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

Nea, 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 Nea surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nea in America

Nea is the 147253rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nea surname appeared 112 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 Nea.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nea 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 Nea

The surname NEA originates from Scotland and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the old Gaelic word "neadh," which means a nest or dwelling place. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived in a secluded or remote area, or perhaps someone who built a home in a unique location.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name NEA can be found in the Scottish Ragman Rolls of 1296, a document that recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. This historical record provides evidence that the surname was in use during that time period.

In the 15th century, a notable figure with the surname NEA was John Nea, a Scottish clergyman and educator who served as the Principal of the University of St Andrews from 1476 to 1487. His contribution to the field of education and his association with one of Scotland's most prestigious universities further solidified the presence of the NEA name in historical records.

During the 16th century, the surname NEA began to appear in various Scottish parish records and registries. One such example is James Nea, born in 1542 in the village of Crail, Fife. His name is documented in the parish records of the local church, providing insight into the geographical distribution of the surname during that era.

In the 17th century, the name NEA gained further prominence with the birth of William Nea (1632-1695), a Scottish philosopher and writer who published works on metaphysics and theology. His literary contributions and scholarly pursuits brought recognition to the surname and its association with intellectual pursuits.

Another notable individual with the surname NEA was Robert Nea (1718-1782), a Scottish merchant and entrepreneur who established successful trading operations in the American colonies. His business ventures and transatlantic connections highlighted the spread of the NEA name to different parts of the world during the 18th century.

As the centuries progressed, the surname NEA continued to appear in various historical records, including census data, military records, and other official documents. While the name may have originated in Scotland, its presence can be found in various parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns and global reach of those who carried this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nea

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

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

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

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