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

Bala, 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 Bala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bala in America

Bala is the 15005th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bala surname appeared 1,968 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Bala.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bala 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 Bala

The surname BALA is of Indian origin, with roots that can be traced back to the 7th century CE. It is believed to have originated in the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the areas now known as Punjab and Haryana.

The name BALA is derived from the Sanskrit word "bala," which means "strength" or "power." It was likely used as a descriptive name for individuals who possessed physical prowess or were known for their bravery and valor in battle.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BALA can be found in the Bakhshali Manuscript, an ancient Indian mathematical treatise dating back to the 7th century CE. The manuscript mentions a scholar named Bala, who is believed to have contributed to the work.

In the 12th century, a prominent figure named Bala Raya emerged as a powerful ruler in the Deccan region of southern India. He ruled over the Yadava dynasty and was known for his military conquests and patronage of art and literature.

During the Mughal Empire in the 16th century, a renowned poet and scholar named Bala Sundar Tiwari gained recognition for his literary works. He was born in Varanasi in 1530 and is celebrated for his contributions to Hindi literature.

Another notable individual with the surname BALA was Bala Pritam Singh, a Sikh warrior who fought against the British during the Anglo-Sikh Wars in the 19th century. He was born in 1802 and is remembered for his bravery and sacrifices in defending the Sikh Empire.

In the 20th century, Bala Saheb Deoras emerged as a prominent figure in the Hindu nationalist movement in India. He served as the third Sarsanghchalak (Supreme Leader) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from 1973 to 1994 and played a significant role in shaping the organization's ideology and activities.

While the surname BALA has its roots in India, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. The name has been found in various spellings and variations, such as Balla, Bala, and Balla, reflecting the diverse linguistic and cultural influences it has encountered over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bala

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

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

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

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