Find out how popular the last name Parla is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Parla.
A surname possibly derived from the Italian word "parlare" meaning "to speak".
Parla, 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 Parla surname is from the 2010 census data.
Parla is the 84463rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Parla surname appeared 222 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 Parla.
We can also compare 2010 data for Parla 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.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
Rank | 84463 | 87348 | -3.36% |
Count | 222 | 198 | 11.43% |
Proportion per 100k | 0.08 | 0.07 | 13.33% |
The surname Parla has its origins in Italy, with records dating back to the 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "parlare," meaning "to speak." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who were skilled orators, diplomats, or possibly interpreters.
One of the earliest known references to the surname Parla can be found in the archives of the city of Venice, where a merchant named Giovanni Parla is mentioned in a trade document from 1472. This historical record provides evidence of the name's existence during the Renaissance period.
In the 16th century, the Parla family had established roots in the region of Tuscany, particularly in the city of Florence. During this time, a notable figure named Lucrezia Parla (1520-1598) gained recognition as a renowned poet and writer, contributing to the flourishing literary scene of the Italian Renaissance.
The name Parla can also be traced to the town of Parla, located in the province of Potenza in the southern region of Basilicata. It is possible that the surname originated from this place name, although this connection is not definitively established.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Parla was Antonio Parla (1480-1546), a prominent architect and engineer who worked on several significant projects in Rome during the 16th century, including the construction of the St. Peter's Basilica.
Another notable figure was Girolamo Parla (1567-1635), a Jesuit scholar and theologian who authored several influential works on religious philosophy and ethics.
In the 18th century, Pietro Parla (1710-1785) gained recognition as a skilled painter and portraitist, with his works adorning various churches and noble households in Naples and the surrounding regions.
During the 19th century, the Parla family had members who played important roles in the Italian unification movement. One such individual was Giuseppe Parla (1822-1895), a patriot and soldier who fought alongside Giuseppe Garibaldi in the expedition known as the Expedition of the Thousand.
Throughout its history, the surname Parla has been associated with various professions, from artists and intellectuals to merchants and military figures, showcasing the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have carried this name.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Parla.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Parla was:
Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
---|---|---|
Non-Hispanic White Only | 82.43% | 183 |
Non-Hispanic Black Only | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 3.15% | 7 |
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0 |
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | (S)% | (S) |
Hispanic Origin | 10.81% | 24 |
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 Parla has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
White | 82.43% | 79.80% | 3.24% |
Black | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
Asian and Pacific Islander | 3.15% | (S)% | (S)% |
American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Two or More Races | (S)% | 0.00% | (S)% |
Hispanic | 10.81% | 19.19% | -55.87% |
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 Parla was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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<a href="http://namecensus.com/last-names/parla-surname-popularity/">Parla last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
"Parla last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 1, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/parla-surname-popularity/.
"Parla last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/parla-surname-popularity/. Accessed 1 August, 2025
Parla last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/parla-surname-popularity/.
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