2000
#132,259
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Krisa
A surname possibly derived from the Sanskrit word "Krishna", meaning "dark" or "dark/blue/black-skinned".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 124 Americans carry the last name Krisa. That puts it at #150,935 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,764,148 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Krisa surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
124
1 in 2,764,148
Census rank
#150,935
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
108
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 108 bearers of the surname Krisa in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 150935th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Krisa, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%) and Black (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Krisa
The surname KRISA originated in Croatia, with its earliest recorded examples dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Croatian word "kris," meaning "cross" or "crucifix," suggesting that the name may have been associated with religious or ecclesiastical professions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the KRISA surname can be found in a document from the city of Dubrovnik, dated 1387, which mentions a certain Nikola KRISA, a merchant and member of the local guild. This document provides evidence of the surname's existence and its association with the Dubrovnik region during that time period.
In the 15th century, the KRISA surname appeared in several genealogical records from the Dalmatian coastal regions, including the islands of Hvar and Korčula. These records indicate that the name was widespread among the local population, with various branches of the KRISA family residing in different villages and towns.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the KRISA surname continued to be prevalent in Croatia, particularly in the regions of Dalmatia and Istria. Several notable individuals bearing this surname emerged, including Juraj KRISA (1520-1589), a prominent seafarer and explorer from the island of Hvar, who is believed to have sailed to the Americas and contributed to the early exploration of the New World.
Another notable figure was Marin KRISA (1647-1723), a renowned sculptor and architect from the city of Split. He was responsible for creating several magnificent baroque churches and palaces in Dalmatia, showcasing his exceptional talent and leaving a lasting architectural legacy.
In the 18th century, the KRISA surname gained prominence in the city of Zadar, where a branch of the family produced several distinguished scholars and intellectuals. One such individual was Ivan KRISA (1712-1779), a renowned philosopher and theologian who authored several influential works on ethics and moral philosophy.
As the centuries progressed, the KRISA surname continued to spread throughout Croatia and beyond, with various individuals making notable contributions in fields such as literature, politics, and the arts. However, it is important to note that the surname's historical records become more fragmented and diverse as time passes, making it challenging to provide a comprehensive account of all notable individuals bearing this name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Krisa
Among Census respondents with the surname Krisa, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%) and Black (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Krisa bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Krisa surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.3% · 104
- Two or more races1.9% · 2
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Krisa
Krisa appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#120,187
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 144
+26 bearers (+22.0%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Up 12,072 places
2020
#150,935
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
-36 bearers (-25.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 30,748 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #132,259 | 118 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #120,187 | 144 | 0.05 | +26 bearers (+22.0%) | Up 12,072 places |
| 2020 | #150,935 | 108 | 0.04 | -36 bearers (-25.0%) | Down 30,748 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Krisa surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #120,187 | #150,935 | -25.6% |
| Count | 144 | 108 | -25.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.04 | -27.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Krisa bearers went from 144 to 108 (-25.0% change). The surname moved down 30,748 positions in the national ranking, going from #120,187 to #150,935.
FAQ
Krisa surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Krisa?
Name Census estimates that about 124 living Americans carry the surname Krisa. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,764,148 residents.
How common is Krisa?
Krisa ranks #150,935 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 108 people with the surname Krisa. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (124), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Krisa.
Has Krisa become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Krisa went from 144 recorded bearers to 108. That is a decrease of 36 (-25.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #120,187 to #150,935.
What does the Census say about the background of Krisa?
Among Census respondents with the surname Krisa, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%) and Black (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Krisa in the 2020 Census, accounting for 96.3% (104 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Krisa appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (96.3%), Two or More Races (1.9%), Black (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Krisa (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Krisa mean?
A surname possibly derived from the Sanskrit word "Krishna", meaning "dark" or "dark/blue/black-skinned". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Krisa (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Krisa?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.