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

Valla, 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 Valla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Valla in America

Valla is the 40144th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Valla surname appeared 546 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 Valla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Valla 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 Valla

The surname Valla has its origins in Italy, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "vallis," meaning "valley" or "hollow." This connection suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals residing in or near valleys or low-lying areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Valla surname can be found in the 15th century, with the renowned Italian humanist and philosopher, Lorenzo Valla (c. 1407-1457). He is known for his influential works, including his critique of the Donation of Constantine, which challenged the legitimacy of the temporal power claimed by the papacy.

Another notable figure bearing the Valla surname was the Italian Renaissance philosopher and humanist, Giorgio Valla (c. 1447-1500). He was a professor of rhetoric and served as a tutor to several prominent families in Venice and Padua.

In the 16th century, the Valla surname gained prominence with the Italian jurist and legal scholar, Giambattista Valla (c. 1518-1596). He held various prestigious positions, including serving as a judge in the ecclesiastical court of the Roman Curia.

The name Valla can also be traced back to certain place names in Italy, such as the town of Vallo della Lucania in the province of Salerno. It is possible that some individuals adopted the surname based on their association with these localities.

During the 17th century, the Valla family produced another notable figure, the Italian painter and engraver, Pietro Valla (c. 1625-1670). He was known for his religious works and contributed to the decoration of several churches in Rome and other Italian cities.

Throughout its history, the surname Valla has been spelled in various forms, including Valla, Valle, and Valletta, reflecting regional variations and linguistic influences. While the name may have originated from a geographical reference, it has since transcended its initial meaning and become a distinct surname carried by individuals across generations and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Valla

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

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

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

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