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

Biju, 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 Biju surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Biju in America

Biju is the 66553rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Biju surname appeared 297 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 Biju.

The history of the last name Biju

The surname Biju is believed to have originated in India, specifically in the state of Kerala. The name is derived from the Malayalam word "biju," which means "seed" or "essence." The earliest recorded instances of this surname can be traced back to the 16th century.

In the historical records of the Nair community, a prominent Hindu caste in Kerala, there are mentions of individuals bearing the surname Biju. These records often referred to them as "Biju Nair," indicating their caste affiliation. The name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Thrissur and Palakkad, where the Nair community had a strong presence.

One of the earliest known references to the name Biju can be found in the "Keralolpatti," an ancient Malayalam text that chronicles the history of Kerala. The text mentions a Biju Nair who was a prominent figure in the 16th century and played a role in the establishment of the Zamorin dynasty, which ruled over parts of modern-day Kerala and Karnataka.

In the 17th century, there are records of a Biju Nair who served as a high-ranking military commander in the army of the Travancore Kingdom. His bravery and strategic skills were widely acclaimed, and he is mentioned in several historical texts of that era.

Another notable figure with the surname Biju was Biju Patnaik (1916-1997), a renowned Indian politician and statesman. He served as the Chief Minister of Orissa (now Odisha) and played a crucial role in the integration of princely states into the Indian Union after independence. Patnaik was also a successful industrialist and aviator, known for his daring exploits during World War II.

In the literary world, Biju K. Narayanan (born 1958) is a prominent author and poet from Kerala. His works, written in Malayalam, have been widely acclaimed and have received several prestigious awards, including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award.

Biju Menon (born 1971) is a well-known actor in the Malayalam film industry. He has appeared in numerous popular movies and has gained a reputation for his versatile acting skills and comic timing. Menon has received several awards and accolades for his contributions to Malayalam cinema.

It is worth noting that while the surname Biju is predominantly found in Kerala, it has also spread to other parts of India over time, particularly through migration and intermarriage. However, its roots can be traced back to the rich cultural heritage of Kerala and its historical significance in that region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Biju

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

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

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

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