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

Spahiu, 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 Spahiu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Spahiu in America

Spahiu is the 82613th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Spahiu surname appeared 228 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 Spahiu.

The history of the last name Spahiu

The surname "SPAHIU" is of Albanian origin, and it is believed to have originated in the northern regions of Albania, particularly in the areas around the city of Shkodra, during the late 15th or early 16th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Turkish word "spahi," which referred to a type of cavalryman or soldier in the Ottoman Empire.

In the early days of Ottoman rule in the Balkans, many Albanians were recruited into the ranks of the spahi cavalry, and it is possible that the surname "SPAHIU" was initially given to individuals or families who held this military role. The surname may have also been adopted by those who were associated with or served under the spahi soldiers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "SPAHIU" can be found in a document from the Ottoman archives, dated around 1570, which mentions a certain Ahmet Spahiu, a spahi soldier stationed in the region of Shkodra. This document provides evidence of the name's existence and its connection to the Ottoman military.

In the 17th century, the surname appears to have spread to other parts of Albania, as well as to neighboring regions with significant Albanian populations, such as Kosovo and parts of Macedonia. During this period, the name was sometimes spelled slightly differently, such as "Spahija" or "Spahiyu," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and orthography.

One notable figure bearing the surname "SPAHIU" was Mustafa Spahiu (1844-1919), an Albanian poet and writer who was a prominent figure in the Albanian National Awakening movement. He wrote several works that promoted Albanian culture and language, and his contributions were instrumental in the development of modern Albanian literature.

Another notable individual was Ismail Spahiu (1877-1948), an Albanian politician and military leader who played a significant role in the country's struggle for independence from the Ottoman Empire. He served as the Minister of War and later as the Prime Minister of Albania in the early 20th century.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the surname "SPAHIU" was also found among Albanian families who migrated to other parts of the world, such as Italy, Greece, and the United States. One example is Marigo Spahiu (1885-1968), an Albanian-American writer and activist who worked tirelessly to promote Albanian culture and education in the United States.

Another notable figure was Hamdi Spahiu (1901-1978), an Albanian scholar and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of Albanian language and literature. He served as the director of the Institute of Language and Literature in Tirana and published numerous works on Albanian grammar and linguistics.

While the surname "SPAHIU" has its roots in the Ottoman military tradition, over time it has become a well-established Albanian surname, carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Albanian people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Spahiu

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

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

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

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