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

Khela, 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 Khela surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Khela in America

Khela is the 132206th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Khela surname appeared 128 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 Khela.

The history of the last name Khela

The surname Khela is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the northern regions of the country. It is thought to have its roots in the Sanskrit language, which was widely spoken in ancient India. The name "Khela" is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "Khela," which means "to play" or "to engage in a game."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Khela can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The book mentions a person named Khela Chand, who served as a high-ranking official in the Mughal court.

During the medieval period, the Khela surname was particularly prevalent in the region of Punjab, which was a hub of trade and cultural exchange. It is possible that the name became associated with individuals who were involved in various forms of entertainment, such as storytelling or performing arts.

In the 18th century, a notable person bearing the surname Khela was Khela Singh, a Sikh warrior and military leader who played a significant role in the battles against the Afghan invaders. He was born in 1725 and died in 1783.

Another prominent figure with the Khela surname was Khela Ram, a 19th-century Indian scholar and writer. He was born in 1836 and is known for his contributions to the field of Sanskrit literature and philosophy.

In the early 20th century, Khela Nath Kunzru, born in 1884, was a renowned Indian politician and lawyer. He served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and played a crucial role in the drafting of the Indian Constitution.

The surname Khela has also been associated with various place names in India. For instance, the village of Khela in the state of Uttar Pradesh is believed to have been named after individuals bearing this surname who settled in the area.

Throughout its history, the Khela surname has been found in various spellings and variations, such as Khella, Khelaa, and Khela, reflecting the diverse linguistic and cultural influences present in different regions of India.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Khela

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

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

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

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