Explore the Family Name Agha
The meaning of Agha
1. Muslim: from Turkish ağa ‘lord, master’. 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 in the Ottoman Turkey and is as such still in use in certain Muslim countries (Aga Khan, for example, is the title of the leader of the Ismaili sect of Shiite Muslims). Compare Aga. 2. West African (Nigeria): Igbo name, from a short form of a personal name such as Aghadinuno, which is interpreted as ‘there is war in the family’. Some characteristic forenames: Arabic/Muslim Ahmad, Bilal, Khaled, Mahmoud, Mohamad, Nader, Abdul, Abul, Amer, Amir, Arif, Asghar.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Agha in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Agha" has significantly increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 34,259 in popularity and rose to 26,910 in 2010, showing a growth rate of 21.45%. The number of individuals with this surname also experienced a substantial surge from 626 in 2000 to 902 in 2010, indicating an increase of 44.09%. As a result, the proportion of people named Agha per 100,000 residents grew by 34.78% during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #34,259 | #26,910 | 21.45% |
| Count | 626 | 902 | 44.09% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.23 | 0.31 | 34.78% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Agha
As for ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates a considerable shift in the ethnic identity associated with the surname "Agha". Between 2000 and 2010, there was a significant increase among those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, from 34.03% to 40.69%. However, the percentage of those reporting as two or more races fell sharply by 53.96%. There was a slight decrease in individuals identifying as white, from 42.65% to 39.69% and a notable rise in those identifying as Black from 3.67% to 6.65%. The data also showed new instances of individuals identifying as Hispanic and American Indian and Alaskan Native, which were not recorded in the 2000 census.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 34.03% | 40.69% | 19.57% |
| White | 42.65% | 39.69% | -6.94% |
| Two or More Races | 18.05% | 8.31% | -53.96% |
| Black | 3.67% | 6.65% | 81.2% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 3.66% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 1% | 0% |