Explore the Family Name Raia
The meaning of Raia
Italian (southern): 1. topographic name from raia ‘smilax’ (a climbing shrub). 2. from raja ‘ray, skate’ (the fish), presumably a nickname for someone thought to resemble the fish or for a fisherman or fish seller. 3. nickname or metonymic occupational name from Arabic rāyah ‘flag’ or raʿāyā ‘herds’. Some characteristic forenames: Italian Salvatore, Luigi, Vincenzo, Vito, Carmine, Domenico, Francesco, Gaetano, Gaspare, Genario, Gino, Giuseppe.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Raia in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Raia holds a degree of popularity within the United States. The rank of the surname decreased slightly from 17,734 in 2000 to 17,927 in 2010, showing a small decrease of 1.09%. However, the total count of individuals with this surname increased by 7.0% during the same period, rising from 1,457 in 2000 to 1,559 in 2010. The proportion per 100,000 people remained relatively stable, slipping only marginally by 1.85%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #17,734 | #17,927 | -1.09% |
| Count | 1,457 | 1,559 | 7% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.54 | 0.53 | -1.85% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Raia
On the other hand, the ethnic identities associated with the surname Raia have seen some shifts over time based on the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, 95.06% of the individuals with the Raia surname identified as White, and this figure slightly declined to 94.61% by 2010. Meanwhile, the percentage of those identifying as Hispanic saw an increase of 31.25% over the decade, growing from 2.88% to 3.78%. Individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or as two or more races both saw decreases in their proportions, with drops of 34.83% and 28.09% respectively. No significant changes were observed among those identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.06% | 94.61% | -0.47% |
| Hispanic | 2.88% | 3.78% | 31.25% |
| Two or More Races | 0.89% | 0.64% | -28.09% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.89% | 0.58% | -34.83% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |