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

Opala, 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 Opala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Opala in America

Opala is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Opala surname appeared 101 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 Opala.

We can also compare 2010 data for Opala 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 Opala

The surname "OPALA" is of Polish origin and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Polish word "opala," which means "ember" or "glowing coal." This suggests that the name may have initially been given as a nickname to someone who worked with fire, such as a blacksmith or a baker.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "OPALA" can be found in the records of the town of Krakow, where a certain Jan Opala was listed as a blacksmith in the year 1572. This provides a solid connection between the name and its potential occupation-based origins.

In the 17th century, the name appears to have spread to other parts of Poland, with records showing individuals bearing the surname "OPALA" in the regions of Silesia and Masovia. During this period, variations in spelling such as "Oppala" and "Opalla" were also present.

One notable bearer of the name "OPALA" was Marcin Opala, a Polish military officer who fought in the Polish-Swedish War of the mid-17th century. He is mentioned in several historical accounts for his bravery and leadership during the conflict.

Moving into the 18th century, the name "OPALA" can be found in various parish records and census documents throughout Poland. A prominent figure from this time was Józef Opala, a respected scholar and professor of philosophy at the University of Krakow, who lived from 1725 to 1798.

In the 19th century, the name gained further recognition with the birth of Aniela Opala (1825-1892), a Polish writer and activist who championed women's rights and education. Her literary works and advocacy efforts made her a notable figure in the cultural and social spheres of her time.

Another historically significant individual with the surname "OPALA" was Józef Opala (1867-1935), a Polish engineer and industrialist. He played a crucial role in the development of the mining industry in the region of Silesia and was instrumental in the establishment of several coal mines and related infrastructure.

While the surname "OPALA" has its roots in Poland, it has also been carried by individuals of Polish descent who emigrated to other parts of the world, contributing to its global distribution and presence.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Opala

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

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

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

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