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

Nalla, 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 Nalla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nalla in America

Nalla is the 68770th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nalla surname appeared 286 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 Nalla.

The history of the last name Nalla

The surname NALLA originates from India, specifically from the Tamil-speaking regions of the country. The name can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 10th to 12th centuries CE. It is believed to be derived from the Tamil word "nalla," which means "good" or "virtuous."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name NALLA can be found in the inscriptions on temple walls and stone tablets from the Chola dynasty, which ruled over parts of southern India between the 9th and 13th centuries. These inscriptions often listed the names of donors, officials, and other prominent individuals, providing a glimpse into the usage of surnames during that era.

In the 14th century, the name NALLA appeared in a manuscript known as the "Vijayanagar Inscriptions," which documented the activities and administration of the Vijayanagar Empire, a prominent Hindu empire that ruled over large parts of southern India from the 14th to the 17th century.

During the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the surname NALLA was Nalla Thambi, a Tamil scholar and poet who contributed significantly to the Tamil literary tradition. He was born in the town of Nallur, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of his surname.

Another prominent individual with the NALLA surname was Nalla Pillai, a 17th-century Tamil scholar and linguist who played a crucial role in the development of the Tamil language and its grammar. He is credited with writing the first comprehensive grammar book for Tamil, which became an important reference work for generations of scholars.

In the 18th century, Nalla Nair was a renowned warrior and military commander who served under the Travancore Kingdom in present-day Kerala. He was known for his bravery and leadership skills in battles against the Dutch East India Company and other rival forces.

During the 19th century, Nalla Muthu Pillai was a prominent Indian freedom fighter and social reformer who advocated for the rights of the oppressed communities in Tamil Nadu. He was actively involved in the Indian independence movement and worked towards the abolition of the caste system.

Over the centuries, variations in the spelling of the surname NALLA have emerged, such as Nallah, Nallar, and Nallaiah, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic influences. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained consistent, reflecting the virtuous and esteemed status associated with it in Tamil culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nalla

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

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

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

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