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

Divecha, 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 Divecha surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Divecha in America

Divecha is the 140157th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Divecha surname appeared 119 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 Divecha.

The history of the last name Divecha

The surname DIVECHA is believed to have originated from the Indian subcontinent, specifically from the western state of Gujarat. It is thought to have derived from the Sanskrit word "Divi," which means "island" or "heaven," combined with the word "Vecha," which translates to "trader" or "merchant."

This surname is associated with the Vaishnava community, a Hindu sect that worships Lord Vishnu. The Divecha community historically worked as traders, moneylenders, and merchants, and their name likely reflects their profession and association with maritime trade across the Indian Ocean.

The earliest known records of the surname DIVECHA can be traced back to the 16th century, when the Portuguese established trading posts along the western coast of India. Some historical accounts mention Divecha merchants facilitating trade between Portuguese traders and local communities.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname DIVECHA was Shantidas Divecha, a prominent merchant and philanthropist who lived in the 17th century. He is credited with establishing several educational institutions and temples in the city of Surat, which was a major trading hub during that era.

Another notable figure was Manilal Divecha, born in 1861, who was a successful businessman and a prominent leader of the Indian independence movement. He actively supported Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent resistance against British rule and played a significant role in the Quit India Movement.

In the 20th century, Narottam Divecha (1919-2002) was a renowned industrialist and philanthropist. He founded the Divecha Group of Companies, which diversified into various sectors, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and real estate.

Ramesh Divecha (1934-2021) was a distinguished Indian cricket administrator and former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). He played a crucial role in the development and promotion of cricket in India during his tenure.

Another notable figure is Jayantilal Divecha (1903-1986), who was a pioneering Indian banker and financial expert. He served as the chairman of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) from 1977 to 1983 and played a pivotal role in shaping India's financial policies during his tenure.

While the DIVECHA surname has its roots in India, it has now spread across the globe, with individuals bearing this name residing in various countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and other parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Divecha

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

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

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

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