2000
#70,679
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 258
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.10
Very Rare Last name
Groza
A surname derived from the Albanian word meaning "fear" or "terror".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 376 Americans carry the last name Groza. That puts it at #65,358 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.11 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 911,581 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Groza surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
376
1 in 911,581
Census rank
#65,358
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
328
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 328 bearers of the surname Groza in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 65358th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Groza, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Groza
The surname GROZA is of Romanian origin, with its roots tracing back to the 15th century. It is derived from the Romanian word "groază," meaning "terror" or "dread." In the early days, the surname was likely bestowed upon individuals who were known for their fearsome or awe-inspiring presence.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the GROZA surname dates back to 1489, when a certain Dumitru GROZA was mentioned in a document from the region of Wallachia, which was part of the principalities that later formed modern-day Romania. The surname was also found in other historical documents from the region, such as the "Codex Sturdzanus," a collection of legal texts from the 16th century.
In the 17th century, the GROZA surname gained prominence with the birth of Mihai GROZA (1628-1703), a prominent Romanian boyar (nobleman) and military commander. He played a significant role in the battles against the Ottoman Empire and was renowned for his bravery and tactical prowess.
Another notable figure bearing the GROZA surname was Petru GROZA (1884-1958), a Romanian politician and prime minister from 1945 to 1952. He was a key figure in the establishment of the Romanian People's Republic and the transition to a communist regime in the aftermath of World War II.
The GROZA surname also has connections to various place names in Romania. For instance, the village of Groza, located in the county of Bihor, takes its name from the surname, indicating that it may have been a settlement established by individuals bearing this name.
Throughout history, several other individuals with the GROZA surname have left their mark. Among them are:
1. Ioan GROZA (1923-2006), a Romanian football player and manager who played for teams like Jiul Petroșani and Dinamo București.
2. Gheorghe GROZA (1899-1958), a Romanian communist politician and union leader who played a role in the establishment of the Romanian Workers' Party.
3. Nicolae GROZA (born 1950), a Romanian politician and member of the Chamber of Deputies, representing the Social Democratic Party.
4. Vasile GROZA (1901-1977), a Romanian painter and graphic artist known for his landscapes and portraits.
5. Radu GROZA (born 1981), a Romanian professional basketball player who has played for teams in various European leagues.
The GROZA surname has endured through the centuries, carrying with it a rich history and cultural significance rooted in the Romanian lands. Its meaning and origins reflect the courage, strength, and fearlessness often associated with those who bear this name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Groza
Among Census respondents with the surname Groza, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Groza bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Groza surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.1% · 302
- Hispanic or Latino4.6% · 15
- Two or more races2.1% · 7
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Groza
Groza appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#67,747
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 291
+33 bearers (+12.8%)
Per 100,000 0.10
Rank movement Up 2,932 places
2020
#65,358
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 328
+37 bearers (+12.7%)
Per 100,000 0.11
Rank movement Up 2,389 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #70,679 | 258 | 0.10 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #67,747 | 291 | 0.10 | +33 bearers (+12.8%) | Up 2,932 places |
| 2020 | #65,358 | 328 | 0.11 | +37 bearers (+12.7%) | Up 2,389 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Groza surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #67,747 | #65,358 | 3.5% |
| Count | 291 | 328 | 12.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.10 | 0.11 | 9.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Groza bearers went from 291 to 328 (+12.7% change). The surname moved up 2,389 positions in the national ranking, going from #67,747 to #65,358.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Groza
FAQ
Groza surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Groza?
Name Census estimates that about 376 living Americans carry the surname Groza. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 911,581 residents.
How common is Groza?
Groza ranks #65,358 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.11 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 328 people with the surname Groza. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (376), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.11 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.11 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Groza.
Has Groza become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Groza went from 291 recorded bearers to 328. That is an increase of 37 (+12.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #67,747 to #65,358.
What does the Census say about the background of Groza?
Among Census respondents with the surname Groza, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%) and Two or More Races (2.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Groza in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.1% (302 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Groza appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.1%), Hispanic (4.6%), Two or More Races (2.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Groza (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Groza mean?
A surname derived from the Albanian word meaning "fear" or "terror". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Groza (0.11 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Groza?
For a quick modern take, check how common the surname Groza is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.