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

Alaya, 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 Alaya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Alaya in America

Alaya is the 93513th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Alaya surname appeared 196 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 Alaya.

We can also compare 2010 data for Alaya to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Alaya

The surname "ALAYA" is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the regions of Gujarat and Maharashtra. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "alaya," which means "dwelling" or "abode." The name likely emerged during the medieval period, possibly as early as the 8th or 9th century CE.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name "ALAYA" can be found in the Marathi literature of the 13th century, particularly in the works of the renowned poet and saint, Dnyaneshwar. His writings mention individuals with the surname "ALAYA," suggesting that it was already in use during that era.

The name "ALAYA" has been associated with various communities and castes within the Indian social structure, including Brahmin, Kshatriya, and Vaishya communities. It is particularly prevalent among certain Hindu communities in the western and central regions of India.

In the 16th century, historical records from the Maratha Empire mention individuals with the surname "ALAYA" holding important positions in the administrative and military ranks. One notable figure was Malhar Rao Alaya, a prominent military commander who served under the famous Maratha ruler, Shivaji Maharaj, in the late 17th century.

Another notable individual with the surname "ALAYA" was Sadashiv Rao Alaya, a distinguished scholar and poet who lived in the 18th century. His works contributed significantly to the literary and cultural heritage of the Marathi language.

During the 19th century, the name "ALAYA" gained further prominence with the rise of the Indian independence movement. Vishnu Ganesh Alaya, born in 1871, was a prominent social reformer and educator who advocated for the education of women and the eradication of untouchability.

In more recent times, Dinkar Govind Alaya, born in 1935, was a renowned author and playwright who received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award, for his contributions to Marathi literature.

While the surname "ALAYA" is predominantly found in the Indian subcontinent, it has also been carried by individuals who have migrated to various parts of the world, including North America, Europe, and other regions, contributing to the cultural diversity of these regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Alaya

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

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 Alaya 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Alaya has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Alaya was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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