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

Chawla, 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 Chawla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chawla in America

Chawla is the 13612th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chawla surname appeared 2,226 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Chawla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chawla 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 Chawla

The surname Chawla is of Indian origin, specifically from the Punjab region. It is derived from the Sanskrit word 'chawala', which means a trader or seller of grains or cereals. The name is believed to have originated during the medieval period when trade and commerce flourished in the Indian subcontinent.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Chawla can be traced back to historical texts and records from the 16th and 17th centuries. It appears in various manuscripts and documents related to trade, taxation, and land ownership in the Punjab region. The name was particularly prevalent among the Khatri and Arora communities, which were traditionally involved in trade and business activities.

One of the earliest known references to the name Chawla can be found in the 'Ain-i-Akbari', a detailed document compiled during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar (1542-1605). This text mentions individuals with the surname Chawla who were engaged in the grain trade and held positions of authority in the imperial administration.

In the 18th century, the name Chawla gained prominence in the city of Lahore, which was a major commercial hub during that time. Several notable individuals with the surname Chawla emerged as influential merchants and traders, contributing to the economic prosperity of the region.

One of the most well-known figures in Indian history with the surname Chawla was Lala Lajpat Rai Chawla (1865-1928), a prominent freedom fighter, and leader of the Indian independence movement. He was also a noted author, lawyer, and social reformer who played a vital role in the struggle against British rule.

Another notable person with the surname Chawla was Satish Chawla (1914-1994), a renowned Indian civil servant and economist. He served as the Finance Secretary of India and played a crucial role in shaping the country's economic policies in the post-independence era.

Vijay Chawla (1949-2013) was a celebrated Indian cricketer who represented India in both Test and One Day International matches. He was a skilled wicket-keeper and is remembered for his contributions to Indian cricket in the 1970s and 1980s.

In the field of arts and culture, Neelima Chawla (born 1944) is a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer. She has made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of various Indian dance forms, including Kathak and Bharatanatyam.

Prem Chawla (1924-2009) was a distinguished Indian journalist and author. He worked as the editor of several prominent Indian newspapers and published several books on politics, history, and social issues, earning him a reputation as a respected voice in the Indian literary and journalistic circles.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chawla

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

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

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

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