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

Via, 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 Via surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Via in America

Via is the 7293rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Via surname appeared 4,570 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 Via.

We can also compare 2010 data for Via 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 Via

The surname VIA has its origins in Italy, dating back to the late medieval period. The name is believed to be derived from the Latin word "via," which means "way" or "road." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a significant road or traveled along trade routes.

In the 13th century, the name Via appeared in various official documents and records from the region of Tuscany, particularly in the cities of Florence and Siena. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name was in the Florentine tax records of 1245, where a certain "Guido Via" was listed as a merchant.

During the Renaissance period, the Via family gained prominence in the city of Florence, where they were involved in the wool trade and banking industries. One notable member was Bartolomeo Via (1460-1537), a wealthy banker and patron of the arts who commissioned works from renowned artists such as Raphael and Andrea del Sarto.

In the 16th century, the name Via spread to other parts of Italy, including the regions of Lombardy and Veneto. The variant spelling "Viaz" was also recorded in some areas, reflecting local dialects and pronunciation.

Throughout the centuries, several individuals with the surname Via have left their mark in various fields. One example is Giovanni Via (1748-1819), an Italian botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of plant taxonomy and authored several works on the flora of Italy.

Another notable figure was Giacomo Via (1833-1904), an Italian architect and engineer known for his work on the reconstruction of the Milan Cathedral and the design of several public buildings in the city.

In the field of literature, Giuseppe Via (1868-1937) was a prominent Italian poet and playwright from Sicily, celebrated for his works that captured the essence of rural life and the Sicilian dialect.

More recently, Maria Via (1930-2019) was a respected Italian actress and television personality, known for her roles in numerous films and TV series throughout the 20th century.

While the surname Via has its roots in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and intermarriages. However, the historical records and notable individuals mentioned here showcase the rich heritage and diverse contributions made by those bearing this Italian surname over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Via

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

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

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

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