History of your Surname
Get access to Ya family records.Start a free trial

Ya Family History

Ya Name Meaning

Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 亞 said to be traced back to Ya Yu (亞圉) ancestor of the kings of the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BC). Southeast Asian (Hmong): variant of Yang 7. Amerindian (Guatemala and Mexico): Mayan name from a term denoting a sapodilla a kind of fruit.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Yu, Yan, Yi, Ma, Ba, Ha, Na, Sa, Ye, Yao

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Ya family from?

You can see how Ya families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ya family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Ya families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 5 Ya families living in California. This was about 71% of all the recorded Ya's in USA. California had the highest population of Ya families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ya surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Ya ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Sheepherder was the top reported job for people in the USA named Ya. 100% of Ya men worked as a Sheepherder. .

View Census Data for Ya | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Sheepherder
    100%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Ya family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Ya. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ya census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ya

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Ya. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Ya immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Ya. For the veterans among your Ya ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ya military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ya family history

Discover More

What is the average Ya lifespan?

Between 1998 and 2004, in the United States, Ya life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2001, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Ya in 1998 was 59, and 85 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ya

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Ya family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Ya last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial