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

Cherian, 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 Cherian surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cherian in America

Cherian is the 14485th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cherian surname appeared 2,061 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 Cherian.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cherian 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 Cherian

The surname CHERIAN is believed to have originated in Kerala, a state located in the southwestern region of India. Its roots can be traced back to the early medieval period, around the 9th or 10th century AD. The name itself is derived from the Malayalam language, which is the predominant language spoken in Kerala.

CHERIAN is thought to have evolved from the Malayalam word "Cherai," which refers to a coastal region or a small town near the city of Kochi. It is speculated that the name may have been adopted by families residing in or originating from this particular area. Alternatively, some scholars suggest that CHERIAN could be a variant of the word "Cheriya," meaning "small" or "little" in Malayalam.

Historical records from the region, including ancient manuscripts and inscriptions, have revealed instances of the name CHERIAN being used as early as the 12th century. One notable mention is found in the Vattezhuthu (Malayalam script) inscriptions from the Chera dynasty, which ruled over parts of Kerala during the medieval period.

The earliest recorded individual with the surname CHERIAN is believed to be Cherian Mappillai, a prominent merchant and trader who lived in the 14th century. His name is documented in various trade records and chronicles from that era, indicating the significant role he played in the region's maritime commerce.

Another prominent figure bearing the CHERIAN surname was Kochunni Cherian, a legendary folk hero and Robin Hood-like figure from the 16th century. He is renowned for his daring exploits and acts of robbing the rich to help the poor, as depicted in several folk tales and ballads from Kerala.

In the 18th century, Ittiyavira Cherian, a renowned poet and scholar, made significant contributions to the Malayalam literary tradition. His works, including the celebrated poem "Ittiyavirachana," have been widely studied and appreciated for their literary merit and cultural significance.

During the 19th century, Kuruvilla Cherian, a prominent social reformer and educator, played a pivotal role in promoting education and advocating for the rights of marginalized communities in Kerala. His efforts paved the way for establishing several educational institutions and fostering social change in the region.

In more recent times, Dr. P.K. Cherian, a renowned cardiologist and medical researcher, gained international recognition for his groundbreaking work in the field of cardiovascular medicine. He was born in 1924 and made significant contributions to the development of various surgical techniques and medical devices throughout his illustrious career.

While the surname CHERIAN has its origins in Kerala, it has since spread to other parts of India and beyond, carried by individuals and families who have migrated or settled in different regions over the centuries. However, its roots remain firmly embedded in the rich cultural heritage and history of the southwestern Indian state.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cherian

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cherian, 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!