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

Gopalan, 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 Gopalan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gopalan in America

Gopalan is the 34618th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gopalan surname appeared 653 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 Gopalan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gopalan 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 Gopalan

The surname Gopalan is of Indian origin, specifically from the Tamil language spoken in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The name can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 9th to 12th centuries AD.

Gopalan is derived from the Tamil word "Gopalan," which means "protector of cows" or "cowherd." This suggests that the name might have originated from families or communities involved in cattle rearing or agriculture. The name is particularly prevalent in the regions of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and parts of Karnataka.

Historical records indicate that the name Gopalan appears in several ancient Tamil literary works and inscriptions. One notable example is the mention of a person named Gopalan in the 12th-century Tamil epic "Kalingathuparani," which recounts the victories of the Chola king Kulothunga Chola I.

The earliest recorded individuals with the surname Gopalan include Thiruvalluvar Gopalan, a renowned Tamil poet and philosopher who lived around the 6th century AD. His famous work, "Thirukkural," is a collection of couplets on ethics, love, and moral values.

Another notable figure was Azhagiya Gopalan, a 16th-century Tamil poet and scholar from the Thanjavur region of Tamil Nadu. He was known for his contributions to Tamil literature and his expertise in the traditional dance form of Bharatanatyam.

In the 18th century, Papanasam Gopalan was a revered Tamil scholar and writer who authored several works on Saiva philosophy and literature. He was also a renowned teacher and influenced many scholars of his time.

During the 19th century, Sundara Gopalan was a prominent social reformer and educationist from Tamil Nadu. He played a crucial role in promoting education among the underprivileged and advocating for the abolition of certain social practices.

Another notable figure was Gopalan Nambiar, a 19th-century freedom fighter from Kerala who actively participated in the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule.

The surname Gopalan is still widely used in various parts of South India, particularly among Tamil communities. While the name has evolved over time, its etymology and historical connections to cattle rearing and agriculture remain deeply rooted in its origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gopalan

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

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

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

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