Explore the Family Name Awa
The meaning of Awa
1. Filipino: nickname from Tagalog awa ‘mercy’. 2. Japanese: usually written 粟 ‘millet’ or 淡 ‘pale’. It is also written phonetically in several variations, the most common of which are two habitational names: 阿波, former province, now Tokushima prefecture, and 安房, former province, now part of Chiba prefecture. In the Ryūkyū Islands the name is written phonetically 安和 and pronounced Ā. 3. West African (Nigeria): from the Igbo personal name Awa, unexplained.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Awa in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Awa" saw a significant increase between 2000 and 2010. Ranked at 72,022 in 2000, it moved up to 61,585 in 2010, a positive change of 14.49%. The number of people bearing the surname also rose from 252 to 326 during this period, showing an impressive growth of 29.37%. The proportion per 100,000 people increased by 22.22% indicating that the name gained in popularity during the ten year interval.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #72,022 | #61,585 | 14.49% |
| Count | 252 | 326 | 29.37% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.09 | 0.11 | 22.22% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Awa
In terms of ethnicity, data from the Decennial U.S. Census indicates a considerable shift in the ethnic identity associated with the Awa surname between 2000 and 2010. Most notably, the percentage of individuals identifying as Black and having this surname increased significantly by 68.55%, while those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander decreased by 39.08%. There was also a visible increase of 32.02% in individuals who identified with two or more races. However, the percentage of individuals identifying as White only slightly increased by 3.15%, and those identifying as Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native were not recorded in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 19.84% | 33.44% | 68.55% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 46.83% | 28.53% | -39.08% |
| Two or More Races | 19.05% | 25.15% | 32.02% |
| White | 9.52% | 9.82% | 3.15% |
| Hispanic | 4.76% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |