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

Govindan, 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 Govindan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Govindan in America

Govindan is the 67943rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Govindan surname appeared 290 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 Govindan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Govindan 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 Govindan

The surname Govindan originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the southern region of India. It is a Tamil name that can be traced back to ancient times, when surnames were derived from various sources such as professions, locations, or personal characteristics.

Govindan is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "Govinda," which means "Lord of Cows" or "Cowherd." This name is closely associated with Lord Krishna, one of the most revered deities in Hinduism, who was known for his love and protection of cows and cowherds.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Govindan can be found in ancient Tamil literature and inscriptions from the Chola and Pallava dynasties, which ruled in the southern parts of India between the 3rd and 13th centuries CE. These inscriptions often mention individuals with the surname Govindan, indicating their presence in the region during that period.

One of the most notable historical figures with the surname Govindan was Govinda Dikshitar, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and poet who lived in the 16th century CE. He was born in the town of Tiruvidaimarudur, Tamil Nadu, and is known for his contributions to Indian philosophy and literature.

Another famous Govindan was Govinda Vaidya, a renowned Ayurvedic physician and author who lived in the 17th century CE. His work, "Sarva Roga Chikitsa Ratnam," was a comprehensive treatise on Ayurvedic medicine and is still widely studied and referenced today.

In the 18th century, Govindan Ammal was a prominent female poet and composer from the Tamil region. She was known for her devotional compositions dedicated to Lord Krishna and her contributions to the Bhakti movement.

During the 19th century, Govindan Naicker was a prominent social reformer and activist from Tamil Nadu. He played a significant role in advocating for the rights and upliftment of the underprivileged communities in the region.

The name Govindan has also been associated with various place names in Tamil Nadu, such as Govindan Sholai, Govindan Pudur, and Govindan Palayam, indicating the presence of individuals or communities with this surname in those areas.

Overall, the surname Govindan has a rich historical and cultural significance in the southern Indian region, particularly in Tamil Nadu. It is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology and has been carried by numerous scholars, poets, physicians, and social reformers throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Govindan

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

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

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

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