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

Paula, 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 Paula surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Paula in America

Paula is the 18106th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Paula surname appeared 1,538 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 Paula.

We can also compare 2010 data for Paula 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 Paula

The surname Paula has its origins in Italy, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "paulus," which means "small" or "humble." The name was initially used as a nickname for someone of short stature or as a reference to a person's modest demeanor.

In the 12th century, the surname Paula appeared in historical records from the region of Tuscany, specifically in the city of Florence. One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in a 1235 manuscript from the Florentine archives, which mentions a landowner named Paulus de Paula.

As the name spread across Italy, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Paola, Pauli, and Paulis. Some of these variations were influenced by local dialects and pronunciations.

During the Renaissance period, the surname Paula gained prominence in the city of Naples. One notable figure was Gian Paolo Paula (1470-1537), a renowned architect and sculptor who contributed to the design of several churches and palaces in Naples.

In the 17th century, the name Paula was associated with the Paula family, a noble lineage from the Italian city of Siena. This family produced several influential figures, including Cardinal Fabrizio Paula (1598-1659), who served as a diplomat and advisor to Pope Urban VIII.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Girolamo Paula (1720-1785), an Italian writer and philosopher from the city of Verona. He is best known for his work "Trattato sulla Felicità" (Treatise on Happiness), which explored the concept of happiness and its pursuit.

Outside of Italy, the surname Paula found its way to other parts of Europe and the Americas through immigration. One prominent individual was Francisco de Paula Santander (1792-1840), a Colombian military leader and statesman who played a crucial role in the Spanish American wars of independence.

In the United States, the surname Paula can be traced back to Italian immigrants who arrived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. One notable figure was Frank Paula (1889-1948), a renowned architect from New York City who designed several iconic buildings, including the New York Public Library's main branch.

Overall, the surname Paula has a rich history rooted in Italian culture and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including architects, writers, philosophers, and political figures, leaving an indelible mark on the tapestry of global heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Paula

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Paula, 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!