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

Jia, 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 Jia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jia in America

Jia is the 12802nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jia surname appeared 2,409 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Jia.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jia 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 Jia

The surname Jia originated in China, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Chinese word 'jia' which means 'good' or 'excellent'. The name was initially used as a complimentary term for people who displayed admirable qualities or achieved remarkable feats.

In the early dynastic periods of China, the Jia surname was associated with noble families and scholars. During the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD), the name appeared in historical records, referring to prominent figures in the imperial court and literary circles.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Jia surname was Jia Yi (200 BC - 168 BC), a renowned philosopher, poet, and statesman who served as a counselor to the Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty. His works, such as the "Xinshu" (New Writings), became influential texts in Confucian thought.

Another notable figure was Jia Sixie (551 - 632 AD), a revered calligrapher and scholar during the Tang Dynasty. His calligraphic style, known as the "Jia script," was widely admired and studied by generations of calligraphers. Jia Sixie's works were preserved in the imperial archives and later included in anthologies of Chinese calligraphy.

During the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279 AD), the Jia surname gained prominence in the literary and artistic circles. Jia Dao (779 - 843 AD) was a renowned poet and scholar who served as a high-ranking official in the imperial court. His poetry collection, "Jia Dao Ji," is considered a masterpiece of the late Tang period.

In more recent history, Jia Baoyu (1882 - 1963) was a prominent Chinese educator and reformer who played a significant role in modernizing China's education system. He founded several schools and universities, including the prestigious Peking University.

Jia Zhangke (born 1970) is a contemporary Chinese film director and screenwriter, widely acclaimed for his thought-provoking works that explore social and cultural issues in modern China. His films, such as "Still Life" and "A Touch of Sin," have won numerous international awards and critical acclaim.

The Jia surname has a rich history and cultural significance in China, reflecting the country's long-standing traditions of scholarship, art, and literature. It has been borne by many influential individuals who have left an indelible mark on various aspects of Chinese society and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jia

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

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

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

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