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

Kandala, 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 Kandala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kandala in America

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

The Kandala 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 Kandala.

The history of the last name Kandala

The surname Kandala is of Indian origin, believed to have first emerged in the southern regions of the subcontinent during the medieval period. Linguists trace its roots to the Sanskrit word "kandara," meaning a deep valley or a gorge, suggesting that the name may have initially been associated with individuals residing in such geographical features.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kandala name can be found in historical texts from the 14th century, where it appears as a surname among certain noble families in the erstwhile Vijayanagara Empire. Notably, a minister named Kandala Saluva served under the reign of King Krishnadevaraya, who ruled from 1509 to 1529.

As the centuries progressed, the name gradually spread to other parts of India, with variations in spelling and pronunciation emerging due to regional influences. For instance, in the northern states, it was sometimes written as "Kandela" or "Kandella."

Among the notable figures bearing this surname was Kandala Durgaiah, a renowned Telugu poet and scholar who lived in the 17th century. His works, which explored themes of love, spirituality, and philosophical musings, earned him a revered place in the literary canon of the time.

In the 19th century, Kandala Raghaviah, a prominent social reformer and educator, made significant contributions toward promoting education and advocating for the upliftment of marginalized communities in the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad.

Moving into the modern era, Kandala Obul Reddy, born in 1908, was a pioneering figure in the Indian independence movement. He actively participated in the non-violent resistance against British colonial rule and was imprisoned multiple times for his involvement in the freedom struggle.

Another noteworthy individual was Kandala Shekhar, a celebrated artist and sculptor whose works from the latter half of the 20th century earned him critical acclaim and numerous awards. His sculptures, often depicting mythological and folkloric themes, can be found adorning public spaces and galleries across India.

While the Kandala surname may have originated in a specific region, it has since transcended geographical boundaries and become a part of India's diverse cultural tapestry, with bearers of this name leaving an indelible mark across various fields throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kandala

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!