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

Chapagai, 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 Chapagai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chapagai in America

Chapagai is the 111988th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chapagai surname appeared 157 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 Chapagai.

The history of the last name Chapagai

The surname CHAPAGAI traces its origins to Nepal, having emerged in the hilly regions of the country during the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Nepali word "chapa," which means "hammer," and "gai," meaning "cow." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to individuals involved in blacksmithing or metalworking, particularly those who crafted tools for cattle husbandry.

One of the earliest documented references to the CHAPAGAI name can be found in the historical annals of the Gorkha Kingdom, where it appears in records dating back to the late 1600s. These mentions are often associated with individuals who held positions within the royal court or served as skilled artisans in the kingdom's metalworking guilds.

During the 18th century, the name CHAPAGAI gained prominence as Nepal underwent a period of political and territorial expansion. Several notable figures bearing this surname emerged, including Kaji Biraj Chapagai (1720-1785), a military commander who played a crucial role in the unification of Nepal under the Shah dynasty.

As the CHAPAGAI surname spread across Nepal, regional variations in spelling and pronunciation arose. In some areas, it was recorded as "Chapagain" or "Chapagaun," reflecting local dialects and linguistic influences. These variations persisted until the late 19th century when standardized spelling conventions were adopted.

One of the most celebrated individuals with the CHAPAGAI surname was Dharma Bhakta Mathema Chapagai (1801-1880), a renowned poet and playwright who made significant contributions to Nepali literature. His works, such as the epic poem "Krishnaleela," have been widely studied and revered in Nepal.

Another notable figure was Laxmi Prasad Chapagai (1876-1941), a pioneering educator and social reformer. He was instrumental in establishing several educational institutions in Nepal and advocating for the rights of marginalized communities, particularly women and the underprivileged.

In the 20th century, the CHAPAGAI surname continued to be associated with various fields, including politics, academia, and the arts. For instance, Kedar Nath Chapagai (1920-1995) was a respected linguist and scholar who played a crucial role in preserving and promoting Nepali language and literature.

While the CHAPAGAI surname has its roots in Nepal, it has also gained recognition globally as Nepali communities have migrated and settled in different parts of the world. Today, individuals bearing this surname can be found in countries such as India, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia, among others.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chapagai

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!