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

Debela, 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 Debela surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Debela in America

Debela is the 146201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Debela surname appeared 113 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 Debela.

The history of the last name Debela

The surname DEBELA originates from the Slovenian language and has its roots in the Balkan region of southeastern Europe. It is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, likely derived from the Slovenian word "debel," which means "thick" or "stout." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a larger physical stature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DEBELA surname can be found in the Slovenian region of Carniola, which is now part of modern-day Slovenia. Historical documents from the 14th century mention individuals with this surname living in the area around Ljubljana, the capital of Carniola at the time.

The DEBELA name also appears in various historical records from neighboring regions, such as Croatia and Bosnia. In the 16th century, a notable figure named Matija DEBELA was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Dubrovnik, which was then part of the Republic of Ragusa (modern-day Croatia).

Another notable bearer of the DEBELA surname was Janez DEBELA, a Slovenian priest and author who lived in the 17th century. He is known for his work "Diocesan Synodicon," which documented the proceedings of local church councils in the Diocese of Ljubljana.

In the 19th century, the DEBELA name gained prominence in the field of literature. Jožef DEBELA, a Slovenian writer and poet born in 1825, was a prominent figure in the Slovenian Romantic movement. His works celebrated Slovenian national identity and played a significant role in the cultural renaissance of the region.

Another noteworthy individual with the DEBELA surname was Franc DEBELA, a Slovenian military officer who fought in World War I. He was born in 1887 and served in the Austro-Hungarian army, earning recognition for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

Over the centuries, the DEBELA surname has maintained a strong presence in Slovenia and neighboring countries, with variations in spelling and pronunciation arising in different regions. While the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has evolved to become a distinct family name with a rich cultural heritage in the Balkan region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Debela

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

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

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

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