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

Inoa, 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 Inoa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Inoa in America

Inoa is the 21609th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Inoa surname appeared 1,207 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 Inoa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Inoa 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 Inoa

The surname INOA has its origins in the Portuguese language, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the coastal regions of Portugal, particularly in the areas around Lisbon and Porto.

INOA is thought to be derived from the Portuguese word "inolhar," which means "to look" or "to gaze." This suggests that the name may have been initially attributed to individuals who worked as lookouts or sentries, responsible for keeping watch over specific areas or territories.

One of the earliest known references to the surname INOA can be found in the records of the Monastery of Alcobaça, a renowned Cistercian monastery located near Lisbon. These records, dating back to the late 16th century, mention a certain João INOA, who was a monk and scribe at the monastery.

During the Age of Discovery, when Portuguese explorers and navigators embarked on voyages across the globe, the surname INOA began to spread beyond the borders of Portugal. It is believed that some of the earliest instances of the name appearing in other parts of the world can be traced back to these intrepid explorers and their descendants.

One notable figure bearing the surname INOA was Diogo INOA, a Portuguese explorer who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his historic voyage to India in 1498. Diogo INOA served as a navigator and cartographer during this expedition, contributing to the mapping of the new territories discovered along the way.

Another prominent individual with the surname INOA was Maria INOA, a renowned Portuguese artist and painter who lived during the late 17th century. Her works, which often depicted religious scenes and landscapes, can still be found in various churches and museums across Portugal.

In the 18th century, a man named António INOA gained recognition as a skilled shipbuilder in the coastal town of Aveiro, Portugal. His craftsmanship and expertise in constructing vessels for the Portuguese navy were highly regarded during his time.

During the 19th century, the INOA surname made its way to the Americas, with many Portuguese immigrants carrying the name to countries like Brazil and the United States. One such individual was José INOA, a Brazilian politician and lawyer who played a significant role in the abolition of slavery in Brazil in the late 1800s.

Over the centuries, the INOA surname has continued to be carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting the rich history and cultural heritage associated with this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Inoa

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

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

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

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