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

Gopinathan, 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 Gopinathan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gopinathan in America

Gopinathan is the 113791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gopinathan surname appeared 154 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 Gopinathan.

The history of the last name Gopinathan

The surname GOPINATHAN originated in South India, particularly in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is believed to have emerged around the 16th century CE. The name is derived from the Sanskrit words 'gopa' meaning 'cowherd' or 'protector' and 'natha' meaning 'lord' or 'master'. Thus, GOPINATHAN can be interpreted as 'lord of cowherds' or 'protector of cowherds'.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GOPINATHAN can be found in the Travancore Inscriptions, a collection of historical inscriptions from the erstwhile Travancore kingdom in present-day Kerala. These inscriptions, dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries, mention individuals with the name GOPINATHAN, who were likely associated with agriculture or cattle-rearing professions.

In the 18th century, a renowned scholar and poet named Gopinathan Nair (1722-1795) from the Nair community of Kerala gained prominence. He was a prolific writer and is credited with several literary works, including the famous Sanskrit text 'Govinda Vilasam'.

During the 19th century, a notable figure named Gopinathan Pillai (1845-1915) hailed from the Pillai community of Tamil Nadu. He was a respected educationist and social reformer who played a crucial role in promoting education and social upliftment in the region.

Another prominent individual with the surname GOPINATHAN was Gopinathan Nair (1866-1938), a renowned Malayalam playwright and actor from Kerala. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of modern Malayalam theater and is known for his contributions to the art form.

In the 20th century, Gopinathan Menon (1912-1982) was a distinguished Indian diplomat who served as India's Ambassador to several countries, including the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands. He played a significant role in shaping India's foreign policy during the post-independence era.

It is worth noting that the surname GOPINATHAN is often associated with specific communities and regions in South India, such as the Nair, Pillai, and Menon communities. However, over time, the name has spread to other parts of the country and even to other parts of the world due to migration and intermarriages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gopinathan

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

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

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

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