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

Ishaya, 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 Ishaya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ishaya in America

Ishaya is the 127494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ishaya surname appeared 134 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 Ishaya.

The history of the last name Ishaya

The surname ISHAYA originated in the Middle East, particularly in regions of modern-day Iraq and Syria, where it is thought to have first appeared around the 6th or 7th century CE. The name is derived from the Aramaic root word "ish-shaya," which translates to "living" or "alive." It is believed to have been a descriptive name given to individuals who exhibited a vibrant or lively demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the ISHAYA surname can be found in a collection of Syriac manuscripts from the 9th century, which mention a scribe named Ishaya bar Yunan. These manuscripts provide valuable insight into the early use and spelling variations of the name.

During the medieval period, the ISHAYA name was prevalent among the Assyrian Christian community in northern Mesopotamia. Several notable figures bore this surname, including the 13th-century scholar and theologian Ishaya of Arbell (c. 1238-1310), who authored influential works on Syriac literature and theology.

In the 16th century, a prominent family of ISHAYA name resided in the city of Mosul, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire. Records from this time period mention a wealthy merchant named Ishaya al-Mawsili (c. 1520-1590), who played a significant role in the region's trade and cultural exchange.

As the Assyrian community migrated to various parts of the world, the ISHAYA surname spread to other regions, including Iran, where it is still found today. One notable figure from this diaspora was the 19th-century poet and writer Ishaya Aurahm (1814-1879), whose works were instrumental in preserving the Assyrian literary tradition.

Another individual of note was Ishaya Qasha (1856-1924), a prominent Assyrian philosopher and educator who played a crucial role in the establishment of modern schools and educational systems in Iran during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Throughout its history, the ISHAYA surname has maintained its connection to the Assyrian and Syriac Christian heritage, with many bearers of the name contributing to the preservation and advancement of their cultural and intellectual traditions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ishaya

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

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

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

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