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

Saya, 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 Saya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Saya in America

Saya is the 50362nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Saya surname appeared 415 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 Saya.

We can also compare 2010 data for Saya 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 Saya

The surname SAYA is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, with roots tracing back to the Sanskrit language. One theory suggests that it derives from the Sanskrit word "sāya," which translates to "evening" or "dusk." This connection could indicate that the name may have been associated with families or individuals who worked or lived during the evening hours.

Another possible origin of the name SAYA is linked to the Sanskrit word "saaya," meaning "shadow" or "shade." This derivation may have referred to individuals residing in shaded or forested areas or may have been a descriptive term for their physical appearance or occupation.

The earliest known records of the surname SAYA date back to the 12th century, where it appeared in various historical documents from the Indian subcontinent. One notable example is the mention of a scholar named Saya Narayana in a 14th-century Sanskrit manuscript, which details his contributions to the field of philosophy and literature.

During the medieval period, the name SAYA was also found in various regions of South India, particularly in areas now known as Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Some instances of the name can be found in records related to land ownership and taxation from this time.

In the 16th century, a prominent individual named Saya Kaviraja gained recognition as a renowned poet and playwright in the court of the Vijayanagar Empire. His works, which often explored themes of love, devotion, and spirituality, are still celebrated in the region today.

Another notable figure with the surname SAYA was Saya Chidambaram Pillai, an Indian freedom fighter and activist who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born in 1872 and dedicated his life to advocating for Indian self-governance and resistance against British colonial rule.

In more recent history, the name SAYA gained recognition through the work of Saya Thwin, a Burmese author and journalist born in 1921. His writings, which often explored themes of social justice and human rights, earned him widespread acclaim both within Burma (now Myanmar) and internationally.

During the 20th century, the surname SAYA also found its way to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. While the name maintains its roots in South Asia, it has since been adopted and carried on by families across different regions and cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Saya

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

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

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

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