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

Velaga, 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 Velaga surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Velaga in America

Velaga is the 134712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Velaga surname appeared 125 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 Velaga.

The history of the last name Velaga

The surname Velaga is of Indian origin, specifically from the Telugu-speaking regions of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The name can be traced back to the 16th century, and it is believed to have originated from the Telugu word "vela," which means "white."

In historical records, the earliest known instances of the Velaga surname can be found in land ownership documents and village records from the Nellore and Prakasam districts of Andhra Pradesh. Some of these records date back to the late 16th century, during the reign of the Vijayanagar Empire.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Velaga surname was prominent among landowning families and local chieftains in the region. One notable figure was Velaga Venkata Reddy, a landlord and philanthropist who lived in the late 18th century and was known for his contributions to the construction of temples and public infrastructure in his village.

In the 19th century, the Velaga surname gained further recognition when Velaga Nageswara Rao, a scholar and poet, published several works in Telugu literature. He was born in 1824 and is celebrated for his contribution to the revival of classical Telugu poetry during the British colonial era.

Another prominent individual with the Velaga surname was Velaga Venkatappayya, a social reformer and educator who lived from 1876 to 1946. He was instrumental in establishing schools and promoting education among the underprivileged communities in the Nellore region.

In the 20th century, Velaga Gopalakrishnayya, born in 1912, was a renowned Telugu writer and playwright. His works explored themes of social justice and the plight of marginalized communities. He received several literary awards and honors during his lifetime.

While the Velaga surname has its roots in the Telugu-speaking regions of India, it has since spread to other parts of the country and abroad due to migration and diaspora communities. However, historical records and literary works from the 16th to the 20th centuries provide valuable insights into the origins and significance of this surname in the cultural fabric of southern India.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Velaga

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

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

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

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