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

Kotecha, 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 Kotecha surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kotecha in America

Kotecha is the 82613th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kotecha surname appeared 228 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 Kotecha.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kotecha 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 Kotecha

The surname Kotecha has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region of Gujarat. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "Kotiya," which means a fort or a fortified settlement. The name likely emerged during the medieval period when many communities were organized around fortified villages or towns for protection.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 16th century, when it appeared in several local administrative records of the Gujarati region. It is worth noting that the name was sometimes spelled as "Kotia" or "Kotiyar" in those ancient documents, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation across different dialects.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Kotecha became more prominent, particularly in the regions around the cities of Ahmedabad and Surat, which were important trade centers at the time. Many Kotecha families were involved in various mercantile and trading activities, and some even held influential positions in local governance.

One notable historical figure bearing the Kotecha surname was Ranchhodlal Kotecha, a prominent merchant and philanthropist who lived in the late 19th century. He was renowned for his contributions to the development of educational institutions and social welfare initiatives in Gujarat.

Another individual of significance was Keshavlal Kotecha, a celebrated Gujarati writer and poet who lived from 1888 to 1964. His literary works, which often explored themes of social reform and cultural identity, earned him recognition and acclaim across the Indian literary community.

In the 20th century, the name Kotecha gained further prominence with individuals like Viresh Kotecha, a renowned Indian industrialist and philanthropist who played a pivotal role in the development of the textile industry in Gujarat. He was born in 1921 and passed away in 2008.

Additionally, the name Kotecha has been associated with several historical place names in Gujarat, such as Kotecha Nagar, a town located in the Rajkot district, and Kotecha Faliya, a neighborhood in the city of Ahmedabad. These place names reflect the historical presence and influence of the Kotecha community in these regions.

Throughout its history, the surname Kotecha has been carried by individuals from various professions and backgrounds, including businessmen, writers, scholars, and community leaders. While the name has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kotecha

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

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

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

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