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

Arumugam, 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 Arumugam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Arumugam in America

Arumugam is the 40261st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Arumugam surname appeared 544 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 Arumugam.

We can also compare 2010 data for Arumugam 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 Arumugam

The surname Arumugam has its origins in Tamil Nadu, a state in southern India. It can be traced back to the medieval period, with records indicating its use among Hindu communities in the region.

Arumugam is derived from the Tamil words "Aru" meaning "six" and "Mugam" meaning "faces" or "aspects." It is closely associated with Lord Murugan, the Hindu god revered for his six iconic forms or attributes, each representing a different aspect of his divine nature.

Historical references to individuals bearing the Arumugam surname can be found in ancient Tamil literary works and inscriptions dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries CE. These early mentions often referred to scholars, poets, and religious figures who played influential roles in shaping the cultural and spiritual landscape of the region.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Arumugam is found in a 12th-century inscription from the Chola period, which mentions a scholar and poet named Arumugam Pillai. He was renowned for his contributions to Tamil literature and his works were widely celebrated during his time.

Another notable figure with the Arumugam surname was Arumugam Navalar, a 19th-century Hindu reformer and scholar from Jaffna, Sri Lanka. He was instrumental in reviving and promoting Tamil language and literature, and his efforts helped preserve the cultural heritage of the Tamil people.

Arumugam Kandapillai, born in 1871, was a prominent lawyer and politician from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). He played a pivotal role in advocating for the rights of the Tamil community and served as a member of the Legislative Council.

In the realm of modern literature, Arumugam Aruchuna, a 20th-century Tamil writer and scholar from Malaysia, made significant contributions to Tamil poetry and literary criticism. His works explored themes of identity, culture, and the Tamil diaspora experience.

Another notable figure was Arumugam Thavamani, a 20th-century Sri Lankan politician and activist who fought for the rights of plantation workers and the Tamil community. He was a member of the Sri Lankan Parliament and actively advocated for social justice and equality.

While the surname Arumugam has its roots in Tamil Nadu, it has spread across various regions and communities, particularly in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and other parts of Southeast Asia, where Tamil diaspora communities have settled.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Arumugam

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

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

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

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