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

Kanagala, 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 Kanagala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kanagala in America

Kanagala is the 152628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kanagala surname appeared 107 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 Kanagala.

The history of the last name Kanagala

The surname Kanagala has its origins in India, specifically in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. It is believed to have emerged during the 15th century, derived from the Telugu word "kanagalu," which means "golden bangles" or "ornaments made of gold."

This surname is closely associated with the Kamma caste, a prominent agricultural and trading community in Andhra Pradesh. It is thought to have originated as a title or occupational name for those involved in the crafting or trading of golden ornaments and jewelry.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Kanagala surname can be found in the Kakatiya inscriptions from the 13th century, which document the reign of the Kakatiya dynasty in the Deccan region. These inscriptions reference individuals with variations of the name, such as "Kanagallu" and "Kanagalla."

During the 16th century, the Kanagala surname gained prominence in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, where members of the community held positions of influence and power. Historical records from this period mention several notable figures bearing this surname, such as Kanagala Venkata Reddy, a prominent landowner and chieftain who lived in the late 1500s.

In the 18th century, the Kanagala surname is found in the records of the Nizam's dominions, where members of the community held influential positions in the administrative and military ranks. One such figure was Kanagala Raghavendra Nayak, a notable military commander who served under the Nizam of Hyderabad in the mid-1700s.

As the Kanagala community spread across different regions of India, the surname underwent various spelling variations, such as Kanagal, Kanagalla, and Kanagallu. These variations often reflected regional dialects and local linguistic influences.

Notable individuals bearing the Kanagala surname include:

1. Kanagala Satyanarayana Raju (1910-1994), a prominent industrialist and philanthropist from Andhra Pradesh.
2. Kanagala Venkataramana (1919-2001), a renowned Telugu writer and scholar who made significant contributions to Telugu literature.
3. Kanagala Seshadri Rao (1927-2011), a distinguished Indian civil servant and diplomat who served as the Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
4. Kanagala Sailaja (born 1960), an acclaimed Indian classical dancer and choreographer, recognized for her contributions to the Kuchipudi dance form.
5. Kanagala Vijayalakshmi (born 1976), an accomplished Indian athlete and Olympian who competed in the heptathlon and long jump events.

The Kanagala surname continues to be prevalent among the Kamma community in Andhra Pradesh and other parts of India, carrying a rich historical legacy and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kanagala

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

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 Kanagala 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.

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

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

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