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

Sawaya, 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 Sawaya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sawaya in America

Sawaya is the 29138th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sawaya surname appeared 813 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 Sawaya.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sawaya 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 Sawaya

The surname Sawaya has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the Levantine region. It is believed to have originated in ancient times, derived from the Aramaic or Arabic word "sawa," which means "to be equal" or "to be alike." This linguistic root suggests that the name may have initially been used to refer to individuals who were considered equals or shared a common trait or characteristic.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sawaya can be found in medieval manuscripts from the 13th century. These documents mention individuals bearing this surname who were prominent merchants or scholars in cities such as Damascus and Aleppo. The name also appears in historical records from the Ottoman Empire, indicating its presence in regions that are now part of modern-day Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Sawaya al-Halabi, born in Aleppo in 1492 and died in 1555, gained recognition as a renowned scholar and poet. His works, which explored various aspects of Islamic literature and philosophy, were widely circulated and studied during his lifetime and for generations thereafter.

Another prominent individual with the surname Sawaya was Ibrahim Sawaya, a 17th-century merchant and entrepreneur from Beirut. He established successful trading networks across the Mediterranean region, facilitating the exchange of goods between the Levant and Europe. His business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit contributed to the economic prosperity of the region during that era.

During the 19th century, the Sawaya family played a significant role in the cultural and intellectual life of Mount Lebanon. Joseph Sawaya, born in 1824 and died in 1896, was a respected writer and educator who authored several influential works on Arabic literature and language. His contributions helped preserve and promote the rich literary heritage of the region.

In more recent times, the name Sawaya has also been associated with notable figures in fields such as medicine and academia. Dr. Sami Sawaya, born in 1923 and died in 2008, was a renowned Lebanese physician and researcher who made groundbreaking contributions to the study of infectious diseases. His work had a profound impact on public health practices in the Middle East and beyond.

While the surname Sawaya has its roots in the Middle East, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. The name continues to be prevalent in countries like Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine, as well as within their respective diasporas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sawaya

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

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

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

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