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

Kolli, 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 Kolli surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kolli in America

Kolli is the 32900th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kolli surname appeared 697 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 Kolli.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kolli 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 Kolli

The surname KOLLI is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the southern region of the country. It is thought to derive from the Tamil word "kollai," which means "wealthy" or "prosperous." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals or families of significant means or affluence within their communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the KOLLI surname can be traced back to the 14th century in the Madurai region of Tamil Nadu, where it appeared in various administrative and trade records. During this period, the name was often spelled as "Kolli" or "Kolliyan," reflecting its Tamil origins.

In the 16th century, the KOLLI surname gained prominence in the region of Thanjavur, where several individuals bearing this name held influential positions within the local governance and cultural spheres. Notably, a prominent scholar and poet named Thennavan Kolli (born circa 1520) was renowned for his contributions to Tamil literature and is widely regarded as one of the most celebrated figures associated with this surname.

As trade and migration patterns evolved, the KOLLI surname gradually spread across various parts of South India, particularly in regions like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. In the 18th century, records from the Madras Presidency (present-day Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra Pradesh) mention several KOLLI families engaged in various professions, including agriculture, commerce, and administration.

One notable figure from this period was Kandadai Kolli (1735-1805), a respected landowner and philanthropist from the town of Kandadai in Tamil Nadu, who was instrumental in establishing several educational institutions and charitable foundations in the region.

In the 19th century, the KOLLI surname gained further recognition with the rise of the Indian independence movement. Prominent freedom fighters like Kavasji Kolli (1856-1924), a lawyer and social activist from Gujarat, played a significant role in advocating for civil rights and social reforms.

Throughout history, individuals with the KOLLI surname have made notable contributions across various fields, such as literature, politics, and business. Some other prominent figures include the Tamil writer and playwright Kavikko Kolli (1887-1957), the industrialist and philanthropist Kandasamy Kolli (1910-1985), and the award-winning filmmaker Mani Kolli (born 1963).

While the KOLLI surname has its roots in South India, it has since spread to other parts of the country and even beyond, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural diversity of the Indian diaspora.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kolli

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!