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

Sha, 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 Sha surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sha in America

Sha is the 23866th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sha surname appeared 1,058 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 Sha.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sha 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 Sha

The surname "Sha" is believed to have originated in China, with its earliest known roots dating back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). It is thought to be derived from the Chinese word "sha," which means "sand" or "gravel." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who lived in sandy or gravelly areas, or perhaps those who worked with these materials.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname "Sha" can be found in the Song Dynasty text "The Book of Surnames," which was compiled during the reign of Emperor Huizong (1100-1125 AD). This text served as a comprehensive record of Chinese surnames and their origins.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), there are records of a prominent scholar named Sha Dongxun (1594-1676), who hailed from Jiangsu Province. He was renowned for his expertise in the Confucian classics and held several prestigious positions in the imperial government.

Another notable figure bearing the surname "Sha" was Sha Menghai (1900-1992), a celebrated artist and calligrapher from Guangdong Province. His works are highly regarded and can be found in numerous museums and private collections around the world.

In the literary realm, the name "Sha" is associated with the renowned writer and poet Sha Tingyu (1918-1996), whose works explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition. His poetry collections, such as "The Sound of Wind and Rain," are considered classics of modern Chinese literature.

The surname "Sha" also has ties to ancient place names, such as the town of Shaxian, located in Fujian Province. This town was historically known for its pottery and ceramic production, and it is possible that the surname may have been derived from this place name.

It is worth noting that while the surname "Sha" has a rich history in China, it has also been adopted by people of other ethnicities and nationalities over time, particularly in regions with significant Chinese populations or cultural influences.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sha

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

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

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

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