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

Walia, 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 Walia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Walia in America

Walia is the 40976th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Walia surname appeared 532 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 Walia.

We can also compare 2010 data for Walia 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 Walia

The surname WALIA has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region of Punjab. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "vali," which means "strength" or "valor."

In ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, such as the Puranas and the Mahabharata, there are references to individuals who possessed great strength and bravery, often described as "valis." It is possible that the name WALIA was initially given to individuals who exhibited such qualities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name WALIA can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century Persian language record compiled during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The text mentions a warrior named Malik Walia, who served as a military commander under the emperor.

During the Mughal era, the WALIA surname was particularly prevalent in the region of Punjab, which was a hub of military activity and recruitment. Many individuals bearing this name served in the armies of the Mughal Empire, contributing to its expansion and consolidation.

In the 18th century, a notable figure named Jassa Singh Walia (1718-1805) emerged as a powerful leader of the Sikh Confederacy. He played a crucial role in the establishment of the Sikh Empire and is renowned for his military prowess and leadership skills.

Another prominent individual with the WALIA surname was Kunwar Vir Singh Walia (1856-1938), a celebrated Punjabi poet and writer. He is regarded as a pioneer of modern Punjabi literature and made significant contributions to the cultural and literary landscape of the region.

Sardar Ujjal Singh Walia (1901-1982) was a distinguished Indian politician who served as the Governor of Punjab from 1966 to 1972. He was also a member of the Indian National Congress and played an active role in the country's independence movement.

It is worth noting that the WALIA surname is not limited to a specific region or community within India. Over time, it has spread to various parts of the country and even abroad, with individuals of diverse backgrounds adopting or bearing this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Walia

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

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

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

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