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

Calara, 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 Calara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Calara in America

Calara is the 65593rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Calara surname appeared 302 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 Calara.

We can also compare 2010 data for Calara 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 Calara

The surname Calara is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It emerged in the regions of Catalonia and Valencia, where it was likely derived from the Latin word "calarus," which means "bright" or "shining." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname referring to someone with a bright or radiant appearance.

The earliest recorded instances of the Calara surname date back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various municipal records and tax rolls from towns and villages throughout eastern Spain. It's worth noting that the name was sometimes spelled differently in these early documents, with variations such as Calarra, Callara, and Calera.

In the 14th century, the name Calara gained prominence through its association with a noble family from the town of Calera de León, located in the province of Badajoz. This family played a significant role in the local governance and politics of the region during that period.

One of the earliest notable figures bearing the Calara surname was Rodrigo Calara, a prominent scholar and philosopher who lived in the late 15th century. He authored several influential works on metaphysics and ethics, which were widely studied in academic circles across Europe.

During the 16th century, the Calara name appeared in various historical records related to the Spanish conquest and colonization of the Americas. Juan Calara, born in 1522, was a renowned explorer and navigator who participated in several expeditions to the Caribbean and Central America.

In the 17th century, the Calara family established itself as a prominent dynasty of artists and architects in the city of Barcelona. Miguel Calara (1598-1673) was a renowned painter whose works adorned many churches and public buildings throughout Catalonia. His son, Pedro Calara (1621-1689), followed in his footsteps and became a renowned sculptor, creating numerous intricate and ornate works for religious institutions.

Another notable figure from this period was Isabel Calara (1625-1701), a prominent writer and poet whose works explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition. Her collection of sonnets, titled "Jardín de Amores" (Garden of Loves), was widely acclaimed and studied in literary circles across Spain.

As the centuries passed, the Calara surname continued to be associated with individuals of note in various fields, including politics, academia, and the arts. While not as prevalent as some other Spanish surnames, it has maintained a strong presence throughout the country's history and cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Calara

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

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

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

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