Family name 壩 (Bà 
, 壩 
) , worldwide, is quite a rare cognomen. The cognomen 壩 is characteristic of Northern Africa, particularly Tunisia, where it is quite a rare surname, Algeria, and Morocco. Measured by absolute frequency, it is the most numerous in Northern Africa, particularly Algeria, Morocco, and Egypt. Likewise, 壩 is the forename as well as the last name.