Explore the Family Name Vaka
The meaning of Vaka
1. Indian (Tamil Nadu): apparently from Tamil vaka ‘property’. According to legend, this is a shortened form of Krishnavaka, the name of a community which migrated from Dwarka in Gujarat to Tamil Nadu carrying an idol of the Hindu god Krishna with them. — Note: Since South Indians traditionally do not have hereditary surnames, this name was in most cases registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US. 2. Norwegian: habitational name from the farm name Vaka in Rogaland, which is probably from Old Norse vǫk ‘hole in ice’ (i.e. where the fjord does not freeze completely over in winter).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Vaka in the United States?
The surname Vaka has increased in popularity within the United States over a decade, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, the name was ranked 93,841st in frequency but jumped significantly to the 64,054th position by 2010, indicating a change of 31.74 percent. The count of people carrying the Vaka surname also rose from 181 individuals in 2000 to 311 in 2010, a significant increase of almost 72 percent. This resulted in an augmentation in the proportion of the Vaka surname per 100,000 people from 0.07 in 2000 to 0.11 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #93,841 | #64,054 | 31.74% |
| Count | 181 | 311 | 71.82% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.07 | 0.11 | 57.14% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Vaka
Regarding ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the majority of individuals with the Vaka surname identify as Asian/Pacific Islander. In 2000, approximately 59.12 percent identified within this category, and this figure rose to 65.92 percent by 2010, showing an increase of 11.5 percent. Conversely, those identifying as White decreased from 30.39 percent in 2000 to 21.86 percent in 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying with two or more races also saw a decline from 7.73 percent to 5.47 percent. Meanwhile, the Hispanic population bearing the Vaka surname appeared in 2010 at 5.47 percent, whereas there were no Hispanics recorded with this surname in 2000. There were no individuals identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 59.12% | 65.92% | 11.5% |
| White | 30.39% | 21.86% | -28.07% |
| Two or More Races | 7.73% | 5.47% | -29.24% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 5.47% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |