2010
#152,628
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Ulvila
A locational surname originating from a town in southwestern Finland.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 123 Americans carry the last name Ulvila. That puts it at #151,639 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,786,621 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ulvila 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
123
1 in 2,786,621
Census rank
#151,639
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
107
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 107 bearers of the surname Ulvila in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 151639th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ulvila, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.8%) and Black (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ulvila
The surname ULVILA originates from Finland, with its earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Finnish town of Ulvila, located in the southwestern region of the country, near the city of Pori. The name itself is thought to come from the Old Swedish word "ulf," meaning "wolf," suggesting a possible connection to the area's wildlife or geography.
One of the earliest documented instances of the ULVILA surname can be found in the parish records of Ulvila, where several families bearing the name were registered in the late 1500s. These records provide valuable insights into the lives and occupations of the early ULVILA families, many of whom were likely involved in agriculture or trades related to the local community.
Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the ULVILA name continued to appear in various Finnish records, including tax rolls, land deeds, and military conscription lists. Some notable individuals from this period include Mikko ULVILA (1647-1712), a prominent farmer and landowner in the Ulvila region, and Antti ULVILA (1721-1798), a respected artisan and craftsman known for his skilled woodworking.
As the 19th century dawned, the ULVILA surname began to spread beyond its origins in southwestern Finland. One notable figure from this era was Juho ULVILA (1829-1901), a pioneering educator who established several schools in the region and played a crucial role in promoting literacy and education among the local population.
In the early 20th century, the ULVILA name gained further prominence with the rise of Väinö ULVILA (1885-1968), a renowned Finnish artist and painter whose works captured the landscapes and rural scenes of his homeland. Väinö's paintings are now held in prestigious collections worldwide, cementing his legacy as one of Finland's most celebrated artists.
Another significant figure bearing the ULVILA surname was Lauri ULVILA (1905-1983), a respected Finnish politician who served as a member of the Finnish Parliament and played a key role in shaping the country's post-World War II policies and reconstruction efforts.
While the ULVILA name has its roots firmly planted in Finland, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply tied to the southwestern Finnish town of Ulvila and the rich cultural heritage of the region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ulvila
Among Census respondents with the surname Ulvila, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.8%) and Black (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Ulvila 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 Ulvila surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.5% · 99
- Two or more races2.8% · 3
- Black or African American1.9% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.9% · 2
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Ulvila
Ulvila 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
#151,639
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
+0 bearers (+0.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 989 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #152,628 | 107 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #151,639 | 107 | 0.04 | +0 bearers (+0.0%) | Up 989 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 Ulvila 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 | #152,628 | #151,639 | 0.6% |
| Count | 107 | 107 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -10.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Ulvila bearers went from 107 to 107 (+0.0% change). The surname moved up 989 positions in the national ranking, going from #152,628 to #151,639.
FAQ
Ulvila surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Ulvila?
Name Census estimates that about 123 living Americans carry the surname Ulvila. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,786,621 residents.
How common is Ulvila?
Ulvila ranks #151,639 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 107 people with the surname Ulvila. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (123), 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 Ulvila.
Has Ulvila become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Ulvila went from 107 recorded bearers to 107. That is an increase of 0 (+0.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #152,628 to #151,639.
What does the Census say about the background of Ulvila?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ulvila, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.8%) and Black (1.9%). 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 Ulvila in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.5% (99 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Ulvila appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.5%), Two or More Races (2.8%), Black (1.9%). 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 Ulvila (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 Ulvila mean?
A locational surname originating from a town in southwestern Finland. 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 Ulvila (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 common is the surname Ulvila?
If you just want to know how many people are called Ulvila, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.