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

Balakumar, 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 Balakumar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Balakumar in America

Balakumar is the 147253rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Balakumar surname appeared 112 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 Balakumar.

The history of the last name Balakumar

The surname Balakumar originates from the Indian subcontinent, specifically from the Tamil region of southern India. The name is derived from the Tamil words "bala," meaning strength or power, and "kumar," which means prince or young man. This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals who displayed qualities of strength, valor, or nobility.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Balakumar can be traced back to ancient Tamil literature and inscriptions from the medieval period. One notable reference is found in the Sangam literature, a collection of Tamil poetic works dating back to the early centuries of the common era. In these texts, the name appears as a descriptor or epithet for brave warriors and leaders.

During the reign of the Chola Dynasty, which ruled over parts of southern India from the 9th to the 13th century, the name Balakumar gained prominence. It was often associated with members of the nobility and warriors who served in the Chola army. Some historical records, such as stone inscriptions and copper plate grants, mention individuals bearing this name who held important positions in the Chola administration or were renowned for their military exploits.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Balakumar was Balakumar Chola, a renowned Tamil chieftain who lived in the 10th century. He was known for his bravery and military leadership during the reign of the Chola king Rajaraja Chola I (985-1014 CE).

Another notable figure was Balakumar Pandya, a military commander who served under the Pandyan king Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan I in the 13th century. He played a crucial role in the Pandyan wars against the Hoysala Empire and was celebrated for his strategic prowess.

In the 15th century, Balakumar Nayak was a prominent chieftain and ruler of the Nayak kingdom of Madurai in southern India. He was known for his patronage of art, literature, and architecture, and his reign saw the construction of several temples and monuments in the region.

Balakumar Iyer, born in the 17th century, was a renowned Tamil scholar and poet who contributed significantly to the development of Tamil literature and philosophy. His works, such as the "Balakumar Vilakkam," a commentary on Tamil grammar, are still studied and revered today.

The name Balakumar has also been associated with various place names and locations in southern India. For instance, Balakumar Palayam was a historic town and former princely state in the present-day state of Tamil Nadu. The name likely originated from a ruler or chieftain bearing the name Balakumar who held sway over the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Balakumar

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

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 Balakumar 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.

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

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

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