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

Ya, 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 Ya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ya in America

Ya is the 37180th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ya surname appeared 600 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 Ya.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ya 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 Ya

The surname Ya has a unique and intriguing origin, believed to have its roots in East Asia, particularly in China. The earliest documented use of Ya can be traced back to the Northern Wei Dynasty, which ruled from 386 to 534 AD in northern China. The name is often seen in ancient texts and historical documents from this period. In Chinese, the character 雅 (Ya) can mean "elegant" or "graceful," suggesting that the name was likely associated with nobility or refinement.

One of the oldest references to the surname Ya can be found in the Book of Wei, an official history text from the Northern Wei Dynasty. This documentation provides accounts of individuals bearing the surname Ya who were involved in various aspects of governmental administration and court life. Among the notable individuals was Ya Yu, a distinguished scholar and civil servant who served during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei (r. 471-499 AD).

In subsequent dynasties, the surname continued to be linked to prominent figures. Another significant historical figure was Ya Changshi, an advisor to the court during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). His contributions to statecraft and philosophy were well-documented, earning him a notable place in Chinese history. The Tang Dynasty era also saw variations of the name in different regions, such as the alternative spelling "Yar," which appeared in some provincial records.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the name Ya appeared in various regional government and military documents, indicating the spread of the surname across China. Ya Hong, a military general during the Southern Song period, was noted for his defense strategies against the invading Jurchen forces.

The Ya surname also made its way into historical records in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD) when an individual named Ya Nuo held a high position in the Mongol administration. The name's presence during the Yuan period reflects the continued prominence and respect associated with this surname.

Finally, in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the name Ya continued to be listed in the imperial civil service examinations, which provided a path for individuals to gain high-ranking governmental positions. A notable figure from this period was Ya Jian, who served as a provincial governor and was commended for his governance and benevolence.

Throughout its history, the surname Ya has been associated with elegance, nobility, and civil service, maintaining its prestige over several centuries in Chinese history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ya

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

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

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

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