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

Kunwar, 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 Kunwar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kunwar in America

Kunwar is the 84463rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kunwar surname appeared 222 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 Kunwar.

The history of the last name Kunwar

The surname "Kunwar" is of Indian origin, specifically from the northern regions of the country. It traces its roots back to the medieval period, around the 12th-13th century CE. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Kumara," which means "prince" or "son of a king."

In the ancient Hindu tradition, the title "Kunwar" was bestowed upon the sons of rulers and members of the nobility. It signified their royal lineage and association with the ruling class. The name Kunwar gained prominence during the reign of various Hindu dynasties that governed parts of northern India, such as the Rajputs and the Mughals.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kunwar can be found in the Prithviraj Raso, a medieval Sanskrit epic poem written in the 12th century. The poem narrates the life and exploits of the legendary Rajput ruler Prithviraj Chauhan and mentions several individuals bearing the title of Kunwar.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the surname Kunwar. One such individual was Kunwar Singh (1777-1858), a prominent leader in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against British rule. He played a crucial role in organizing the rebellion in the Bundelkhand region and fought against the East India Company's forces.

Another famous Kunwar was Kunwar Ranvir Singh (1835-1909), the last ruling Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir. He ascended to the throne in 1857 and is remembered for his efforts to modernize the state and introduce administrative reforms.

In the literary realm, Kunwar Narain (1927-2017) was a renowned Hindi novelist and playwright. He authored several acclaimed works, including the novel "Baudhyayan" and the play "Chakravyuh," which explored themes of social justice and human relationships.

The surname Kunwar has also been associated with various historical places and landmarks. For instance, the town of Kunwar in the Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh, India, is believed to have derived its name from a former ruler or nobleman bearing the title of Kunwar.

Additionally, the Kunwar Palace, located in the city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, was built in the 18th century and served as the residence of the Kunwar (prince) of the Jaipur royal family.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Kunwar has evolved and taken on various spellings, such as Kunwar, Kunwari, and Kuwarji, reflecting regional variations and linguistic influences. However, its association with royalty and nobility has remained a consistent theme, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of India.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kunwar

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

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

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

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