2000
#147,095
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Cihla
A surname derived from the Slavic word for "brick" or "bricklayer".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 126 Americans carry the last name Cihla. That puts it at #149,446 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,720,273 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Cihla 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
126
1 in 2,720,273
Census rank
#149,446
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
110
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 110 bearers of the surname Cihla in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 149446th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Cihla, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.6%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Cihla
The surname CIHLA originates from the Czech Republic, with its roots tracing back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Czech word "cihla," which means "brick." This connection suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have been associated with the brick-making trade or lived in an area known for its brick production.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the CIHLA surname can be found in the Liber Viridis, a historical document from the city of Brno, dating back to the late 13th century. This document mentions a certain "Petrus Cihla," indicating the surname's presence in the region during that time period.
In the 15th century, the CIHLA surname appeared in various records from the town of Kutná Hora, a renowned center for silver mining and minting. Several individuals with this surname were listed as residents, suggesting that the family may have been involved in the area's thriving industries or related trades.
During the 16th century, the name CIHLA gained prominence in the region of Moravia, particularly in the town of Zlín. Historical records from this era mention a notable figure named Jan CIHLA (1532-1598), who was a respected landowner and benefactor of the local church.
Another notable individual with the CIHLA surname was Václav CIHLA (1675-1742), a renowned architect and builder from Prague. He was responsible for designing and constructing several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Nicholas in the Malá Strana district of Prague.
In the 19th century, the CIHLA surname gained recognition in the literary world with the Czech writer and poet Jaroslav CIHLA (1834-1887). He was a prominent figure in the Czech National Revival movement and contributed significantly to the preservation and promotion of Czech language and culture.
Throughout the centuries, the CIHLA surname has also been associated with various place names and locations within the Czech Republic. For example, the village of Cihlářov, which translates to "Brick Maker's Village," likely derived its name from the presence of brick-making activities in the area, potentially connected to individuals bearing the CIHLA surname.
While the CIHLA surname has its roots firmly planted in the Czech Republic, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its historical significance and connection to the brick-making trade and architectural heritage remain deeply rooted in its Czech origins.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Cihla
Among Census respondents with the surname Cihla, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.6%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Cihla 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 Cihla surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.9% · 100
- Two or more races3.6% · 4
- American Indian and Alaska Native2.7% · 3
- Hispanic or Latino1.8% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Cihla
Cihla appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#154,907
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 105
+2 bearers (+1.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 7,812 places
2020
#149,446
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
+5 bearers (+4.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 5,461 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #147,095 | 103 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #154,907 | 105 | 0.04 | +2 bearers (+1.9%) | Down 7,812 places |
| 2020 | #149,446 | 110 | 0.04 | +5 bearers (+4.8%) | Up 5,461 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 Cihla 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 | #154,907 | #149,446 | 3.5% |
| Count | 105 | 110 | 4.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -8.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Cihla bearers went from 105 to 110 (+4.8% change). The surname moved up 5,461 positions in the national ranking, going from #154,907 to #149,446.
FAQ
Cihla surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Cihla?
Name Census estimates that about 126 living Americans carry the surname Cihla. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,720,273 residents.
How common is Cihla?
Cihla ranks #149,446 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 110 people with the surname Cihla. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (126), 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 Cihla.
Has Cihla become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Cihla went from 105 recorded bearers to 110. That is an increase of 5 (+4.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #154,907 to #149,446.
What does the Census say about the background of Cihla?
Among Census respondents with the surname Cihla, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.6%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (2.7%). 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?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Cihla in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.9% (100 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Cihla appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (90.9%), Two or More Races (3.6%), American Indian/Alaska Native (2.7%). 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 Cihla (2000, 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 Cihla mean?
A surname derived from the Slavic word for "brick" or "bricklayer". 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 Cihla (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 last name Cihla?
You can see how many people have the surname Cihla on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.