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

Gounder, 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 Gounder surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gounder in America

Gounder is the 71886th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gounder surname appeared 271 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 Gounder.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gounder 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 Gounder

The surname Gounder is of Indian origin, specifically from the Tamil Nadu region of southern India. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 10th or 11th century CE.

The name Gounder is derived from the Tamil word "Koundar," which refers to a group of people who were traditionally involved in agricultural activities, particularly cultivating and harvesting grains. This occupation-based surname was commonly adopted by farming communities in the region.

Historically, the Gounder community played a significant role in the agricultural economy of Tamil Nadu. Some early records mentioning individuals with this surname can be found in ancient Tamil inscriptions and literary works from that era.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Gounder is from the 12th century, when a prominent landlord named Kalingarayan Gounder was mentioned in the inscriptions of the Chola dynasty, which ruled over parts of southern India during that time.

Another notable figure from history was Puli Thevar Gounder, a chieftain and military commander who lived in the 18th century. He is known for his bravery and leadership during the wars against the British East India Company in the region.

In the 19th century, Iyya Gounder, born in 1824, was a prominent social reformer and advocate for the rights of the Gounder community. He played a vital role in establishing educational institutions and promoting social progress.

During the Indian independence movement, a freedom fighter named Chengalvaraya Gounder, born in 1887, played an active role in the struggle against British rule. He participated in various protests and civil disobedience campaigns.

Another notable individual with the surname Gounder was Ponnusamy Gounder, born in 1910. He was a renowned Tamil scholar and author, known for his contributions to Tamil literature and linguistic studies.

While the surname Gounder is primarily associated with the Tamil Nadu region, individuals with this name can also be found in other parts of India and across the global Indian diaspora.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gounder

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

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

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

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