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

Kalathil, 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 Kalathil surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kalathil in America

Kalathil is the 139228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kalathil surname appeared 120 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 Kalathil.

The history of the last name Kalathil

The surname KALATHIL originated in Kerala, a state in the southern part of India. The name dates back to the medieval period and is believed to have roots in the Malayalam language, which is native to Kerala. The word "Kalathil" is derived from the Malayalam words "Kala," meaning "art" or "performance," and "Thil," meaning "place" or "venue." Therefore, the name KALATHIL could have initially referred to individuals who resided in or were associated with a place where artistic or cultural performances took place.

In ancient Kerala, there were several regions known for their rich cultural heritage and patronage of the arts, including music, dance, and theater. The name KALATHIL may have originated in these areas, where individuals or families were closely tied to the local arts and performance traditions. However, there is limited documentation available about the specific origins of this surname.

One of the earliest known references to the name KALATHIL can be found in the records of the Travancore Kingdom, which ruled over parts of present-day Kerala between the 17th and 19th centuries. These records mention individuals with the surname KALATHIL holding positions as court performers, musicians, or artists during the reign of various Travancore rulers.

Among the notable individuals with the surname KALATHIL throughout history are:

1. Kalathil Kunhikrishnan (1835-1904), a renowned Malayalam poet and playwright from the Travancore region.
2. Kalathil Sreedharan Nair (1890-1972), a prominent Malayalam writer and social reformer from the early 20th century.
3. Kalathil Viswanathan (1902-1982), a celebrated Kathakali dancer and choreographer, who was honored with the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian awards.
4. Kalathil Gopi (born 1942), a renowned Malayalam film director and screenwriter, known for his influential works in the 1970s and 1980s.
5. Kalathil Madhavan (1927-2012), a respected Kathakali musician and exponent of the Mizhavu, a traditional percussion instrument.

The surname KALATHIL continues to be prevalent in various parts of Kerala and among the Malayali diaspora around the world. It serves as a reminder of the rich cultural heritage and artistic traditions that have shaped the region for centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kalathil

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

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 Kalathil 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.

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

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

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