Explore the Family Name Kala
The meaning of Kala
1. Indian (Andhra Pradesh): from Sanskrit kalā, which has several meanings, including ‘art, skill’, and ‘part or division of something’. 2. Indian (Punjab): Brahmin name of unexplained etymology. 3. Indian (Kashmir): variant of Kalla. 4. Czech and Polish: from a short form of a personal name beginning with Kal-, such as Kalist, Late Latin Calixtus (see Kalista). 5. Hungarian: from a pet form of the personal name Kálmán (see Kalman). 6. Turkish: ornamental name or nickname from kala ‘sparrowhawk’, or perhaps from a homonymous regional variant of kale ‘fort, fortress’ (from Arabic qalʿa). Some characteristic forenames: Indian Ajit, Anjali, Daya, Gurbux, Kiran, Padam. Polish Zbyszek.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Kala in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname 'Kala' has seen an upward trend between 2000 and 2010. The rank of this surname improved from 43,546th position in 2000 to 38,389th position in 2010, indicating an increase of approximately 11.84%. In terms of absolute count, there were 467 individuals with this surname in 2000 which rose to 577 by 2010, a surge of about 23.55%. Furthermore, the proportion of individuals with the surname 'Kala' per 100k population also increased from 0.17 to 0.2 during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #43,546 | #38,389 | 11.84% |
| Count | 467 | 577 | 23.55% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.17 | 0.2 | 17.65% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kala
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals a significant amount of diversity associated with the surname 'Kala'. In both 2000 and 2010, the highest percentage was recorded for those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, with a slight increase from 49.46% to 49.91% over the decade. There was also a considerable rise in those reporting two or more races, from 10.92% to 14.38%, marking a change of nearly 31.68%. On the other hand, there was a decrease in the percentage identifying as white, from 32.12% to 28.94%. Those identifying as Hispanic and Black saw minor increases of 6.12% and 4.00% respectively. It's noteworthy that, in 2010, no individuals identified themselves as American Indian and Alaskan Native where previously they accounted for 1.07% in 2000.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 49.46% | 49.91% | 0.91% |
| White | 32.12% | 28.94% | -9.9% |
| Two or More Races | 10.92% | 14.38% | 31.68% |
| Hispanic | 3.43% | 3.64% | 6.12% |
| Black | 3% | 3.12% | 4% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.07% | 0% | -100% |