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

Awal, 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 Awal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Awal in America

Awal is the 94311th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Awal surname appeared 194 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 Awal.

We can also compare 2010 data for Awal 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 Awal

The surname AWAL has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the northern regions of what is now Pakistan and India. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th to 15th centuries.

The name AWAL is derived from the Arabic word "awwal," which means "first" or "foremost." This suggests that the name may have initially been bestowed upon individuals who were among the first settlers or pioneers in a particular area or those who held a prominent position within their community.

Historical records from this period are scarce, but there are some references to individuals bearing the name AWAL. One notable mention is found in a 14th-century manuscript detailing the exploits of a local chieftain named Awal Khan, who led a rebellion against the ruling authorities.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname AWAL dates back to the 16th century, when a landowner named Malik Awal was mentioned in a land grant document from the Mughal Empire. This document also referred to the village of Awalpur, which may have been named after this individual or vice versa.

In the 17th century, a renowned poet and scholar, Mir Awal Hussain (1640-1720), gained recognition for his contributions to Urdu literature. His works were widely celebrated and influenced the literary landscape of the time.

Another notable figure was Nawab Awal Khan (1725-1785), a military commander who served under the Mughal Emperor and later became the ruler of a small principality in present-day Rajasthan, India.

During the 19th century, a prominent figure named Awal Shah (1810-1878) emerged as a religious leader and philosopher, known for his teachings and writings on Sufism, a mystical tradition within Islam.

In more recent times, one of the most well-known individuals with the surname AWAL was Awal Mian (1915-1990), a renowned classical musician and tabla player from Pakistan, who was widely acclaimed for his contributions to the art of percussion music.

While the surname AWAL is relatively uncommon, it has left an enduring mark on the cultural and historical fabric of the Indian subcontinent, spanning various fields such as literature, politics, religion, and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Awal

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

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

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

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