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

Athwal, 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 Athwal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Athwal in America

Athwal is the 48717th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Athwal surname appeared 433 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 Athwal.

We can also compare 2010 data for Athwal 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 Athwal

The surname Athwal is of Indian origin, specifically from the Punjab region of northern India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Atri," which was the name of a renowned ancient Hindu sage and scholar who lived during the Vedic period, around 1500-500 BCE. The Atri clan or gotra (lineage) played a significant role in preserving and transmitting the Vedic traditions and knowledge.

The name Athwal is believed to have originated as a variant of Atri, with the addition of the suffix "-wal," which is commonly found in Punjabi surnames. This suffix often denotes an occupational or caste-based designation, suggesting that the Athwals may have been associated with a particular profession or community in the past.

Historical records and manuscripts from the Mughal era, such as the Ain-i-Akbari, written in the 16th century, mention individuals with the surname Athwal, indicating the name's presence in the region during that time period. Additionally, some ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, like the Puranas, reference the Atri sage and his descendants.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Athwal dates back to the 18th century, when a prominent Sikh warrior and military leader named Jassa Singh Athwal played a crucial role in the struggles against the Mughal Empire and the Afghan invaders. He was born in 1718 and died in 1783, and his exploits are celebrated in Sikh history and folklore.

Another notable figure with the surname Athwal was Bhai Mohkam Singh Athwal, a revered Sikh scholar and missionary who lived during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was instrumental in spreading the teachings of Sikhism and establishing Gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship) in various regions of India.

In the 20th century, Balbir Singh Athwal, born in 1917, was a renowned Indian hockey player who represented the country in multiple Olympic Games, winning gold medals in 1948 and 1952. He was also a part of the famous "Golden Hockey Era" of India and was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri by the Indian government.

Gurnam Singh Athwal, born in 1934, was a prominent Punjabi writer and poet who made significant contributions to the Punjabi literary scene. His works explored themes of social justice, human rights, and the struggles of the common people. He received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 1989.

Another noteworthy figure with the surname Athwal was Daljit Singh Athwal, born in 1945, who served as the Chief of the Indian Air Force from 2004 to 2007. He played a pivotal role in modernizing and strengthening the Indian Air Force during his tenure.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Athwal

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

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

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

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