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

Pha, 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 Pha surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pha in America

Pha is the 34574th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pha surname appeared 654 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 Pha.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pha 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 Pha

The surname "Pha" has its origins in the ancient Persian culture, dating back to the 6th century BCE. It is believed to have derived from the Old Persian word "pha," which means "to protect" or "to guard." This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who served as protectors or guardians of a community or a royal family.

In the early days, the name was primarily found in the regions of modern-day Iran and Afghanistan, where the Persian influence was strong. As the Persian Empire expanded, the name spread to neighboring territories, including parts of Central Asia and the Middle East.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Pha" can be found in the Achaemenid inscriptions, a collection of ancient Persian texts that date back to the 6th century BCE. These inscriptions were commissioned by the Achaemenid kings and were carved on rock faces and monuments throughout their empire.

During the Islamic Golden Age, which spanned from the 8th to the 13th century, several notable scholars and intellectuals bore the surname "Pha." One such individual was Abu Nasr Muhammad al-Pha (born around 965 CE), a renowned Persian mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of trigonometry and the study of celestial mechanics.

In the 11th century, the name "Pha" gained prominence in the Persian literary world with the birth of Ferdowsi Pha (940-1020 CE), one of the most celebrated poets in Iranian history. His magnum opus, the Shahnameh, an epic poem that recounts the history and mythology of ancient Persia, is considered a masterpiece of Persian literature.

Another noteworthy figure with the surname "Pha" was Shams al-Din Muhammad Pha (1236-1311 CE), a renowned Persian philosopher and mystic who had a profound influence on the teachings of the famous poet and scholar, Rumi.

In the 14th century, the name "Pha" appeared in the works of the Persian historian Hamdollah Mostowfi, who mentioned a village named "Pha" in his book "Nuzhat al-Qulub" (Delight of the Hearts), suggesting that the name may have also been used as a place name.

As the Persian culture expanded and interacted with other civilizations, the name "Pha" spread to various regions, including parts of Central Asia, the Caucasus, and even as far as India. Over time, the name underwent slight variations in spelling and pronunciation, with forms such as "Pha'i," "Phahi," and "Phay" appearing in different contexts and regions.

Today, the surname "Pha" continues to be found among individuals of Persian descent, serving as a reminder of their rich cultural heritage and the contributions of their ancestors to various fields, including literature, philosophy, and science.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pha

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

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

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

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