Explore the Family Name Rajala
The meaning of Rajala
Finnish: habitational name from farms so named, from raja ‘boundary, border’ + the locative suffix -la, referring to their location. Established as a hereditary surname since the 19th century chiefly in western Finland. Some characteristic forenames: Finnish Eino, Osmo, Paivi, Pekka, Reino, Teuvo, Waino.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Rajala in the United States?
The surname Rajala has seen a slight decrease in popularity across the United States, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, the name was ranked 33,333 and had a count of 646, while by 2010, despite an increase in the count to 683, its rank had slightly dropped to position 33,410. This change implies that there was a 5.73% rise in the number of people with the surname Rajala between the years 2000 and 2010. However, when considering the proportion per 100,000 people, the prevalence of this surname decreased by 4.17%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #33,333 | #33,410 | -0.23% |
| Count | 646 | 683 | 5.73% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.24 | 0.23 | -4.17% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Rajala
When it comes to the ethnic identity associated with the surname Rajala, again using data from the Decennial U.S. Census, it appears predominantly linked with individuals identifying as White, with over 95% in both 2000 and 2010. The percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander decreased from 1.70% in 2000 to 1.46% in 2010. The data shows no presence of Black individuals or those identifying as two or more races in 2010, whereas both categories accounted for 1.70% in 2000. Interestingly, Hispanic and American Indian/Alaskan Native groups emerged in 2010, each making up 1.02% and 1.46% respectively of the population with the surname.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.82% | 95.02% | -0.83% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.7% | 1.46% | -14.12% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 1.46% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 1.02% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.7% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |