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

Durairaj, 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 Durairaj surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Durairaj in America

Durairaj is the 104602nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Durairaj surname appeared 171 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 Durairaj.

The history of the last name Durairaj

The surname Durairaj is of Indian origin, specifically from the Tamil region of southern India. It likely dates back several centuries to medieval times. The name is a combination of two Tamil words, "durai" meaning wealth or prosperity, and "raj" meaning king or ruler. Together, Durairaj can be translated as "prosperous ruler" or "wealthy king."

This surname was likely given to individuals or families who held prominent positions or wealth during the reign of various Tamil kingdoms and dynasties. It may have been bestowed as a title or honorific by rulers upon their subjects as a mark of respect and status.

Historical records and manuscripts from ancient Tamil literature and inscriptions on temple walls often mention individuals with the surname Durairaj, indicating its long-standing presence in the region. One of the earliest known references is found in the 12th-century Chola dynasty inscriptions, where a minister named Durairaj Chettiar is mentioned.

Another notable historical figure with this surname was Durairaj Naicker, a 17th-century Nayak ruler of the Madurai kingdom in Tamil Nadu. He is credited with the construction of the famous Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, one of the most significant Hindu temples in South India.

In the 18th century, Durairaj Iyengar was a prominent scholar and mathematician from Tamil Nadu, who made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and calendar calculations.

During the British colonial period in India, Durairaj Mudaliar was a renowned philanthropist and social reformer from Tamil Nadu, who lived from 1823 to 1890. He established several educational institutions and worked towards the upliftment of the underprivileged communities.

In more recent history, Durairaj Narayanasami was a Tamil writer and poet from the early 20th century, known for his literary works that explored themes of social justice and human rights.

While the surname Durairaj is predominantly found among Tamil communities in southern India, it has also spread to other parts of the subcontinent and across the Indian diaspora worldwide due to migration and settlement patterns over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Durairaj

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

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

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

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