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

Aiyar, 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 Aiyar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Aiyar in America

Aiyar is the 153769th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Aiyar surname appeared 106 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 Aiyar.

The history of the last name Aiyar

The surname Aiyar originates from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and has a long history dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Tamil word "Aiyar," which means a respectable person or a preceptor.

The name Aiyar is predominantly found among the Brahmin community of Tamil Nadu, particularly in the regions of Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, and Madurai. The earliest known reference to this surname can be traced back to the 12th century, where it is mentioned in several inscriptions and temple records of the Chola dynasty.

During the reign of the Vijayanagar Empire in the 14th and 15th centuries, many Aiyar families held prominent positions in the administration and were highly respected for their scholarly achievements. One notable figure from this period was Govinda Dikshitar Aiyar, a renowned philosopher and commentator on the Vedas, who lived between 1480 and 1540.

In the 16th century, the Aiyar surname gained further prominence with the rise of the Nayak rulers in Tamil Nadu. Several Aiyar families served as ministers, advisors, and administrators in the courts of the Nayak kings. One such individual was Krishnappa Nayaka Aiyar, who served as the prime minister to the Madurai Nayak ruler, Thirumalai Nayak, in the late 16th century.

The 17th and 18th centuries saw the Aiyar families continue to play significant roles in the literary, cultural, and political spheres of Tamil society. Prominent figures include Sadasiva Aiyar, a renowned poet and scholar who lived in the late 17th century, and Sundara Aiyar, a respected administrator and diplomat who served under the Nawab of Arcot in the 18th century.

In the 19th century, the Aiyar surname gained national recognition with the rise of several notable individuals. One of the most famous was Srinivasa Shastri Aiyar, a pioneering social reformer and scholar who played a pivotal role in the renaissance of Tamil literature and culture. Another notable figure was Sir C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar, a distinguished lawyer and statesman who served as the Dewan of Travancore and later as a member of the Viceroy's Executive Council.

Other notable individuals with the Aiyar surname include Sir Subramania Aiyar, a prominent judge and legal scholar in the late 19th century, and Sir V. Bhashyam Aiyangar, a renowned jurist and administrator who served as the Dewan of Baroda in the early 20th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Aiyar

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

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

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

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