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

Kanwal, 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 Kanwal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kanwal in America

Kanwal is the 83541st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kanwal surname appeared 225 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 Kanwal.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kanwal 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 Kanwal

Kanwal is a surname that originated from the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the areas that are now part of modern-day Pakistan and northern India. The name is believed to have its roots in the Sanskrit language, where "Kanwal" is derived from the word "Kamala," meaning lotus flower.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Kanwal can be traced back to medieval times, with mentions in various historical documents and manuscripts from the region. One notable reference is found in the 16th-century Mughal court records, where a nobleman named Kanwal Singh is documented as serving under the reign of Akbar the Great.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Kanwal surname gained prominence among the ruling elite and land-owning classes in the Punjab region, which was then part of the Mughal Empire. Several notable figures bearing the surname emerged during this period, including Kanwal Nath, a renowned poet and scholar who lived in the late 17th century.

In the 19th century, as the British colonial rule expanded in the Indian subcontinent, the Kanwal surname became more widespread, with members of the family holding influential positions in various fields, such as administration, military, and education. One prominent figure was Sir Kanwal Kishan Puri (1856-1931), a distinguished lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court.

Another notable individual was Kanwal Kishore Lal (1870-1942), a pioneering Indian Civil Service officer who played a pivotal role in the development of irrigation systems and infrastructure in the Punjab region.

During the 20th century, the Kanwal surname continued to gain recognition, with several individuals making significant contributions in various fields. One such figure was Kanwal Rekhi (born 1935), an Indian-American entrepreneur and venture capitalist who played a crucial role in the development of the Silicon Valley technology industry.

It is important to note that while the surname Kanwal has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical roots and earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the regions now known as Pakistan and northern India.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kanwal

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

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

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

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