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

Grewal, 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 Grewal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Grewal in America

Grewal is the 7772nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Grewal surname appeared 4,270 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Grewal.

We can also compare 2010 data for Grewal 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 Grewal

The surname Grewal originates from the Punjab region of India, with roots tracing back to the 15th century. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Grama-vala," meaning "village headman" or "village chief." This name was initially attributed to individuals who held positions of authority and leadership within their respective villages.

During the reign of the Mughal Empire, which controlled vast territories in the Indian subcontinent between the 16th and 19th centuries, the Grewal name gained prominence. Historical records from that era show Grewal families holding influential roles in various administrative and military capacities.

One of the earliest documented references to the Grewal surname can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This text mentions several Grewal individuals who served as local leaders and contributed to the governance of the empire.

The Grewal name has also been associated with the Sikh warrior tradition. In the 18th century, during the turbulent period of the Sikh-Mughal wars, several Grewal warriors rose to prominence for their valor and leadership on the battlefield. Bhai Maha Singh Grewal, a renowned Sikh warrior who fought against the Mughals in the late 17th century, is one such notable figure.

Another significant historical figure was Maharaja Ranjit Singh Grewal, a powerful ruler who established the Sikh Empire in the early 19th century. His reign was marked by territorial expansion, military prowess, and the unification of the Punjab region.

In the realm of literature, Bhai Vir Singh Grewal (1872-1957) stands out as a prominent Sikh scholar, theologian, and writer. His contributions to Punjabi literature and the revival of Sikhism in the 20th century are widely celebrated.

The Grewal surname has also been associated with various place names in the Punjab region, such as Grewalpur, Grewala, and Grewari, further solidifying its roots in the area.

Throughout history, the Grewal name has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including warriors, rulers, scholars, and community leaders, reflecting the name's deep-rooted connection to the rich cultural heritage of the Punjab region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Grewal

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!