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

Kochhar, 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 Kochhar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kochhar in America

Kochhar is the 64559th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kochhar surname appeared 308 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 Kochhar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kochhar 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 Kochhar

The surname Kochhar originates from the Indian subcontinent, specifically from the Punjab region of modern-day India and Pakistan. It is believed to have its roots in the Sanskrit language, derived from the word "kochhar," which means "one who prepares curries or spicy dishes."

The earliest known records of the Kochhar surname can be traced back to the 16th century, when it appeared in various documents and manuscripts from the Mughal Empire. One notable mention is found in the "Ain-i-Akbari," a detailed administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, which lists several individuals with the surname Kochhar among the court cooks and food preparers.

During the medieval period, the Kochhar surname was closely associated with the culinary profession, particularly in the royal courts and wealthy households. As skilled chefs and spice masters, individuals with this surname gained recognition for their expertise in preparing intricate and flavorful dishes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kochhar surname is found in the writings of the Persian scholar and traveler, Abu'l-Fazl Allami, who documented the life and reign of Emperor Akbar in the late 16th century. He mentions a renowned chef named Govardhan Kochhar, who was highly regarded for his culinary skills and served in the imperial kitchens.

Another notable figure bearing the Kochhar surname was Rai Shankar Kochhar, a prominent courtier and advisor to the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century. Rai Shankar Kochhar played a significant role in the administration and diplomacy of the Mughal Empire, serving as a trusted confidant to the emperor.

In the 18th century, the Kochhar surname gained further recognition with the rise of Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula, the influential ruler of Awadh (now part of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh). His personal chef, Babu Bakhsh Kochhar, was renowned for his culinary expertise and is credited with introducing several innovative dishes to the royal court.

As the Kochhar surname spread across the Indian subcontinent, it also became associated with various place names and regions. For example, the village of Kochhar Kalan in the Jalandhar district of Punjab is believed to have derived its name from the prevalence of individuals with the Kochhar surname in that area.

In more recent times, the Kochhar surname has been carried by several notable individuals, including the celebrated Indian chef and restaurateur, Vikas Kochhar, who has received numerous accolades for his contributions to the culinary world. Additionally, Arjan Singh Kochhar, a distinguished Indian Air Force officer, and Prem Chand Kochhar, a renowned educationist and author, are among the prominent figures who have borne this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kochhar

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

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

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

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