Explore the Family Name Samala
The meaning of Samala
1. Indian (Odisha, West Bengal): from a Hindi or Bengali caste name based on semul ‘cotton (plant)’. Traditionally, bearers of this name were weavers. 2. Filipino: metonymic occupational name or topographic name, from Tagalog samala, a term denoting a species of gum storax used for medicinal purposes (usually with incense).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Samala in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Samala has significantly increased in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Samala was the 80,216th most common surname, but by 2010 it had jumped to the 50,851st spot, marking a change of 36.61%. Likewise, the count of individuals with the Samala surname grew from 220 to 410 during the same period, representing an increase of 86.36%. The proportion of people named Samala per 100,000 also rose from 0.08 to 0.14, up 75%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #80,216 | #50,851 | 36.61% |
| Count | 220 | 410 | 86.36% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.08 | 0.14 | 75% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Samala
The ethnicity associated with the surname Samala, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data, is predominantly Asian/Pacific Islander. Between 2000 and 2010, this ethnic identity increased slightly from 80.91% to 86.59%, a change of 7.02%. During the same time frame, there was a decrease in the percentages of other ethnic identities linked to the Samala surname. The proportion identifying as White decreased from 7.73% to 5.61%, while those identifying as Hispanic dropped from 3.64% to 2.68%. The percentage indicating two or more races also declined from 5.91% to 5.12%. There were no recorded instances of Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnic identities associated with the surname Samala during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 80.91% | 86.59% | 7.02% |
| White | 7.73% | 5.61% | -27.43% |
| Two or More Races | 5.91% | 5.12% | -13.37% |
| Hispanic | 3.64% | 2.68% | -26.37% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |