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

Tava, 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 Tava surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tava in America

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

The Tava 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 Tava.

The history of the last name Tava

The surname Tava has its origins in the northern regions of Italy, particularly in the areas around the provinces of Brescia and Bergamo. It is believed to have emerged during the late medieval period, sometime between the 13th and 15th centuries. The name is thought to derive from an old Italian word "tava," which referred to a flat stone or a slab used for various purposes, such as paving or construction.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tava appears in a collection of legal documents from the city of Brescia, dated to the mid-14th century. These records mention a certain Giovanni Tava, a stonemason who was involved in the construction of several buildings in the area. This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname, given to individuals who worked with stone or were involved in related trades.

In the 15th century, there are records of a family named Tava residing in the town of Cividate Camuno, located in the Val Camonica region of Brescia. This family is mentioned in connection with land ownership and agricultural activities, indicating that the name had spread beyond its initial occupational ties.

Throughout the subsequent centuries, the Tava surname can be found scattered across various parts of northern Italy, with notable individuals bearing this name. One such figure was Giovanni Battista Tava (1585-1648), a renowned artist and painter from the town of Bergamo. His works can be found in several churches and galleries throughout the region.

Another notable person with the surname Tava was Antonio Tava (1670-1738), a Jesuit priest and scholar from the city of Brescia. He was known for his contributions to the fields of philosophy and theology, and his writings were widely circulated during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, the Tava family name gained further recognition with the birth of Carlo Tava (1821-1892), a prominent lawyer and politician from the town of Salò, near Lake Garda. He served as a member of the Italian parliament and was actively involved in the unification movement of Italy.

Other individuals who carried the Tava surname include Girolamo Tava (1745-1810), a respected architect from Bergamo who designed several notable buildings in the area, and Francesca Tava (1892-1976), a pioneering educator and women's rights activist from the city of Brescia.

While the origins of the Tava surname can be traced back to the northern regions of Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the country and even to other countries through migration and intermarriage. However, its roots remain firmly embedded in the historical and cultural heritage of the provinces of Brescia and Bergamo, where it first emerged as a surname centuries ago.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tava

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

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

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

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