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

Samala, 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 Samala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Samala in America

Samala is the 50851st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Samala surname appeared 410 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 Samala.

We can also compare 2010 data for Samala 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 Samala

The surname SAMALA has its origins in India, with the earliest records dating back to the 16th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "samala," which means "dark-complexioned." This suggests that the name was likely given to individuals with a darker skin tone.

In ancient Indian texts and manuscripts, such as the Vedas and the Puranas, there are references to individuals with the surname SAMALA. However, the earliest known written record of the name appears in a land registry document from the Vijayanagar Empire, which ruled parts of southern India from the 14th to the 17th centuries.

During the colonial era, when the British East India Company established its presence in India, several individuals with the surname SAMALA were noted in various administrative records and trade documents. One such individual was Govind Samala, a merchant and trader from the city of Surat, who lived in the late 17th century.

As the Indian diaspora spread across the globe, the SAMALA surname traveled with them. In the 19th century, there are records of individuals with this surname in countries such as South Africa and Mauritius. One notable figure was Raman Samala, a political activist and writer from Mauritius, who lived from 1879 to 1957 and played a significant role in the island's independence movement.

Another prominent individual with the SAMALA surname was Gajanan Samala, an Indian mathematician and academic who lived from 1892 to 1972. He made significant contributions to the field of algebra and served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bombay (now known as the University of Mumbai) from 1950 to 1955.

In the 20th century, the SAMALA surname continued to be found in various parts of the world, with individuals achieving success in diverse fields. One such person was Lakshmi Samala, an Indian classical dancer and choreographer who lived from 1925 to 2012 and was widely respected for her contribution to the preservation and promotion of traditional Indian dance forms.

Despite its Indian origins, the SAMALA surname has also been found in other parts of the world, potentially due to migration or cultural exchanges. For instance, there are records of individuals with this surname in countries like Fiji and Guyana, where there are significant Indian diaspora communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Samala

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

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

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

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