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

Avala, 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 Avala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Avala in America

Avala is the 71678th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Avala surname appeared 272 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 Avala.

We can also compare 2010 data for Avala 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 Avala

The surname Avala is of Spanish origin, with roots dating back to the 15th century. It is believed to have originated in the region of Andalusia, specifically in the city of Seville. The name is derived from the Arabic word "al-wadi," which translates to "the valley" or "the ravine," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name may have resided in a valley or near a ravine.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Avala can be found in the archives of the Archivo General de Indias in Seville, where a certain Juan Avala is mentioned as a merchant who traded with the West Indies in the late 1500s. This record provides valuable insight into the presence of this surname during the Spanish colonial era.

In the 17th century, the name Avala appeared in various historical documents, including parish records and land registries, indicating its continued use and prevalence in Spain. One notable figure from this period was Diego Avala, a renowned painter from Seville who lived between 1620 and 1685. His works, primarily religious in nature, can still be found in several churches and museums throughout southern Spain.

As the Spanish Empire expanded, the name Avala found its way to the Americas. In the late 18th century, a distinguished military officer named Francisco Avala played a crucial role in the defense of the Spanish colonies against British and French forces. Born in 1745 in Cádiz, Spain, he served with distinction in various campaigns in the Caribbean and South America until his death in 1812.

Another prominent individual with the surname Avala was María Avala, a renowned poet and playwright from Málaga, Spain. Born in 1825, she gained recognition for her works that celebrated the rich cultural heritage of Andalusia. Her plays and poems were widely acclaimed during her lifetime, and she is remembered as a pioneering figure in Spanish literature.

In the 20th century, the name Avala continued to be associated with notable individuals, such as José Avala, a prominent architect from Barcelona. Born in 1902, he was responsible for designing several iconic buildings in the city, including the Avala Residential Complex, which bears his surname.

While the surname Avala has its roots in Spain, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly to Latin American countries, where it has maintained its presence and cultural significance over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Avala

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

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

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

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