Explore the Family Name Challa
The meaning of Challa
1. Indian (Andhra Pradesh): clan name of the Telugu Devang (weaver community), also used among the Malas; the name literally means ‘buttermilk’ in Telugu. 2. Ethiopian: from a variant of the Oromo personal name Chala, meaning ‘bigger, superior’ in the Oromo language. It may also be a nickname or status name. — Note: Since Ethiopians do not have hereditary surnames, this name was registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Challa in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Challa has seen a remarkable increase from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Challa was ranked as the 61,713th most popular surname, while in 2010 it jumped to the 29,447th rank, marking a significant growth of 52.28%. Furthermore, the count of individuals bearing this surname also surged from 304 in 2000 to 802 in 2010, representing an impressive increase of 163.82%. Accordingly, the proportion of people with the Challa surname per 100,000 individuals saw a rise of 145.45%, moving from 0.11 to 0.27.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #61,713 | #29,447 | 52.28% |
| Count | 304 | 802 | 163.82% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.11 | 0.27 | 145.45% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Challa
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that the majority of individuals with the Challa surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander in both census years. This group increased from 75.99% of the total Challas in 2000 to 84.91% in 2010, indicating a growth of 11.74%. The second most common ethnicity attached to this surname was White, which decreased from 9.87% to 4.61% over the same period. Similarly, the percentages of those identifying as Black and Hispanic also saw decreases. Notably, the percentage of individuals identifying as Two or more races saw a significant decline of 54.41%. Interesting to note is the appearance in 2010 of those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native, a category that had no representation in 2000.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 75.99% | 84.91% | 11.74% |
| Black | 8.22% | 5.61% | -31.75% |
| White | 9.87% | 4.61% | -53.29% |
| Hispanic | 2.63% | 2.37% | -9.89% |
| Two or More Races | 3.29% | 1.5% | -54.41% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 1% | 0% |