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

Ulaj, 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 Ulaj surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ulaj in America

Ulaj is the 107134th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ulaj surname appeared 166 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 Ulaj.

The history of the last name Ulaj

The surname ULAJ has its origins in the Balkan region, specifically in Albania and Kosovo. It is believed to have emerged in the late 15th century during the Ottoman Empire's expansion into the region. The name is derived from the Albanian word "ulaj," which means "wolf" or "bear cub," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name may have been hunters or warriors known for their bravery and strength.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the ULAJ surname can be found in the Ottoman tax registers (defter) from the late 16th century, where several families with this name were listed as residents of various villages in the Dukagjin region of modern-day Kosovo. These records indicate that the ULAJ surname was well-established in the area by that time.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the ULAJ name appeared in various Ottoman documents, including court records and land ownership registers, indicating that the family had gained prominence and wealth in the region. Some notable individuals from this period include Ulaj Bey, a landowner and military commander who fought against the Venetians in the late 17th century, and Ulaj Pasha, a high-ranking Ottoman official who served as the governor of the Shkodra region in the early 18th century.

As the Albanian nationalist movement gained momentum in the 19th century, several ULAJ individuals played significant roles in the struggle for independence. Pashko Ulaj (1823-1890) was a prominent writer and activist who advocated for Albanian language and cultural rights, while Gjergj Ulaj (1847-1920) was a military leader who fought against the Ottoman Empire and later served in the Albanian government.

In the 20th century, the ULAJ surname continued to be prominent in Albanian and Kosovar society. Mikel Ulaj (1901-1981) was a renowned painter and sculptor who helped shape the modern Albanian art scene, while Kolë Ulaj (1918-1997) was a respected writer and poet who explored themes of identity and cultural heritage in his works.

Other notable individuals with the ULAJ surname include Luan Ulaj (1947-2022), a prominent Albanian-American businessman and philanthropist, and Elona Ulaj (born 1988), a Kosovar singer and songwriter who has achieved international recognition for her contributions to the Albanian music industry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ulaj

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

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 Ulaj 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!