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

Balu, 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 Balu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Balu in America

Balu is the 91625th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Balu surname appeared 201 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 Balu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Balu 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 Balu

The surname BALU is of Indian origin, specifically from the southern region of Karnataka. It is believed to have originated in the 9th or 10th century AD, during the height of the Western Chalukya Empire. The name is derived from the Kannada word "Balu," which means "strength" or "power."

One of the earliest documented references to the BALU surname can be found in the inscriptions of the Badami Chalukya dynasty, which ruled parts of present-day Karnataka between the 6th and 8th centuries AD. These inscriptions mention individuals with the title "Balu," suggesting that the name was initially used as a honorific or a mark of respect.

During the reign of the Western Chalukya Empire, the BALU surname was predominantly found among the warrior and land-owning classes. It is believed that the name was bestowed upon individuals who displayed exceptional bravery or strength in battle or in the administration of their territories.

In the 12th century, the BALU surname is mentioned in the records of the Hoysala Empire, which ruled parts of present-day Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. One notable figure from this period was Balu Nayaka, a military commander who served under the Hoysala king Veera Ballala III (1292-1343).

In the 16th century, the BALU surname gained prominence among the Vijayanagara Empire, which dominated much of southern India. The Vijayanagara inscriptions mention several individuals with the BALU surname, including Balu Raya, a nobleman and military commander who lived during the reign of Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529).

Other notable individuals with the BALU surname include:

1. Balu Kulkarni (1887-1966), an Indian freedom fighter and social reformer from Karnataka.
2. Balu Mahendra (1939-2014), an Indian film director, screenwriter, and cinematographer from Tamil Nadu.
3. Balu Natarajan (1928-1993), an Indian classical musician and Carnatic vocalist.
4. Balu Iyer (1936-2002), an Indian film producer and screenwriter from Tamil Nadu.
5. Balu Varghese (born 1986), an Indian film director and screenwriter from Kerala.

The BALU surname continues to be prevalent in various parts of southern India, particularly in the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. While its origins can be traced back to the medieval period, the name has endured through the centuries, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and history of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Balu

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

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

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

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