2000
#13,717
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,027
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.75
Rare Last name
Kalina
A Polish habitational surname derived from the word "kalina," referring to a place where guelder rose plants grow.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,254 Americans carry the last name Kalina. That puts it at #14,561 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.66 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 152,065 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kalina 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
2.3K
1 in 152,065
Census rank
#14,561
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,966 bearers of the surname Kalina in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.66 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14561st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kalina, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kalina
The surname Kalina is of Slavic origin, specifically from Poland and surrounding regions of Eastern Europe. It is believed to have derived from the Slavic word "kalina," which refers to the guelder-rose plant, also known as the viburnum opulus. This evergreen shrub is native to Europe and parts of Asia, and its bright red berries have long been associated with Slavic folklore and traditions.
The earliest recorded instances of the Kalina surname can be traced back to the 15th century in various regions of Poland. It is likely that the name was initially used as a descriptive name or a nickname for individuals who lived near or had some association with the guelder-rose plant. Over time, these descriptive names became hereditary surnames passed down through generations.
One of the earliest documented references to the Kalina surname can be found in the Metryka Koronna, a collection of Polish royal and state documents dating back to the late 14th century. In these records, there are mentions of individuals with the surname Kalina serving in various capacities, from landowners to clerks and administrators.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Kalina surname gained prominence in several noble families in Poland. Notable individuals from this period include Jan Kalina (1545-1618), a Polish nobleman and military commander who fought in the Polish-Swedish Wars, and Andrzej Kalina (1615-1679), a Polish poet and writer known for his religious works and translations.
In the 18th century, the Kalina surname spread beyond Poland to other parts of Eastern Europe, including Ukraine and Belarus. One notable figure from this era was Hryhoriy Kalina (1723-1796), a Ukrainian nobleman and philanthropist known for his support of education and cultural institutions.
As the Kalina surname moved into the 19th and 20th centuries, it continued to be represented in various fields, including the arts, sciences, and politics. Ivan Kalina (1825-1891) was a Ukrainian painter and sculptor, while Maksym Kalina (1884-1942) was a Ukrainian politician and activist who played a significant role in the struggle for Ukrainian independence.
Throughout its history, the Kalina surname has maintained a strong connection to its Slavic roots and the symbolic significance of the guelder-rose plant. While its exact origins may be difficult to pinpoint, the name has endured as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Eastern Europe and the importance of nature in shaping the linguistic traditions of the region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kalina
Among Census respondents with the surname Kalina, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Kalina 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 Kalina surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.9% · 1,807
- Hispanic or Latino4.6% · 90
- Two or more races2.1% · 41
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 18
- Black or African American0.4% · 7
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Kalina
Kalina 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
#14,893
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,987
-40 bearers (-2.0%)
Per 100,000 0.67
Rank movement Down 1,176 places
2020
#14,561
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,966
-21 bearers (-1.1%)
Per 100,000 0.66
Rank movement Up 332 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #13,717 | 2,027 | 0.75 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #14,893 | 1,987 | 0.67 | -40 bearers (-2.0%) | Down 1,176 places |
| 2020 | #14,561 | 1,966 | 0.66 | -21 bearers (-1.1%) | Up 332 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 Kalina 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 | #14,893 | #14,561 | 2.2% |
| Count | 1,987 | 1,966 | -1.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.67 | 0.66 | -1.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Kalina bearers went from 1,987 to 1,966 (-1.1% change). The surname moved up 332 positions in the national ranking, going from #14,893 to #14,561.
FAQ
Kalina surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Kalina?
Name Census estimates that about 2,254 living Americans carry the surname Kalina. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 152,065 residents.
How common is Kalina?
Kalina ranks #14,561 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.66 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,966 people with the surname Kalina. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,254), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.66 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.66 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Kalina.
Has Kalina become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Kalina went from 1,987 recorded bearers to 1,966. That is a decrease of 21 (-1.1%). In the national ranking it rose from #14,893 to #14,561.
What does the Census say about the background of Kalina?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kalina, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%) and Two or More Races (2.1%). 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 Kalina in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.9% (1,807 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Kalina appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.9%), Hispanic (4.6%), Two or More Races (2.1%). 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 Kalina (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 Kalina mean?
A Polish habitational surname derived from the word "kalina," referring to a place where guelder rose plants grow. 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 Kalina (0.66 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 many people have the surname Kalina?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.