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

Baul, 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 Baul surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Baul in America

Baul is the 58182nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Baul surname appeared 349 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 Baul.

We can also compare 2010 data for Baul 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 Baul

The surname BAUL is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region of Bengal. It is thought to have derived from the Bengali word "baul," which refers to a group of mystic minstrels and wandering folk musicians.

In ancient times, these bauls were known for their spiritual philosophy, devotional songs, and unique way of life. They would travel from village to village, singing and spreading their teachings. It is possible that the surname BAUL was initially adopted by individuals or families associated with this nomadic community of bauls.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname BAUL can be found in the "Mangalkavyas," a collection of medieval Bengali narrative poems dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. These literary works often featured characters with names representing their professions or social identities, and the name BAUL was likely used to depict the wandering minstrels.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure named Lalan Fakir (1774-1890), also known as Lalan Shah or Lalan Sain, emerged as a renowned baul mystic and poet. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the baul tradition, and his compositions continue to be celebrated and sung by bauls to this day.

Another notable individual with the surname BAUL was Radhamadhab Baul (1860-1926), a Bengali poet and lyricist from the Nadia district of West Bengal. He was known for his contributions to the baul songwriting tradition and his works were widely appreciated for their spiritual depth and poetic expression.

In the 20th century, the surname BAUL gained further recognition through the renowned Indian singer and musician, Purna Das Baul (1933-2000). He was a celebrated exponent of the baul musical tradition and played a significant role in popularizing and preserving this unique cultural heritage.

While the surname BAUL is primarily associated with the Bengali cultural landscape, it has also been found in other parts of the Indian subcontinent, likely due to the nomadic nature of the baul community and their travels across regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Baul

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

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

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

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