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

Kalaw, 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 Kalaw surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kalaw in America

Kalaw is the 86981st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kalaw surname appeared 214 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 Kalaw.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kalaw 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 Kalaw

The surname "KALAW" is of Filipino origin, tracing its roots back to the small town of Kalawag (or Kalauwag) in the province of Laguna, Philippines. The name is believed to have originated from the Tagalog word "kalawag," which means "to wander" or "to roam freely." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who led a nomadic or migratory lifestyle in the region's early history.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "KALAW" can be found in historical documents from the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines, which began in the 16th century. In these records, the name appears with various spellings, such as "Calauag," "Calahuag," and "Calauhuag," reflecting the influence of Spanish orthography on the transcription of native Filipino names.

One of the earliest and most notable individuals bearing the surname "KALAW" was Teodoro M. Kalaw (1884-1940), a prominent Filipino writer, historian, and statesman. Kalaw played a significant role in the Philippine independence movement and served as the first Secretary of the Interior under the Commonwealth government of the Philippines. He authored several works on Philippine history and culture, including "The Philippine Revolution" and "Apolinario Mabini: The Revolutionary."

Another notable figure with the surname "KALAW" was Pura Villanueva Kalaw (1886-1949), a feminist activist and educator who co-founded the National Federation of Women's Clubs in the Philippines. She was a vocal advocate for women's rights and played a pivotal role in promoting women's education and empowerment in the country.

In the realm of literature, the name "KALAW" is associated with Lope K. Santos (1879-1944), a poet, essayist, and novelist who is considered one of the foremost writers of the Philippine Renaissance period. His works, such as "Banaag at Sikat" and "Mga Kusang-Loob," explored themes of nationalism, social justice, and the Filipino identity.

The surname "KALAW" can also be found in historical records from the 18th and 19th centuries, such as land titles, census documents, and church records. These references often mention individuals with the name living in the towns and villages of Laguna province, suggesting a strong regional connection to the area.

Interestingly, the town of Kalawag (or Kalauwag) itself has a rich history, with records indicating its existence as early as the 16th century. The town's name is believed to be derived from the same Tagalog root as the surname "KALAW," further solidifying the linguistic and cultural ties between the place and the family name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kalaw

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

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

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

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