Calma last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Calma

An Italian surname meaning "calm" or "tranquil".

Calma, 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 Calma surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Calma in America

Calma is the 26598th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Calma surname appeared 916 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 Calma.

We can also compare 2010 data for Calma 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 26598 33993 -24.41%
Count 916 632 36.69%
Proportion per 100k 0.31 0.23 29.63%

The history of the last name Calma

The surname Calma originated in Italy, and can be traced back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "calma," meaning "calm" or "tranquil." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname or descriptive name to someone with a peaceful or serene demeanor.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Calma can be found in the Catasto Florentino, a historic tax record from Florence, Italy, dating back to the year 1427. This document mentions a certain "Giovanni di Calma," indicating that the surname was already in use at that time.

Historical records also show that the Calma family had a presence in the region of Tuscany, particularly in the cities of Florence and Siena. In the 16th century, a notable figure named Girolamo Calma (1510-1584) was a renowned painter and architect from Siena, known for his frescoes in various churches and buildings throughout the region.

Another notable individual with the surname Calma was Francesco Calma (1615-1683), a Venetian philosopher and author who wrote extensively on topics related to ethics and moral philosophy. His works, such as "Discorsi Morali" (Moral Discourses), published in 1657, were widely read and influential during his time.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure named Antonio Calma (1822-1898) was a renowned Italian politician and statesman. He served as a member of the Italian Parliament and played a significant role in the unification of Italy, advocating for the independence and sovereignty of the newly formed nation.

Moving into the 20th century, Mario Calma (1901-1976) was an Italian journalist and writer who gained recognition for his coverage of World War II and his literary works. His memoir, "Ricordi di Guerra" (Memories of War), published in 1945, provided a firsthand account of the events and hardships faced during the war.

While the surname Calma has its roots in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and cultural exchange. However, the origins and historical significance of this name remain deeply rooted in the rich Italian heritage and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Calma

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

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 Calma was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 18.12% 166
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 71.40% 654
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 5.46% 50
Hispanic Origin 4.04% 37

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 Calma has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 18.12% 25.95% -35.53%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 71.40% 67.25% 5.99%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 5.46% 4.75% 13.91%
Hispanic 4.04% 1.74% 79.58%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Calma last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 2, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/calma-surname-popularity/.

"Calma last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/calma-surname-popularity/. Accessed 2 December, 2024

Calma last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/calma-surname-popularity/.

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