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

Kola, 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 Kola surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kola in America

Kola is the 36585th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kola surname appeared 611 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 Kola.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kola 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 Kola

The surname KOLA is believed to have originated from the Indian subcontinent, specifically from the Hindi language. It is derived from the Sanskrit word 'kol', which means 'plough' or 'tiller of the soil'. This suggests that the name was initially associated with agricultural communities or those involved in farming activities.

The earliest known records of the name KOLA can be traced back to the 12th century in the region of present-day India. It is mentioned in several ancient manuscripts and inscriptions, indicating its long-standing presence in the region. Variations of the spelling, such as 'Kol' and 'Koal', were also prevalent during this time period.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname KOLA was Kola Sahib, a renowned warrior and military commander who lived in the 14th century. He served under the Delhi Sultanate and played a crucial role in several military campaigns. Another notable figure was Kola Devi, a skilled poet and scholar from the 16th century, renowned for her contributions to literature and the arts.

In the 17th century, the name KOLA gained prominence in the region of Bengal, where several families bore this surname. One such family was the Kola zamindars, who were influential landowners and patrons of the arts. Ramesh Chandra Kola, born in 1832, was a prominent member of this family and played a significant role in the socio-cultural affairs of the region.

As the Indian diaspora spread across the globe, the surname KOLA also found its way to different parts of the world. One notable individual was Ranjit Singh Kola, born in 1925, who was a prominent businessman and philanthropist in East Africa. He was widely respected for his contributions to the local community and his support for various charitable causes.

While the name KOLA has its roots in India, it has also been adopted by individuals from other cultural backgrounds, particularly those with ties to the Indian subcontinent or those who have migrated from the region. However, the surname remains most prevalent in India and among the Indian diaspora worldwide.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kola

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

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

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

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