Explore the Family Name Puga
The meaning of Puga
Galician: nickname from puga ‘thorn, prickle’, probably in the figurative sense ‘sharp, clever’. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jose, Alfredo, Carlos, Francisco, Jesus, Jorge, Jose Luis, Juan, Luis, Manuel, Mario, Ricardo. Portuguese Joao.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Puga in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Puga has seen increased popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Puga was ranked the 6057th most common surname, but by 2010, it had moved up to the 4977th spot, an improvement of almost 18 percent. The total count of individuals with the Puga surname also rose from 5224 in 2000 to 7056 in 2010, a rise of over 35 percent. Consequently, the proportion of people named Puga per 100,000 residents increased by 23.2 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,057 | #4,977 | 17.83% |
| Count | 5,224 | 7,056 | 35.07% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.94 | 2.39 | 23.2% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Puga
Regarding ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the majority of individuals with the Puga surname identify as Hispanic. In 2000, 91.35 percent identified as Hispanic which increased slightly to 93.48 percent in 2010. The percentage identifying as White decreased from 6.37 percent in 2000 to 5.16 percent in 2010. Similarly, those identifying as Black dropped from 1.21 percent in 2000 to 0.68 percent in 2010. Fewer still identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native, though these groups also saw decreases in representation among those with the Puga surname over the decade. People identifying as two or more races showed the most dramatic decrease, dropping from 0.40 percent in 2000 to 0.14 percent in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 91.35% | 93.48% | 2.33% |
| White | 6.37% | 5.16% | -19% |
| Black | 1.21% | 0.68% | -43.8% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.46% | 0.4% | -13.04% |
| Two or More Races | 0.4% | 0.14% | -65% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.21% | 0.14% | -33.33% |