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

Mosa, 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 Mosa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mosa in America

Mosa is the 65066th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mosa surname appeared 305 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 Mosa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mosa 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 Mosa

The surname MOSA has its origins in Italy, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "musca," which means "fly" or "gnat." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname for someone who exhibited certain characteristics akin to a fly, such as being quick or agile.

The earliest recorded instances of the name MOSA can be traced back to the regions of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy. In medieval times, it was common for surnames to be derived from nicknames, occupations, or geographical locations, and MOSA likely followed this pattern.

One of the earliest known references to the name MOSA can be found in the historic records of the city of Piacenza, where a certain Guido Mosa is mentioned in a document dated 1185. This suggests that the surname was already in use by the late 12th century.

Another notable figure bearing the surname MOSA was Giovanni Mosa, a renowned sculptor and architect from Piacenza who lived in the 15th century. He is credited with designing the beautiful façade of the Palazzo Comunale in his hometown, a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture.

In the 16th century, a family by the name of Mosa gained prominence in the city of Verona. One of its members, Giacomo Mosa, was a respected jurist and served as a judge in the Venetian Republic's legal system.

Moving forward to the 17th century, we encounter the figure of Francesco Mosa, a talented painter from Milan who was renowned for his religious works and frescoes adorning various churches in northern Italy.

Lastly, in the 19th century, the name MOSA resurfaced in the literary world with the Italian poet and playwright Luigi Mosa, born in 1819 in the town of Novara. His works, which often explored themes of love and nature, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

Throughout its long history, the surname MOSA has undergone various spellings and variations, such as Moza, Moza, and Musi, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the Italian regions where it originated. However, the core meaning and origins of the name remain rooted in the ancient Latin word "musca," a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Italy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mosa

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

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

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

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