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

Alagappan, 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 Alagappan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Alagappan in America

Alagappan is the 120187th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Alagappan surname appeared 144 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 Alagappan.

The history of the last name Alagappan

The surname Alagappan has its origins in the Tamil language spoken in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, between the 6th and 13th centuries. The name is derived from the Tamil words "Alagappan," which translates to "handsome deity," referring to the Hindu god Vishnu.

Historically, the name Alagappan was predominantly found in the regions of Thanjavur, Tiruchirapalli, and Madurai, which were important centers of Tamil culture and Hindu religious traditions. It is possible that the name was initially associated with individuals who were devotees of Lord Vishnu or worked in temples dedicated to the deity.

While there are no known references to the name Alagappan in ancient Tamil literature or inscriptions, it is likely that the name gained prominence during the reign of the Chola and Pandya dynasties, which ruled over parts of Tamil Nadu from the 3rd century BCE to the 14th century CE. These dynasties were ardent patrons of Hindu religion and culture, and it is plausible that individuals bearing the name Alagappan were part of the religious or administrative elite during this period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Alagappan can be traced back to the 16th century, during the rule of the Vijayanagar Empire in southern India. A prominent figure bearing this name was Alagappan Mudaliar, who served as a minister and advisor to the Vijayanagar ruler, Achyuta Deva Raya (1529-1542). Alagappan Mudaliar is credited with playing a crucial role in the administration and governance of the empire.

Another notable figure with the surname Alagappan was Alagappan Chetty (1872-1957), a prominent industrialist and philanthropist from Tamil Nadu. He was instrumental in establishing the Alagappa Group of Companies, which became a major business conglomerate in the region. Alagappan Chetty was also known for his philanthropic efforts, including the establishment of educational institutions and hospitals.

In the 20th century, Alagappan Kadambanathan (1909-1987) was a renowned Tamil scholar and writer. He made significant contributions to Tamil literature and was the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname Alagappan include Alagappan Veeraraghavan (1928-2006), a renowned mathematician and computer scientist who made significant contributions to the field of theoretical computer science, and Alagappan Arunachalam (1909-1983), a prominent lawyer and member of the Indian National Congress, who played a key role in India's independence movement.

The name Alagappan continues to be widely used among Tamil communities, particularly in the state of Tamil Nadu, where it is deeply rooted in the region's cultural and religious heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Alagappan

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

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

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

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