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

Goel, 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 Goel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Goel in America

Goel is the 13660th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Goel surname appeared 2,216 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 Goel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Goel 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 Goel

The surname GOEL originated in North India during the medieval period, deriving from the Sanskrit word "go" meaning cow and "el" meaning protector or savior. It was a title bestowed upon those who guarded and protected cows, which were considered sacred animals in Hindu culture. The earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in ancient Hindu texts and manuscripts from the 10th century CE.

The name GOEL was particularly prevalent in the northern Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Punjab, where cattle rearing and agriculture were prominent occupations. It is believed that the name was initially associated with specific clans or communities responsible for safeguarding cows and their grazing lands.

In the 12th century, a renowned Hindu scholar and philosopher named Govind GOEL authored several important works on Vedic philosophy and Hindu mythology. His writings contributed to the preservation and dissemination of ancient knowledge during that era.

During the Mughal Empire, which ruled much of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th centuries, the GOEL surname was also found among certain Muslim communities. It is possible that some individuals adopted this surname after converting to Islam, while retaining their ancestral occupational titles.

One notable figure from this period was Mir Taqi GOEL, a 17th-century Sufi poet and mystic from Delhi. His collection of poetic works, known as the "Divan-e-Mir Taqi GOEL," remains a significant contribution to Urdu literature.

In the 18th century, a prominent Maratha warrior named Shivaji GOEL fought against the Mughal Empire, leading his forces in several battles to defend his territories. His bravery and military prowess earned him a reputation as a formidable leader in the region.

Another historical figure was Harkishan GOEL, a 19th-century Hindu reformer and social activist from Punjab. He advocated for the rights of the underprivileged and worked towards promoting education and social welfare initiatives.

As the GOEL surname gained recognition across India, it also spread to other parts of South Asia, including present-day Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, due to migration and trade routes.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Goel

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

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

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

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