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

Seja, 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 Seja surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Seja in America

Seja is the 77012th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Seja surname appeared 249 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 Seja.

We can also compare 2010 data for Seja 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 Seja

The surname SEJA is believed to have originated in Portugal during the Middle Ages, derived from the Portuguese word "seja," which means "be" or "let it be." This name likely emerged as a descriptive surname given to someone with a calm or accepting demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SEJA surname can be found in historical documents from the northern region of Portugal, specifically in the city of Braga, dating back to the 14th century. During this time, surnames were becoming more prevalent as a way to identify individuals beyond just their given names.

While the SEJA surname has its roots in Portugal, it has also been found in various other parts of the Iberian Peninsula, including Spain, where it may have been adopted by individuals with Portuguese ancestry or through migration. Additionally, some records indicate that the name may have been present in the Canary Islands, which were under Portuguese control during the 15th and 16th centuries.

One notable figure bearing the SEJA surname was João Rodrigues Seja, a Portuguese explorer and navigator who lived in the late 15th century. He played a role in the early Portuguese explorations of the Atlantic Ocean and is believed to have been part of the expeditions that led to the discovery of the Cape Verde Islands.

Another individual of historical significance was Álvaro Seja, a Portuguese soldier and military commander who served during the Portuguese Restoration War in the mid-17th century. He participated in several battles against Spanish forces, defending Portuguese independence during this period of conflict.

In the realm of literature, António Seja, a 19th-century Portuguese poet and writer, is worth mentioning. He is known for his contributions to the literary movement of Romanticism in Portugal and for his works that celebrated the country's rich cultural heritage.

Moving into the 20th century, Maria Seja, a Portuguese educator and activist, made significant contributions to the promotion of women's rights and education in her country. She fought tirelessly for gender equality and played a crucial role in establishing educational opportunities for women in Portugal.

Another notable figure is Manuel Seja, a 20th-century Portuguese architect who left a lasting impact on the architectural landscape of his country. He was responsible for designing several iconic buildings and structures, many of which are now considered important historical landmarks.

While the SEJA surname has its roots in Portugal, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, the detailed history and origins of this surname remain firmly rooted in the cultural and linguistic heritage of the Iberian Peninsula.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Seja

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!