Explore the Family Name Molla
The meaning of Molla
1. Muslim (Indian subcontinent and Iran): status name from the title molla ‘mullah’, denoting someone with a qualification in Islamic religious learning, (ultimately) from Persian mulla, a derivative of Arabic maulā ‘scholar’. See also Mulla. 2. Turkish: ornamental name or status name from the title molla ‘mullah’ (see 1 above). 3. Albanian (northern): status name from molla ‘mullah’, a loanword from Turkish (see 1 and 2 above, compare Mulla). 4. Catalan: from the feminine form of Moll. 5. Catalan (Mollà): variant of Mollar, a habitational name from any of several places called Mollar in Catalonia and Valencia. 6. Ethiopian: from the personal name Molla, which is interpreted as e.g. ‘he is complete’ in the Amharic language. — Note: Since Ethiopians do not have hereditary surnames, this name was registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US. Some characteristic forenames: Arabic/Muslim Mahbub, Abul, Ahamed, Farid, Mohammad, Nazrul, Rafiqul, Saiful, Selim, Shamsul. Ethiopian Adane, Alemnesh, Belayneh, Belete, Berhanu, Getachew, Mesfin, Sisay, Worku. Spanish Juan, Marcelino, Jose, Osvaldo.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Molla in the United States?
Based on the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Molla has significantly increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Molla was ranked 39,240th in terms of popularity but jumped to 30,420th by 2010, a rise of around 22.48%. The count of individuals bearing the surname Molla also saw an impressive increase of 45.45% from 528 in 2000 to 768 in 2010. This corresponds to a proportional change per 100,000 people from 0.2 to 0.26, or an uptick of 30%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #39,240 | #30,420 | 22.48% |
| Count | 528 | 768 | 45.45% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.2 | 0.26 | 30% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Molla
The ethnic identity of those with the surname Molla also shifted notably according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, the largest proportion identified as White (44.7%), followed by Hispanic (16.48%) and Black (16.1%). By 2010, while the largest group still identified as White (36.72%), there was a significant increase in the Black (27.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (21.61%) categories. The percentage of individuals identifying with two or more races declined dramatically from 8.71% in 2000 to 1.3% in 2010. A small new group appeared in 2010, with 0.78% identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 44.7% | 36.72% | -17.85% |
| Black | 16.1% | 27.6% | 71.43% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 14.02% | 21.61% | 54.14% |
| Hispanic | 16.48% | 11.98% | -27.31% |
| Two or More Races | 8.71% | 1.3% | -85.07% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.78% | 0% |