2010
#153,769
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Cavala
A variant of the Italian surname Cavallo, meaning "horse" or "knight".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 134 Americans carry the last name Cavala. That puts it at #144,270 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,557,868 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Cavala surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
134
1 in 2,557,868
Census rank
#144,270
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
117
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 117 bearers of the surname Cavala in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 144270th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Cavala, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 88.9%. The next largest groups are White (11.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Cavala
The surname "CAVALA" is believed to have originated in Italy, specifically in the region of Calabria, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Italian word "cavalla," which means "mare" or "female horse." The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a reference to someone who worked with or bred horses.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name "CAVALA" can be found in the archives of the town of Cosenza, dating back to the late 13th century. These records document a family with the surname "Cavala" who were landowners and involved in agricultural activities.
In the 15th century, there are records of a prominent individual named Giovanni Cavala (c. 1420 - 1498), a merchant and trader from the city of Reggio Calabria. He was known for his successful business ventures and his influence in the local community.
Another notable figure was Antonio Cavala (c. 1575 - 1648), a renowned architect from the town of Catanzaro. He is credited with designing several churches and public buildings that still stand today, showcasing his skill in the Renaissance architectural style.
The name "CAVALA" also appears in historical documents from the nearby island of Sicily. In the late 16th century, there are mentions of a family with this surname residing in Palermo. One of their descendants, Maria Cavala (c. 1620 - 1692), was a philanthropist known for her charitable works and support of local orphanages.
In the 18th century, a military officer named Giuseppe Cavala (c. 1730 - 1804) gained recognition for his service in the Neapolitan army during the Napoleonic Wars. He rose through the ranks and was honored for his bravery and strategic leadership.
Over the centuries, variations of the spelling of the surname emerged, such as "Cavalla," "Cavalà," and "Cavalè," reflecting regional dialects and linguistic changes. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained tied to the concept of horses and equine-related activities.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Cavala
Among Census respondents with the surname Cavala, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 88.9%. The next largest groups are White (11.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Cavala bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Cavala surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino88.9% · 104
- White11.1% · 13
Timeline
Historical Census data for Cavala
Cavala appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#144,270
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
+11 bearers (+10.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 9,499 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #153,769 | 106 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #144,270 | 117 | 0.04 | +11 bearers (+10.4%) | Up 9,499 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Cavala surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #153,769 | #144,270 | 6.2% |
| Count | 106 | 117 | 10.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -2.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Cavala bearers went from 106 to 117 (+10.4% change). The surname moved up 9,499 positions in the national ranking, going from #153,769 to #144,270.
FAQ
Cavala surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Cavala?
Name Census estimates that about 134 living Americans carry the surname Cavala. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,557,868 residents.
How common is Cavala?
Cavala ranks #144,270 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 117 people with the surname Cavala. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (134), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Cavala.
Has Cavala become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Cavala went from 106 recorded bearers to 117. That is an increase of 11 (+10.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #153,769 to #144,270.
What does the Census say about the background of Cavala?
Among Census respondents with the surname Cavala, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 88.9%. The next largest groups are White (11.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Cavala in the 2020 Census, accounting for 88.9% (104 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Cavala appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (88.9%), White (11.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Cavala (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Cavala mean?
A variant of the Italian surname Cavallo, meaning "horse" or "knight". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Cavala (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Cavala?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.