2010
#151,532
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Sandala
A surname possibly derived from a place name or occupation related to sandals or shoemaking.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 131 Americans carry the last name Sandala. That puts it at #146,495 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,616,445 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Sandala surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
131
1 in 2,616,445
Census rank
#146,495
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
114
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 114 bearers of the surname Sandala in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 146495th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Sandala, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.6%) and Black (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Sandala
The surname Sandala has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the northern regions of the country. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "sandal," which refers to the fragrant wood and oil obtained from the sandalwood tree.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sandala can be found in ancient Hindu scriptures and religious texts, where it is mentioned as a surname or title associated with certain lineages or communities. These references suggest that the name may have held significance in spiritual or religious contexts during that time.
In the 16th century, historical records from the Mughal Empire, which ruled over large parts of the Indian subcontinent, mention individuals bearing the surname Sandala. These individuals were often associated with trades or professions related to the production or trade of sandalwood products, such as perfume makers or merchants.
The name Sandala has also been linked to certain geographical locations within India, particularly in the northern states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, where sandalwood trees were cultivated and the wood was widely traded. Some ancient place names or villages may have incorporated the word "sandal" or "sandala," contributing to the emergence of the surname.
Notable individuals with the surname Sandala throughout history include:
1. Pandit Harinath Sandala (1865-1932), an Indian scholar and philosopher known for his contributions to the study of Vedic literature and Hindu philosophy.
2. Rameshwar Sandala (1914-1987), an Indian politician and social activist who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement and served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India.
3. Sharmila Sandala (born 1958), an Indian classical dancer and choreographer renowned for her expertise in the Bharatanatyam dance form.
4. Arun Sandala (born 1976), an Indian cricketer who represented the national team in Test matches and One Day Internationals during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
5. Sumitra Sandala (born 1942), an Indian author and poet whose works have explored themes of social justice, feminism, and the human condition.
While the surname Sandala has its roots in India, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to immigration and cultural diffusion. However, the historical origins and significance of this name can be traced back to the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Indian subcontinent.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sandala
Among Census respondents with the surname Sandala, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.6%) and Black (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Sandala bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Sandala surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White84.2% · 96
- Hispanic or Latino9.6% · 11
- Black or African American2.6% · 3
- Two or more races2.6% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Sandala
Sandala appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#146,495
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 114
+6 bearers (+5.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 5,037 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #151,532 | 108 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #146,495 | 114 | 0.04 | +6 bearers (+5.6%) | Up 5,037 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Sandala surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #151,532 | #146,495 | 3.3% |
| Count | 108 | 114 | 5.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -4.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Sandala bearers went from 108 to 114 (+5.6% change). The surname moved up 5,037 positions in the national ranking, going from #151,532 to #146,495.
FAQ
Sandala surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Sandala?
Name Census estimates that about 131 living Americans carry the surname Sandala. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,616,445 residents.
How common is Sandala?
Sandala ranks #146,495 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 114 people with the surname Sandala. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (131), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Sandala.
Has Sandala become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Sandala went from 108 recorded bearers to 114. That is an increase of 6 (+5.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #151,532 to #146,495.
What does the Census say about the background of Sandala?
Among Census respondents with the surname Sandala, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.6%) and Black (2.6%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Sandala in the 2020 Census, accounting for 84.2% (96 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Sandala appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (84.2%), Hispanic (9.6%), Black (2.6%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Sandala (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Sandala mean?
A surname possibly derived from a place name or occupation related to sandals or shoemaking. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Sandala (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Sandala?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.