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

Fala, 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 Fala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fala in America

Fala is the 106570th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fala surname appeared 167 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 Fala.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fala 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 Fala

The surname Fala has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the regions of Portugal and Spain. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, possibly as early as the 12th or 13th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Fala surname can be traced back to a document from the region of Galicia in northwestern Spain, dated around the year 1220. This document mentions a landowner named Rodrigo Fala, suggesting that the name was already in use at that time.

The name Fala is thought to derive from the Latin word "fabula," which means "story" or "tale." It is possible that the surname was initially given to individuals who were skilled storytellers or entertainers, or perhaps to those who were known for their loquaciousness or ability to spin yarns.

In Portugal, the Fala surname can be found in various historical records from the 15th and 16th centuries. One notable figure was João Fala, a merchant and sea captain who lived in the city of Porto during the late 15th century. He was involved in the lucrative trade of spices and other goods brought back from expeditions to the Far East.

Another early bearer of the Fala surname was Fernão Fala, a Portuguese explorer and navigator who accompanied the famous explorer Vasco da Gama on his voyage to India in 1497-1499. Fernão Fala played a crucial role in navigating the ships and documenting the expedition's discoveries.

In Spain, the Fala surname has a particularly strong presence in the region of Andalusia, where it can be traced back to the late 13th century. One notable figure was Pedro Fala, a nobleman and landowner from Seville who lived during the 14th century. Records indicate that he was a prominent figure in the local community and held significant political influence.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Fala surname spread to other parts of Europe, including Italy and France. In Italy, there was a notable family of artists and sculptors from Florence who bore the name Fala. One of the most renowned members was Girolamo Fala (1559-1638), whose works can be found in various churches and palaces throughout Italy.

As the centuries progressed, the Fala surname continued to be carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions. In the 19th century, there was a Spanish military officer named Antonio Fala (1810-1882) who fought in the Carlist Wars and rose to the rank of general.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fala

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

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

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

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