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

Ṣhana, 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 Ṣhana surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Ṣhana in America

Ṣhana is the 131366th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ṣhana surname appeared 119 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ṣhana.

The history of the last name Ṣhana

The surname Shana is believed to have origins that trace back to several cultures, making it somewhat of a polygenetic name. One of the more accepted origins is from the Hebrew language, where it translates to "year" or "change". This surname is often associated with Jewish communities in Eastern Europe, particularly within Poland and Ukraine, during the medieval period.

Early historical references to surnames with similar phonetic composition, such as Shumann and Schoeman, appear in various Germanic records around the 13th century. However, these names likely represent different lineages with coincidentally similar spellings rather than direct ancestral links.

The earliest recorded usage of the surname in a recognizable form is from a Jewish record in Krakow, Poland, dating back to the late 15th century. This document, found in the records of a local synagogue, lists a Yosef ben Shana as a contributor to the community, indicating a well-established lineage by that time.

In the 17th century, we find another notable mention of the surname in the records of the Ottoman Empire, specifically within the Jewish ghettos of Constantinople. Rahamim Shana was a respected rabbi and scholar born in 1634 and passed away in 1702. His works and contributions to Talmudic study are still referenced in scholarly circles today.

The 18th century offers another glimpse of the surname's historical presence. In Hungary, the name appears in a tax register from 1746. Avraham Shana is listed among the prominent Jewish merchants of Debrecen, known for his extensive trade in textiles.

Moving to the 19th century, in Galicia, which was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the surname Shana appears once more. A record from the city of Lemberg (modern-day Lviv) in 1821 lists Miriam Shana as a notable philanthropist, suggesting that the surname was associated with individuals of considerable social standing.

In literature, the name Shana is immortalized by the works of Polish writer Bruno Schulz. Born in 1892 and deceased in 1942, he was a Jewish novelist and painter, with several of his characters bearing names inspired by his heritage, including the surname Shana.

The surname has also spread outside of Europe due to migrations. An example is Aaron Shana, born in the mid-19th century, who emigrated to the United States and became part of New York's burgeoning Jewish community. His descendants carried the name into the 20th century, contributing to various aspects of American society.

In summary, the surname Shana has a rich and varied history spanning several centuries and cultures. From its early mentions in Polish Jewish records to its presence in Ottoman scholarly texts, the name signifies change, continuity, and the enduring legacy of those who bore it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ṣhana

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ṣhana 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.

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

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

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