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

Kalai, 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 Kalai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kalai in America

Kalai is the 105600th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kalai surname appeared 169 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 Kalai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kalai 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 Kalai

The surname KALAI is of Indian origin, with roots traced back to the Tamil region of southern India during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Tamil word 'kalai', meaning 'art' or 'craft', suggesting that the bearers of this surname were likely artisans or craftsmen.

KALAI is believed to have emerged as a hereditary surname among the artisan communities of Tamil Nadu, particularly in regions like Madurai, Thanjavur, and Kumbakonam, which were renowned for their rich cultural heritage and artistic traditions. The earliest known records of this surname date back to the 13th century CE, during the reign of the Pandya and Chola dynasties.

One of the earliest historical references to the KALAI surname can be found in the inscriptions of the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur, built by the great Chola king Rajaraja Chola I (985-1014 CE). These inscriptions mention several artisans and craftsmen with the KALAI surname who were involved in the construction and decoration of the temple.

During the 15th century CE, the KALAI surname gained prominence under the Vijayanagar Empire, which patronized various arts and crafts. Several KALAI families were known for their expertise in various disciplines, such as temple architecture, sculpture, painting, and metalwork.

Notable individuals with the KALAI surname include Krishnappa Kalai (1490-1560), a renowned sculptor and architect who worked on the Virupaksha Temple in Hampi and the Vitthala Temple in Vijayanagar. Another notable figure was Venkatesha Kalai (1610-1680), a celebrated painter and muralist who adorned the walls of the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai with his exquisite frescoes.

In the 18th century, the KALAI surname spread to other parts of India, as artisans and craftsmen migrated in search of new opportunities. One such individual was Govindappa Kalai (1745-1820), a master weaver from Kanchipuram, known for his intricate silk saris and fabrics.

Throughout history, the KALAI surname has been associated with artistic excellence and craftsmanship, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of southern India.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kalai

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

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

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

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