Mya last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Mya

A surname of Burmese origin, meaning "emerald" or "jade."

Mya, 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 Mya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mya in America

Mya is the 97671st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mya surname appeared 186 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 Mya.

The history of the last name Mya

The surname Mya has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, where it is believed to have originated during the medieval period. The name is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "maya," which means "illusion" or "magic." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who were skilled in the arts of magic or illusion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Mya can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document written during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This document mentions a courtier named Mya Singh, who served as a high-ranking official in the imperial court.

In the 17th century, the Mya surname appears in several historical records from the region of Bengal, which was then ruled by the Mughal Empire. These records include land grants and tax registers, indicating that individuals with the Mya surname held positions of authority and owned property during this period.

As the Mya surname spread across the Indian subcontinent, it adapted to various regional dialects and linguistic influences. For instance, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the name is sometimes written as "Mayya" or "Maiya," reflecting the local pronunciation.

One notable figure in Indian history who bore the Mya surname was Mya Thein, a prominent Burmese scholar and politician who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Mya Thein played a significant role in the independence movement of Burma (now Myanmar) and served as the country's first Prime Minister from 1948 to 1956.

Another individual of historical significance was Mya Kyaw Thu, a Burmese writer and journalist who lived from 1909 to 1978. He was renowned for his contributions to Burmese literature and his advocacy for social and political reforms during the colonial era.

In the field of arts and culture, the Mya surname is associated with Mya Sein, a renowned Burmese painter and dancer who lived from 1904 to 1990. She was a pioneer in the revival of traditional Burmese dance forms and played a crucial role in preserving and promoting the country's cultural heritage.

It is also worth mentioning Mya Than Tint, a Burmese politician and diplomat who served as the country's Foreign Minister from 1958 to 1962. He was instrumental in shaping Burma's foreign policy during the early years of its independence.

Finally, the Mya surname has also found its way into the literary world, with Mya Aye, a contemporary Burmese writer and poet. Born in 1962, Mya Aye has received numerous awards and accolades for her works, which explore themes of identity, tradition, and social change in Burma.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mya

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

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 Mya was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 9.14% 17
Non-Hispanic Black Only 7.53% 14
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 61.83% 115
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 2.69% 5
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 3.23% 6
Hispanic Origin 15.59% 29

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.

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

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

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"Mya last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 25, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/mya-surname-popularity/.

"Mya last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/mya-surname-popularity/. Accessed 25 November, 2024

Mya last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/mya-surname-popularity/.

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