Loya
A surname most often connected with Spanish and Basque-language roots, though its exact origin can vary by family line.
The #2,931 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 25,241 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Loya is usually treated as a surname of Iberian origin, especially Spanish, with possible Basque connections in some lines. It may derive from a place-name or local topographic term rather than from a personal occupation or nickname. In practice, families with this surname may have different origins depending on region, so the name is not always traceable to a single source.
History
The surname is found in Spain and in Spanish-speaking communities elsewhere, especially in the Americas. Because surnames from Iberian place-names often spread through migration and colonial-era movement, Loya appears in several regions without necessarily sharing one common family origin. In the United States, it is most often encountered among Hispanic-American families.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Short Iberian surnames like Loya often preserve old local place names long after the original village or landscape term has faded from everyday use.