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

Kolafa, 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 Kolafa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kolafa in America

Kolafa is the 139228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kolafa surname appeared 120 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 Kolafa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kolafa 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 Kolafa

The surname KOLAFA has its origins in the Czech Republic, tracing back to the early 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Czech word "kolafa," which means "a person who makes or sells wooden spokes for wagon wheels." The name's etymology suggests that early bearers of the surname were likely involved in this trade or profession.

The first recorded instances of the KOLAFA name appear in parish records and tax rolls from the region of Bohemia, which was then part of the Kingdom of Bohemia within the Holy Roman Empire. Variations in spelling were common in the early years, with versions such as Kolaffa, Kolaffa, and Kollafa appearing in historical documents.

One of the earliest known references to the KOLAFA name can be found in a land deed from the town of Plzeň, dated 1532, which mentions a Jan Kolafa as a landowner. Another notable early record is the marriage registry of the Church of St. Vitus in Prague, which lists the union of Mikuláš Kolafa and Anna Havlíčková in 1587.

As the KOLAFA name spread across Bohemia and Moravia, it became associated with several notable individuals throughout history. In the 17th century, Václav Kolafa (1615-1682) was a respected clockmaker and inventor from the town of Chrudim, known for his contributions to the development of mechanical clocks and timepieces.

During the 18th century, the KOLAFA name gained prominence in the military, with Jan Kolafa (1724-1798) serving as a distinguished officer in the Austrian Imperial Army. He participated in several campaigns against the Ottoman Empire and was awarded the Military Order of Maria Theresa for his bravery and leadership.

In the realm of arts and culture, the 19th century saw the rise of Josef Kolafa (1821-1892), a renowned Czech painter and illustrator. His works, depicting scenes from Czech folklore and rural life, are preserved in several museums and galleries across the country.

Another notable figure was Alois Kolafa (1857-1918), a prominent Czech architect and urban planner. He played a significant role in the development of Prague's modern architectural landscape, designing several iconic buildings and public spaces that still stand today.

Towards the end of the 19th century, the KOLAFA name also gained recognition in the field of education, with Anna Kolafa (1872-1947) being one of the first female university professors in the Czech lands. She taught Czech literature and linguistics at Charles University in Prague and made significant contributions to the study of Czech language and culture.

While the KOLAFA surname has its roots in the Czech Republic, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical records and notable individuals mentioned above highlight the name's deep-rooted connection to Czech heritage and its significance in various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kolafa

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

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

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

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