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

Changela, 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 Changela surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Changela in America

Changela is the 151532nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Changela surname appeared 108 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 Changela.

The history of the last name Changela

The surname Changela is believed to have originated in India, specifically in the northern region of Gujarat. Its roots can be traced back to the 11th or 12th century AD, during the reign of the Chalukya dynasty. The name is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "Changa," meaning "excellent" or "virtuous," combined with the suffix "la," which is commonly used in Gujarati surnames.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Changela can be found in a manuscript from the 13th century, which mentions a prominent merchant family bearing this surname. This family was known for their trade dealings in spices and textiles, which were highly sought after commodities during that era.

In the 14th century, a village named Changelav was established in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. It is believed that this village was founded by members of the Changela community, and the name of the village itself is a variation of their surname.

During the Mughal period, which spanned from the 16th to the 19th centuries, several individuals with the surname Changela held important positions in the royal courts. One notable figure was Virji Changela, a military commander who served under the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the latter half of the 16th century.

Another prominent Changela was Ratan Changela, a renowned scholar and poet who lived in the 17th century. His works, which included poetry and philosophical treatises, were highly regarded in literary circles of that time.

In the 18th century, a wealthy merchant named Keshav Changela established a thriving trade network that extended from Gujarat to the port cities of the Arabian Peninsula. His descendants continued to play a significant role in the commercial activities of the region for generations.

During the British colonial period in India, several Changelas served in administrative roles within the colonial government. One such figure was Narottam Changela, who was appointed as a district magistrate in the late 19th century.

Over the centuries, the Changela surname has also been associated with various professions, including agriculture, education, and the arts. Some notable individuals with this surname include the 20th-century writer and journalist, Ratilal Changela, and the contemporary artist, Amish Changela, whose works have been exhibited internationally.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Changela

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

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

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

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