Explore the Family Name Makela
The meaning of Makela
Finnish (Mäkelä): habitational name from farms so named, from mäki ‘hill’ (compare Maki) + the locative suffix -lä. Established as a hereditary surname in western and southern Finland mainly since the 19th century. Also adopted as an ornamental name during the name-changing campaigns of the early 20th century. Some characteristic forenames: Finnish Hannu, Reijo, Armas, Arvo, Eero, Eino, Kalervo, Kauko, Mauno, Onni, Osmo, Reino. Scandinavian Erik, Hjalmer, Nels, Walfrid.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Makela in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Makela has gained popularity over the years. In 2000, it was ranked 18,892 and by 2010, the ranking rose to 17,249 - an 8.7% increase. The count of individuals with the Makela surname increased from 1,337 in 2000 to 1,642 in 2010, showing a significant growth of 22.81%. Furthermore, the proportion of this surname per 100,000 people also showed a positive trend, going up from 0.5 in 2000 to 0.56 in 2010, marking a 12% rise.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #18,892 | #17,249 | 8.7% |
| Count | 1,337 | 1,642 | 22.81% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.5 | 0.56 | 12% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Makela
In terms of ethnicity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows some interesting shifts. In 2000, 95.14% of those with the Makela surname identified as White, and by 2010 this had dropped to 87.09%, a decrease of 8.46%. While the Asian/Pacific Islander category showed a remarkable increase of 364.95%, rising from 0.97% in 2000 to 4.51% in 2010. Those identifying as Hispanic also saw a notable increase from 2.17% to 4.32%, which is a jump of 99.08%. Interestingly, in 2010, 2.44% of Makelas started identifying as Black, where there were none in 2000. The category of 'Two or more races' decreased to zero in 2010 from 0.9% in 2000, while the American Indian and Alaskan Native category remained at zero throughout both census years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.14% | 87.09% | -8.46% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.97% | 4.51% | 364.95% |
| Hispanic | 2.17% | 4.32% | 99.08% |
| Black | 0% | 2.44% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0.9% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |