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

Palya, 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 Palya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Palya in America

Palya is the 95545th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Palya surname appeared 191 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 Palya.

We can also compare 2010 data for Palya 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 Palya

The surname PALYA is of Hungarian origin, believed to have emerged around the 13th century. It is derived from the Hungarian word "pálya," meaning "career" or "path." The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to medieval documents from the regions of present-day Hungary.

One of the earliest known bearers of the PALYA surname was Máté Palya, a wealthy landowner who lived in the city of Győr in the late 14th century. Historical records indicate that he was a prominent figure in the local community and owned several estates in the surrounding areas.

In the 16th century, the PALYA name appears in various legal and administrative documents from the Kingdom of Hungary. For example, János Palya, born in 1522, was a respected judge in the town of Kecskemét and played a significant role in resolving disputes among local residents.

During the 17th century, the PALYA surname gained prominence in the field of academia and literature. István Palya (1638-1711) was a renowned scholar and author who wrote several influential works on philosophy and theology. His treatises were widely studied in universities across Central Europe.

In the 19th century, the name PALYA was associated with notable figures in the arts and sciences. Miklós Palya (1812-1879) was a celebrated Hungarian painter known for his stunning landscapes and portraits. His works are displayed in several prestigious museums across Europe.

Another prominent individual with the PALYA surname was Sándor Palya (1867-1942), a pioneering engineer who made significant contributions to the development of Hungary's transportation infrastructure. He oversaw the construction of several bridges and railroads that facilitated the movement of goods and people throughout the country.

Throughout its history, the PALYA surname has been closely linked to various regions within present-day Hungary, particularly the areas around the cities of Győr, Kecskemét, and Budapest. While the name has evolved over time, its roots can be traced back to the medieval era, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Hungarian people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Palya

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

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

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

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