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

Mapula, 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 Mapula surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mapula in America

Mapula is the 95115th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mapula surname appeared 192 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 Mapula.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mapula 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 Mapula

The surname "MAPULA" is a South African name that originated in the Sepedi language spoken by the Northern Sotho people. It is believed to have emerged sometime during the 17th or 18th century. The name is derived from the Sepedi word "pula," which means "rain" or "blessing," and the prefix "ma-" is used to indicate a collective or plural form.

The earliest known reference to the name "MAPULA" can be traced back to oral traditions and historical accounts of the Northern Sotho people. It is possible that the name was used to represent families or clans who lived in areas where rainfall was abundant or had a significant impact on their livelihoods, such as farming or cattle herding.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "MAPULA" was Kgosi Mapula, a chief of the Bapedi people who lived in the Sekhukhune region of the Limpopo Province during the late 18th century. He was known for his leadership and efforts to maintain the traditions and customs of his people.

Another notable figure with this surname was Mapula Motlhatlhedi, a renowned healer and herbalist who lived in the late 19th century. She was highly respected for her knowledge of traditional medicine and played a crucial role in preserving the cultural practices of the Northern Sotho people.

In the early 20th century, Mapula Mabaso was a prominent educator and advocate for women's rights. She established several schools in the Limpopo Province and worked tirelessly to promote education and empowerment for young girls and women.

During the apartheid era in South Africa, Mapula Mohapi was a prominent activist and member of the African National Congress (ANC). She was deeply involved in the struggle against racial segregation and fought for the rights of black South Africans.

More recently, Mapula Nkosi is a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur who has made significant contributions to the South African economy. She is the founder and CEO of a successful mining company and is widely recognized for her leadership and philanthropic efforts.

While the surname "MAPULA" has its origins in the Northern Sotho culture, it has become more widely recognized and adopted across South Africa, reflecting the rich diversity and cultural heritage of the country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mapula

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

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

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

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