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

Govender, 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 Govender surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Govender in America

Govender is the 99378th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Govender surname appeared 182 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 Govender.

We can also compare 2010 data for Govender 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 Govender

The surname Govender is believed to have originated from the Indian subcontinent, with its roots tracing back to the Tamil and Telugu languages. It is likely derived from the word "Govinda," which is a Sanskrit name and epithet for the Hindu deity Krishna. The name Govinda itself is a combination of two words, "go" meaning cow or cattle, and "vinda" meaning protector or finder.

The earliest known records of the name Govender can be traced back to the 17th and 18th centuries, when a significant number of Tamil and Telugu people from various parts of South India were brought to the British colonies, including South Africa and the Caribbean, as indentured laborers. During this period, the name Govender was commonly found in areas such as Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal) and Mauritius, where many of these indentured workers settled.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Govender can be found in the writings of French explorer and botanist Charles Telfair, who documented the presence of Tamil and Telugu families with the surname in Mauritius in the early 19th century. Additionally, historical records from the British colonial era in South Africa also mention individuals with the surname Govender among the early Indian settlers in the region.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Govender. One such figure was Manilal Govender (1892-1956), a South African lawyer and activist who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement and the fight against racial discrimination in South Africa. Another prominent figure was Mariemuthtu Govender (1887-1952), a South African lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Natal Indian Congress and fought for the rights of Indian South Africans.

In the realm of literature, Ronnie Govender (1934-2022) was a renowned South African writer and playwright who explored themes of racial identity and social injustice in his works. His plays, such as "At the Edge" and "The Lahnee's Pleasure," shed light on the experiences of the Indian community in South Africa during the apartheid era.

Lastly, Suria Govender (1949-2022) was a South African social activist and human rights advocate who dedicated her life to fighting for the rights of marginalized communities, particularly women and children. She was a prominent figure in the anti-apartheid movement and played a crucial role in the establishment of various organizations aimed at promoting social justice and equality.

While the surname Govender has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has become widely dispersed across various regions, including South Africa, Mauritius, and other parts of the world where people of Indian descent have settled. The name continues to hold cultural and historical significance, reflecting the rich tapestry of migration and cultural exchange that has shaped many societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Govender

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

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

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

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