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

Atala, 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 Atala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Atala in America

Atala is the 137327th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Atala surname appeared 122 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 Atala.

The history of the last name Atala

The surname ATALA has its origins in the Mediterranean region, specifically in the Greek language. It is believed to have derived from the ancient Greek word "atalos," which means "delicate" or "tender." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person who had a gentle or delicate nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ATALA can be found in ancient Greek texts dating back to the 5th century BCE. It is mentioned in the works of the renowned philosopher Plato, who referred to an individual named Atalas as one of his students.

During the Roman Empire, the name ATALA was also present, although it was often spelled slightly differently, such as "Atalla" or "Attala." This variation in spelling was common during that time period due to the influence of Latin and the lack of standardized orthography.

In the Middle Ages, the name ATALA appeared in various regions of Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain. One notable bearer of this name was Attala degli Alighieri, an Italian noblewoman who lived in the 13th century and was a distant relative of the famous poet Dante Alighieri.

As the surname spread across Europe, it underwent further modifications in spelling and pronunciation. In France, for example, it was sometimes written as "Atalla" or "Attalla." One of the earliest documented examples of this variation can be found in the Livre des Bourgeois de Paris, a record of Parisian citizens from the 13th century, which mentions an individual named Attalla de Reims.

Another notable bearer of the ATALA surname was Juan de Atala, a Spanish explorer who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493. De Atala played a crucial role in establishing the first European settlements in the Caribbean.

In the 16th century, the name ATALA appeared in various parts of Europe, including England and Scotland. One example is Sir Robert Atala, an English nobleman who lived from 1548 to 1612 and served as a member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

As the centuries progressed, the ATALA surname continued to be found in various regions of Europe, often with slight variations in spelling and pronunciation. While not as common as some other surnames, it has left a notable legacy throughout history, with numerous individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Atala

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

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

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

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