Explore the Family Name Anita
The meaning of Anita
Hispanic, Indonesian, and West Indian (Dutch Caribbean): from the female personal name Anita, Spanish pet form of Ana. As a West Indian surname it reflects the partially mother-oriented name culture of the formerly enslaved people in the West Indies (compare Martina). — Note: As a name from Indonesia or any other country where hereditary surnames are not in general use, this name was registered as a surname only after immigration of its bearers to the US.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Anita in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Anita has seen a significant increase between 2000 and 2010. The rank of the surname improved from 129,619 to 117,480, indicating a positive change of approximately 9.37%. Moreover, the count (the number of people bearing the surname) also rose from 121 to 148, marking an increase of about 22.31%. The proportion per 100,000 people also saw an uptick, going up by 25.0% from 0.04 to 0.05.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #129,619 | #117,480 | 9.37% |
| Count | 121 | 148 | 22.31% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.04 | 0.05 | 25% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Anita
The ethnicity data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals some shifts in the ethnic identity associated with the surname Anita from 2000 to 2010. The percentage of individuals identified as Asian/Pacific Islander saw a slight dip of about 0.69%, falling from 11.57% to 11.49%. No change was recorded for those identifying with two or more races. White representation decreased by approximately 24.07%, moving down from 23.14% to 17.57%. Hispanic representation, on the other hand, increased by 13.09%, rising from 49.59% to 56.08%. Notably, Black representation emerged at 8.78% in 2010, while the percentage of American Indian and Alaskan Native dropped to zero.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 49.59% | 56.08% | 13.09% |
| White | 23.14% | 17.57% | -24.07% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 11.57% | 11.49% | -0.69% |
| Black | 0% | 8.78% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 7.44% | 0% | 0% |