Badwal last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Badwal

An Indian surname signifying the village or place of origin.

Badwal, 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 Badwal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Badwal in America

Badwal is the 80926th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Badwal surname appeared 234 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 Badwal.

We can also compare 2010 data for Badwal 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 80926 112967 -33.05%
Count 234 144 47.62%
Proportion per 100k 0.08 0.05 46.15%

The history of the last name Badwal

The surname BADWAL has its origins in the Punjab region of South Asia, particularly in present-day India and Pakistan. It can be traced back to the 16th century or earlier. The name is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "badava," meaning "wind" or "air," combined with the suffix "-wal," indicating a person associated with or connected to something.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BADWAL can be found in the Mughal Empire's administrative records from the 17th century, where it appears as a designation for individuals responsible for operating wind-powered devices, such as water pumps or grain mills. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to those who worked with wind-driven machinery.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the BADWAL surname was prevalent among certain communities in the Punjab region, particularly those involved in agricultural or trade activities. The name was also found in historical records and manuscripts from that time, including land ownership documents and taxation records.

One notable figure bearing the BADWAL surname was Sardar Karam Singh BADWAL, a prominent Sikh leader and military commander who lived in the late 18th century. He played a significant role in the Punjab region's resistance against the Durrani Empire and the consolidation of Sikh rule.

Another individual of historical significance was Bhai Mani Singh BADWAL, a renowned 17th-century Sikh scholar and theologian. He was instrumental in the compilation and preservation of the Sikh scriptures, particularly the Adi Granth, which is now known as the Guru Granth Sahib.

In the 19th century, Baba Sham Singh BADWAL gained recognition as a spiritual leader and social reformer. He worked to promote education and uplift marginalized communities in the Punjab region. His teachings and philosophy continue to influence Sikh thought and practice.

The BADWAL surname can also be found in literary works and historical accounts from the 18th and 19th centuries, often associated with individuals involved in trade, agriculture, or military endeavors in the Punjab region. Examples include Dewan Manohar Lal BADWAL, a prominent trader and landowner, and General Sardar Bahadur Singh BADWAL, a distinguished military leader in the 19th century.

While the BADWAL surname has its roots in the Punjab region, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical significance and cultural connections of this name remain tied to its origins in South Asia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Badwal

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

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 Badwal was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 4.27% 10
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 88.89% 208
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 4.27% 10
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Badwal has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 4.27% (S)% (S)%
Black 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander 88.89% 86.81% 2.37%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races 4.27% 11.11% -88.95%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Badwal last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/badwal-surname-popularity/.

"Badwal last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/badwal-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Badwal last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/badwal-surname-popularity/.

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