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

Attakai, 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 Attakai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Attakai in America

Attakai is the 66754th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Attakai surname appeared 296 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 Attakai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Attakai 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 Attakai

The surname ATTAKAI is of Indian origin, specifically from the southern state of Tamil Nadu. It is believed to have originated during the medieval period, around the 10th or 11th century CE. The name is derived from the Tamil word "attakkai," which means "a type of fig tree" or "a variety of banyan tree."

ATTAKAI is a relatively uncommon surname, and its earliest recorded instances are found in ancient Tamil literature and inscriptions from the Chola and Pandya dynasties, which ruled over parts of present-day Tamil Nadu and neighboring regions. Some of these inscriptions mention individuals with the name ATTAKAI, often in connection with agricultural activities or land ownership.

One notable historical reference to the name ATTAKAI can be found in the "Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple" inscriptions, which date back to the 13th century CE. These inscriptions record the names of individuals who made contributions or donations to the temple, and among them is an individual referred to as "Attakai Nayakkar."

Historically, the ATTAKAI surname has been associated with various regions within Tamil Nadu, particularly the districts of Madurai, Tirunelveli, and Thoothukudi. In some instances, the name may have been derived from specific place names or villages that had the word "attakkai" in their names.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, there are records of individuals with the surname ATTAKAI serving in administrative roles or as local chieftains under the Nayak and Maratha rulers of the region. One such individual was Attakai Pillai, who lived in the late 16th century and served as a military commander under the Nayak rulers of Madurai.

Another notable figure with the ATTAKAI surname was Attakai Naicker, a prominent landowner and philanthropist who lived in the 18th century and was known for his contributions to educational institutions and temples in the Tirunelveli region.

In the 19th century, there are records of individuals with the ATTAKAI surname migrating to other parts of India and even abroad, particularly to areas with significant Tamil communities, such as Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore. One such individual was Attakai Arunachalam (1865-1927), a lawyer and social reformer who was born in Madurai and later settled in Malaysia.

Today, the ATTAKAI surname continues to be found predominantly in Tamil Nadu and among Tamil diaspora communities around the world. While not a widely common surname, it carries a rich historical and cultural significance rooted in the ancient Tamil traditions and language.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Attakai

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

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

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

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