Tesla
A Serbian surname possibly derived from the Serbian word "Tесля" meaning woodcutter or carpenter.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Tesla. That puts it at #142,108 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Tesla surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#142,108
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
117
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 117 bearers of the surname Tesla in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142108th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Tesla, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Tesla
The surname Tesla is of Croatian origin, deriving from the Slavic word "tâlo" or "tâla", meaning "soil" or "earth". It is believed to have originated in the 15th or 16th century in the region that is now modern-day Croatia.
The earliest known records of the name Tesla date back to the late 16th century in the village of Smiljan, located in the Lika region of Croatia. The name was initially associated with families involved in agricultural or farming activities, as it was a common practice to adopt surnames based on occupations or geographical locations.
One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Tesla was Milutin Tesla, born in the late 16th century in Smiljan. He was a Serbian Orthodox priest and is considered one of the ancestors of the famous inventor Nikola Tesla.
The surname Tesla gained wider recognition in the 19th century with the birth of Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), a Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, and futurist. Nikola Tesla is renowned for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system, as well as his pioneering work in the fields of electromagnetism and wireless communication.
Another notable individual with the surname Tesla was Josip Tesla (1858-1926), a Croatian physicist and electrical engineer who made significant contributions to the development of electrical engineering and alternating current technology. He was a contemporary of Nikola Tesla and worked closely with him on several projects.
In the early 20th century, the surname Tesla also appeared in historical records in the United States, particularly among Serbian and Croatian immigrants. One such individual was Dane Tesla (1901-1980), an American electrical engineer and inventor who held numerous patents in the field of electrical engineering.
Milan Tesla (1879-1966), a Serbian-American engineer and inventor, is another prominent figure associated with the surname Tesla. He was a cousin of Nikola Tesla and worked closely with him on various projects, including the development of wireless communication systems.
While the surname Tesla has its roots in Croatia and the former Yugoslavia, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. However, the name remains closely tied to its Slavic origins and the notable contributions of individuals like Nikola Tesla to the fields of science and engineering.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Tesla
Among Census respondents with the surname Tesla, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Tesla bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Tesla surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.2%
- Hispanic or Latino4.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Tesla surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #142,108 | #142,108 | 0.0% |
| Count | 117 | 117 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Tesla bearers went from 117 to 117 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #142,108 to #142,108.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Tesla
FAQ
Tesla surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Tesla?
The surname Tesla holds position #142,108 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 137 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Tesla surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Tesla, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.