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

Vasa, 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 Vasa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vasa in America

Vasa is the 44356th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vasa surname appeared 485 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 Vasa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vasa 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 Vasa

The surname Vasa has its origins in Sweden, dating back to the late 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the Swedish word "vasa," which means "sheaf of grain" or "bundle of straw." This connection suggests that the name may have originated from an occupation or location associated with agriculture or farming.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Vasa can be found in the Scandinavian Peninsula, particularly in Sweden and parts of Finland. It is believed to have been initially used as a descriptive name, referring to individuals involved in the cultivation or handling of grain or straw.

One of the most notable historical figures associated with the name Vasa is Gustav Vasa (1496-1560), who is revered as the founder of modern Sweden. He led a successful rebellion against the Danish king, Christian II, and established the Vasa dynasty, which ruled Sweden from 1523 to 1654.

Another prominent figure with the surname Vasa was Erik Vasa (1470-1520), who was the father of Gustav Vasa and a Swedish noble. He played a crucial role in the struggle against Danish rule and was ultimately executed by Christian II, fueling the subsequent rebellion led by his son.

In the 16th century, the Vasa name gained prominence in Sweden due to the reign of the Vasa dynasty. During this period, several members of the royal family bore the surname, including Erik XIV (1533-1577), who ruled as King of Sweden from 1560 to 1568.

Outside of Sweden, the name Vasa also appeared in historical records and manuscripts. In Finland, which was under Swedish rule for several centuries, the surname Vasa was used by Finnish nobles and landowners with Swedish ancestry or connections.

One notable Finnish individual with the surname Vasa was Gustaf Vasa (1616-1653), a Finnish-Swedish nobleman and military commander who served as the Governor-General of Finland from 1648 until his death.

While the Vasa surname has its roots in Sweden and Scandinavia, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins can be traced back to the late 15th century in the Scandinavian Peninsula, where it was initially associated with agricultural occupations and locations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vasa

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

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

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

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