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

Kannappan, 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 Kannappan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kannappan in America

Kannappan is the 152628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kannappan surname appeared 107 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 Kannappan.

The history of the last name Kannappan

The surname Kannappan originates from the Tamil-speaking regions of South India, primarily the state of Tamil Nadu. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 9th to 13th centuries CE.

The name Kannappan is derived from the Tamil word "Kannan," which is one of the names for Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war and victory. The suffix "-pan" is an honorific title added to names, indicating respect or reverence. Therefore, Kannappan essentially means "the revered one of Lord Murugan."

Records from ancient Tamil literature and temple inscriptions suggest that the surname Kannappan was initially used by individuals who were devotees of Lord Murugan or those associated with his worship and temple rituals. It is thought to have been a title bestowed upon priests, temple administrators, or ardent followers of the deity.

One of the earliest known references to the name Kannappan can be found in the Tevaram, a Tamil sacred literature composed by the Nayanar saints between the 6th and 8th centuries CE. The text mentions a devotee named Kannappan Azhwar, who was a contemporary of the revered saint Appar.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Kannappan was Siddhar Kannappan, a famous Tamil siddhar (sage) and alchemist who lived during the 10th century CE. He is credited with contributing significantly to the field of siddha medicine and is revered for his spiritual and alchemical works.

In the 12th century, a renowned Tamil scholar and poet named Kannappan Pandithar was born in the town of Srirangam, Tamil Nadu. He authored several literary works, including commentaries on Tamil grammar and poetry.

During the Vijayanagar Empire (14th to 17th centuries), there was a prominent general named Kannappan Nayakkar, who played a crucial role in the military campaigns of the empire and is mentioned in various historical accounts of the time.

Another notable figure was Kannappan Pillai, a Tamil scholar and statesman who lived in the 18th century. He served as a minister in the court of the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom and was instrumental in promoting Tamil literature and culture.

While the surname Kannappan has its roots in Tamil Nadu, over the centuries, it has spread to other parts of South India and can be found among Tamil diaspora communities around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kannappan

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

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

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

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