Julia
A Latin surname derived from the ancient Roman family name Julius.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,371 Americans carry the last name Julia. That puts it at #21,912 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.40 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 250,003 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Julia surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.4K
1 in 250,003
Census rank
#21,912
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,185 bearers of the surname Julia in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.40 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 21912th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Julia, the largest self-reported group is White at 45.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (42.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (6.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Julia
The surname Julia is of Latin origin and can be traced back to ancient Rome. It is derived from the Roman family name Julius, which was the name of one of the most powerful and influential families in ancient Roman history. The Julii family produced several notable figures, including Julius Caesar, the famous Roman general and dictator.
The name Julia was originally a feminine form of Julius, given to female members of the Julian family. Over time, it became a common name among Romans and was later adopted as a surname by those who traced their ancestry back to the Julian clan or were connected to it in some way.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Julia can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. Several individuals with the surname Julia are listed in this document, suggesting that the name had already spread beyond its Roman origins by the 11th century.
In medieval times, the surname Julia was particularly prevalent in Italy, where it was associated with noble families and influential individuals. One notable example is Giulia Gonzaga (1513-1566), a prominent Italian noblewoman, writer, and patron of the arts, who was highly regarded for her intellect and cultural contributions.
The surname Julia also has a long history in Spain, where it was likely introduced during the Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula. One famous bearer of the name was Julián Romero (c. 1516-1598), a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico and later became a prominent landowner and leader in the region.
In France, the surname Julia can be traced back to the 13th century, with records showing individuals bearing the name in various regions of the country. One notable figure was Juliette Julia (1843-1919), a French actress and playwright who was renowned for her performances in the works of celebrated playwrights such as Molière and Racine.
Over the centuries, the surname Julia has spread across Europe and beyond, with individuals bearing this name making their mark in various fields, including literature, art, and politics. Examples include the Italian poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882), who had maternal ancestors with the surname Julia, and the American actress and philanthropist Julia Louis-Dreyfus (born 1961), whose paternal grandfather bore the surname Julia.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Julia
Among Census respondents with the surname Julia, the largest self-reported group is White at 45.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (42.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (6.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Julia bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Julia surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White45.6%
- Hispanic or Latino42.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander6.8%
- Black or African American4.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Julia surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #21,912 | #21,912 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,185 | 1,185 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.40 | 0.40 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Julia bearers went from 1,185 to 1,185 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #21,912 to #21,912.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Julia
FAQ
Julia surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Julia?
The surname Julia holds position #21,912 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,371 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.40 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Julia surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Julia, the largest self-reported group is White at 45.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (42.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (6.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.