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

Waara, 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 Waara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Waara in America

Waara is the 57781st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Waara surname appeared 352 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 Waara.

We can also compare 2010 data for Waara 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 Waara

The surname WAARA has its origins in the regions of Scandinavia, particularly Norway and Sweden. It likely emerged during the medieval period, between the 11th and 15th centuries. The name may have been derived from an Old Norse word related to watchfulness or vigilance, possibly linked to a geographic feature or an occupation.

One of the earliest documented instances of the WAARA surname can be found in the Stockholm Tax Records of the 16th century. These records mention a family bearing the name, suggesting their presence in the area during that time. Additionally, the name appears in historical records from the Norwegian province of Trøndelag, where variations such as Vaara and Waaraa were noted.

In the 17th century, a notable figure with the surname WAARA was Olof Waara, a Swedish merchant and landowner who lived from 1620 to 1688. He was a prominent figure in the city of Gothenburg and was instrumental in the establishment of several trade routes and business ventures.

Another historical figure of note was Ingrid Waara, a Norwegian writer and poet who lived from 1701 to 1779. Her works, which often explored themes of nature and rural life, were widely acclaimed and influential in her time.

The 19th century saw the rise of a influential WAARA family in Finland. Johan Waara, born in 1825, was a prominent politician and activist who played a significant role in the Finnish independence movement. His son, Axel Waara (1855-1932), followed in his footsteps and became a respected statesman and diplomat.

In the early 20th century, the name gained international recognition with the achievements of the Swedish artist and sculptor, Bror Waara (1885-1971). His works were exhibited in renowned galleries across Europe and the United States, and he is widely regarded as one of the finest sculptors of his generation.

Throughout its history, the WAARA surname has been associated with various occupations, ranging from merchants and landowners to artists and politicians. While its exact origins may be shrouded in the mists of time, the name has left an indelible mark on the cultural and historical landscapes of Scandinavia and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Waara

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

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

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

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