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

Pa, 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 Pa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pa in America

Pa is the 31360th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pa surname appeared 739 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 Pa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pa 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 Pa

The surname Pa has its origins in South Asia, particularly in the Indian subcontinent. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "pā," which means "protector" or "guardian." This surname is primarily found among various communities in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

In ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, Pa was often used as a title or honorific for individuals who held positions of responsibility or authority, such as chieftains, village elders, or protectors of the community. Over time, this title evolved into a hereditary surname, indicating the lineage and background of the bearers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Pa can be traced back to the 12th century CE, when the Pa dynasty ruled over parts of present-day Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in northern India. During this period, several inscriptions and historical records mention individuals bearing the Pa surname, indicating their connections to the ruling family or their roles as local administrators.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Todar Mal Pa served as the finance minister and one of the nine jewels (navratnas) in the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Todar Mal Pa was born in 1519 and is renowned for his contributions to the revenue system and administrative reforms during Akbar's reign.

Another notable individual with the Pa surname was Shyamji Krishna Varma (1857-1930), a prominent Indian revolutionary and activist who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. He founded the India House in London, which served as a hub for Indian nationalists and was instrumental in promoting the cause of Indian freedom.

In the realm of literature, Govardhanram Tripathi Pa (1855-1907) was a renowned Hindi poet and writer from Uttar Pradesh. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern Hindi literature and made significant contributions to the development of the Khari Boli dialect.

The Pa surname is also found among various communities in Bangladesh, such as the Brahmins, Kayasthas, and Vaidyas. In Pakistan, it is primarily associated with certain Muslim communities, such as the Pathans and Punjabis, who have historical connections to the Indian subcontinent.

While the Pa surname has its roots in South Asia, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, the majority of individuals bearing this surname can trace their ancestral lineage back to the Indian subcontinent and the cultural and historical significance associated with it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pa

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!