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Raia Family History

Raia Name Meaning

Italian (southern):: topographic name from raia ‘smilax’ (a climbing shrub). from raja ‘ray skate’ (the fish) presumably a nickname for someone thought to resemble the fish or for a fisherman or fish seller. nickname or metonymic occupational name from Arabic rāyah ‘flag’ or raʿāyā ‘herds’.

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


Similar surnames: Raba, Rapa, Rana, Rain, Raya, Rais, Rada, Rai, Rama, Baba

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Raia family from?

You can see how Raia families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Raia family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Raia families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 3 Raia families living in California. This was about 60% of all the recorded Raia's in USA. California had the highest population of Raia families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Raia surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Raia ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Operator were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Raia. 16% of Raia men worked as a Laborer and 29% of Raia women worked as an Operator. Some less common occupations for Americans named Raia were Operator and Finisher. .

View Census Data for Raia | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    16%
  • New Worker
    8%
  • Presser
    7%
  • Operator
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Operator
    29%
  • New Worker
    10%
  • Machine Operator
    7%
  • Finisher
    7%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Raia family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Raia. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Raia census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Raia

Passenger Lists

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

View all Raia immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Raia. For the veterans among your Raia ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Raia military records

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What is the average Raia lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Raia life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1961, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Raia in 1951 was 44, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Raia

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