Explore the Family Name Sawaya
The meaning of Sawaya
1. Arabic (Lebanon): from Sawaya, the Arabic name for Savoy (Italian Savoia; see Savoy). This name originated in Lebanon in the 12th and 13th centuries as a result of intermarriage between Crusaders and local women. Its bearers are Christians. 2. In some cases possibly also Japanese: written 沢谷 ‘swamp valley’. It is a topographic name, also sometimes written 沢屋 ‘swamp’ and ‘shop’. Some characteristic forenames: Arabic/Muslim Sami, Anwar, Fuad, Hiam, Jabir, Khaled, Nabil, Nadim, Nasri, Ramzi, Ramzy, Riad. French Emile, Andre, Antoine, Pierre.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Sawaya in the United States?
The popularity of the surname Sawaya has exhibited minor fluctuations over a decade, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In the year 2000, the rank of this surname was 29,040, which slightly dipped to 29,138 by the year 2010, indicating a 0.34% decrease in ranking. However, an interesting contrast appears when observing the count of individuals bearing this name: it grew from 769 in 2000 to 813 in 2010, marking a 5.72% increase. Despite this rise, the proportion per 100k people saw a slight drop of 3.45%, falling from 0.29 to 0.28.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #29,040 | #29,138 | -0.34% |
| Count | 769 | 813 | 5.72% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.29 | 0.28 | -3.45% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Sawaya
The ethnicity associated with the surname Sawaya as derived from the Decennial U.S. Census shows a predominance of the White ethnic identity, accounting for 91.16% in 2000 and slightly increasing to 91.64% in 2010. Over the same period, individuals identified as Hispanic under this surname rose from 4.94% to 6.52%, reflecting an increase of 31.98%. The category of two or more races experienced a significant decrease from 3.25% to 1.11%. Meanwhile, no individuals with the Sawaya surname were recorded within the Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native categories during these census years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.16% | 91.64% | 0.53% |
| Hispanic | 4.94% | 6.52% | 31.98% |
| Two or More Races | 3.25% | 1.11% | -65.85% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |