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

Khaw, 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 Khaw surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Khaw in America

Khaw is the 107669th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Khaw surname appeared 165 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 Khaw.

We can also compare 2010 data for Khaw 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 Khaw

The surname KHAW originates from the Indian subcontinent, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 16th century in the region of modern-day India and Bangladesh. The name is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "khawa," which means "to eat" or "to consume," suggesting a possible connection to occupations related to food or sustenance.

One of the earliest known references to the KHAW name can be found in the archives of the Mughal Empire, where it appears in records of land grants and administrative documents from the reign of Emperor Akbar (1556-1605). During this period, the surname was predominantly found among Hindu and Muslim communities in the fertile regions of the Ganges River basin.

In the 18th century, the KHAW surname gained prominence in the Bengali region, with several notable individuals bearing this name. One such figure was Khaw Raj Narayan (1730-1795), a prominent landowner and philanthropist who funded the construction of several temples and educational institutions in the region.

As the British colonial presence in India grew, the KHAW surname began to appear in records and documents from various administrative and commercial organizations. One notable example is Sir Khaw Dhanraj (1841-1919), a successful businessman and philanthropist who was knighted by the British Crown for his contributions to the city of Calcutta (now Kolkata).

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the KHAW surname also found its way to other parts of the British Empire, including Malaysia and Singapore. In these regions, the name was often associated with communities of Indian descent, particularly those involved in trade and commerce. One notable individual from this era was Khaw Chwee Chye (1877-1941), a prominent businessman and community leader in Singapore.

Another significant figure bearing the KHAW surname was Khaw Kanji (1892-1976), a prominent Indian independence activist and politician who served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and played a crucial role in drafting the country's constitution.

Throughout its history, the KHAW surname has been associated with diverse professions and backgrounds, from landowners and businesspeople to scholars and politicians. While its origins can be traced back to the Indian subcontinent, the name has since spread to various parts of the world, reflecting the global diasporas and migrations of people with Indian ancestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Khaw

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

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

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

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