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

Ossa, 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 Ossa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ossa in America

Ossa is the 33645th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ossa surname appeared 677 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 Ossa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ossa 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 Ossa

The surname Ossa has its origins in Italy, where it first emerged during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin word "ossa," meaning "bones," which may have been used as a nickname for someone who was particularly thin or gaunt.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ossa can be found in a 13th-century document from the city of Siena, where a certain Guido Ossa is mentioned as a witness to a legal transaction. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by that time.

In the 14th century, the name appears in records from the city of Florence, where a family by the name of Ossa is mentioned as being involved in the textile trade. This could indicate that the name was associated with a particular profession or trade at that time.

During the Renaissance period, the Ossa family produced several notable individuals. One of the most prominent was Giovanni Battista Ossa (1492-1556), a renowned painter and architect who worked on several churches and palaces in Rome and other parts of Italy.

Another notable figure with the surname Ossa was Antonio Ossa (1548-1624), a Venetian scholar and philosopher who wrote extensively on topics such as ethics and metaphysics. His works were widely read and studied throughout Europe during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, the name Ossa appears in records from the island of Sicily, where a family by that name owned several vineyards and produced wine. One member of this family, Giuseppe Ossa (1724-1798), was known for his philanthropy and support of local charities.

Another individual of note was Maria Ossa (1765-1841), a renowned opera singer who performed in some of the finest theaters of Europe during the early 19th century. She was particularly celebrated for her roles in operas by composers such as Rossini and Bellini.

Finally, in the late 19th century, a certain Enrico Ossa (1867-1932) became a prominent figure in the Italian labor movement, advocating for workers' rights and better working conditions. He was instrumental in organizing several strikes and protests throughout the country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ossa

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

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

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

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