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

Rayala, 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 Rayala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rayala in America

Rayala is the 104602nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rayala surname appeared 171 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 Rayala.

The history of the last name Rayala

The surname Rayala is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the southern regions of present-day India, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "raya," which means "king" or "ruler," and the suffix "ala," which can indicate a place or an association.

One of the earliest known references to the name Rayala can be found in ancient Tamil literature, where it appears as a title or honorific bestowed upon local chieftains or rulers. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals holding positions of power or authority within their respective communities.

During the reign of the Vijayanagar Empire in the 14th to 16th centuries, the name Rayala gained prominence as it was adopted by several influential families and individuals. One notable figure from this period was Rayala Ganjikoya, a military commander who served under the Vijayanagar king Krishnadevaraya in the early 16th century.

As time passed, the name Rayala began to spread beyond its original geographical boundaries, carried by individuals who migrated to other parts of the subcontinent or even further afield. In the 17th century, records show the presence of individuals with the surname Rayala in the Portuguese colony of Goa, where they likely settled during the colonial era.

Throughout history, several other notable individuals have borne the surname Rayala. One such figure was Rayala Gundu Naidu, a prominent landowner and philanthropist from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh in the late 19th century. Another was Rayala Venkata Rama Naidu, a renowned Telugu poet and writer who lived in the early 20th century.

In more recent times, the name Rayala has been carried by individuals in various fields, including academics, artists, and professionals. One notable example is Dr. Rayala Avasarala, an esteemed Indian physicist and academic who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics in the latter half of the 20th century.

While the surname Rayala has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by individuals who have migrated or descended from those who did. Today, the name can be found across various regions and cultures, reflecting the global reach and diversity of its origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rayala

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

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

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

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