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

Chagala, 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 Chagala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chagala in America

Chagala is the 79846th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chagala surname appeared 238 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 Chagala.

The history of the last name Chagala

The surname Chagala has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically the northern regions of what is now Pakistan and India. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century AD. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "chagala," which means "a goat herd" or "one who tends to goats."

In ancient times, many communities in the region were involved in pastoral activities, and surnames often reflected occupations or trades. The name Chagala was likely adopted by families whose ancestors were engaged in the rearing and tending of goats, a significant aspect of rural life in those times.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the archives of the Delhi Sultanate, which ruled over northern India from the 13th to the 16th centuries. A certain Malik Chagala is mentioned in a land grant document from the reign of Sultan Iltutmish (1211-1236 AD), indicating the presence of the surname during that period.

In the 16th century, the Mughal Empire, which ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent, maintained detailed records of noble families and their lineages. The name Chagala appears in several such records, suggesting that some families bearing this surname had attained a certain level of prominence during the Mughal era.

Among the notable individuals with the surname Chagala in history is Rai Sahib Shyam Lal Chagala (1865-1944), a prominent politician and social reformer from the Punjab region of British India. He was instrumental in advocating for the rights of the Khatri community and played a significant role in the Indian independence movement.

Another individual of note is Lala Moti Ram Chagala (1880-1957), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Amritsar, Punjab. He was known for his charitable contributions towards education and social welfare initiatives in the region.

In the field of literature, Munshi Mohanlal Chagala (1899-1974) was a renowned Urdu poet and writer from the city of Lahore (now in Pakistan). His works, including poetry collections and novels, explored themes of love, spirituality, and societal issues of his time.

The surname Chagala can also be found in historical records from other parts of South Asia, including modern-day Bangladesh and Nepal, indicating the spread and migration of families bearing this name over the centuries.

While the surname Chagala is not among the most common in the region today, it continues to be a part of the rich tapestry of names and identities that reflect the diverse cultural heritage of the Indian subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chagala

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

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

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

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