Taga last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Taga

An occupational surname referring to someone who worked with ropes or cables.

Taga, 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 Taga surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Taga in America

Taga is the 118853rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Taga surname appeared 146 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 Taga.

We can also compare 2010 data for Taga 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 118853 107565 9.97%
Count 146 153 -4.68%
Proportion per 100k 0.05 0.06 -18.18%

The history of the last name Taga

The surname Taga has its origins in the Philippines, where it emerged in the late 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Tagalog word "taga," which means "native" or "inhabitant." This suggests that the name may have been initially used to identify individuals based on their place of origin or residence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Taga can be found in the Spanish colonial records of the Philippines during the 17th century. Specifically, there are references to individuals with the name Taga in the baptismal records of various Catholic churches in the Manila area.

Interestingly, the name Taga also appears in some ancient Filipino epics and oral traditions, further solidifying its deep roots in the region's cultural heritage. For example, in the epic poem "Biag ni Lam-ang," one of the characters is named Taga, possibly reflecting the name's long-standing presence in the archipelago.

Among the notable individuals who bore the surname Taga throughout history, one can mention Pedro Taga, a prominent revolutionary during the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule in the late 19th century. He played a significant role in the resistance movement and fought alongside other Filipino patriots.

Another figure of historical significance was Maria Taga, a renowned potter and ceramist from the 18th century. Her works, which were highly regarded for their intricate designs and craftsmanship, can still be found in various museum collections, providing insight into the rich artistic traditions of the Philippines during that era.

In the realm of literature, Juan Taga, a poet and playwright from the early 20th century, left an indelible mark on Filipino culture. His works often explored themes of identity, nationalism, and the struggles of the common people, resonating deeply with audiences across the archipelago.

The surname Taga can also be traced to specific locations within the Philippines, such as the town of Taga in the province of Leyte. This place name may have contributed to the surname's development, as it was common for individuals to adopt place-based surnames during that period.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning Francisco Taga, a respected scholar and educator from the late 19th century. He played a pivotal role in promoting education and literacy among the Filipino people, contributing to the preservation and dissemination of the nation's rich cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Taga

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

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 Taga was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 21.92% 32
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 64.38% 94
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 10.27% 15
Hispanic Origin 3.42% 5

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 Taga has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 21.92% 13.73% 45.95%
Black 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander 64.38% 73.86% -13.72%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 10.27% 9.15% 11.53%
Hispanic 3.42% 3.27% 4.48%

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Taga, 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!

"Taga last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/taga-surname-popularity/.

"Taga last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/taga-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Taga last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/taga-surname-popularity/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.