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

Challa, 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 Challa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Challa in America

Challa is the 29447th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Challa surname appeared 802 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 Challa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Challa 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 Challa

The surname Challa has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the northern region of Punjab. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Challa," which means "a type of bread" or "a thin flatbread." This surname was likely adopted by families involved in the baking or selling of this traditional bread.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Challa can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century document compiled during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This document mentions several individuals with the surname Challa, indicating that the name was prevalent in that era.

In the 18th century, a renowned Sikh warrior and military leader named Baba Baghel Singh Challa played a significant role in the battles against the Afghan invaders. He was born in 1720 and is remembered for his bravery and leadership during the turbulent times of the Sikh resistance.

Another notable figure with the surname Challa was Bhai Mani Singh Challa, a Sikh scholar and theologian who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He is credited with compiling the final version of the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of the Sikh religion.

In the 19th century, Rai Bahadur Dewan Challa Ram was a prominent figure in the princely state of Patiala. He served as the prime minister and played a crucial role in the administration and development of the region.

The Challa surname can also be found in historical records from the Indian states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, suggesting that the name may have spread beyond its original Punjab roots over time.

It is worth noting that the name Challa has various spellings and variations, such as Chala, Chella, and Chellah, which may reflect regional linguistic differences or historical transcription variations.

Overall, the surname Challa has a rich history rooted in the cultural and religious traditions of the Indian subcontinent, with notable individuals bearing this name making significant contributions to various fields throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Challa

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

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

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

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