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

Nalls, 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 Nalls surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nalls in America

Nalls is the 11818th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nalls surname appeared 2,648 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 Nalls.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nalls 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 Nalls

The surname Nalls is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period in the county of Gloucestershire. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from a now-lost or unidentified place name that may have been spelled "Nal" or a similar variation. Some scholars suggest that the name may be derived from the Old English words "nael" meaning "valley" or "naeld" meaning "wooded area".

One of the earliest known records of the name dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1273, where a certain Robert de Nal is mentioned. This indicates that the surname was already established by that time, likely originating as a descriptive name for someone who lived near or came from a particular valley or wooded area.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various forms, such as "Nale" and "Nayles", in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1327 and 1380, respectively. These variations in spelling were common during the Middle Ages, as standardized spelling had not yet been established.

Notably, the name Nalls appears in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror. While the exact entry is unclear, it is believed to be a variant spelling of the name, further solidifying its long-standing presence in England.

Some notable individuals bearing the surname Nalls throughout history include:

1. Sir Thomas Nalls (c. 1520 - 1585), an English merchant and explorer who played a significant role in the establishment of trade routes between England and the Mediterranean region.

2. John Nalls (1639 - 1721), an influential Puritan minister and author from Massachusetts Bay Colony, known for his sermons and religious writings.

3. Mary Nalls (1788 - 1856), a British novelist and poet, whose works were acclaimed for their vivid descriptions of rural life in the early 19th century.

4. Edward Nalls (1867 - 1943), an American politician and lawyer who served as the mayor of Baltimore, Maryland, from 1908 to 1911.

5. William Nalls (1904 - 1992), an esteemed American jazz musician and saxophonist, renowned for his contributions to the swing and bebop genres.

While the surname Nalls may have evolved from various place names and spellings over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in the English county of Gloucestershire, where it emerged as a locational name describing those who lived in a particular valley or wooded area.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nalls

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

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

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

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