Explore the Family Name Aga
The meaning of Aga
1. Norwegian: habitational name from either of two farms so named in Hordaland; of uncertain derivation. 2. Turkish (Ağa): ornamental name or nickname from ağa ‘lord, master’, also ‘gentleman’. This was an Ottoman Turkish title for a nobleman with a landed estate, and a military rank. It was also used as an honorific for high officials and rich men. 3. Albanian: from aga or agë (definite form aga), an Ottoman Turkish title (see above). 4. Muslim: variant of Agha, a cognate of 2 above. Some characteristic forenames: Scandinavian Lars, Obert, Isak.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Aga in the United States?
The surname Aga saw a significant shift in popularity between the years 2000 and 2010, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, Aga was ranked the 54,020th most popular surname in the United States, but by 2010, it had risen to the 39,004th spot—an increase of 27.8%. The total count of individuals with the Aga surname also increased over this decade, from 358 in 2000 to 565 in 2010, marking a growth rate of 57.82%. As a result, the proportion of Agas per 100,000 people in the population increased by 46.15%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #54,020 | #39,004 | 27.8% |
| Count | 358 | 565 | 57.82% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.13 | 0.19 | 46.15% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Aga
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Aga also shifted during this time period, as revealed by the Decennial U.S. Census data. Asian/Pacific Islander Agas saw a small decrease of 0.55%, maintaining around 20% of the total. Interestingly, those identifying as two or more races nearly doubled from 3.91% to 7.43%. A decline was observed among White Agas, dropping by 12.51%. Hispanic representation increased from 1.68% to 3.19%, while Black representation increased significantly from 6.98% to 12.57%. Of note, those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native decreased by 44.86%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 60.89% | 53.27% | -12.51% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 20.11% | 20% | -0.55% |
| Black | 6.98% | 12.57% | 80.09% |
| Two or More Races | 3.91% | 7.43% | 90.03% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 6.42% | 3.54% | -44.86% |
| Hispanic | 1.68% | 3.19% | 89.88% |