Find out how popular the last name Acala is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Acala.

Acala, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Acala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Acala in America

Acala is the 117480th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Acala surname appeared 148 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Acala.

The history of the last name Acala

The surname ACALA is believed to have originated in Spain, with roots dating back to the 15th century. It is thought to be derived from the Spanish word "acal," which means "watercourse" or "stream." This suggests that the name may have been given to families residing near bodies of water, such as rivers or streams.

Early records indicate that the name ACALA was prevalent in the regions of Andalusia and Extremadura in southern Spain. These areas were known for their rich agricultural lands, which were often irrigated by intricate systems of canals and waterways. It is possible that the name's association with watercourses stemmed from the occupation or location of its earliest bearers.

One of the earliest documented references to the name ACALA can be found in the archives of the town of Écija, located in the province of Seville. A record from 1487 mentions a certain Juan de Acala, who was a landowner and farmer in the area. This suggests that the name had already been established in the region by the late 15th century.

In the following centuries, the ACALA surname gradually spread to other parts of Spain, as well as to the Spanish colonies in the Americas. Notable individuals bearing the name include:

1. Diego de Acala (c. 1520 - 1583), a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Peru under Francisco Pizarro.
2. Juana de Acala (c. 1570 - 1640), a Spanish nun and mystic known for her religious writings and her advocacy for the education of women.
3. Pedro de Acala y Guzmán (1602 - 1671), a Spanish nobleman and military leader who served as the Governor of Panama from 1650 to 1655.
4. María de Acala y Cervantes (1637 - 1712), a Spanish poet and playwright renowned for her contributions to the Golden Age of Spanish literature.
5. Francisco de Acala y Quirós (1718 - 1792), a Spanish architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in Madrid and Seville.

As the ACALA surname spread across Spain and its colonies, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Acala, Acalla, Acalá, and Acalada. These variations often reflected regional linguistic differences or the influence of other languages, particularly in the Americas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Acala

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Acala.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Acala was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Acala was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Acala, please contact us.

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