Explore the Family Name Niska
The meaning of Niska
Finnish: habitational name from a farm so named, from niska ‘neck’, used topographically to denote the starting point of a river or its rapids. Established as a surname chiefly in Southern Lapland and Ostrobothnia.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Niska in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname "Niska" has seen a rise in popularity over the years. In 2000, it ranked 66,878 in the United States, and by 2010 it had risen to rank 59,171—an increase of 11.52%. The count of individuals with the surname also increased from 276 in 2000 to 342 in 2010, marking a growth of 23.91%. Accordingly, the proportion of individuals named Niska per 100,000 people also rose by 20% during this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #66,878 | #59,171 | 11.52% |
| Count | 276 | 342 | 23.91% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.1 | 0.12 | 20% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Niska
The ethnicity profile for the surname "Niska" has remained predominantly white over the decade according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, 97.10% of people with this surname were identified as white, decreasing slightly to 95.91% in 2010. Interestingly, there was a small emergence of multiracial individuals with this surname in 2010, making up 2.92% of those named Niska. Other ethnic identities such as Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native were either non-existent or suppressed for privacy in both 2000 and 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.1% | 95.91% | -1.23% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 2.92% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |