2000
#144,908
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 105
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Follas
A Spanish surname derived from the word "hoja" meaning leaf or foliage.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 117 Americans carry the last name Follas. That puts it at #154,755 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,929,524 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Follas 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
117
1 in 2,929,524
Census rank
#154,755
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
102
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 102 bearers of the surname Follas in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 154755th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Follas, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.9%) and Hispanic (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Follas
The surname FOLLAS is of Spanish origin, with its roots traced back to the 14th century. It is believed to have originated in the region of Galicia, located in the northwestern corner of Spain. The name is derived from the Galician-Portuguese word "folla," meaning "leaf," suggesting a connection to the natural world or perhaps a reference to a specific location known for its lush foliage.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the FOLLAS surname can be found in the Libro de las Behetrías, a medieval manuscript dating back to the 14th century. This document, which served as a census of sorts for the Kingdom of Castile, contains entries related to individuals bearing the FOLLAS name, providing valuable insights into their presence and distribution across the region.
During the 15th century, the FOLLAS name appeared in various municipal records and documents throughout Galicia. Notable examples include Juan FOLLAS, a landowner mentioned in a property deed from 1457, and María FOLLAS, a resident of the town of Pontevedra, recorded in a tax register from 1482.
As the centuries passed, the FOLLAS surname spread beyond its Galician origins, with notable individuals emerging across Spain and beyond. One such figure was Pedro FOLLAS (1602-1678), a renowned Spanish playwright and poet from Madrid, whose works contributed significantly to the Golden Age of Spanish literature.
In the 18th century, the FOLLAS name found its way to the Americas, with several individuals bearing this surname playing important roles in the colonial era. One notable example is José FOLLAS (1726-1802), a Spanish military officer who served as the governor of Puerto Rico from 1786 to 1789.
Another prominent figure was Andrés FOLLAS (1811-1876), a Cuban writer, journalist, and political activist who played a crucial role in the struggle for Cuban independence from Spanish rule. His literary works and advocacy efforts made him a highly influential figure in the island's intellectual circles.
Throughout its long history, the FOLLAS surname has been associated with various professions and contributions to society, ranging from literature and politics to military service and beyond. While its origins can be traced back to the lush landscapes of Galicia, the name has transcended boundaries and left an indelible mark on the cultural tapestry of Spain and the Spanish-speaking world.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Follas
Among Census respondents with the surname Follas, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.9%) and Hispanic (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Follas 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 Follas surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.1% · 95
- Two or more races4.9% · 5
- Hispanic or Latino2.0% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Follas
Follas 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
#151,532
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
+3 bearers (+2.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 6,624 places
2020
#154,755
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
-6 bearers (-5.6%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 3,223 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #144,908 | 105 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #151,532 | 108 | 0.04 | +3 bearers (+2.9%) | Down 6,624 places |
| 2020 | #154,755 | 102 | 0.03 | -6 bearers (-5.6%) | Down 3,223 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 Follas 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 | #151,532 | #154,755 | -2.1% |
| Count | 108 | 102 | -5.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -14.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Follas bearers went from 108 to 102 (-5.6% change). The surname moved down 3,223 positions in the national ranking, going from #151,532 to #154,755.
FAQ
Follas surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Follas?
Name Census estimates that about 117 living Americans carry the surname Follas. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,929,524 residents.
How common is Follas?
Follas ranks #154,755 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 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 102 people with the surname Follas. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (117), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 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 Follas.
Has Follas become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Follas went from 108 recorded bearers to 102. That is a decrease of 6 (-5.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #151,532 to #154,755.
What does the Census say about the background of Follas?
Among Census respondents with the surname Follas, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.9%) and Hispanic (2.0%). 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 Follas in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.1% (95 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Follas appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.1%), Two or More Races (4.9%), Hispanic (2.0%). 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 Follas (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 Follas mean?
A Spanish surname derived from the word "hoja" meaning leaf or foliage. 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 Follas (0.03 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 common is the surname Follas?
For a quick modern take, check how common the surname Follas is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.