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

Narla, 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 Narla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Narla in America

Narla is the 109258th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Narla surname appeared 162 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 Narla.

The history of the last name Narla

The surname NARLA originates from the Indian subcontinent, specifically the region of Andhra Pradesh in southern India. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, possibly as early as the 12th century CE.

NARLA is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "nara," meaning "man" or "human being," and may have been initially used as a descriptive name or a reference to an individual's occupation or role within the community. The suffix "la" is a common ending in many South Indian surnames, often indicating a caste or lineage affiliation.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the NARLA surname can be found in ancient inscriptions and palm-leaf manuscripts from the Kakatiya dynasty, which ruled over parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh and Telangana between the 12th and 14th centuries CE. These inscriptions document various land grants, administrative appointments, and other official records, capturing the names of individuals from various castes and professions.

In the 16th century, the NARLA name appears in historical accounts and records from the Vijayanagara Empire, a dominant Hindu empire that ruled over large parts of southern India during that period. Notable individuals from this era include Narla Timmanna, a prominent minister and military commander who served under the Vijayanagara ruler Aliya Rama Raya in the early 16th century.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the NARLA surname can be traced to various regions of Andhra Pradesh, particularly in areas around the Krishna and Godavari river deltas. Records from this time period mention individuals like Narla Veerabhadra Rao (1665-1732), a renowned poet and scholar who authored several literary works in Telugu.

In more recent history, the NARLA name has been associated with notable figures in various fields, including politics, literature, and academia. One such individual is Narla Venkateswara Rao (1866-1923), a social reformer and educator who played a significant role in promoting women's education and social upliftment in Andhra Pradesh.

Another prominent individual with the NARLA surname is Narla Tata Rao (1894-1972), a renowned Telugu writer and historian who authored several books on the cultural heritage and history of Andhra Pradesh. His works, such as "Veerashaiva Sahityamu" and "Andhrapuravastu," are considered seminal contributions to Telugu literature and historical studies.

Overall, the NARLA surname has a rich history rooted in the cultural and linguistic traditions of southern India, particularly in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Its origins can be traced back to ancient times, and the name has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, writers, poets, and administrators, who have made significant contributions to the region's cultural and intellectual landscape.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Narla

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!