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

Shega, 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 Shega surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shega in America

Shega is the 143149th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shega surname appeared 116 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 Shega.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shega 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 Shega

The surname SHEGA has its origins in the Oriya language spoken in the Indian state of Odisha. The name is believed to have originated in the late 16th century, derived from the Odia word "shegā," which means "one who is skillful or adept." It is likely that the surname was initially given as a nickname to individuals who were highly skilled in their respective trades or professions.

In the early records of Odisha, the name SHEGA appears to have been prevalent among communities engaged in artisanal work, such as weaving, pottery, and metalsmithing. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in a 17th-century manuscript detailing the skilled artisans commissioned by the ruling Gajapati dynasty of Odisha.

The town of Sheragada, located in the Ganjam district of Odisha, is believed to have been named after a prominent family bearing the SHEGA surname. This suggests that the name had gained significance and recognition within the region by the 18th century.

Among the notable individuals who have carried the SHEGA surname throughout history is Balaram Shega (1870-1942), a renowned Odia poet and playwright. His contributions to the literary landscape of Odisha earned him the honorific title "Keertisagar," meaning "Ocean of Fame."

Another prominent figure was Mohan Shega (1912-1985), an influential political leader and social activist from Odisha. He played a pivotal role in the state's freedom struggle against British colonial rule and later served as a member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly.

In the field of art and culture, Raghunath Shega (1928-2002) was a celebrated Odia sculptor and painter. His works, which often depicted scenes from rural life and Hindu mythology, are widely acclaimed and have been exhibited both nationally and internationally.

Internationally, the name SHEGA has also been associated with notable individuals, such as Purnima Shega (born 1960), an Indian-American computer scientist and entrepreneur. She co-founded the successful technology company Ximian, which was later acquired by Novell.

Lastly, Saurabh Shega (born 1978) is a renowned Indian classical musician and vocalist, renowned for his expertise in the Khayal and Thumri genres of Hindustani classical music. His performances have graced prestigious stages across India and abroad, earning him numerous accolades and awards.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shega

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

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

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

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