Explore the Family Name Ala
The meaning of Ala
1. Italian (northern): habitational name from Ala in Piedmont. 2. Italian (southern): probably a nickname from ala ‘wing’. Alternatively, from the female personal name Ala, a short form of Adala, based on the ancient Germanic element adal ‘noble’. 3. Possibly also an Americanized form of German Ahle, a variant of Ahl 2. 4. Turkish: ornamental name or nickname from ala ‘pied’, also ‘light-brown (eyes)’. 5. Indian (Andhra Pradesh): Kappu name from Telugu meaning ‘wave’ referring to the communities engaged in fishing in ancient times. 6. Filipino: unexplained. Some characteristic forenames: German Erwin, Kurt.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Ala in the United States?
The surname Ala saw a significant increase in popularity between the years of 2000 and 2010, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, the rank of the surname was 38,198, but by the year 2010, it had risen to 31,211, marking an increase of 18.29%. The count of individuals bearing this surname also surged from 545 in 2000 to 743 in 2010, a growth rate of 36.33%. This data translates to a proportion per 100,000 people increasing from 0.2 in 2000 to 0.25 in 2010, which is a 25% rise.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #38,198 | #31,211 | 18.29% |
| Count | 545 | 743 | 36.33% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.2 | 0.25 | 25% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ala
In terms of ethnic identity, again based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, there were some notable shifts among those with the Ala surname between 2000 and 2010. The percentage identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased by 38.86%, from 17.06% to 23.69%. Meanwhile, the proportion identifying as Hispanic increased by 50.93%, from 6.42% to 9.69%. The proportion identifying as Black also saw an increase, from 1.83% to 2.69%, a change of 46.99%. Conversely, those identifying as White decreased from 69.91% to 59.76%, a drop of 14.52%, and the American Indian and Alaskan Native group also experienced a decrease, from 1.10% to 0.94%, a decrease of 14.55%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 69.91% | 59.76% | -14.52% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 17.06% | 23.69% | 38.86% |
| Hispanic | 6.42% | 9.69% | 50.93% |
| Two or More Races | 3.67% | 3.23% | -11.99% |
| Black | 1.83% | 2.69% | 46.99% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.1% | 0.94% | -14.55% |