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

Avela, 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 Avela surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Avela in America

Avela is the 133048th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Avela surname appeared 127 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 Avela.

The history of the last name Avela

The surname Avela is believed to have originated in Italy, specifically in the region of Calabria. It is derived from the Latin word "avellana," which means "hazelnut." This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive name for someone who lived near hazelnut trees or worked with hazelnuts.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Avela can be found in the Italian cadastral records from the 14th century. These records documented property ownership and taxation, providing valuable insight into the historical distribution of surnames in Italy.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Giovanni Avela was a renowned artist from Naples. His artistic works, including frescoes and altarpieces, can still be found in various churches and museums throughout the region.

During the 16th century, the name Avela appeared in various legal documents and registries from the town of Cosenza in Calabria. This suggests that the name had a strong presence in that area during that time period.

In the 18th century, a prominent scholar and philosopher named Antonio Avela made significant contributions to the field of ethics and moral philosophy. His writings and teachings influenced many intellectuals of the time.

Another notable individual with the surname Avela was Maria Avela, a philanthropist and social reformer who lived in the late 19th century. She dedicated her life to improving the lives of underprivileged children and promoting education in her community.

The name Avela is also linked to several place names in Italy, such as the town of Avella in the province of Avellino, Campania. This town was known for its production of hazelnuts, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and the hazelnut tree.

Over the centuries, variations in the spelling of the name Avela have been observed, including Avella, Avelli, and Avello. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects, scribal errors, or personal preferences.

While the surname Avela is not as common as some other Italian surnames, it has a rich history and connection to various regions of Italy, particularly in the southern regions of Calabria and Campania. The name's association with hazelnuts and its appearance in historical records and artistic works make it a unique and fascinating surname to explore.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Avela

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

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

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

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