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

Rella, 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 Rella surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rella in America

Rella is the 31033rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rella surname appeared 748 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 Rella.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rella 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 Rella

The surname Rella has its origins in Italy, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "rellus," meaning "little thing" or "small object." The name may have initially been used as a nickname for a person of short stature or perhaps referring to someone's occupation with small items.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rella can be found in a 1289 document from the town of Siena, where a certain "Guido Rella" is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the Tuscan region of Italy by the late 13th century.

During the Renaissance period, several notable individuals bore the surname Rella. In the 15th century, a Florentine artist named Giovanni Rella (1420-1499) gained recognition for his frescoes and altarpieces, some of which can still be found in churches across Tuscany.

Another prominent figure was Vincenzo Rella (1560-1634), a Neapolitan lawyer and scholar who authored several works on legal philosophy and Roman law. His treatise, "De Jure Civili," published in 1612, was highly influential in its time.

In the 18th century, the surname Rella appears in historical records from the town of Abruzzo, where a family of landowners and merchants bore this name. One member, Antonio Rella (1712-1788), was a successful businessman who played a role in the region's agricultural and trade affairs.

Moving into the 19th century, we find Gioacchino Rella (1818-1892), an Italian politician and journalist who actively campaigned for the unification of Italy. He served as a member of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Italy after its formation in 1861.

Another noteworthy individual was Maria Rella (1876-1958), a renowned Italian opera singer who performed in theaters across Europe and the Americas during the early 20th century. She was particularly acclaimed for her portrayal of leading roles in operas by Verdi and Puccini.

While these are just a few examples, the surname Rella has a rich history spanning centuries, with individuals from various walks of life contributing to the cultural, artistic, and intellectual landscapes of Italy and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rella

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

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

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

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