Explore the Family Name Desha

The meaning of Desha

Americanized form of French Duché (see Duche). Compare Deshay. History: This surname is listed in the register of Huguenot ancestors recognized by the Huguenot Society of America. The presumed Huguenot ancestor was Robert Desha, born c.1715 probably in PA, who c.1737 married Mary Everfieldt in PA. See also Duche.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Desha in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Desha witnessed subtle fluctuation between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Desha ranked 44,350 in terms of popularity, but by 2010 it had slipped to 46,568, marking a 5% decline. Interestingly, the count of individuals with this surname remained consistent at 457 throughout the decade. However, when analyzed per 100,000 people, the proportion slightly declined by 11.76%, from 0.17 in 2000 to 0.15 in 2010.

20002010Change
Rank#44,350#46,568-5%
Count4574570%
Proportion per 100k0.170.15-11.76%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Desha

The Decennial U.S. Census also provides insightful information regarding the ethnicity tied to the surname Desha. Predominantly associated with the White ethnic group, the percentage dropped marginally from 77.90% in 2000 to 76.81% in 2010. The Black community exhibited a small decline as well, with the percentage falling from 12.25% to 11.60%. Conversely, there was an increase in the Asian/Pacific Islander group that held this surname, growing from 3.06% to 3.72%, indicating a rise of 21.57%. The individuals identifying with two or more races decreased from 4.38% to 3.94%. Meanwhile, the Hispanic group and American Indian and Alaskan Native group showed no change, maintaining a constant percentage of 0.

20002010Change
White77.9%76.81%-1.4%
Black12.25%11.6%-5.31%
Two or More Races4.38%3.94%-10.05%
Asian/Pacific Islander3.06%3.72%21.57%
Hispanic0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%