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

Lama, 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 Lama surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lama in America

Lama is the 10782nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lama surname appeared 2,958 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Lama.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lama 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 Lama

The surname Lama has its origins in Spain, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Spanish word "lama," which means "mud" or "sludge." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a muddy area or worked with mud.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Lama surname can be found in the Catalonian region of Spain, where it was spelled "Llama." This variation in spelling likely arose due to the influence of the Catalan language, which has a distinct pronunciation and spelling system.

In the 13th century, the name appears in several historical documents from the Kingdom of Aragon, such as land records and tax rolls. One notable figure bearing this surname was Pedro Lama, a merchant from Zaragoza who lived in the late 1200s.

As the name spread across Spain, it took on various spellings, including "Llama," "Lhama," and "Lama." This diversity in spelling reflects the regional variations in language and dialects within the country.

In the 16th century, the Lama surname gained prominence with the birth of Juan de Lama (1510-1583), a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Francisco Pizarro on his expeditions to South America. Juan de Lama played a crucial role in the conquest of Peru and is remembered for his detailed accounts of the Inca Empire.

Another notable figure with the Lama surname was Bartolomé Lama (1560-1625), a Spanish painter and sculptor from Seville. His works, which included religious art and portraiture, can be found in churches and museums across Spain.

During the colonial era, the Lama surname traveled to the Americas with Spanish settlers and explorers. One such individual was Diego de Lama (1620-1688), a Spanish soldier and administrator who served as the governor of the Philippines from 1673 to 1678.

In the 19th century, José María Lama (1785-1853) was a prominent figure in the Spanish American Wars of Independence. He was a military leader and statesman who played a crucial role in the liberation of Venezuela from Spanish rule.

Over the centuries, the Lama surname has been carried by many individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, and political figures. While its origins may have been humble, the name has evolved to hold a rich historical legacy spanning continents and cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lama

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

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

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

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