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

Kapoor, 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 Kapoor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kapoor in America

Kapoor is the 8663rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kapoor surname appeared 3,794 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 Kapoor.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kapoor 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 Kapoor

The surname Kapoor is a Hindu Brahmin name that originated in the Indian subcontinent. It is believed to have its roots in the Sanskrit word "Kapoor" which means "camphor" or "fragrance." The name is predominantly found in northern India, particularly in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi.

The earliest known reference to the name Kapoor can be traced back to ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, where it was used as a title or honorific for individuals belonging to the priestly class. The name gained prominence during the medieval period when members of the Kapoor family held influential positions in various royal courts across northern India.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kapoor can be found in the writings of the 16th-century Mughal historian, Abul Fazl, who mentions a prominent Brahmin family by the name of Kapoor in his work, the Akbarnama. This family was known for their scholarly pursuits and held significant influence during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

In the 17th century, the Kapoor family gained further recognition when Raj Kapoor, a renowned scholar and astronomer, served as the chief minister to the Maharaja of Jaipur. Raj Kapoor's contributions to the field of astronomy and his literary works are still widely studied and celebrated today.

Another notable figure with the surname Kapoor was Prithviraj Kapoor, a pioneering actor and director in the Indian film industry. Born in 1906, Prithviraj Kapoor is considered one of the founding fathers of Hindi cinema and played a pivotal role in shaping the early years of Bollywood. His legacy continues through his descendants, including the renowned actors Raj Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, and Rishi Kapoor.

The Kapoor surname has also been associated with several historical places and landmarks. For instance, the Kapoor Haveli, a magnificent haveli (mansion) located in Peshawar, Pakistan, was built in the 18th century by a wealthy Kapoor family and stands as a testament to their architectural patronage.

Throughout history, the Kapoor surname has been alternatively spelled as Kapur, Kapoor, or Kapoor, reflecting regional variations and linguistic influences. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remain rooted in the ancient Sanskrit word "Kapoor," signifying its deep-seated connection to the rich cultural heritage of the Indian subcontinent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kapoor

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

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

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

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