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

Dolma, 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 Dolma surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dolma in America

Dolma is the 30043rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dolma surname appeared 781 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 Dolma.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dolma 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 Dolma

The surname DOLMA is believed to have originated in the Himalayan region of South Asia, specifically in the areas now encompassed by the modern nations of Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of northeastern India. Its roots can be traced back to the 12th century CE, when it was likely derived from the Tibetan word "dol-ma," which translates to "high pass" or "mountain pass," reflecting the rugged terrain of the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DOLMA surname can be found in a 14th-century Nepalese manuscript, which mentions a family of traders and merchants bearing this name. The manuscript suggests that these traders frequently traveled through the treacherous mountain passes of the Himalayas, facilitating the exchange of goods between the Indian subcontinent and the Tibetan plateau.

In the 16th century, the DOLMA surname gained prominence when a notable figure named Tashi DOLMA (1525-1592) emerged as a revered Buddhist scholar and teacher in the Bhutanese region. His writings and teachings on Buddhist philosophy were widely circulated and influenced subsequent generations of scholars and practitioners.

Another notable individual bearing the DOLMA surname was Sonam DOLMA (1675-1743), a renowned artist and thangka painter from the Kathmandu Valley region of Nepal. His intricate and vibrant depictions of Buddhist deities and mandalas were highly sought after by monasteries and nobility throughout the Himalayan region.

The 19th century saw the rise of Lobsang DOLMA (1818-1892), a celebrated Bhutanese statesman and diplomat who played a crucial role in negotiating treaties and maintaining peaceful relations between Bhutan and its neighboring territories. His efforts were instrumental in preserving Bhutan's sovereignty and independence during a period of heightened tensions and conflicts in the region.

In more recent times, Tenzin DOLMA (1924-2018) gained recognition as a pioneering female mountaineer and one of the first women from the Himalayan region to summit several of the world's highest peaks, including Mount Everest. Her achievements challenged gender stereotypes and inspired generations of aspiring mountaineers from the region.

The DOLMA surname has endured through the centuries, reflecting the resilience and fortitude of the people who inhabited the rugged and challenging terrains of the Himalayas. Its origins and historical associations with trade, scholarship, art, diplomacy, and mountaineering have contributed to its enduring legacy and significance within the cultures of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dolma

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

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

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

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