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

Koirala, 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 Koirala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Koirala in America

Koirala is the 35945th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Koirala surname appeared 624 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 Koirala.

The history of the last name Koirala

The surname Koirala originates from Nepal, a landlocked country in South Asia. Its roots can be traced back to the Newar community, an ethnic group indigenous to the Kathmandu Valley. The name is believed to have derived from the Newari language, where "Koirala" means "those who work with bamboo."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Koirala surname can be found in the Gopalaraja Vamsavali, a Newari chronicle from the 14th century. This ancient manuscript mentions a family of bamboo craftsmen bearing the name Koirala, who lived in the vicinity of Kathmandu.

In the 16th century, during the reign of King Ratna Malla, a prominent figure named Shankha Koirala served as a high-ranking official in the Malla court. His descendants continued to hold influential positions in the subsequent Malla kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley.

The Koirala name gained wider recognition in the 19th century when Matrika Prasad Koirala (1853-1914), a renowned poet and playwright, rose to prominence. His literary works, such as the famous play "Sakuntala," played a significant role in reviving and preserving the Newari language and culture.

Another notable figure was Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala (1914-1982), a prominent political leader and the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Nepal. He played a crucial role in the country's struggle for democracy and was instrumental in the overthrow of the Rana oligarchy in 1951.

Later, Girija Prasad Koirala (1924-2010), Bishweshwar Prasad's younger brother, also made a mark in Nepalese politics. He served as the Prime Minister of Nepal on four occasions and was a key figure in the establishment of multi-party democracy in the country.

Beyond Nepal, the Koirala surname has also been associated with notable individuals in other parts of the world. For example, Ananda Mohan Koirala (1930-2011), a Nepali-Indian businessman and philanthropist, founded the Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan, Nepal, one of the country's premier medical institutions.

While the surname Koirala has its roots in the Newari community of Nepal, it has transcended its origins and become a recognizable name, particularly in the realms of literature, politics, and social development.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Koirala

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

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

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

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