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

Carnalla, 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 Carnalla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Carnalla in America

Carnalla is the 122314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Carnalla surname appeared 141 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 Carnalla.

The history of the last name Carnalla

The surname Carnalla originated in the Ligurian region of northwestern Italy during the late 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word "carnalis," which means "fleshly" or "carnal." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone with a robust or earthy demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a municipal record from the city of Genoa, dated 1492, which mentions a certain Nicolo Carnalla. This indicates that the name was already established in the area by the late medieval period.

In the 16th century, the Carnalla family gained prominence in the town of Savona, where they were involved in maritime trade and commerce. A notable figure from this era was Giovanni Battista Carnalla (1543-1618), a successful merchant and shipowner who played a significant role in the local economy.

As the Carnalla family spread throughout Italy and beyond, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Carnala, Carnalo, and Carnallo. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and scribal interpretations.

During the 17th century, a branch of the Carnalla family settled in the Spanish-controlled region of Sicily. One of the most renowned figures from this lineage was Don Cesare Carnalla (1675-1742), a prominent landowner and military leader who served in the Spanish army during the War of the Spanish Succession.

In the 19th century, the Carnalla name gained international recognition with the birth of Antonio Carnalla (1809-1888), an Italian opera singer and composer who achieved fame throughout Europe. His works, which included operas and vocal compositions, were highly acclaimed during his lifetime.

Another notable figure from this period was Francesca Carnalla (1845-1921), an Italian feminist and activist who played a pivotal role in the women's suffrage movement in Italy. She was a founding member of the Lega Promotrice degli Interessi Femminili, one of the earliest organizations dedicated to advancing women's rights in the country.

As the Carnalla family continued to spread across Europe and the Americas, the name became associated with various professions and achievements. From academics and artists to politicians and entrepreneurs, the Carnalla surname has left an indelible mark on history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Carnalla

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

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!