Explore the Family Name Paula
The meaning of Paula
Spanish and Portuguese: 1. from the female personal name Paula, feminine form of Pablo and Paulo. 2. from a shortened form of Francisco de Paula, a personal name bestowed in honor of Saint Francis of Paola (c.1416–1507), a Christian saint from Paola in Calabria. Compare De Paula. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Luis, Placido, Eduardo, Eleodoro, Enrique, Juan, Juana, Maribel, Mario, Rafael, Ruben, Adriano. Portuguese Joaquim.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Paula in the United States?
Popularity: The surname Paula witnessed a slight change in its popularity between the years 2000 and 2010, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, Paula ranked 17,323rd in terms of surname prevalence in the United States. By 2010, it had slipped to 18,106th place, marking a decrease of 4.52% in its rank. Despite this fall in rank, the actual count of people with the surname Paula increased from 1,504 in 2000 to 1,538 in 2010, indicating a modest growth of 2.26%. However, when looking at the proportion per 100,000 people, there was a 7.14% decline over the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #17,323 | #18,106 | -4.52% |
| Count | 1,504 | 1,538 | 2.26% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.56 | 0.52 | -7.14% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Paula
Ethnicity: The ethnic identity associated with the surname Paula saw some shifts between 2000 and 2010, as shown by data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, the two largest groups were those identifying as Hispanic (48.47%) and White (43.09%). By 2010, the percentage of individuals with the surname Paula who identified as Hispanic had increased to 60.34%, whereas those identifying as White dropped to 32.05%, a decline of 25.62%. Additionally, while the proportion identifying as Black grew from 2.99% to 3.97%, the percentage reporting two or more races decreased sharply from 3.06% to 0.72%. Finally, a small percentage began identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander in 2010, while no change was observed among those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 48.47% | 60.34% | 24.49% |
| White | 43.09% | 32.05% | -25.62% |
| Black | 2.99% | 3.97% | 32.78% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 2.93% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 3.06% | 0.72% | -76.47% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |