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

Calla, 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 Calla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Calla in America

Calla is the 56195th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Calla surname appeared 364 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 Calla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Calla 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 Calla

The surname Calla is believed to have originated in Italy, with its earliest known records dating back to the late 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Italian word "calla," which refers to the calla lily, a type of flowering plant native to parts of the Mediterranean region.

One of the earliest documented instances of the Calla surname can be found in a record from the town of Siena, Tuscany, dated 1287. This record mentions a certain "Giovanni Calla," suggesting that the name was already in use at that time. It's possible that the Calla family may have been involved in the cultivation or trade of calla lilies, leading to the adoption of the name.

By the 14th century, the Calla surname had spread to other parts of Italy, including the regions of Piedmont and Lombardy. In 1342, a document from the city of Milan mentions a "Petro Calla," indicating the presence of the name in that area.

Throughout the centuries, the Calla surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was Francesco Calla (c. 1592-1664), a renowned architect from Naples who designed several churches and palaces in the city during the Baroque period.

Another notable bearer of the Calla surname was Giovanni Battista Calla (1709-1782), a celebrated painter from Genoa. His works, which often depicted religious and mythological scenes, can be found in various churches and galleries across Italy.

In the 19th century, the Calla surname gained international recognition with the birth of Antonio Calla (1824-1891), an Italian-American businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of New York. He was instrumental in establishing several charitable organizations and cultural institutions.

The Calla name has also been associated with the town of Calla, located in the province of Vibo Valentia, Calabria, Italy. It's possible that the surname may have derived from this place name, although the exact origins remain unclear.

Other notable individuals with the Calla surname include Mario Calla (1885-1952), an Italian-American journalist and author, and Anna Calla (1920-2005), a renowned Italian opera singer who performed in many prestigious venues throughout Europe and the United States.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Calla

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

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

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

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