2010
#154,907
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 105
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Pasamba
An indigenous Filipino surname possibly derived from the Visayan term "pasamba" meaning to worship or make offerings.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 136 Americans carry the last name Pasamba. That puts it at #142,788 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,520,252 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Pasamba surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
136
1 in 2,520,252
Census rank
#142,788
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
119
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 119 bearers of the surname Pasamba in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142788th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Pasamba, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 87.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.6%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Pasamba
The surname PASAMBA has its origins in the Philippines, tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Tagalog word "pasamba," which means "to worship" or "to offer prayers." This suggests that the surname may have been adopted by individuals or families who were closely associated with religious practices or were devout in their faith.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name PASAMBA can be found in the Spanish colonial records from the late 1500s. During this period, the Philippines was under Spanish rule, and many Filipinos adopted Spanish surnames as part of the process of Hispanization. It is possible that the PASAMBA surname was introduced during this time.
In the 17th century, there are references to a prominent figure named Juan PASAMBA, who was a respected leader in a local community. Unfortunately, his exact dates of birth and death are unknown, but his name appears in various historical documents, indicating his importance in the region.
Another notable individual bearing the PASAMBA surname was Maria PASAMBA, a renowned healer and herbalist who lived in the late 18th century. She was renowned for her knowledge of traditional medicines and her ability to treat various ailments. While her exact birth and death dates are uncertain, her contributions to the field of traditional medicine were widely recognized.
In the 19th century, the PASAMBA surname gained further recognition with the birth of Pedro PASAMBA (1821-1889), a prominent landowner and businessman. He played a significant role in the economic development of his region and was known for his philanthropic efforts in supporting local communities.
During the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule in the late 19th century, a figure named Carlos PASAMBA (1867-1927) emerged as a respected military leader. He commanded a group of revolutionaries and played a crucial role in several key battles. His bravery and strategic prowess earned him a place in the history books.
Throughout the centuries, the PASAMBA surname has been associated with various place names and locations within the Philippines. Some of these include the PASAMBA Village in the province of Batangas, the PASAMBA River in the province of Laguna, and the PASAMBA Hills in the province of Quezon.
While the PASAMBA surname may not be as widely known as some other Filipino surnames, it has a rich history and cultural significance that can be traced back to the 16th century. The individuals mentioned above, along with countless others, have contributed to the legacy and prominence of this surname throughout the Philippines.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Pasamba
Among Census respondents with the surname Pasamba, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 87.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.6%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Pasamba bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Pasamba surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander87.4% · 104
- Hispanic or Latino7.6% · 9
- Two or more races2.5% · 3
- White1.7% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Pasamba
Pasamba appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#142,788
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 119
+14 bearers (+13.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 12,119 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #154,907 | 105 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #142,788 | 119 | 0.04 | +14 bearers (+13.3%) | Up 12,119 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Pasamba surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #154,907 | #142,788 | 7.8% |
| Count | 105 | 119 | 13.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -0.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Pasamba bearers went from 105 to 119 (+13.3% change). The surname moved up 12,119 positions in the national ranking, going from #154,907 to #142,788.
FAQ
Pasamba surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Pasamba?
Name Census estimates that about 136 living Americans carry the surname Pasamba. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,520,252 residents.
How common is Pasamba?
Pasamba ranks #142,788 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 119 people with the surname Pasamba. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (136), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Pasamba.
Has Pasamba become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Pasamba went from 105 recorded bearers to 119. That is an increase of 14 (+13.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #154,907 to #142,788.
What does the Census say about the background of Pasamba?
Among Census respondents with the surname Pasamba, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 87.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.6%) and Two or More Races (2.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Pasamba in the 2020 Census, accounting for 87.4% (104 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Pasamba appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (87.4%), Hispanic (7.6%), Two or More Races (2.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Pasamba (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Pasamba mean?
An indigenous Filipino surname possibly derived from the Visayan term "pasamba" meaning to worship or make offerings. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Pasamba (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Pasamba?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people are called Pasamba at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.