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

Aiyer, 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 Aiyer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Aiyer in America

Aiyer is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Aiyer surname appeared 100 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 Aiyer.

The history of the last name Aiyer

The surname Aiyer originates from the Indian subcontinent, specifically from the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 8th to 10th century AD.

Aiyer is a Tamil Brahmin caste name derived from the word "Aiyar," which means a respectable person or a preceptor. The name was initially associated with members of the Tamil Brahmin community who held positions of authority and were revered for their knowledge and wisdom.

Some of the earliest historical references to the Aiyer surname can be found in ancient Tamil literary works, such as the Sangam literature, which dates back to the 3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD. The name was also mentioned in various inscriptions and copper plate grants issued by the ruling dynasties of the time, such as the Cholas and the Pandyas.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Aiyer surname was the renowned Tamil poet and philosopher, Thiruvalluvar, who lived around the 4th or 5th century AD. His seminal work, the "Thirukkural," is considered a masterpiece of Tamil literature and has been widely studied and revered for its profound wisdom.

Another prominent figure was Sri Ramanuja Aiyer, a Hindu theologian and philosopher who lived from 1017 to 1137 AD. He was a key proponent of the Vishishtadvaita philosophy, a non-dualistic school of thought within Vaishnavism.

In the 14th century, Vidyaranya Aiyer, a Hindu philosopher and spiritual leader, played a significant role in the revival of Hinduism in South India. He is credited with establishing the Sringeri Sharada Peetham, one of the most revered Hindu monastic institutions.

The Aiyer surname was also associated with the Travancore royal family, which ruled the erstwhile Kingdom of Travancore (present-day southern Kerala) from the 18th to the 20th century. Notable figures from this family include Raja Rama Varma Aiyer, who reigned from 1758 to 1798, and Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi Aiyer, who ruled from 1924 to 1931.

In more recent times, Sir C.P. Ramaswami Aiyer, a distinguished lawyer and statesman from Tamil Nadu, played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement. He served as the Dewan (Prime Minister) of the princely state of Travancore from 1936 to 1947.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Aiyer

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

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

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

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