Explore the Family Name Wah
The meaning of Wah
1. Chinese: Cantonese form of the surname 華, see Hua 3. 2. Chinese: possibly also from Cantonese form of the Chinese name 華 (a short form of ‘China’), a monosyllabic personal name, or part of a disyllabic personal name of some early Chinese immigrants in the US. 3. Burmese (Karen): from a personal name usually forming part of a compound name, from wah ‘white’. — Note: Since Karens do not have hereditary surnames, this name was registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US. 4. German (Wäh): nickname for a smart, good looking person, from Middle High German wæhe ‘pretty, neat’. This name is almost extinct in Germany. Some characteristic forenames: Chinese Yung, Ching, Chiu, Eng, Kwan, Leong, Lok, Mei, Mok, Tsui, Wah. Southeast Asian Yick, Thein, Yook.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Wah in the United States?
According to data derived from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Wah" significantly increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 43,463 in popularity but had risen dramatically by 2010 to rank 18,007 – a positive change of 58.57%. Similarly, the number of individuals bearing this surname also soared during this period from 468 to 1,550, marking an impressive increase of 231.2%. The frequency of this surname per 100k population also saw an upward trend, rising from 0.17 to 0.53 – a 211.76% increase.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #43,463 | #18,007 | 58.57% |
| Count | 468 | 1,550 | 231.2% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.17 | 0.53 | 211.76% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Wah
When we examine the ethnic identity associated with the surname "Wah", data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows interesting shifts between 2000 and 2010. The most notable change is seen among the Asian/Pacific Islander community, where the representation surged from 48.08% to 74.84%, a relative increase of 55.66%. On the contrary, there were significant drops in the percentage of those identifying as White, Hispanic, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native. The proportion of those identifying as Two or more races also decreased from 12.61% to 4.00%, indicating a significant decrease of 68.28%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 48.08% | 74.84% | 55.66% |
| Black | 17.31% | 12.52% | -27.67% |
| White | 14.32% | 4.77% | -66.69% |
| Two or More Races | 12.61% | 4% | -68.28% |
| Hispanic | 5.77% | 2.65% | -54.07% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.92% | 1.23% | -35.94% |