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

Muga, 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 Muga surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Muga in America

Muga is the 113155th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Muga surname appeared 155 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 Muga.

We can also compare 2010 data for Muga 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 Muga

The surname Muga has its origins in the Basque region of Spain and France. It emerged during the 11th century and is believed to be derived from the Basque word "muga," which means "boundary" or "border." This suggests that the name may have been originally associated with individuals who lived near a border or territorial boundary.

In the early 12th century, the name Muga appeared in various records and documents from the Basque region, including church registries and property deeds. One notable mention was in the Codex de Roda, a medieval cartulary from the monastery of San Victorian, where a landowner named Lope de Muga was listed as a witness to a property transaction in 1137.

The earliest known individual with the surname Muga was Juan de Muga, a Basque nobleman born around 1210. He was a prominent figure in the court of King Alfonso X of Castile and served as a royal advisor and diplomat. Juan de Muga was also known for his literary works, including a collection of poems and a treatise on falconry.

During the 14th century, the Muga family established themselves in the town of Mungía, located in the province of Biscay. This town's name is believed to be derived from the same Basque root as the surname Muga, suggesting a connection between the family and the place.

One notable figure from this period was Rodrigo de Muga (c. 1320-1390), a skilled architect who oversaw the construction of several churches and castles in the Basque region. His most famous work is the Church of Santa María in Mungía, which is considered a masterpiece of Gothic architecture.

In the 16th century, the Muga family produced several notable figures, including Catalina de Muga (c. 1515-1582), a renowned healer and herbalist who authored a book on traditional Basque remedies. Another notable individual was Pedro de Muga (c. 1530-1610), a navigator and explorer who accompanied Spanish expeditions to the Americas and helped map the coastlines of present-day Florida and the Carolinas.

During the 17th century, the Muga surname spread beyond the Basque region as members of the family migrated to other parts of Spain and the Americas. One prominent figure from this era was Diego de Muga (c. 1620-1685), a Spanish military commander who played a crucial role in the defense of Cartagena de Indias against English and French attacks.

Throughout history, the Muga surname has been associated with various professions, including nobility, clergy, artisans, and scholars. While the name originated in the Basque region, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who have contributed to the diverse tapestry of human history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Muga

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

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

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

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