2000
#10,811
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,706
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.00
Rare Last name
Savala
A Spanish surname derived from the Basque word "zabal," meaning "wide" or "open," likely referring to a broad, open field.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,040 Americans carry the last name Savala. That puts it at #11,371 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.89 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 112,748 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Savala 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
3.0K
1 in 112,748
Census rank
#11,371
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,651 bearers of the surname Savala in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.89 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 11371st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Savala, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 81.0%. The next largest groups are White (11.4%) and Black (4.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Savala
The surname SAVALA is believed to have originated in southern Italy, specifically in the regions of Campania and Calabria, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Latin word "sabal," which means "sand" or "gravel," possibly indicating that the name's bearers were associated with sandy or gravelly areas.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SAVALA can be found in a document from the 13th century, which mentions a landowner named Giacomo SAVALA in the town of Salerno, Campania. This suggests that the name had already established itself in the region by that time.
In the 14th century, there are records of a family called SAVALA residing in the town of Cosenza, Calabria. This branch of the family is believed to have played a significant role in the local economy, with some members being involved in the production and trade of silk.
The SAVALA name also appears in various historical documents from the 15th and 16th centuries, including records of land disputes and legal proceedings. One notable figure from this period is Antonio SAVALA, a merchant from Naples who was involved in the trade of spices and textiles with the Middle East and North Africa.
During the 17th century, the SAVALA family gained prominence in the city of Reggio Calabria, where several members held positions of influence within the local government and religious institutions. One such individual was Vincenzo SAVALA (1620-1692), who served as a magistrate and was known for his efforts in improving the city's infrastructure.
In the 18th century, the SAVALA name spread to other parts of Italy, with branches of the family establishing themselves in cities like Rome and Milan. One noteworthy figure from this period is Giacomo SAVALA (1745-1822), a renowned architect who contributed to the design of several churches and palaces in Rome.
Other notable individuals with the surname SAVALA include:
1. Giuseppe SAVALA (1825-1898), an Italian poet and writer from Naples.
2. Ettore SAVALA (1860-1931), an Italian sculptor and painter known for his works depicting scenes from Greek mythology.
3. Salvatore SAVALA (1882-1964), an Italian economist and professor who taught at the University of Rome.
4. Marisa SAVALA (1922-2008), an Italian opera singer who performed in major opera houses across Europe.
5. Antonio SAVALA (1947-2015), an Italian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Italian parliament.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Savala
Among Census respondents with the surname Savala, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 81.0%. The next largest groups are White (11.4%) and Black (4.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Savala 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 Savala surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino81.0% · 2,148
- White11.4% · 302
- Black or African American4.0% · 107
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.9% · 50
- Two or more races0.9% · 25
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7% · 19
Timeline
Historical Census data for Savala
Savala appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#10,577
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,031
+325 bearers (+12.0%)
Per 100,000 1.03
Rank movement Up 234 places
2020
#11,371
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,651
-380 bearers (-12.5%)
Per 100,000 0.89
Rank movement Down 794 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #10,811 | 2,706 | 1.00 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #10,577 | 3,031 | 1.03 | +325 bearers (+12.0%) | Up 234 places |
| 2020 | #11,371 | 2,651 | 0.89 | -380 bearers (-12.5%) | Down 794 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 Savala 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 | #10,577 | #11,371 | -7.5% |
| Count | 3,031 | 2,651 | -12.5% |
| Per 100K | 1.03 | 0.89 | -13.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Savala bearers went from 3,031 to 2,651 (-12.5% change). The surname moved down 794 positions in the national ranking, going from #10,577 to #11,371.
FAQ
Savala surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Savala?
Name Census estimates that about 3,040 living Americans carry the surname Savala. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 112,748 residents.
How common is Savala?
Savala ranks #11,371 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.89 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,651 people with the surname Savala. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (3,040), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.89 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.89 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Savala.
Has Savala become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Savala went from 3,031 recorded bearers to 2,651. That is a decrease of 380 (-12.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #10,577 to #11,371.
What does the Census say about the background of Savala?
Among Census respondents with the surname Savala, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 81.0%. The next largest groups are White (11.4%) and Black (4.0%). 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?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Savala in the 2020 Census, accounting for 81.0% (2,148 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Savala appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (81.0%), White (11.4%), Black (4.0%). 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 Savala (2000, 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 Savala mean?
A Spanish surname derived from the Basque word "zabal," meaning "wide" or "open," likely referring to a broad, open field. 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 Savala (0.89 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 people have the surname Savala?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.