in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. In a document dated 1237, a man named Guglielmo GAVA is mentioned as a landowner in the area.

The GAVA surname later spread to other parts of Italy, particularly in the regions of Lombardy and Veneto. In the 14th century, a notable figure named Pietro GAVA was a prominent merchant and banker in the city of Milan. He was involved in the financing of various trade ventures and played a significant role in the economic affairs of the city during that time.

In the 15th century, the GAVA family established itself in the city of Venice, where they became part of the noble class. One of the most prominent members of this family was Andrea GAVA, who lived from 1440 to 1512. He was a renowned painter and architect, known for his contributions to the Renaissance art and architecture of Venice.

Another notable figure with the GAVA surname was Giovanni Battista GAVA, who was born in Genoa in 1644. He was a highly respected lawyer and legal scholar, who authored several influential works on maritime law and international trade regulations. His publications were widely read and referenced throughout Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries.

In the 19th century, a figure named Giuseppe GAVA, born in 1821 in the town of Parma, gained recognition as a pioneering educator. He established one of the first schools in Italy that focused on vocational training and practical skills, which played a significant role in promoting educational reforms in the country during that era.

While the GAVA surname has its roots in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, the earliest and most notable historical references to this surname can be traced back to its origins in various regions of Italy, particularly in the northern and central areas of the country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gava

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

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

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

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