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

Contla, 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 Contla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Contla in America

Contla is the 113155th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Contla surname appeared 155 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 Contla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Contla 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 Contla

The surname Contla is believed to have originated in Mexico, specifically in the region of Tlaxcala. It likely derives from the Nahuatl (Aztec) word "contli," which means "grain storage place" or "granary." The name may have initially been given to someone who worked in or lived near a granary.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Contla surname can be found in the Codex Mendoza, a 16th-century Aztec codex that documents the history and customs of the Aztec people. The codex mentions individuals with the surname Contla, indicating that it was already in use before the Spanish conquest of Mexico.

During the colonial period, the Contla surname appears in various historical documents and records, such as land grants and census records. For example, in the 17th century, a man named Juan Contla is mentioned in a land grant document in the region of Tlaxcala.

In the 18th century, a notable figure bearing the Contla surname was María Contla, a renowned weaver and artisan from the town of Puebla. Her intricate textile designs were highly sought after and contributed to the region's reputation for fine craftsmanship.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Pedro Contla, a military leader who fought alongside Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla during the Mexican War of Independence (1810-1821). Pedro Contla was born in Tlaxcala around 1780 and played a significant role in several battles against the Spanish colonial forces.

In the 19th century, a famous painter named José María Contla gained recognition for his works depicting scenes of everyday life in Mexico. Born in 1820 in Puebla, his paintings captured the vibrant colors and traditions of the country.

During the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920), a figure named Margarita Contla was known for her involvement in the revolutionary movement. She provided shelter and support to rebel forces in the state of Tlaxcala, risking her life in the fight for social and political change.

While the Contla surname is most commonly associated with Mexico, it has also been found in other parts of Latin America, likely due to migration and intermarriage over the centuries. However, its roots can be traced back to the Nahuatl-speaking indigenous populations of central Mexico.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Contla

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

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

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

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