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

Tjia, 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 Tjia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tjia in America

Tjia is the 129825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tjia surname appeared 131 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 Tjia.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tjia 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 Tjia

The surname TJIA is believed to have originated in Indonesia, specifically from the island of Java. It is thought to have emerged during the 15th century, derived from the Javanese word "tjia," which means "to shine" or "to be bright." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to describe someone with a radiant personality or a bright disposition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the TJIA surname can be found in a 16th-century manuscript detailing the trade activities of Dutch merchants in the Indonesian archipelago. The name appears to have been associated with a prominent merchant family from the coastal city of Semarang.

In the 17th century, the TJIA name gained recognition when a wealthy trader named Tjia Boen Seng established a successful spice trading business in Batavia (now known as Jakarta). His descendants continued to play an influential role in the region's commerce for several generations.

During the 18th century, the TJIA surname spread beyond Java as members of the family migrated to other parts of the Indonesian archipelago and the neighboring regions of Southeast Asia. One notable figure from this period was Tjia Ing Hien, a scholar and poet who was renowned for his contributions to the preservation of Javanese literature and culture.

In the 19th century, a TJIA family from Surabaya rose to prominence through their involvement in the sugar industry. Tjia Tjing Hien, the patriarch of the family, was a successful businessman and philanthropist who funded the construction of several schools and hospitals in the region.

As the centuries passed, the TJIA surname continued to be associated with influential individuals. In the early 20th century, Tjia Hing Djiet was a prominent architect who designed several iconic buildings in Jakarta, including the former Hotel der Nederlanden. Another notable figure from this era was Tjia Liang Tjiang, a celebrated writer and poet whose works explored themes of identity and cultural heritage.

While the surname TJIA originated in Indonesia, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its roots can be traced back to the island of Java, where it emerged as a reflection of the rich cultural tapestry of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tjia

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

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

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

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