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

Wa, 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 Wa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wa in America

Wa is the 49636th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wa surname appeared 423 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 Wa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wa 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 Wa

The surname "WA" is believed to have originated in China, with its roots tracing back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is derived from the Chinese word "wa," which means "small" or "tiny."

During the Tang Dynasty, many families adopted surnames based on physical characteristics, occupations, or place names. The surname "WA" was likely given to families who lived in small villages or settlements, or to those who were of smaller stature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "WA" can be found in the historical text "Zizhi Tongjian," which documents the events of the Tang Dynasty. The text mentions a scholar and poet named WA Youji, who lived during the 8th century AD.

In the 10th century, a prominent figure named WA Zhengxian served as a high-ranking official during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). He is known for his contributions to the development of the civil service examination system.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), a renowned painter and calligrapher named WA Ren gained recognition for his artistic talents. His works were highly sought after by the imperial court and scholar-officials of the time.

In the 17th century, a military general named WA Zhengming played a significant role in the defense of China against the Manchu invasion. His bravery and strategic prowess were widely celebrated.

Another notable figure was WA Guanzhong, a 14th-century novelist and playwright. He is best known for his influential novel "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms," which depicted the turbulent era of the Three Kingdoms period (220-280 AD).

While the surname "WA" has its origins in China, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, the majority of those carrying this surname can still trace their ancestry back to the ancient Chinese dynasties.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wa

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

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

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

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