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

Ukaj, 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 Ukaj surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ukaj in America

Ukaj is the 130610th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ukaj surname appeared 130 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 Ukaj.

The history of the last name Ukaj

The surname UKAJ is of Albanian origin, first appearing in historical records around the 15th century. It is believed to have originated from the Gheg Albanian dialect, which was prevalent in the northern regions of Albania. The name is thought to be derived from the Albanian word "uka," meaning "boundary" or "border," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived in areas close to territorial borders or frontier regions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the UKAJ surname can be found in a preserved manuscript from the late 15th century, which details the names of prominent families in the Shkodra region of northern Albania. This document mentions a certain Gjergj UKAJ, who was a landowner and influential figure in the local community.

During the 16th century, the UKAJ name appeared in various Ottoman records, as the Ottoman Empire had conquered and controlled much of the Albanian territories at that time. These records often referred to individuals with the UKAJ surname as landowners, merchants, or local administrators within the Ottoman administrative system.

In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the UKAJ surname was Pjeter UKAJ, a Catholic priest and scholar who was born in the town of Lezha in 1712. He was renowned for his contributions to the preservation and promotion of the Albanian language and culture during a time when Ottoman rule had suppressed Albanian identity.

Another prominent figure with the UKAJ surname was Mehmet UKAJ, an Albanian military leader who fought against the Ottoman Empire during the early 19th century. He was born in the village of Tuzi (now part of Montenegro) in 1788 and played a significant role in the Albanian resistance movements seeking independence from Ottoman rule.

In the late 19th century, a man named Ndrec UKAJ gained recognition as a skilled craftsman and woodcarver from the town of Kruja. His intricate woodwork adorned many churches and buildings throughout northern Albania, and his creations were highly sought after by both local and foreign patrons.

The surname UKAJ has also been associated with several notable authors and intellectuals throughout history. One such figure was Zef UKAJ, a 20th-century writer and journalist who was born in Shkodra in 1904. He was known for his contributions to Albanian literature and his advocacy for the preservation of Albanian cultural heritage.

Overall, the UKAJ surname has a rich history rooted in the northern regions of Albania, with many prominent bearers contributing to various aspects of Albanian society, including land ownership, religious leadership, military resistance, craftsmanship, and literature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ukaj

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

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

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

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