Explore the Family Name Palaia
The meaning of Palaia
Italian (southern): nickname or metonymic occupational name from southern dialect palaia ‘sole’ (the fish), from Catalan palaya. Some characteristic forenames: Italian Rocco, Saverio, Gerardo, Sal.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Palaia in the United States?
According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Palaia has experienced a slight increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In the year 2000, the surname was ranked 55,481st in popularity with a count of 346 individuals bearing this last name. By 2010, the surname had moved up marginally in rank to 55,386th, with an increased count of 371 people. This change represents an overall growth of 7.23%. The proportion of individuals with the Palaia surname per 100,000 people remained steady at 0.13.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #55,481 | #55,386 | 0.17% |
| Count | 346 | 371 | 7.23% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Palaia
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals a strong association of the Palaia surname with White ethnic identity. In both 2000 and 2010, no individuals with this last name identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native. Similarly, there were no reported individuals identifying with two or more races. However, there was a slight increase in the percentage of people with the Palaia surname who identify as White, rising from 97.40% in 2000 to 97.84% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.4% | 97.84% | 0.45% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |