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

Rega, 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 Rega surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rega in America

Rega is the 25503rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rega surname appeared 969 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 Rega.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rega 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 Rega

The surname REGA has its origins in the Balkans, specifically in the region that is now modern-day Montenegro. The name is believed to have derived from the Slavic root word "reg", which means "ridge" or "rocky outcrop". This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname likely lived in or near a mountainous or hilly area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname REGA can be found in the Venetian Republic's census records from the 15th century. During this period, Venice controlled parts of the Dalmatian coast, which included areas of present-day Montenegro. The name is listed as "Rega" in these documents, indicating that the spelling has remained relatively consistent over time.

In the late 16th century, a notable bearer of the REGA surname was Ivan Rega, a merchant and trader from the town of Kotor, which was then part of the Venetian Republic. Ivan Rega's name appears in several business records and contracts from that era, as he conducted trade throughout the Adriatic region.

The REGA surname is also mentioned in several historical documents from the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly in relation to the Venetian-controlled areas of modern-day Montenegro. One such record is the account of a local uprising against Venetian rule in 1682, which mentions a Petar Rega as one of the rebel leaders.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure with the REGA surname was Marko Rega, born in 1825 in the town of Perast, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Marko Rega was a renowned naval captain and served in the Austro-Hungarian Navy, participating in several significant maritime campaigns and battles.

Another notable individual with the REGA surname was Jovan Rega, born in 1871 in the village of Lastva, which was also part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the time. Jovan Rega was a respected teacher and educator who played a significant role in promoting literacy and education in the region.

While the REGA surname has its roots in the Balkans, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, it remains most prevalent in the regions that were once part of the Venetian Republic and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, particularly in the areas that make up modern-day Montenegro.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rega

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

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

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

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