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

Spalla, 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 Spalla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Spalla in America

Spalla is the 41728th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Spalla surname appeared 521 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 Spalla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Spalla 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 Spalla

The surname SPALLA originated in Italy during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Italian word "spalla," which means "shoulder." The name likely referred to someone who had a distinctive shoulder or worked as a porter, carrying loads on their shoulder.

The earliest recorded instances of the SPALLA surname date back to the 13th century in northern Italy, particularly in the regions of Lombardy and Veneto. The name appeared in various medieval records, such as tax rolls, census documents, and municipal archives.

One of the earliest known bearers of the SPALLA name was Giovanni Spalla, a merchant from Milan who lived in the late 13th century. Records indicate that he traded in silk and other luxury goods, suggesting that the family had achieved a certain level of prominence and wealth.

In the 14th century, the SPALLA name appeared in the historic records of Verona, where a family of that name owned several properties and vineyards. Notably, Pietro Spalla, born in 1342, was a respected vintner and landowner in the region.

During the Renaissance period, the SPALLA family produced several noteworthy individuals. Antonio Spalla, born in 1467 in Venice, was a renowned architect who contributed to the design and construction of several churches and palaces in the city. His son, Giacomo Spalla (1499-1572), followed in his footsteps and became a respected architect and engineer.

In the 16th century, the SPALLA name gained prominence in the world of literature. Gasparo Spalla (1524-1588), a poet and scholar from Padua, was celebrated for his sonnets and elegies. His work was widely read and appreciated throughout Italy during his lifetime.

Another prominent figure from this period was Francesco Spalla (1552-1615), a military commander from Milan who fought in the Italian Wars. He rose through the ranks and became a respected leader, known for his strategic prowess and bravery on the battlefield.

As the centuries passed, the SPALLA surname continued to be found across various regions of Italy, with families bearing this name contributing to various fields, including art, politics, and commerce. While the name may have originated from a humble profession, it eventually became associated with success and achievement.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Spalla

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

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

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

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