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

Varga, 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 Varga surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Varga in America

Varga is the 5608th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Varga surname appeared 6,201 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Varga.

We can also compare 2010 data for Varga 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 Varga

The surname Varga originates from Hungary, and it can be traced back to the medieval period in the region. The name is believed to derive from the Hungarian word "varga," which means "shoemaker" or "cobbler." This occupation-based surname likely emerged as a way to identify individuals by their trade or profession.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Varga can be found in the Váradi Regestrum, a 13th-century document that contains legal records from the city of Várad (now Oradea, Romania). This document mentions several individuals with the surname Varga, indicating that the name was already in use during this period.

In the 15th century, the name Varga appeared in the Gesta Hungarorum, a medieval chronicle detailing the history of the Hungarian people. This work mentions a nobleman named Varga who played a role in the battles against the Ottoman Empire, suggesting that the name had gained prominence by this time.

Over the centuries, the surname Varga has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Mihály Varga (c. 1510-1572), a Hungarian Protestant reformer and theologian who played a significant role in the spread of Calvinism in the region.

Another prominent figure was Péter Varga (1763-1839), a Hungarian mathematician and engineer who made significant contributions to the field of geodesy. His work on surveying and mapping techniques was instrumental in the development of modern cartography.

In the 19th century, József Varga (1891-1965) was a Hungarian artist known for his expressive paintings and woodcuts. His works often depicted scenes from rural life and the struggles of the working class, reflecting the social and political climate of his time.

The 20th century saw the rise of Bálint Varga (1911-1996), a Hungarian writer and journalist who was renowned for his satirical works and criticism of the communist regime. His novels and essays provided a unique perspective on the turbulent political landscape of Hungary during this period.

In the realm of sports, László Varga (1924-2016) was a Hungarian water polo player who won three Olympic gold medals for his country. He was a member of the legendary Hungarian water polo team that dominated the sport in the 1950s and 1960s.

While the surname Varga has its roots in Hungary, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. Today, the name can be found among individuals of Hungarian descent in various countries, serving as a testament to the rich history and enduring legacy of this ancient surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Varga

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

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

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

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